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Little Acts of Kindness: Nominate a child who did a selfless deed and you could win a voucher
Little Acts of Kindness: Nominate a child who did a selfless deed and you could win a voucher
This Christmas the Irish Examiner is raising much-needed funds for SVP

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Kite template heart for Valentines day. Helpful element for web design and print.
Julie Jay: My mother-in-law was never happier than when indulging her grandkids' every whim
Her funeral in Carrick-on-Shannon was a testament to a life well lived

Tue, 10 Dec, 2024

Christmas gift guide: Seven great gifts for kids, including wooden toys and book subscriptions
Christmas gift guide: Seven great gifts for kids, including wooden toys and book subscriptions
Boardgames, books, snap-happy electronics and ooey-gooey therapy dough

Tue, 03 Dec, 2024

Mother and kids enjoying sunset in mountains
Joanna Fortune: How do I explain mum's distance to my children? 
"The fact that your children are now asking about it indicates they are identifying the difference between the grandmother who is physically and emotionally present in your lives and the one who is notably not so."

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

Boy Using Smartphone Typing, Chatting Conversation Concept. Chat Box Icons. Social Media Maketing.
Colman Noctor: Technology is reducing our children’s attention spans
"Technology is designed to tap into our innate desire for instant gratification. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube deliver quick bursts of entertainment, creating a reward loop that keeps us returning for more."

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

School age boy laying in bed with a flu
What to do if your child has a cough, cold or sniffles
‘Tis the season for colds and flu. Before taking your little one to the doctor, try some steps at home first to aid their recovery

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

caring mother wrapping sick children in blanket while sitting on sofa
Joanna Fortune: How can I help my children get over their grandad's angry outbursts? 
"To love someone and, at the same time, to be afraid or nervous around them due to their unpredictability is very difficult. It also makes for very complicated grief, which is what you seem to be describing."

Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

please wash your hands
Dr Phil Kieran: What can we do to prevent return of worms?
"Worms are a very common condition in children. They most frequently are found when a child complains of an itchy bottom, particularly at night, and can be seen in their poo as moving, tiny, white, thread-like things."

Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

Online grooming crimes
How might a social media ban benefit under-16s – and are there any drawbacks?
A ban could have a positive impact on children’s mental health

Mon, 18 Nov, 2024

Tots to Teens: Toy Show star Adam King pens festive adventure 
Tots to Teens: Toy Show star Adam King pens festive adventure 
Ireland's favourite astronaut-in-training turns his attention to the written word - with all proceeds to kids in University Hospital Waterford

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

Boy sleeping in bed with crisp white sheets
Dr Phil Kieran: What can I do about my child's bedwetting? 
"Bedwetting can be a very sensitive topic and difficult to sort out. The good news is that it usually settles down by itself."

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

Happy young mother and father embrace their child with care and love.
Julie Jay: I was never much of a hugger, but now hugs are a big thing in our house 
I have often wondered, how many times is too many times to tell my kids I love them

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

Richard Hogan: The technological and logistical magic of Santa
Richard Hogan: Why was Alex McCartney able to use Snapchat in his deplorable actions?
We need sophisticated digital literacy in schools as a matter of urgency. We also have to hold Snapchat and all the other social media platforms to account

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Boy sitting at the dining room table and eating breakfast in bowl
Aoife Hearne: My son has lost his appetite following virus
"Your son’s appetite will return, so be patient. Offer small and frequent meals and snacks throughout the day, and don’t be afraid to let him take the lead with the foods he finds appealing right now."

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone
Colman Noctor: Everything parents need to know about their child's use of Snapchat
'Snapchat does not always accurately curtail or filter content to the user’s age. Not only are they vulnerable to viewing inappropriate content, they can also create and share such content on Spotlight'

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Cute toddler boy watching cartoon movie in the cinema
Julie Jay: Baby-and-parent comedy gigs are a riot 
Parent and baby events are fast becoming my dream events to do - mostly because the hecklers can’t speak

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Tots to Teens: Go wild for Irish nature with The Great Irish Biodiversity Book
Tots to Teens: Go wild for Irish nature with The Great Irish Biodiversity Book
Plus: You may have just packed away the Halloween decorations, but ultra-organised parents are already gearing up for Christmas.

