#Colman Noctor

Dr Colman Noctor: A mother doesn't have to be a perfect parent, just a 'good enough' one

#Colman Noctor

Parenting columnist Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The latest report from the CSL series (2019 – 2023) explores the different experiences of boys and girls and found that gender stereotyping is still an issue</p>

parenting

Colman Noctor: Gender equality is about equal opportunity for boys and girls

As much as we aspire to be an equal-opportunity society, we still have some way to go

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Colman Noctor: Being kind to others is a win-win

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Colman Noctor: Technology is reducing our children’s attention spans

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Colman Noctor: Children thrive when they get our undivided attention

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Colm O'Gorman: Say hello to zingy, spicy Suka Pinakarut with this salmon rice bowl

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Colman Noctor: Algorithms shaping childhood byte-by-byte

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone

Colman Noctor: Everything parents need to know about their child's use of Snapchat

'Snapchat does not always accurately curtail or filter content to the user’s age. Not only are they vulnerable to viewing inappropriate content, they can also create and share such content on Spotlight'

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Upset girl on her smartphone in the dark.

Colman Noctor: Helping young people deal with online issues like bullying

We must provide the necessary support for young people to navigate the digital world

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Mother with sons on sofa enjoying home movie night.

Colman Noctor: Watching television as a family can boost emotional health

From Highway to Heaven to Fortycoats & Co — television shows I watched in my childhood and early adulthood played a significant role in shaping the views, opinions and beliefs I still hold today

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Primary school kids, wearing school uniforms and backpacks, running on a walkway outside their school building, front view

Colman Noctor: Educational outcomes determined by financial resources of parents

A new study shows the impact social background has on children's educational experience

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Best Friends in School

Colman Noctor: Focus on schoolchildren, not on smartphone pouches

If we are to manage our problematic relationship with technology, we need to work with humans, not the devices.

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Father and his little son playing together in a park

Colman Noctor: Why parent-child attachment styles are important to understand

The attachment style a child forms with their caregiver significantly influences how they approach relationships as adults. Securely attached children tend to become adults comfortable with intimacy and trusting others easily. Those with insecure attachments (anxious, avoidant, or disorganised) may struggle with trust, emotional regulation, or forming healthy, close relationships

Tue, 01 Oct, 2024

Girl in headphones using laptop, waving hand to webcam

Colman Noctor: Children click on screens instead of engaging in person

A 2023 study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in Britain found that nearly half of children experienced a further decline in social and emotional skills during the pandemic.

Tue, 24 Sep, 2024

Teenagers travelling in London train

Colman Noctor: Should parents track or trust their teenagers?

I am concerned that constant tracking could limit their opportunities to develop crucial life skills

Tue, 17 Sep, 2024

Supporting Students at School

Colman Noctor: Return to school brings a wave of anxiety

For most children with underlying anxiety, the return to school in September will almost always see it bubble up to the surface.

Tue, 10 Sep, 2024

Colman Noctor: How much independence should we allow our teens?

Colman Noctor: How much independence should we allow our teens?

"Along with assessing levels of independence individually, general guidelines and principles can help parents determine the right level for their teenager."

Tue, 03 Sep, 2024

Frustrated sad woman feeling tired

Colman Noctor: What about the Leaving Cert students who fall short? Six tips for parents

If your child fails to get the points or CAO offer they had hoped to achieve, parental support is vital

Wed, 28 Aug, 2024

Guy Waiting for the Bus

Colman Noctor: Adjusting to a new role when your child heads off to college

As the adult child becomes more independent, parents need to redefine their role from caretakers to mentors or supporters

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024

Disappointed at School

Colman Noctor: Students starting secondary school have a special class of needs

"Child development and parenting manuals emphasise the importance of consistency, reliability, and predictability. Yet change is inevitable, including the transition from primary to secondary school."

