Parenting - Advice - Irish Examiner

Sign in

PARENTING - ADVICE

A collection of the latest columns, analysis and opinion relating to the world of parenting and its unique challenges. Enjoy.

<p>
<span lang="EN-US">Sibling arguments... "It doesn't take much to set them off. It breaks my heart to see them behave this way. The last time they fought, they refused to talk to each other for a week. I know it's probably related to their hormone changes, but the tension is wearing me down."</span>
</p>

parenting

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

<p>Izzy and Cliona Gaughran pictured on the merry goaround at last year's Kaleidoscope Festival. Pic: Marc O'Sullivan</p>

parenting

Tots to Teens: Kaleidoscope is a festival of family fun

3156113_1_org_Colman_Noctor_Circle_headshot

Colman Noctor: Digital literacy does not happen by accident

3156119_1_org_Julie_Jay_Circle_headshot

Julie Jay: The years go fast, but some days I can't help but wish they hurried up a bit

3156116_1_org_Joanne_Fortune_Circle_headshot

Joanna Fortune: Does my anxious child need professional help?

3156116_1_org_Joanne_Fortune_Circle_headshot

Joanna Fortune: My husband and I have different parenting styles - how do we work on this?

'Be kind to people': Well-known faces share words of wisdom from their fathers

'Be kind to people': Well-known faces share words of wisdom from their fathers

Whether through words of wisdom or by setting a good example, high-profile people share what they learned from their fathers.

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Tots to Teens: Penguins waddle into the limelight in new book

Tots to Teens: Penguins waddle into the limelight in new book

Penguin TV by Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher imagines that the penguins are using a webcam to create their own reality television show

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Close up of young kid using smart phone at night

Colman Noctor: France pulls the plug on underage access to pornography

In a novel move, the law introduces a “double anonymity” mechanism, involving an independent third party overseeing the age verification process.

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Sick little boy cleaning nose in bed

Dr Phil Kieran: My child picks up every bug going — how can I help boost his immune system?

There are several steps you can take to help improve your child's immune system

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Cheerful and excited toddler with her coffer on a airport

Joanna Fortune: How can I control my young children on their first flight?

I’m already dreading the trip. What would you suggest?

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Little girl sitting on sofa and touching painful belly with arms at living room. Child suffering from stomach ache at home.

Aoife Hearne: Has my child inherited coeliac disease from her grandad?

Should I eliminate all gluten products from her diet? Or does she need to be tested?

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Tired student trying to study in the night

Colman Noctor: Using a sports psychology game plan to manage exam stress

Students can benefit from setting SMART goals: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Tots to Teens: Tiny atoms make big reactions at Cork Carnival of Science

Tots to Teens: Tiny atoms make big reactions at Cork Carnival of Science

Plus free creative events and activities for Cruinniú na nÓg

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Sad little girl

Joanna Fortune: My grandchild gets upset when it's time to leave the playground

Transitions are not easy for young children to manage, so they often struggle with ending one fun task (playing on the playground) and doing something not so fun (going home for lunch/nap, etc)

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Cute little baby boy, eating mashed vegetables for lunch, mom feeding him

Too much sugar for your sweet baby — a look at ready-made meals and food pouches

Ready-made foods and food pouches for infants are often high in sugar, watery, and much less nutritious than is claimed, and purées may hinder development of motor and chewing skills and also hand co-ordination

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Tourist at windmills in Zaanse Schans

Colman Noctor: Learning from the Dutch approach, where teenagers have high life satisfaction

A UNICEF report has revealed that Irish teenagers are among the least satisfied with life in high-income countries

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Tots to Teens: Inspiring a lifelong love of food and cooking in primary school children

Tots to Teens: Inspiring a lifelong love of food and cooking in primary school children

‘Stronger Starts Cooks’ is a free six-week programme prompted by research that found 92% of parents would like to see more food education in the school curriculum

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Labrador Puppy

Joanna Fortune: My children refuse to help look after our new puppy

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

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Teenagers Relaxing at Youth Club

Colman Noctor: Are youth clubs a traditional solution to a modern problem?

Often seen as relics of the past, youth clubs are vital for the social, emotional, and psychological rehabilitation of today's younger generation

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Woman having stomach ache

Can my teen speed up recovery from cracked ribs?

With rib injuries, we tend not to breathe very deeply. Pain relief is important to reduce the risk of developing a chest infection. This is because the movement of the ribs is painful, so we try to reduce it

Tue, 20 May, 2025

Child rock pooling and collecting sea shells

Tots to Teens: Life’s a beach with Cork seashore tour

And Little Puckers, the award-winning children’s playgroup for aspiring GAA stars, is holding Gaelic games-themed play sessions for children aged 18 months to five years across the country

Tue, 20 May, 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

Sneaky Snacks

Joanna Fortune: I'm worried about bringing my noisy children to wedding

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

Tue, 13 May, 2025

Tots to Teens: From Barnardos ‘Big Toddle’ fundraiser to colourful fun in Cobh

Tots to Teens: From Barnardos ‘Big Toddle’ fundraiser to colourful fun in Cobh

The Big Toddle is a fundraiser that Barnardos has organised every May and June for the past 22 years, raising €4.84m for Barnardos’ early years services in the process

Tue, 13 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

Baby shower or nesting party? The support mums really want before their baby's birth

Baby shower or nesting party? The support mums really want before their baby's birth

Baby shower or nesting party? We ask four mums about the kind of support they would have liked in the run-up to their baby's birth and during the exhausting early weeks after the arrival

Sun, 11 May, 2025

Jumping in the sea waves on the beach

Joanna Fortune: My child hates going to the beach — I need a solution that works for both of us

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

Tue, 06 May, 2025

Little girl eating cereal with milk

Aoife Hearne: The smallest worry puts my daughter off food — what can I do?

Stress and anxiety can affect our eating behaviours. While we generally associate chronic stress with increased food intake and frequency of eating, acute stress can have the opposite effect

Tue, 06 May, 2025

Tots to Teens: Spot the difference and join the dots with activity book featuring Michael D Higgins

Tots to Teens: Spot the difference and join the dots with activity book featuring Michael D Higgins

From the President's Sticker Activity Book to playing dress-up, here's a selection of products and activities for the children to enjoy

Tue, 06 May, 2025

Unhappy Teenage Girl With Mobile Phone Lying On Bed At Home Anxious About Social Media Online Bullying And Using Phone Too Much

Colman Noctor: Rise in therapy talk can make teens see everyday stress as a sign of mental illness

Emotions, even painful ones, are not inherently dangerous but inevitable challenges of living

Tue, 06 May, 2025

Your digital cookbook