Growing Pains Irish Examiner

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 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 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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Child psychotherapist and best-selling author, Dr. Colman Noctor, joins ieParenting editor, Irene Feighan, to discuss the epidemic of anxiety among young people. 
 
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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Child psychotherapist and podcaster, Dr Joanna Fortune, joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss the importance of 'playful parenting'. 
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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Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to talk about the difficult topic of bullying - online and in person. During the discussion, Hogan explains his novel concept of playing 'bullying school' with his children.  Whether your child is a bully or being bullied, there are ways for parents to understand, create an open dialogue, and help them deal with the situation.
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