‘My two-year-old daughter won’t let me out of her sight’Ask the Expert: What can I do to help her settle at night without me?Mon Feb 12 2024 - 06:01
‘I think my husband has a problem with alcohol, but he says he’s just managing his stress’Ask the Expert: Even if someone does not identify their alcohol use as a problem, it can be a serious issue for their familyMon Jan 29 2024 - 05:31
‘My four-year-old boy loves the playground so much we can’t get him to leave’Ask the Expert: He will promise to leave only to run back and go to the top of the climbing frameMon Jan 15 2024 - 05:31
‘I find this hard to admit, but I love my daughter more than my son’Ask the Expert: It is generally best to honestly face such feelings so you can understand themMon Jan 01 2024 - 06:01
‘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
