Verrucas are such pesky things to deal with. What’s more, they seem to be very common among children. People don’t really talk about them, given that verrucas are hidden away on the soles of their little feet, but they are rife among children. It’s a battle we’re fighting in my own house at the moment. […]
Teaching children is more than reading and writing
It goes without saying that parents want the best for their children. We hope they’ll thrive in all they do. When our children encounter academic difficulties, it can be tricky to navigate. How much should we expect from the child? There can be a fine line between being a supportive parent and a pushy parent, […]
Parenting Column: Discovering that your child’s friend vapes
By Louise Flanagan My oldest child is eleven years old and I can feel the pull of her friends starting to take hold. She has a great bunch of pals and I know that leaning more on them is a natural part of growing up. However, there seems to be a general consensus that for […]
Consistency is important when navigating back to school blues for little learners
We are flying through the academic year and, for some little learners, it’s all getting a bit tedious! The reality of going to school day in, day out is wearing thin for some, and it can be a real struggle for parents to deal with. One such parent recently messaged Letterkenny Babies Facebook page: “My […]
PARENTING COLUMN: Let’s go back in time to simpler Nativity play costumes
By Louise Flanagan Nativity plays were in full swing in primary schools across the county in the lead up to Christmas. First of all, fair play to the teachers for all the hard work that goes into these performances. As my late Granda, Paddy Doherty used to say, ‘It would be like herding mice at […]
Parenting column: When is it too early to let you daughter use skin care products?
As the mum of a tween (that is, a child aged between ten and 12), I’m well aware that skin care products are all the rage for them right now. Plenty will be hoping to see Bubble, Byoma or Drunk Elephant skin care products in their stockings this Christmas. When I was that age, my […]
Parenting: I always think it’s nice when Santa brings the kids something to read
It’s November, so that means that the Christmas shopping is underway. Yes, I know it’s too early for some, but when you’ve got young kids, it’s wise to be organised in good time and also to spread the cost. The old adage that Santa likes to bring four things at Christmas can be helpful: Something […]
Parenting Column: Halloween brings happy memories of fun times
By Louise Flanagan Halloween celebrations grow year on year, with more houses displaying spooky decorations and more grown-ups opting to dress up too. Personally, I love Halloween. Before I had kids, I used to take great pride in making my costumes; a time-consuming process that resulted in scissors, superglue, staple guns and glitter scattered the […]
The little things I’ve learned about looking after a pet guinea pig
Lots of us have a family pet, such as a dog or cat that the whole family enjoys. Ideally, everyone helps out with its care, but I’m sure in most cases, it’s the grown ups who end up doing the heavy lifting (as well as the poop lifting!) Smaller pets like hamsters and rabbits tend […]
PARENTING: What would you do if your child stole something while you’re out at the shops?
By Louise Flanagan Young children being light-fingered in shops seems to be quite common. Whether it’s sweets, small toys, or something random that catches their covetous little eye, the urge overwhelms some of them. Based on my own experience as a mother, the statistic is one in three! A page member recently wrote into Letterkenny […]