Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss the tween years and the importance of negotiation as your child goes through a range of changes. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Dr Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss the increasing levels of loneliness among teens and how parents can best support their child if they feel they are lonely. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss how to communicate with a teenager who is reluctant to talk. 

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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Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan sit down to discuss anxiety in children and how parents can best understand it. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss how to navigate the politics of being a grandparent today. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan sit down to discuss Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and how to recgonise it in children. 

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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Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan talk about the importance of encouraging children to go outside and explore. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss supporting a child with dyslexia. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss the loneliness epidemic amongst teenagers and the role parents can play in helping young people to develop friendships. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan talk about the importance of friendships for teenagers and the impact of loneliness during the adolescent years. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Dr Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss ways to help your child in the run-up to exams. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan sit down to discuss the pros and cons of homework for primary school children. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss ways to help children cope with life's ups and downs.

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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Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss the dynamics of school gate relationships and playdates.  Whether they are casual connections or the beginnings of a deeper friendship, relationships with other parents can help us navigate the early school years. 

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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Child psychotherapist and best-selling author Dr Colman Noctor joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss managing challenging behaviour - from toddlers to teens. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss the importance of setting boundaries in your child's life. 

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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Child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan talk about how parents need to prioritise their health and wellbeing. 

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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Child psychotherapist and best-selling author Dr Colman Noctor joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss the pitfalls of being too involved in your child's life. 

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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to chat about the impact that gaming and gaming culture have on children. 

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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Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to talk about dealing with a distressed child. 

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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