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: Understanding science starts with moments of wonder, not in our genes 
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Colman Noctor: Do 'brain-rot' chants actually aid cognitive development?
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Joanna Fortune: My young daughters argue all the time
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Colman Noctor: Why are voluntary smartphone codes not working in all schools?
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

Happy Diverse Kids Jumping Posing Over Different Colorful Backgrounds, Collage
Puberty can start as young as eight — here's what you need to know 
Parents tend to focus on the teenage years as a time of transition, but it's easy to overlook the profound changes children undergo in middle childhood as they begin puberty, now occurring earlier than in the past

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

Engaged mom showing cute child girl how to use application
Colman Noctor: Digital safety needs a village, not an app
Parents need a balanced view between good and bad in tech

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

Saving memories in gadget. Selective focus on display of telephone recording video with first grade girl
Why you should think twice before posting photos and videos of kids on social media
It’s natural to take pictures of highlights in your child’s life, but think twice before sharing them on social media

Sun, 18 May, 2025

Stressed woman
Colman Noctor: Pressure to be perfect undermines mental health of teen girls
In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, raising adolescent girls can feel like walking a tightrope

Tue, 13 May, 2025

Scouts Unity
Joanna Fortune: My son wants to leave the Scouts, should I insist he stays?
I'd love him to stay as he's made great friends in his group and it has helped build his confidence. Should I insist he keeps going or accept his decision?

Tue, 25 Mar, 2025

Tots to teens: Personalised and handmade gifts perfect for any occasion
Tots to teens: Personalised and handmade gifts perfect for any occasion
Personalised and handmade gifts — ones you can buy online as well as info on an upcoming workshop where you can make your own

Tue, 25 Mar, 2025

Beautiful young woman and charming little girl are looking at camera and smiling while lying on yoga mat in fitness hall
Colman Noctor: Shielding children from the culture of New Years' Resolutions
"While wanting to improve our lifestyle and choices is inherently good, it should not be a feature of childhood. That time of life should not be burdened with such adult-type pressures."

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Friendship Broken.
Joanna Fortune: I'm dreading the bickering between my daughters this Christmas
Almost every weekend, there’s an argument about stolen makeup, missing clothes, or whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Young hispanic kid over grunge grey wall looking stressed and nervous with hands on mouth biting nails. Anxiety problem.
Dr Phil Kieran: My 12-year-old keeps biting their nails and then hates how they look... how can I help?
Will they grow out of it or should I find something to help distract them or prevent them biting their nails?

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024

Disappointed at School
Colman Noctor: Students starting secondary school have a special class of needs 
"Child development and parenting manuals emphasise the importance of consistency, reliability, and predictability. Yet change is inevitable, including the transition from primary to secondary school."

Tue, 20 Aug, 2024

Baby boy playing with stuufed toy at home.
Julie Jay: It’s a drag watching my baby try to crawl, but he’ll get there eventually
As he shuffles from A to B at a glacial pace, it turns out our one year old isn’t the only one embracing their sloth era

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Weight scale
Aoife Hearne: My pre-teen son wants to lose weight
It is normal for children to gain some weight around 13, before they stretch during puberty

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

GILLIAN HARVEY
Getting ready for Taylor: Shake it off to bond with your children
Parents who might be as keen Taylor Swift fans as their kids are looking forward to the Eras tour concerts

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Close Up Of Unhappy Boy Sitting Outdoors In Garden
Joanna Fortune: My son is anxious about starting secondary school 
"One of the ways our children learn to strengthen and enhance their capacity to self-regulate their emotions is to experience a full range of emotions, including the more challenging feelings."

Tue, 21 May, 2024

Daughter with grimace unwilling of listening to talking mom
Joanna Fortune: My 11-year-old daughter is out of order 
"As our children approach early adolescence, we often see a return of challenging early-years behaviours —tantrums, protest, boundary-pushing, and opposition — but now with the addition of sass in attitude."

Tue, 07 May, 2024

Beautiful little girl, influencer holding mobile phone, taking selfie, recording video, social media
Colman Noctor: Preteens too young to manage smartphone responsibility
School voluntary codes are just the start of the process of managing our children’s relationship with smart devices

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Tots to teens: Practical tips and advice for parents to deal with childhood anxiety
Tots to teens: Practical tips and advice for parents to deal with childhood anxiety
A new book outlines the causes and symptoms of childhood anxiety

Tue, 02 Apr, 2024

Happy mother embracing son having breakfast
Dr Phil Kieran: Help me reassure my son about what height he'll be
My 14-year-old son is small for his age and very self-conscious about it. He's also put on weight around his tummy. I've told him he will catch up with the other boys in his class in time, but he is convinced that he'll always be short and overweight. What would you suggest?

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

It's hard to wake up
Dr Phil Kieran: Is it normal for my son to feel tired all the time?
RSV can cause either a worsening or unmasking of underlying asthma or a condition called post-viral bronchial reactivity (similar to asthma but not long-term)

Tue, 12 Mar, 2024

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