Dr Joanna Fortune believes we should focus more on the tween years because it is a significant stage of growth as the child’s relationship with the outside world starts to become more important. Negotiation and compromise are key during this stage and are skills that will come into play more in the teen years. 

Dr Fortune says the tween years are a great time to get to know your child as they work out their personal views and values. She shares tips on how to talk to tweens about more serious topics such as consent, respect and sexual curiosity.  

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After repeated lockdowns, there is what has been dubbed an epidemic of loneliness among young people and according to Hogan, teens are more disconnected than ever. 

He talks about the importance of connection at all ages, but especially teen years and offers advice for parents who want to help their child to connect with peers and feel less lonely. 

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The adolescent years bring a lot of changes and often teenagers struggle to cope with all their emotions.  However, it is important to keep lines of communication open and to allow for a teen to feel heard. 

Dr Noctor shares the one thing you should do and the one thing you shouldn’t do as a parent of a teen and offers guidance on how to navigate high sensitivity and effectively communicate with a teenager.  

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We are still seeing the impact of covid on children and young teens. Post-pandemic, Dr Joanna Fortune says she is getting more questions than ever from parents about anxious kids and has seen children a young as nine and ten presenting with anxiety. 

She shares how parents can approach the subject with teens and tweens and the signs to help recongise whether your child may be struggling with anxiety.  

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The role of grandparents has changed over the last number of years with the housing and cost of living crises placing more pressure on the family. As a result, many younger parents are relying on grandparents when it comes to childcare. 

Richard Hogan offers advice for grandparents on setting boundaries and how to negotiate with your adult children about your own needs while also supporting them. 

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According to ADHD Ireland, five per cent of children have a diagnosis and it can often present differently in young boys and girls. 

Dr Colman Noctor touches on the behavioural differences between ADD and ADHD and the importance of working to a child’s strength. He offers advice for parents who see a child with ADD or ADHD struggling to make friends and the one thing they can do to help. 

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Outdoor playtime has a range of benefits for children and is essential for physical and emotional development. According to Dr Joanna Fortune, unstructured play outdoors promotes positive risk-taking behaviour. 

She shares small ways to build movement into your daily routine and how to make it work even in the unpredictable Irish weather. Plus, she offers tips for getting even the most reluctant children outside. 

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One in ten people in Ireland have dyslexia and signs often emerge in early school years. In 2021, Richard Hogan shared his own diagnosis for the first time in the Irish Examiner.  

As someone who works in schools, he has seen how dyslexia can impact a child’s sense of self. He offers tips for parents on how to support a child with dyslexia and shares his own personal experience.  

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The covid-19 pandemic and a reliance on social media have created a world where many young people are missing tangible quality time with peers which is essential for development.  

Noctor shares tips for parents on how to support their child to develop friendships and the small tweaks that can be made to help create the all-important social opportunities with friends.  

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Loneliness is one of the biggest threats to mental wellbeing and Fortune says it is something that she is seeing regularly in her clinics, particularly since the pandemic.  

She notes the role social media plays in the lives and friendships of teenagers and offers advice for parents on what to do if their child is spending a lot of time on their own. 

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Exam season is a stressful time and Hogan says it’s important to make allowances for young people who may be a little more agitated and let them know that they are supported.   

He offers guidance on creating structure when it comes to studying and shares his advice for parents on how to be there for their children – and what not to say. 

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While some researchers say homework helps children to develop skills such as organisation, others believe it is counterproductive.  

Noctor is in the no-homework camp and sees how it impacts his children in very different ways. He offers guidance on creating healthy habits and advice for parents of teenagers who have little interest in studying or completing homework. 

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It can be tempting to shield your child but this comes with risks. Your child may struggle to navigate the failures and disappointments that are part of life. 

Hogan offers guidance on how to build your child's resilience and ability to cope with challenges head-on while also recognising when to ask for help. 

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Dr Fortune also offers helpful tips on navigating the tricky world of WhatsApp groups and how to turn down playdate invitations, which she sees as optional, not a necessity. 

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Colman explains how every child grows and changes at different rates and that parents must consider this when reacting to difficult behaviour. 

He also talks about identifying the root cause of what is often called 'attention-seeking behaviours'. 

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Healthy boundaries offer children a way to navigate their way in a world where we face challenges every day. They also give the child the tools to set their own boundaries with others.  

Here, Hogan gives a roadmap of how to set and maintain boundaries as well as how to respond when they are not followed. 

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With so many responsibilities and worries, self-care and fun can be the first things parents drop. But Fortune says looking after your own needs helps you to be the best parent that you can be. 

Fortune also speaks to those struggling to cope with low stamina, isolation, and the everyday pressures that come with parenting. 

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The more children are exposed to failure, disappointment and frustration, the more they learn how to cope with challenging life experiences, says Noctor. 

He also speaks about the impact of parental pressure - conscious and unconscious - on children. 

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Gaming can be more than a fun pastime for some. The World Health Organization has classified severe gaming as a new mental health condition. 

Here, Hogan talks about the signs of excessive gaming, setting boundaries, and not depending on games and devices to keep children occupied. 

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast please click here for a list of support services.

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Dr Fortune teaches the concept of going to A&E - acceptance and empathise. 

She also offers guidance on parenting a sensitive child and how to help them through the 'uh-oh' moments. 

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There is no set rule for when children should have their own smartphone as technology is only as smart as the person using it, says  Noctor. 

Children are exposed to the adult world - news, radical ideologies, pornography - due to their easy access to mass media. Parents must acknowledge this and talk with their children rather than bury their heads in the sand. 

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Play is a universal language and for young children, it is their main language and a way of interpreting the world around them. 

It is vital to their development, and parents must be ready and willing to get involved, says Fortune.

Here, she offers tips on how to get the most out of play with your child.

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Colman offers guidance on recognising when anxiety goes beyond the norm and how to help your child through it. 

He explains that while he does not buy into the notion that strength comes from adversity, there needs to be a balance between helping your child and letting them figure things out for themselves. 

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