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Laundry assistance
Children aren't doing housework — here's why parents should give them chores
Four in five children don't do any housework, even though doing chores is proven to be one of the strongest predictors of success in life 

Sun, 16 Mar, 2025

Caucasian toddler boy reading a child book, while sitting on a sofa in pajamas.
Julie Jay: It has never been easier to parent as Gaeilge than it is now
Speaking Irish at home to your kids comes with many advantages but one major drawback too

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Joanna Fortune: I worry about anxiety when leaving my 10-month-old at creche
Joanna Fortune: I worry about anxiety when leaving my 10-month-old at creche
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

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Phil Kieran: I'm worried about getting gestational diabetes again
Phil Kieran: I'm worried about getting gestational diabetes again
Gestational diabetes risk factors are a family history of the condition, a higher BMI, a previous baby who was born at high birth weight, those with polycystic ovarian syndrome or anyone who had GDM in a previous pregnancy

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Young girl is whispered about in the school playground
Joanna Fortune: My daughter is being excluded by her friends
"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."

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Loving mother consoling her sad son at home.
Colman Noctor: Raise resilient children by teaching them to regulate their emotions  
"It is widely accepted that emotional regulation is not an inborn trait but a learned skill that parents and caregivers can actively teach children. It’s a worthwhile investment."

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Itchy Scalp from Head Lice
Julie Jay: This week my husband’s PTSD was triggered by the return of a tiny comb
Nothing strikes fear in the heart of parents like a note announcing a case of head-lice has been detected

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Serious, sad teen boy with crossed arms looking away on copy space, standing on blue background
Joanna Fortune: Should we be concerned about our teenage son's aggressive outbursts? 
"...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..."

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Teen guy showing new video on cellphone to friends
Colman Noctor: We need to reboot our approach to internet safety
Many programmes focus on teaching young people how to use technology safely, but they should also demonstrate how technology uses them.

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

cute baby girl
Dr Phil Kieran: Did my baby need tongue-tie surgery?
It can be difficult to get clear and definite answers when looking for information about tongue-tie. This lack of clarity can leave parents feeling anxious and uncomfortable when seeking to make the best decision for their child.

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

A woman boils water for tea on a small tourist stove with dry fuel in complete darkness during a power and gas outage at home. B
Julie Jay: When it comes to parenting minus electricity, it’s a dim prospect
A day minus electricity is a reminder that parenting without electricity is kind of like giving birth without drugs — possible, but not  always preferable

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Teenager using Smartphone at Home
Joanna Fortune: My teen goes to bed late and then spends half the day in bed
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

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Mother and daughter at home
Colman Noctor: Parenting a highly sensitive child brings its own rewards
Sensitive children often reflect on existential issues beyond their chronological age. They are usually ‘deep thinkers’ prone to overanalysing feelings and experiences. But this is not always a cause for worry. Sensitive children can be incredibly thoughtful and insightful, making them ferociously loyal friends and strong allies to have in your corner

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Young mother, reading a book to her baby boy, showing him pictures
Dan Wuori: Relationships between parents and babies is the greatest love story of all 
Newborns are expert, super keen observers of adult lives. It’s like they’re on apprenticeship. They’re watching our faces, assessing our mood and gauging whether they’re safe

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Tots to Teens: Celebrating friendships with grandparents
Tots to Teens: Celebrating friendships with grandparents
And a shout-out to budding scientists

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Upset depressed young woman lying on couch feeling strong headache
Aoife Hearne: The connections between teenagers' diet and iron deficiency
My teenage daughter often gets pale and listless during her periods, which can be quite heavy. She's a picky eater and has a plain diet. Are there particular foods she should focus on?

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

little girl pulls her older sister hair
Joanna Fortune: My baby keeps pulling other people's hair
I don’t know how to react when she hurts other children

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

happy friends smiling, sitting and taking selfie with smartphone
Colman Noctor: Fact-checking three common myths about teenagers 
Stop blaming teens, and fact-check the stereotypes instead

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

Tots to Teens: Bringing Irish history to life with fun book
Tots to Teens: Bringing Irish history to life with fun book
It covers the period from the foundation of the Irish Free State to today

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

little kid playing hide and seek game;
Julie Jay: When it comes to organised fun of any kind, my eldest plays by his own rules
You haven’t known pain until you have known the pain of trying to play hide and seek with a four year old

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

FALLON FAMILY
'It means more freedom for Mikey': Our experience with cutting-edge surgery to treat epilepsy
Mikey Fallon’s epileptic seizures intensified at puberty. A high-stakes operation aided by a robot system was his only hope

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

Sunset jogging
Dr Phil Kieran: My sporty teenager has yet to get her periods
Could her intense exercise regimen explain why she is not menstruating?