Tue, 20 Aug, 2024

Robot and human hands pointing to each other, the idea of creating futuristic AI, intelligent systems to work instead of humans

Colman Noctor: We must do more to protect our children from AI

The potential for misuse is significant, and it’s crucial that parents take action to protect their children’s data

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Happy kids swimming underwater in pool

Colman Noctor: Soak up the opportunity to create memorable experiences on holidays

Not all time spent together as a family is equal. Sometimes a break away from the distractions of life is needed to disconnect and reconnect with the people in our lives

Tue, 06 Aug, 2024

Colman Noctor: Are young people underestimating the power of striving to achieve a goal?

Colman Noctor: Are young people underestimating the power of striving to achieve a goal?

While working on some Harry Potter Lego with his daughter Dr Colman Noctor notes that "the goal was not to have a finished piece of Lego, it was the process of building it"

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

Screaming Toddler

Colman Noctor: An expert guide to managing toddler tantrums for parents

While we might all be familiar with ‘the terrible twos’, tantrums can start as early as one and continue until five or six

Sun, 28 Jul, 2024

Sharing ideas. Teens holding empty speech bubbles

Colman Noctor: Teaching communication skills to help teens connect

Listening skills are fundamental to nurturing well-rounded, capable, and empathetic individuals.  

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Colman Noctor: The long reach of trauma in our lives

Colman Noctor: The long reach of trauma in our lives

Adult physical illness and fear of rejection as well as vulnerability to autoimmune diseases and addiction may all be linked to early abandonment

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Inside Out 2

Colman Noctor: 'Inside Out 2' navigates turbulent teen emotions

"One of the significant challenges of working therapeutically with younger children is discussing emotions in a language they can understand. Many children are ‘visual’ learners at that age, so the Inside Out characters are an excellent template to help them discuss their feelings."

Tue, 18 Jun, 2024

Cell phone break up

Colman Noctor: I have never heard so many young people complain of loneliness

When I was a child, we had visitors calling to our house most nights unannounced... now we don’t have visitors or visit others without at least a week’s notice

Tue, 11 Jun, 2024

Student girl thinking

Colman Noctor: Tips for dealing with exam stress ahead of the Leaving Cert

"While exams can be helpful for assessing aspects of a student’s knowledge and skills, they should not be the sole or dominant evaluation method."

Tue, 04 Jun, 2024

Kids Team Photo After Playing soccer.

Colman Noctor: Coaching soccer has changed my view on the value of winning

"Becoming a Premiership footballer is not an aspiration for either of us, so the primary purpose is for him to enjoy the game."

Tue, 28 May, 2024

Retro pin housewife sitting in the kitchen

Colman Noctor: 'Tradwife' influencers pose a risk to young people

"Tradwife influencers are typically glamorous. Their content is often filled with beautiful imagery of gardening, baking, and a rather blissful life. While this might be deemed harmless, the Media Matters study also found that nearly every tradwife influencer pushed right-wing conspiracy theories..."

Tue, 21 May, 2024

Teenage boy playing video games in hotel room

Colman Noctor: Is my teen old enough to be home alone over the summer?

Long summer breaks and teens who are too young for summer jobs doesn't have to be all bad — it can be an opportunity to learn some independence

Wed, 15 May, 2024

group of high school students

Colman Noctor: Students say they want co-ed schools, so why aren’t we listening?

The prevalence of single-sex schools is a unique feature of the Irish second-level education system. This is likely due to the influence of the Catholic Church, writes Dr Colman Noctor

Tue, 07 May, 2024

Teenage boy playing video games in hotel room

Colman Noctor: Algorithms targeting teens with disturbing content

Without a significant reaction, we risk further fragmentation of our beliefs and values.

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Colman Noctor: Bringing a puppy home was one of the best decisions we ever made

Colman Noctor: Bringing a puppy home was one of the best decisions we ever made

"While Cooper is not yet a year old, the strength of the attachment is such that my son is already trying to imagine how he might cope when he is no longer here. It got me thinking about the emotional process of having a family pet."

