Parenting | The Irish Times

“My husband is as capable of running the house as I am.” Photograph: iStock

I’m told I’m lucky because my husband pulls his weight – but why wouldn’t he?

I’m married to a ‘rare diamond’, but despite his equal capability, expectations are lower

Encourage your son to challenge his own thinking so he can learn to reassure himself.

My 11-year-old son has really low self-esteem

Ask the Expert: My son keeps saying he is stupid and has no friends

Tommy Horkan (11) from Mount Merrion in Dublinhaving fun at Explorium. Photograph: Robbie Reynolds

School's out: Things to do with children over the midterm break

Schools are on their midterm break next week. Here are some great options to keep kids entertained

Barnardos chief executive Suzanne Connolly at the organisation’s Finglas centre. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘For better or worse, we all carry our childhood with us’

Barnardos chief Suzanne Connolly on the the impact of what happens behind closed doors

Children

Focusing on the shyness can inadvertently make a child think something might be wrong with them. Photograph: iStockphoto

How to encourage your child’s potential . . . from toddler to teen

Saying ‘don’t be shy’ or ‘has the cat got your tongue?’ can increase his anxiety

Teenagers

For teenagers, bereavement can be particularly difficult to come to terms with. Photograph: iStockphoto

Ask the expert: Our daughter is struggling since the death of a classmate

She is struggling to get a proper night’s sleep and is very anxious before going to bed

Toddlers

Sleep training requires a lot of patience and does not yield immediate results. Photograph: Thinkstock

Ask the expert: How do we get a toddler to sleep all night?

If you have a parenting query, send your question to health@irishtimes.com

Babies

Pixie McKenna: ‘In an ideal world, if you can cook something, great. It’s cheaper, it’s more convenient, you can batch-cook and, ultimately, as you go through the stages, you can all eat the same thing, which is really important.’

Pixie McKenna on weaning: ‘I hadn’t a clue’

‘Dr Pixie’s First Foods’ examines weaning and babies’ first food recipes . . . sugar included

Relationships

As one of my boys is 12 and prepubescent, I’m concerned about telling him about his dad before he has established his own sexual identity. Photograph: Thinkstock

Ask the Expert: How do I tell my sons their father is bisexual?

John Sharry helps solve your parenting problems. Send your queries to health@irishtimes.com

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