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

Annoyed selfish young woman ignoring unhappy mature mother after quarrel
Joanna Fortune: My daughter says I don't love her in the same way as her sister
I appreciate how hurtful it can be to be told that all you have done for your family is still not enough

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Colman Noctor: I’ve yet to meet a nine-year-old who can safely manage their online life
Colman Noctor: I’ve yet to meet a nine-year-old who can safely manage their online life
We know that those who have grown up in a time when smartphone usage is a generation that sleeps less, socialise less and worries more than any previous generation

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Tots to Teens: All-natural soaps sure to be a hit with kids
Tots to Teens: All-natural soaps sure to be a hit with kids
Plus: Cocomelon in Bandon

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Father & Baby on Couch
'Mental health is a family matter': Breaking the silence on dads who experience baby blues
An estimated one in ten men experience depression during the year after the birth of their child but they are almost invisible to the mental health system 

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Little boy scratching me his chickenpox
Dr Phil Kieran: When is it safe to mix with others after chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a ‘vesicular’ rash, meaning it shows up as fluid-filled spots that burst.

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

One day I'll be tall as you, dad!
Julie Jay: Passing remarks to children can have a lasting effect on their self-esteem
When it comes to praising children, it’s probably best to leave things they can’t change off the list of attributes

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Mother gave her son a consoling pat on the back
Colman Noctor: How to negotiate house rules with your young adult child
Parents of adult children who are living at home often find themselves in a difficult position

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Depressed teenager on his phone in the dark.
Teens need at least eight hours’ rest a night to develop properly and regulate emotion
So many teenagers are so busy and stressed that they are chronically tired — here are some tips on helping your adolescent get the rest they need

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Cell phone break up
Joanna Fortune: My quiet teenage daughter is lonely and feels isolated at school
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

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Vaccination little girl.
We missed our baby's 12-month vaccinations — can they get them all at their next appointment?
Is it ok to get the MMR and MenB vaccines along with the Hib/MenC and PCV vaccines at the 13-month appointment? That seems like a lot for a baby to get at one GP visit...

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Tots to Teens: A soothing soap for sensitive skin made on a family farm
Tots to Teens: A soothing soap for sensitive skin made on a family farm
Plus a book to help children experiencing a family breakup

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Child drawing on a table at home and making a mischief
Julie Jay: Why throw tantrums when you can throw cutlery?
Anything can constitute a toy with a little imagination and a mother so tired she’s willing to give any game that doesn’t involve toxic substances the green light

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Rear View Of Mother And Daughter Walking On Road Against Sky
Colman Noctor: Children need shepherds, not engineers 
Rather than micro-managing their lives or spreading ourselves too thin to enable them to participate in every extracurricular activity possible, we need to take a back seat, let them develop at their own pace, and be there for them when they need us

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Floral tributes
Julie Jay: Losing a parent means membership to a club nobody wants to be in
My beloved dad's funeral took place the day before Christmas Eve, and I'm not sure my heart will ever be the same again

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Sleepy little boys eating breakfast cereal
Joanna Fortune: So hard to get back in the swing of early starts in January
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

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

portret funny baby toddler blonde boy
Phil Kieran: How do I stop my toddler getting hand, foot, and mouth disease again?
Hand, foot and mouth disease typically occurs in children younger than five and is highly contagious. It is caused by enteroviruses (usually the Coxsackie virus) and can be caused by a number of different strains

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Tots to Teens: Wands at the ready for Fairy School in Killarney
Tots to Teens: Wands at the ready for Fairy School in Killarney
And a book aiming to end disagreements between parents and teens over phones and video games

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Lonely senior woman sitting on sofa indoors at Christmas, solitude concept.
Joanna Fortune: My adult children left me to do almost everything on Christmas Day
They left everything up to me, including keeping an eye on their children

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Portrait of Caucasian toddler boy with a plate with food in front of him
Everything you need to know to deal with fussy eaters
Genetics can play a part in children struggling to eat a normal diet. But there is much parents can do to help them enjoy a wide range of foods, beginning with the understanding that it’s a gradual process, not a quick fix

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Serious cute little boy in hardhat and formalwear using digital tablet
Julie Jay: My vigilant little boy could have a future as a health and safety officer
A stickler for the rules, very little gets past my eagle-eyed offspring, and I have the wounded ego to prove it

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Tots to Teens: Fleece socks to keep tiny toes warm
Tots to Teens: Fleece socks to keep tiny toes warm
Plus: a book to help the whole family fall in love with Irish

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Teenage girl drinking a glass of milk at home
Aoife Hearne: My teenage daughter has switched to low-fat milk 
"Consuming enough energy from varied food sources is essential. All the macronutrient groups (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) play an important role in health and sporting performance."

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Pensive mature woman day dreaming by the window.
Joanna Fortune: I would love to have a relationship with my children and grandchildren
"No one needs to apologise for having a view. That said, we all need to be mindful of how and when we share that view and be sensitive to how it might land with people around us."

Tue, 31 Dec, 2024

man using smartphone with social media application icons
Colman Noctor: Contactless relationships do not add up for young people  
"We are witnessing the first generation who have not grown up on the street, road, or green, and the social and emotional consequences are becoming apparent."

Tue, 31 Dec, 2024

Tots To Teens: Ring in the new year with style
Tots To Teens: Ring in the new year with style
Plus: cards, diaries and fundraisers

Tue, 31 Dec, 2024

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