PARENTING - TWEENS

A collection of the latest columns, analysis and opinion relating to the world of Tweens and the unique challenges of these years. Enjoy.

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Colman Noctor: Protecting children means tackling social media's harms
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Colman Noctor: Teenagers need a sense of belonging — not entertainment
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Colman Noctor: Music helps teens hit the right note within themselves and with others
Junior football team standing together
Colman Noctor: Win or lose, children's sport should be about having fun 
A competitive approach to team sports may benefit a small number of children but risks excluding many others

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Woman lay on a bed holding a pillow to her stomach
Dr Phil Kieran: Should I take my 13-year-old to our GP for her painful periods?
From the symptoms you describe, it sounds more like dysmenorrhoea rather than endometriosis

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Frusrated redhead teenage boy after he lost the game while playing video games
Dr Phil Kieran: Are computer games the cause of my son's hand and wrist pain?
I appreciate that he may not be keen on this, but I would encourage him to look at the longer-term picture. 

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

My team mates
How to help girls stay in sport during their teenage years
Female participation in football and athletics often wanes in the teen years, despite the huge benefits of sport

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Girl Lying on Sofa with Stomach Ache at Home
Colman Noctor: Silence around menstruation leaves girls quietly isolated
While it is understandable for teens not to talk about their bodies, a stigma around periods can lead to silence, shame, or misinformation

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Unhappy teen girl wearing headphones feeling isolated and depressed
Joanna Fortune: My daughter is finding it difficult to find her tribe in secondary school 
She clams up if I try to speak to her about it and it's difficult to see her struggle

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Delicious cheeseburger with cola and potato fries on the wooden table. Fast food concept.
Aoife Hearne: How do I talk to my teen about her weight gain and snacking habits?
There is no doubt that you are dealing with a delicate situation

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Tots to Teens: Guide to your child’s health from A to Z
Tots to Teens: Guide to your child’s health from A to Z
Plus the Junior Eurovision song contest, teenage skincare and more

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Allergy skin of an Asian kid on her legs with hand to scratch in natural light.
Dr Phil Kieran: My son's childhood eczema is back and it's painful
Eczema often settles down to some extent with age. For your son, this means that although it hasn’t settled yet, there is a decent chance it will over the next few years

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Tots to Teens: How to build a bird nest box with your children
Tots to Teens: How to build a bird nest box with your children
Plus card games, expert-led talks, and more

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

talk mother support and solving problem with teenage boy son
Colman Noctor: Finding the right words to talk to your child about pornography
Ultimately, these conversations are less about sex and more about the trust you have in your child and they have in you, writes Colman Noctor 

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Mother and daughter are arguing at home
Joanna Fortune: My eldest says we're mean and no fun 
Celebrate Christmas by celebrating the fun in simple, everyday connections

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Photo of cute tired sleepy boy pupil sleeping lying soft divan after school lesson apartment room interior indoors
Dr Phil Kieran: My sporty son says he feels tired all the time 
Fatigue after an infection is pretty common, making it harder for parents to know what is normal and when they should be concerned

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

New programme aims to increase eating disorder awareness in teens
New programme aims to increase eating disorder awareness in teens
Inside Out, a new programme for secondary schools, educates teens about the links between dieting, body image, and self-esteem

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

School boy and his father hiking together and exploring nature with magnifying glass. Little boy and dad spend quality family ti
Colman Noctor: Understanding science starts with moments of wonder, not in our genes 
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard parents say, “She’s just not a maths person”. We don’t say, “He’s not a reading person”, yet it’s somehow acceptable to suggest a child’s brain just doesn’t “do numbers”.

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

School children running together outdoors
Colman Noctor: Do 'brain-rot' chants actually aid cognitive development?
Children spend so much of their lives under the authority of adults (teachers, parents, and caregivers) that they enjoy discovering or inventing phrases that give them a sense of independence. 

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Portrait of two sisters kids having an argument, fighting. Family conflict, children In Quarrel, disagreement
Joanna Fortune: My young daughters argue all the time
"Both are in the middle childhood phase (eight to 12 years), meaning they are competitors within the same developmental stage, which can lead to the type of tension you describe."

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Tots to Teens: A healthy Halloween alternative and a spooktacular screening
Tots to Teens: A healthy Halloween alternative and a spooktacular screening
Irish fruit growers Keelings have teamed up with dietitian Orla Walsh to create spooky snack ideas for families to tuck into this Halloween

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Poster trend sketch template 3D photo collage of college knowledge education back to school two young girl chatting smartphone s
Colman Noctor: Why are voluntary smartphone codes not working in all schools?
"A phone offers a parent peace of mind in an uncertain world. However, that argument needs to be balanced against social pressure, safetyism, and an increasing body of research suggesting that early smartphone ownership poses risks to children’s mental health."

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Low angle view of pensive little girl in pajamas looking away at home
Joanna Fortune: What happened to my sweet little girl?
"So much is written and said about the critical early years of our children’s lives, and again when they reach those tricky teenage years, but very little attention is given to the middle stage of childhood, the years between eight and 12."

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Parenting teenagers: When to choose a conflict — and when to let it go
Parenting teenagers: When to choose a conflict — and when to let it go
Everything from the clothes your children wear to the state of their bedroom can bother you but there is a time to get tough and there's a time to look the other way the experts tell Helen O'Callaghan.

Sun, 10 Aug, 2025

Happy friends with skateboard and roller-skates on the sports ramp playground
Colman Noctor: Should parents allow kids to take more risks from a young age?
By providing developmentally appropriate opportunities for independence, children can build confidence, resilience, decision-making skills, and a sense of responsibility — critical attributes for successful adulthood

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Smiling doctor showing diet plan
Dr Phil Kieran: Is my son's weight gain due to hormone changes?
Your child likely has nothing to worry about, but making a conscious effort at this stage to develop a positive attitude towards food and body image is an investment in their future health

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Watching movies is a family activity
Colman Noctor: Watching TV with your child can be educational for you both
"Research from the American Academy of Paediatrics (2020) supports joint media engagement with television shows. The researchers found that when parents watch and discuss content with their children, it improves comprehension, critical thinking, and emotional understanding"

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

mean glare
Joanna Fortune: My daughters are constantly arguing with each other 
Around adolescence, children increasingly pull away from their family as their primary hub of emotional and social development, and lean more on peers. This phase does not mean parents should also pull back — we need to be visible and available to our teenage children

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

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