Parenting - Tweens - Irish Examiner

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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.

<p>“Hanging out” offers young people the opportunity and space to engage in unstructured time with friends without any of their usual adult-influenced organisation, says Joanna. </p>

parenting

Joanna Fortune: My son wants to hang out in the village — I don't think he's ready

My instinct was to say no, as I feel he’s a bit young to be ‘hanging out’... I’m worried I’m being overprotective.

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Joanne Fortune: My son is lost in secondary school

<p>Parenting has no instruction manual... except in Japan they do. Picture: iStock</p>

parenting

The Japanese way of raising happy, self-sufficient children

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Aoife Hearne: How can I get my picky son to eat in school hours?

3156116_1_org_Joanne_Fortune_Circle_headshot

Joanna Fortune: How can I explain different family budgets to my kids?

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Colman Noctor: Why capable children often lack true self-worth

Become ruined by eating disorder

How to spot the subtle signs of an eating disorder in your child

Wanting to eat alone, spending too much time in the bathroom, and excessive exercise may be indicators.

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Emotional teenage girl using smartphone on bed at home, space for text

Colman Noctor: Protecting children means tackling social media's harms

As an academic, a clinician, and a parent, I can see the argument from both sides.

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Group of children bonding outdoors

Colman Noctor: Teenagers need a sense of belonging — not entertainment

Young teenagers are seeking experiences that help them feel capable and competent — they want to be treated as emerging adults

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Happy young woman enjoys summer music festival, raises peace sign with sunlit crowd and stage background. Cheerful festivalgoer

Colman Noctor: Music helps teens hit the right note within themselves and with others

The way today's adolescents consume music is very different to previous generations but research has shown music still holds significant psychological importance for many teenagers

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Hearing a father's advice

How to reconnect when a child starts to pull back

Your child may not have the words to explain what is upsetting them, but learning to meet them on their level can help bridge the divide

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

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

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