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Teenage girl working out on exercise bike in a gym
Joanna Fortune: My teenage daughter wants to lose weight 
"I wonder if your daughter is more of a ‘selective eater’ than a ‘fussy eater’, and she is refusing what she would previously have eaten because it doesn’t fit within her new fitness goals."

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Neurodivergent children take control in calming sensory cubbies 
Neurodivergent children take control in calming sensory cubbies 
A multi-sensory booth developed by the father of an autistic child offers a special space away from the noise of public places

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Peeking Over the Counter
Joanna Fortune: My young daughter keeps telling lies, is this normal?
Children start to lie around three years old when they realise their parents are not mind readers and don’t know everything

Sun, 03 Nov, 2024

Little girl having fun on Halloween trick or treat
Expert tips to make Halloween less scary, especially for neuro-divergent children
It’s often scary for little ones to dress up in ghoulish clothes and go trick-or-treating in their local area. This can especially be the case if the child is neurodivergent

Thu, 31 Oct, 2024

Upset girl on her smartphone in the dark.
Colman Noctor: Helping young people deal with online issues like bullying
We must provide the necessary support for young people to navigate the digital world

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Rear View Of Children In Halloween Costumes Going Trick Or Treat. Little Boy Ringing The Doorbell Of The House Decorated For Hal
Halloween is the one time we do the unthinkable - we knock on a neighbour’s door unannounced
Some people may turn off the lights and pretend not to be home, but most will greet the kids with a smile and a few sweets

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Tots to teens: Carnival of thrills as circus festival rolls into town
Tots to teens: Carnival of thrills as circus festival rolls into town
Plus the Dragon of Shandon returns for Halloween

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Stubborn upset little daughter ignoring strict mother, family conflict
How to negotiate with your young child as if your life depended on it
Negotiation at its core is about understanding human behaviour — and this applies whether you are dealing with a bank robber or a toddler

Sun, 27 Oct, 2024

Young caucasian woman mother changing clothes and diapers to her small five months old baby boy or girl on the back seat of the
Julie Jay: We have all experienced our own '17 diapers' moment
After women started sharing their own moments of perceived parental failure to support a woman vilified for failing to dispose of soiled nappies in her home, I can't help but think it is these moments, not the moments of triumph, which connect us

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Maybe it's time for some fresh air...
Joanna Fortune: Our son won't compete if he thinks someone else will win
Is this just a phase? We are afraid he will miss out on wonderful opportunities in the future if he deems it a win-lose scenario

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Mother with sons on sofa enjoying home movie night.
Colman Noctor: Watching television as a family can boost emotional health 
From Highway to Heaven to Fortycoats & Co — television shows I watched in my childhood and early adulthood played a significant role in shaping the views, opinions and beliefs I still hold today

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Close up of calluses. Problem skin on the steps of a teenager
Dr Phil Kieran: My gym-going teenager has blisters on his feet 
"Most, if not all, of us will experience these at some point in our lives unless we are inactive, so it's a good idea to know what they are, how to prevent them, and what to do if you do have them."

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

men and women sandals on the beach
Julie Jay: Partners to parents — like trying to climb a mountain in a pair of flip-flops
Former TV presenter and Supernanny recently expressed her belief that parents shouldn’t blame their kids for their problems, but the reality is parenting is the biggest test for any relationship

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Sore Throat - Boy holding his neck in pain
Dr Phil Kieran: Should my son get his tonsils taken out?
"Recurrent tonsillitis can be a real pain in the neck. The tonsils sit in the back of the throat and form part of a ring of immune tissue surrounding the upper openings of the oesophagus (food pipe) and trachea (windpipe)."

