Parenting - Preschool - Irish Examiner

Julie Jay: I used to be sound, but now I am officially a bad mammy

After a few weeks of being a cranky old wench, I am convinced I am giving even Medea a run for her money in the bad mammy stakes

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Allergy skin of an Asian kid on her legs with hand to scratch in natural light.

Dr Phil Kieran: My son's childhood eczema is back and it's painful

Eczema often settles down to some extent with age. For your son, this means that although it hasn’t settled yet, there is a decent chance it will over the next few years

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Tots to Teens: How to build a bird nest box with your children

Plus card games, expert-led talks, and more

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Mother Wearing Headphones Listening a Podcast While Baby Sleeps

'A trusted voice is very important and can help when parents are questioning everything'

Whether it’s helping your baby sleep, feed, or thrive, there’s a show to support you. We chat to the hosts of some of Ireland’s most popular parenting podcasts

Sun, 01 Feb, 2026

Mikey Geaney celebrates kicking the winning point 18/1/2026

Julie Jay: My five-year-old’s first trip to Croke Park was a cracker

When a town wins the All-Ireland final, it’s not just the players at the pitch who win, but everyone, whether its the child blowing his horn or the 40-something-year-old woman like me who’s never kicked a ball in her life

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Tots to Teens: Guidance for the budding wordsmith

Storytelling skills, an aid for messy eating, and developing a positive mindset

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Child, cute boy, playing with toys in a playroom, focus on his feet

Julie Jay: My toddler believes the word ‘no’ is an invitation to start negotiating

With missiles flying around my kitchen left right and centre, I feel like Packie Bonner in Italia 90

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

You're going to be the best brother ever

Joanna Fortune: I'm not sure how I'm going to manage it all when my baby arrives

Keep in mind the old saying: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Tots to teens: Where play meets child development

Children's wellness range in Aldi stores has affordably priced products designed to encourage gentle play and mindful moments

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Little doctor using stethoscope on teddy bear at home

Julie Jay: Making a doctor’s appointment is up there with getting a bikini wax in January

Despite both being on antibiotics, I am still chasing my children around shops, because even when fuelled by penicillin, they have yet to meet an automatic door they haven't wanted to run through

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Tots to Teens: Take a step in the right direction

From January 19 to February 15, the 2026 Forvis Mazars Steps Team challenge calls on people of all ages and fitness levels to take on one of two physical challenges and raise funds for Jigsaw and Bumbleance

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Tots to Teens: Brush up your art skills for RTÉ contest

Under 18s have until midnight on January 31 to submit works with theme of 'This is Nature'

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Julie Jay: Why I'm thrilled to finally say goodbye to Christmas

I used to feel melancholic putting away the decorations, now I am craving beige interior, floor space, and a life that is tinsel-free

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Back-to-school mode activated: How to help your child adjust after a relaxed Christmas break

Switching from the relaxed-holiday mode can be jarring for children. But a positive attitude can make a huge difference

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Early events to welcome the new year

Also, check out some hat-and-mitten sets, personalised book crates and snuggle bibs for your little ones as well as events for exhausted mums

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Multitasking mother cooks food, holds baby on hands and talks on the phone. Mom with kid cooking meal on gas stove, does housewo

Julie Jay: Like oil and water, rest and motherhood simply don’t mix

I used to be great at napping during the day, but now I am as much a stranger to an afternoon siesta as I am to brushing my hair

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Colman Noctor: Children need our presence during festive season not a performance

When we manage expectations we can hopefully make room for what matters most: Presence, warmth, and connection

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Keep little hands and minds busy

Sit your little ones down over the next few days with pencils, markers, paints, or a tablet or laptop so they can then enter their designs in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Woman is sitting on sofa near christmas tree and is sad because of loneliness and lack of friends

Julie Jay: Having kids doesn’t make grief easier, but it helps keep you grounded

It is nearly impossible to believe my dad has been gone a year, but as much as the kids have kept me moving forward, they've kept me grounded in the present, too

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Last chance to visit festive wonderland

Last Christmas Magical Parade of 2025 is taking place in Killarney on Saturday, December 20, where the streets come to life with colourful floats, festive music, and beloved fairytale characters accompanied by Santa and his elves

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Low angle view of young Caucasian woman volunteer in rubber gloves collect garbage squatting on coast. Concept of Earth Day and

Colman Noctor: Teaching children to choose kindness in a 'me first' world

If we want a society that bands together, we need to teach children to help others so that when they grow up they will know they are not alone, and that no one else should be either, writes Dr Colman Noctor

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Julie Jay: The Big Man always comes up trumps despite his workload

Bringing the children to see Santa was a truly magical experience, and the fact we managed to get through a family afternoon without killing each other proves miracles can happen

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Shining a light on childhood cancer appeal

Fair City actress Kiara Noonan is calling on the public to support the Irish Cancer Society’s children’s Christmas appeal.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Cute little preschool girl in safety helmet riding bicycle. School kid boy, brother teaching happy healthy sister child cycling

The kindness we seek in strangers starts in our own homes

If we want our children to be kind to others, we must start by teaching them to be kind to themselves and their siblings

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Barnardos asks the public for donations

"More families turned to the charity in 2024 than in any other year, because of the cost-of-living crisis and rising homelessness, resulting in more than 35,600 children and adults availing of its services. That’s the highest number ever."

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

PARENTING - PRESCHOOL

Colman Noctor: This is the early years sleep advice every parent should know

Julie Jay: Son of a gun — why everyone in our house is suddenly ducking for cover

Colman Noctor: Growing up in a flatscreen world can flatline social skills

Julie Jay: Lessons in resilience from my personal parenting guru

Joanna Fortune: My toddler gets upset when I breastfeed the baby

Colman Noctor: F**k Around and Find Out — What is fafo parenting?

Julie Jay: I used to be sound, but now I am officially a bad mammy

Dr Phil Kieran: My son's childhood eczema is back and it's painful

Tots to Teens: How to build a bird nest box with your children

'A trusted voice is very important and can help when parents are questioning everything'

Julie Jay: My five-year-old’s first trip to Croke Park was a cracker

Tots to Teens: Guidance for the budding wordsmith

Julie Jay: My toddler believes the word ‘no’ is an invitation to start negotiating

Joanna Fortune: I'm not sure how I'm going to manage it all when my baby arrives

Tots to teens: Where play meets child development

Julie Jay: Making a doctor’s appointment is up there with getting a bikini wax in January

Tots to Teens: Take a step in the right direction

Tots to Teens: Brush up your art skills for RTÉ contest

Julie Jay: Why I'm thrilled to finally say goodbye to Christmas

Back-to-school mode activated: How to help your child adjust after a relaxed Christmas break

Tots to Teens: Early events to welcome the new year

Julie Jay: Like oil and water, rest and motherhood simply don’t mix

Colman Noctor: Children need our presence during festive season not a performance

Tots to Teens: Keep little hands and minds busy

Julie Jay: Having kids doesn’t make grief easier, but it helps keep you grounded

Tots to Teens: Last chance to visit festive wonderland

Colman Noctor: Teaching children to choose kindness in a 'me first' world

Julie Jay: The Big Man always comes up trumps despite his workload

Tots to Teens: Shining a light on childhood cancer appeal

The kindness we seek in strangers starts in our own homes

Tots to Teens: Barnardos asks the public for donations

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