‘My 10-year-old daughter is very quiet and we think she may be autistic’Ask the Expert: Taking time to consider whether your child may be autistic might yield a better understanding of their needs. Also, there is a growing positive identity around being autisticMon Dec 11 2023 - 06:01
‘My 11-year-old son hates going to school and always complains of being tired’Ask the Expert: ‘His teacher says he is very bright and able, though often switched off or daydreaming in the class’Mon Nov 27 2023 - 06:01
‘How do I stop my 18-year-old son smoking so much weed?’Ask the Expert: The first step is to get informed about the risks of drug taking so you know what to watch out for and how you can respondMon Nov 13 2023 - 06:01
‘How will my daughter be affected when we move house?’Ask the Expert: It is right to weigh up all aspects of your decision carefully and to think through how to manage it well for your daughterMon Oct 30 2023 - 06:01
‘My five-year-old son will not use the toilet’Ask the Expert: My boy can’t explain why he can’t use the toilet. But I know autistic children can … hate changes of routineMon Oct 16 2023 - 06:01
‘Would it help my son if I got an ADHD diagnosis too?’Ask the Expert: When parents embark on a journey of ADHD assessment and getting help for their child, it can usually mean the start of a wider family journeyMon Oct 02 2023 - 06:01
‘My son is gifted but really hates going to school’Ask the Expert: ‘He looks really down in the dumps most days and I worry about him’Mon Sept 18 2023 - 05:31
‘My 14-year-old son has become really dependent on his phone’Ask the Expert: 'In the heat of a row, I did remove his phone, and this sparked a serious meltdown'Mon Sept 04 2023 - 05:31
At what age should I give my child a mobile phone?Ask the Expert: Having a rule of ‘no phone until secondary school’ is a very reasonable goal, though frequently this decision is not just an individual family oneMon Aug 21 2023 - 06:01
‘My four-year-old son is on a long waiting list for an autism assessment’Ask the Expert: ‘He is due to start school in September but I don’t know when he will be assessed’Mon Aug 07 2023 - 05:31
‘My son who is six years old is an extremely fussy eater and may have an eating disorder’Ask the Expert: If I do try to push him to eat foods, he gets very agitated and it sets him backMon Jul 24 2023 - 05:01
‘My 12-year-old son wants to start posting videos on YouTube’Ask the Expert: ‘I worry about whether it is a good idea. Once the videos are on the internet they will be there forever’Mon Jul 10 2023 - 05:31
‘My 10-year-old daughter says she is fat and needs to go on a diet’Ask the Expert: ‘Her closest friend is quite skinny so I wonder if she is comparing herself to this girl’Mon Jun 26 2023 - 06:01
‘My daughter struggles to make friends and is anxious going to school. Could she be autistic?’Ask the Expert: I came across an article on autism and it was like a light-bulb momentMon Jun 12 2023 - 05:31
‘My son never talks about school. Should I be worried?’Ask the Expert: Rather than having the goal of your son telling you about his school day, focus on creating a non-pressured after-school routineTue May 30 2023 - 06:01
‘My 12-year-old daughter won’t do anything she is told to do’Ask the Expert: When helping your PDA child the first step is to adopt a positive a compassionate understanding stance towards themMon May 15 2023 - 05:31
‘My five-year-old daughter can be really bossy. I don’t think this is a good thing’Ask the Expert: When I try to intervene, she does not respond wellMon May 01 2023 - 06:01
‘My son has no problem mixing with girls but has difficulty interacting with other boys’Ask the Expert: My son, who is 12, has spoken about feeling his life is not worth living and can be very negative in outlookMon Apr 17 2023 - 06:01
‘Should we let our 16-year-old son drink at home with us?’Ask the Expert: Evidence suggests this tactic doesn’t work so make sure to set your rules and preferences clearlyMon Apr 03 2023 - 05:31
‘My 12-year-old daughter has been ghosted by her friends’Ask the Expert: It’s important that you nurture your daughter as she navigates this painful experienceMon Mar 20 2023 - 05:31
‘My daughter freaks out when there is a sudden change to a plan or routine’Ask the Expert: Routines are important for most families, and for some children predictable routines are crucialMon Mar 06 2023 - 05:01
‘My seven-year-old son is very defiant and oppositional’Ask the Expert: Managing oppositional behaviour is challenging and it takes time to find responses and routines to cope wellMon Feb 20 2023 - 06:01
‘My children have not settled in to our new blended family. Should I consider moving us out?’ Ask the Expert: Blended families can work well, but it takes a lot of sensitivity and patienceTue Feb 07 2023 - 05:31
‘Our five-year-old son lashes out at us, screaming and trying to hit us, almost every day’Ask the Expert: We have started trying to restrain him to stop him hitting us, and sending him to his room, but he just plays happily there on his ownMon Jan 23 2023 - 06:01