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Primary school kids, wearing school uniforms and backpacks, running on a walkway outside their school building, front view
Colman Noctor: Educational outcomes determined by financial resources of parents
A new study shows the impact social background has on children's educational experience

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Flying together: On board with families travelling for treatment
Flying together: On board with families travelling for treatment
After her youngest son was treated successfully for cancer, Aer Lingus cabin crew member Niamh Hurley Forrester set up a volunteer airport assistance scheme to support other parents whose child has to travel abroad for medical care

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Tots to Teens: Fun plates and utensils for fussy eaters
Tots to Teens: Fun plates and utensils for fussy eaters
Plus: breastfeeding, scary dances, and spooktacular Waterford

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Richard Hogan: The technological and logistical magic of Santa
Richard Hogan: This is why I think smartphone pouches could be €9 million well spent
"Any attempt to get smartphones out of schools should be welcome. They cause significant problems. They rob childhood. They disrupt learning, and impact mental health. There is a growing body of evidence on the damage these phones are doing to our children."

Wed, 09 Oct, 2024

Portrait of serious stylish attractive man dressed with a casual black shirt looking at the empty wallet
Joanna Fortune: My teenager expects me to fund his social life 
"Entitlement starts with wanting something. That want quickly becomes a need. When we need something and another person withholds that from us, we get angry, even enraged, because we believe we are entitled to have our needs met."

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Regrets
Julie Jay: Children should not be shielded from their mistakes or ours
Before having kids,I swore I wouldn’t be one of those parents who would automatically side with their child, no matter the circumstance, but when it comes to our children it’s hard to be Switzerland

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Best Friends in School
Colman Noctor: Focus on schoolchildren, not on smartphone pouches 
If we are to manage our problematic relationship with technology, we need to work with humans, not the devices.

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Mother doing head lice cleaning on daughter
Head lice: Scratch the belief your child is safe
Head lice are equal opportunity invaders, meaning an infestation is unrelated to socio-economic status or cleanliness of the hair

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Tots to Teens: Wild about our native language with Lapa Beag
Tots to Teens: Wild about our native language with Lapa Beag
"These eco-friendly charming prints feature simple Irish rhymes designed to inspire curiosity about the language in young and old alike."

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

shocked beautiful woman covering mouth on blue background
Phil Kieran: How can my teen stop her cold sores from coming back?
"It’s possible to spread it even without getting cold sores yourself. A significant portion of people who have ‘never had a cold sore’ will shed the virus occasionally without knowing it."

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Richard Hogan: The technological and logistical magic of Santa
Richard Hogan: Strategies to help your neurodivergent child go back to school
ASD children, in my experience, may be very good at hiding the distress that the school environment is causing them

Wed, 02 Oct, 2024

Young woman freelancer using laptop working online making notes
Joanna Fortune: My teen has done their Leaving Cert but has no idea what they want to do in life now
I'm doing my best to be patient, but it's very difficult to see them hanging around the house when the rest of the family is working flat out

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

Father and his little son playing together in a park
Colman Noctor: Why parent-child attachment styles are important to understand
The attachment style a child forms with their caregiver significantly influences how they approach relationships as adults. Securely attached children tend to become adults comfortable with intimacy and trusting others easily.  Those with insecure attachments (anxious, avoidant, or disorganised) may struggle with trust, emotional regulation, or forming healthy, close relationships

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

Breastfeeding support from mums who know the difficulties — and the high points
Breastfeeding support from mums who know the difficulties — and the high points
Not every new mother will take to it ‘naturally’. Issues can include sore nipples, excess milk, and not knowing when baby is hungry

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

Low section of young friends sitting on a bench
Julie Jay: Teenagers today are so much nicer than we used to be
Their emotional intelligence and sensible footwear are reminders that this generation of kids is alright

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

Happy Family Having Breakfast together, Overhead View
Aoife Hearne: How to eat healthily when you're bombarded with self-described nutrition experts on social media
From what I can see, many nutrition ‘influencers’ have no recognised qualifications, and much of the information shared is inaccurate at best and, at worst, damaging. Their advice is often scaremongering, masquerading as a professional concern about our lack of understanding about food

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

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