Suggest that each child do something to make mornings easier. One of them can lay the table for breakfast the night before. Another can arrange everyone’s shoes and coats close to the door so they are ready to go. They can each lay out their uniforms the night before and put their school bags by the wall so no one is looking for anything when they are in a rush

School is such a big part of our children’s days that when it is not going well for them, it can seem like there is no escape from the stress they are experiencing

I appreciate how hurtful it can be to be told that all you have done for your family is still not enough

I don’t know how to react when she hurts other children

He finds it difficult to get out of bed in the morning for school — I've tried talking to him but I'm not getting through

"...the task of adolescence is to pull away from our parents and find our voice and identity in the world. Because of the intense change, teenagers do not always handle this with grace..."

CyberSafeKids report and Irish Examiner Parenting comment provide food for thought for those worried about their children's phone use

"Children’s friendships evolve between the ages of nine and 12, when we tend to see an increased emphasis on the “best friends” group, especially among girls."

Whatever your childcare choice, you are leaving your baby with someone else, which requires trust. This is particularly challenging when you've yet to build a relationship with the minders who will care for your baby

When maintaining his space, manage your expectations and standards and adopt a 'good enough is good enough' mindset. Clean enough is clean enough

My older granddaughter gets upset almost every time I pick up the baby

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?

Child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune

I wonder if he is a bit intolerant of others' shortcomings or just not confident in himself. How can I assist, advise or guide him through his difficulties?

If you push reading too hard and too soon at home, you could inadvertently turn your daughter off reading

The combination of lack of sleep, difficulty with peer interaction, poor and inconsistent engagement in school and his general lack of responsiveness to your efforts to get him there on time makes me wonder about his mental health status

Friendship is such a big part of life that when it proves difficult for us, it can overwhelm everything that is going well in our lives

Your son might never love being at the beach, but you can slowly, respectfully, and with play start to make it more tolerable

Weddings can be overwhelming for children. A big part of what makes them and similar events so difficult for them is that the day starts early with much waiting and sitting around

This new puppy is a new baby of sorts in your family, and like any new baby, it is taking up a lot of your time, attention, and energy