‘My 16-year-old daughter is finding it hard to make friends in secondary school’Ask the Expert: Being quieter can have drawbacks, especially when you are trying to make friends as a teenager in school, and can lead to social anxiety and stressMon Jan 09 2023 - 05:01
‘My 11-year-old son says he has ‘bad thoughts’ in his head that he can’t control’Ask the Expert: ‘He has never been in trouble in school and is the last child you would think would hit out or get into a fight’Tue Dec 27 2022 - 06:01
‘My 12-year-old son is struggling in secondary school’Ask the Expert: Should I let him miss the odd day of school when he is stressed?Mon Dec 12 2022 - 06:01
‘My three-year-old son is constantly hitting his younger brother’Ask the Expert: ‘I give out to him and that does not work, he just starts screaming too. What can I do?’Mon Nov 28 2022 - 05:31
‘How can I help my teenage daughter accept that having a chronic illness is part of her life?’Ask the Expert: Moving to a position of serenity about the things you can’t change is not an easy feat and takes timeMon Nov 14 2022 - 06:01
‘How can I respond maturely to my seven-year-old daughter’s fussiness and controlling nature?’Ask the Expert: It is normal to have battles of wills with a child. What matters is how you respond to these clashesMon Oct 31 2022 - 05:31
‘My son rarely speaks and never cries at creche’Ask the Expert: Chatty at home, he seems not to be able to show his feelings in childcareMon Oct 17 2022 - 06:01
‘My three-year-old’s tantrums are wild. What is the best way to handle him when he gets so angry?’Ask the Expert: ‘I know tantrums are normal at that age but the intensity of his feelings worries me’Mon Oct 03 2022 - 05:01
‘Our son says we argue a lot and it upsets him. This came as a complete shock’Ask the Expert: ‘We argue very little, just on small things like what to cook, and we have a loving relationship’Mon Sept 19 2022 - 06:01
‘I think my 13-year-old daughter is too young to have a boyfriend — I’d prefer if she was hanging out with friends’Ask the Expert: Communication is key to navigating the complex challenges a child’s first romantic relationship can bringMon Sept 05 2022 - 05:31
Heatwaves and climate change: Don’t shoot the messenger, they’re only telling the truthDenial of serious and scary reality is understandable but it is ultimately an unhelpful coping mechanismMon Aug 29 2022 - 05:01
‘Neighbours’ kids are constantly knocking on our door to play with my young kids. They won’t stop’Ask the Expert: ‘I have told mine they can only play at weekends with the other kids ... this has led to meltdowns’Mon Aug 22 2022 - 06:01
‘My 12-year-old gets stressed and worried at bedtime and can’t sleep’Ask the Expert: ‘It is very upsetting to see him like this, it almost feels like he has returned to being a toddler’Mon Aug 08 2022 - 05:31
‘My 13-year-old son is constantly inside on his phone this summer’Ask the Expert: ‘He is reluctant to meet up with his friends and gets depressed and very moody’Mon Jul 25 2022 - 05:01
‘My teenage sons refuse to engage with each other with any civility’Ask the Expert: The boys used to get along but that stopped years agoMon Jul 11 2022 - 06:01
‘Our son has severe social anxiety, but my husband and I don’t seem to be on the same page’Ask the Expert: ‘I’m worn out looking out for my son and dealing with my husband’s frustration over missing school’Mon Jun 27 2022 - 06:00
‘My eight-year-old daughter has a friendship that can be quite intense’Ask the Expert:Mon Jun 13 2022 - 06:01
‘My sister is an alcoholic and she’s refusing treatment’John Sharry: Strike a balance between being supportive and not colluding with her addictionMon May 30 2022 - 06:01
‘Our son does not have the proper respect for adults that we would like him to have’Ask the Expert: ‘We are horribly aware that we are the probable cause of this’Mon May 16 2022 - 06:01
‘I foresaw Covid and war in Europe, but doctors said I was paranoid and having a breakdown’John Sharry: Professional support can give you space to talk through your questionsMon May 02 2022 - 06:01
‘I’m worried my daughter is developing an eating disorder’Ask the Expert: ‘She often skips meals and can head off to school without breakfast‘Mon Apr 18 2022 - 06:01
‘Our teenage daughter often lashes out at us with bad language’Ask the Expert: ‘How can we help her control her anxiety and the outbursts?’Tue Apr 05 2022 - 06:01
Yes, the questions are real! How our advice columnists answer your queriesRoe McDermott, John Sharry and Trish Murphy explain how they respond to your sex, relationship and parenting problemsSat Apr 02 2022 - 01:56
‘My 14-year-old son is really worried that world war three will break out’Ask the Expert: ‘I am worried too, so I imagine this is not helping either’Mon Mar 21 2022 - 06:01
‘My six-year-old son often says he hates himself’Ask the Expert: ‘How can I help him build self-esteem?’Mon Mar 07 2022 - 06:01
‘My wife and I are separating. What can we do to help our young children cope?’Ask the Expert: We are working hard to co-parent well for their sakeMon Feb 21 2022 - 06:00
