PARENTING - SCHOOL CHILDREN

A collection of the latest articles relating to the world of parenting and its unique challenges in the school going years. Enjoy.

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Colman Noctor: Has comparison driven parents to make rods for their own backs?
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Joanna Fortune: My son has boundless energy — do I need to encourage more quiet time? 
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Joanna Fortune: My son wants to hang out in the village — I don't think he's ready
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Joanne Fortune: My son is lost in secondary school
Young woman crying holding picture frame remembering husband
Joanna Fortune: I feel sad that my children have no relationship with my late husband's family
We didn’t have a particularly close relationship with his family. They said their goodbyes after his funeral and wished us well.

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Two girls having fun while piggy back in nature
Colman Noctor: Competition not the be all and end all for girls aiming to keep active
Children don’t necessarily need to experience physical activity as exercise for it to benefit them. Indeed, for some, the less we label it as exercise, the more likely they may be to do it.

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Concerned dad checks thermometer with child on lap
Does my child have a back-to-school bug? Here are the common ones to watch out for
Picking up frequent bugs is a rite of passage - it’s how our immune system develops. The silver lining is that next time the child meets this infection, they’ll have immunity, says Helen O’Callaghan

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

South Asian Female Nurse Smiles At Young Child During Clinic Visit
Dr Phil Kieran: Sometimes what the doctor orders is not visiting the GP
I’m a GP and I'm always trying to empower my patients to understand their health and to know what they can sit with while the body’s immune system gets to work and what needs medical intervention.

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Woman uses electric fan to stop sweating and prevent exhaustion in hot summer weather
Julie Jay: How Frozen and Girls Aloud announced my perimenopause diagnosis
A geriatric pregnancy will almost certainly result in parenting small children through the perimenopause- and it’s not for the faint of heart

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Sad kid on the playground
Colman Noctor: Act of kindness can help a child who finds it difficult to make friends
Parenting a child with a busy social life might feel like running an unpaid taxi service, but it brings the rewarding realisation that your child is well-liked.

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Smiley parent and child
The Japanese way of raising happy, self-sufficient children 
Lisa Katayama believes boundaries and limits are just as important as art supplies and outdoor space in raising happy, healthy humans. She sets out her philosophy in a new book

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Sonia O'Sullivan 28/11/2019
S My childhood with Sonia O'Sullivan: The daily run to school sparked my champion mindset
“Those four daily trips taught me it was faster to run”.

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Mother checking temperature of her sick child.
Dr Phil Kieran: When should you call your GP? 
When is it okay to 'watch and wait' and when is it time to call the doctor

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Child Smiling While Hiding behind a Wooden Staircase Inside a Cozy Room
Julie Jay: What’s worse than living with a prankster? Living with three of them
I have never been a fan of practical jokes, and yet somehow I am raising two small people who love nothing more than getting one over on their unsuspecting mother at every opportunity

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Portrait of a beautiful teenage girl posing against a dark background in beauty style
Joanna Fortune: My granddaughter is struggling since her mum left home 
My granddaughter stays in her room all day with the curtains pulled, we are very worried about her, what do we do?

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

My Childhood with Bernard Casey: After my first comedy set I knew it was the life for me
S My Childhood with Bernard Casey: After my first comedy set I knew it was the life for me
Chatty, imaginative child Bernard now a stand-up guy

Sun, 13 Sep, 2026

Kindergarten Classroom With Table and Colorful Chairs
Julie Jay: 'Second week syndrome' is alive and well at the start of new school year
Despite skipping into his new school last week with nothing short of glee, this week my second-born is finding things tricky. His mother isn’t doing much better

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Katie Taylor v Flora Pili - Once Upon A Time Fight Night
Colman Noctor: Look no further than Katie Taylor if you want a role model for your children
Katie Taylor brought an extraordinary career to a momentous close in Croke Park on Saturday night

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Mother giving medicine to little girl
Dr Phil Kieran: I'm a GP and here's why antibiotics aren't always the answer
The more we use antibiotics, the more opportunities there are for these resistant strains to multiply and spread

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Unhappy Young Girl Sitting On Sofa At Home
Why children need to sit with their sadness
Don’t rush to soothe your child when they experience disappointment or a setback. Working through those emotions will teach them how to cope better next time

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Portrait of a young schoolgirl in a white shirt carrying a pink backpack against a vibrant yellow background
Joanna Fortune: My child wants to go back to playschool 
Starting ‘big school’ becomes over-hyped, and when the child finally starts, the reality can feel underwhelming

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Physically Abused Child At Home Sitting On Sofa
Joanna Fortune: Could my grandchild be jealous of the attention I give to her older sister? 
Young children don’t have the emotional language to express their frustration, confusion and indeed, jealousy, other than through their behaviour.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Preadolescent boy having cereal with milk for breakfast at the dining table at home
Aoife Hearne: How can I get my picky son to eat in school hours?
I'm worried now that my son is in secondary school he won't get proper nutrition during his school days

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Curious young minds need to explore outside
Curious young minds need to explore outside
A recent study revealed that many children spend no time outdoors after school and at weekends, yet it is vital for their physical health and mental wellbeing

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Boys in red soccer jerseys with white numbers sit on a wooden substitution bench, watching the game, united as a team
Colman Noctor: Finding a place on the team for children of all abilities
There is a difference between occasionally experiencing disappointment when you are old enough to understand it and being repeatedly told you aren’t good enough at a very young age.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Alzheimer Society Memory Walk
S My Childhood with Nina Carberry: I’ve never been afraid of competing thanks to my brothers
Carberry and her four older brothers - Thomas, Paul, Mark, and Philip - spent their days riding ponies around their family farm in Co Meath.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Julie Jay: Promise of jellies is the only way to field a team of under-8s in West Kerry
Julie Jay: Promise of jellies is the only way to field a team of under-8s in West Kerry
My two boys have always been fond of kick around, but sometimes they need a little extra persuasion 

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Ireland is ‘the village’ it took to raise my girl: 'Irish mothers know how to lend a hand'
Ireland is ‘the village’ it took to raise my girl: 'Irish mothers know how to lend a hand'
After escaping from Afghanistan, Manizha Khan feared her daughter would struggle to settle in at school. But strong local support at every step helped Marjan adapt quickly and thrive

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

child stress during studies
Colman Noctor: The test for parents is to value children regardless of results
For some children, school is a good fit. But another parent’s child may have to work considerably harder

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

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