Tue, 23 Apr, 2024

Beautiful little girl, influencer holding mobile phone, taking selfie, recording video, social media

Colman Noctor: Preteens too young to manage smartphone responsibility

School voluntary codes are just the start of the process of managing our children’s relationship with smart devices

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Girl using a smart phone on the bed in the night

Colman Noctor: Lack of sleep is damaging teenagers' mental health

"We must find an engaging way to communicate the importance of sleep that instigates meaningful change in their sleep habits. "

Wed, 10 Apr, 2024

High school students during lesson in the classroom

Colman Noctor: Leaving Cert grinds putting students under additional pressure

High socioeconomic status, household income and parental education are key determinants of the uptake of extra tuition

Tue, 02 Apr, 2024

Stack of Books with Stars

Colman Noctor: Competitive parenting serves no one and puts pressure on parents and kids

That our children’s success reflects our parenting skills is a pressure many parents feel

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Child Kid Using Smart Speaker

Colman Noctor: Are voice assistants making us ‘less human’?

"While we’ve identified the risks of technology, such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and predatory grooming, we need to look beyond smartphones and gaming consoles as the primary access points."

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024

Having Fun at School

Colman Noctor: We need physical education and media literacy on the new primary curriculum

Media literacy is not on the current curriculum nor included in the proposed new one, which I believe is a missed opportunity

Tue, 12 Mar, 2024

School Sports Lesson

Colman Noctor: Children's voices must be heard in decisions about their welfare

While restrictions are no longer an aspect of our lives, almost every conversation with young people in my clinic reflects the impact of the pandemic

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Adorable girl using smartphone lying on bed at bedroom

Colman Noctor: Eating disorders on the rise among young children

When people feel they have little or no control over their lives, hyper-controlled eating can seem like an appealing antidote for a complex emotional problem

Tue, 27 Feb, 2024

Group of Teenage Friends

Colman Noctor: Hangout spaces for teens are vital

We cannot make disparaging remarks about young people and their obsession with screens if we do not offer them an alternative.

Tue, 20 Feb, 2024

Happy little girl studying

Colman Noctor: We need to level the educational playing field for dyslexic children

"There is no ‘cure’ for dyslexia. It is a lifelong condition that persists into adulthood. However, appropriate support and interventions can help children compensate for their reading and writing difficulties and achieve academic and professional success."

Tue, 13 Feb, 2024

Closeup silhouettes group of happy Asian friends having fun, drinking bottled beer together in vacation with camping caravan at

Colman Noctor: Why alcohol and teenagers are a risky mix

"Adolescents are naturally curious, and many are intrigued to find out what consuming alcohol feels like - they also see so many adults in their lives celebrating and endorsing it that they often form positive associations with alcohol."

Tue, 06 Feb, 2024

Happy cheerful teenage girl in spa towel using face cream isolated over white background

Colman Noctor: The ugly side of skincare routines for young girls

While the average age of onset of an eating disorder is 14 to 18 years of age, I’ve noticed these disorders are occurring more frequently in primary school-aged children

Tue, 23 Jan, 2024

frustrated teenager doing homework

Colman Noctor: Children with ADHD struggle in traditional schools

'The three main areas where children with ADHD struggle are academic environments, social interactions, and mastering daily tasks'

Tue, 16 Jan, 2024

Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2023/24 - Day Fifteen - Alexandra Palace

Colman Noctor: Aiming for the top in sport can come at a high cost for our children

Elite talent can be a blessing and a curse. 

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024

Hearing a father's advice

Colman Noctor: Focus on your child, not their behaviour

Parents often believe their task is to change the behaviour, but this is a later part of the process — the first thing to do is step back and understand the meaning behind your child’s behaviour

Tue, 02 Jan, 2024

Happy group of people celebrate jump for new year 2024. concept for win victory. silhouette of friends jumps at sunset time on m

Colman Noctor: Small changes could lead to big results for children

Let's make it our goal in 2024 to make positive progress in  smartphone ownership among primary school children, the ‘win at all costs’ culture of children’s sport and the rise in episodes of bullying by exclusion

Tue, 26 Dec, 2023