Parentline Podcast

In this deeply insightful episode of the Parentline podcast, host Kerry McLean is joined by Tanya Strowger, a mother of three and counsellor at Jigsaw Community Counselling Centre, and Rebecca McCullough from Eden Consultancy NI. Together, they explore what it's like to support neurodiverse children—particularly autistic children—through life's big transitions, including school changes, holidays, family events, and everyday routines.Tanya shares the powerful story of her son Silas, his early signs of autism, the diagnostic journey, and how their family has adapted to meet his needs at home, in school, and out in the world. From sensory challenges and visual schedules to social scripting and emotional regulation, her lived experience offers empathy and practical guidance.Rebecca adds her expertise in neuro-affirming practice, offering thoughtful, real-world strategies to make transitions smoother, support emotional wellbeing, and embrace the child's unique way of experiencing the world. Whether it's navigating the school day, Christmas traditions, or going on holiday, this episode is packed with compassion, insight, and useful takeaways for any parent or professional.In this episode, we explore:Recognising early signs of neurodivergence and making sense of a diagnosisWhy small changes (like Sports Day or a different teacher) can be just as hard as big life eventsUsing visual aids, timers, and exit strategies to reduce anxietyPreparing for transitions: from holidays and school changes to daily routinesHelping neurodiverse children manage emotions, especially during moments of overwhelmLetting go of expectations and embracing what brings your child real happinessMemorable Moments:“Ditch all expectation and tune in to the happiness of the child.” – Tanya “You don't know until you know. And when you know, you can do things differently.” – RebeccaResources Mentioned:Eden Consultancy NI – Training and consultancy for professionals and families supporting neurodivergent childrenJigsaw Community Counselling Centre – Mental health support for children, young people, and families in North BelfastParentline NI – Free, confidential support for parents and carers across Northern IrelandNeed Parenting Support?

In this special episode, Kerry chats to three of the Parentline NI team - Kathy, Roisin and Julie. This episode focuses on the core ethos of the Parentline service.They discuss the importance of connection with callers, and the teams' aim to provide a listening ear, and non judgemental support to parents and carers.Callers can use the service for any stage of parenting, from babies and toddlers, teenagers and even older children - we never stop being parents.They discuss issues that come up from parents and carers - mental health, neurodiversity, separation anxiety, school avoidance and emotional dysregulation.https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/Parentline NI is a FREE confidential helpline for parents and carers throughout NI. If you need us, we're here. Call 0808 8020 400

At Parentline, we are experiencing a large number of calls from parents and carers who are struggling with the issue of Anxiety Based School avoidance.  Many of these parents feel like they are the only ones going through it, which is so far from the truth. In this very special episode of the Parentline NI Podcast we share some of the stories and experiences from parents, and shine a light on this issue.Our host Kerry McLean chats to Courtney, Lyndsey and Fiona, as well as Elaine from Strive NI in this episode.https://striveni.co.uk/ https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/Parentline NI is a FREE confidential helpline for parents and carers throughout NI. If you need us, we're here. Call 0808 8020 400

Kate McKeown and Sarah Carvell chat to Kerry McLean about their experiences with dyslexia - they discuss their barriers to support, trusting their own judgements around their childrens' needs, and navigating a path for a better outcome. If you would like to talk to Parentline about dyslexia, or about any other parenting matter, you can call us on 0808 8020 400. 

This episode, Kerry talks to two guests, Bronagh Donnelly and Mary Jordan. Bronagh's son has ADHD, and she also works for an ADHD support service. Mary has ADHD herself, and so do both of her children.Our guests candidly share their stories of parenting children with ADHD and their journey through getting the right support, understanding ADHD and their overall mindset about it. Their stories are uplifting and inspiring as we hear how their children thrived in areas like sport and creative subjects. They discuss navigating the school system, and educational support and perceived levels of achievement. This is an area that highlights inconsistencies across the country, and campaigning for acceptance and flexibility is a huge motivation for our two guests.If you would like to chat to one of our team about anything parenting related, please call us on 0808 8020 400.

This episode, Kerry chats to two local parents, Barbara and Katrina, who share their views on how to rediscover the magic of Christmas, on a budget! They discuss their own, personal family traditions, and revisit what really matters at Christmas. The Cost of Living Crisis is affecting the vast majority of us, so why should we put unnecessarily pressures on ourselves and our family to keep up with everything we see others doing on social media?The 'picture perfect' Christmas may look inviting, but how 'real' is it? Is it worth getting into debt for?Kerry, Barbara and Katrina talk about special moments in their family homes at Christmas, as well as budget friendly ideas, and charitable actions that can go along way this time of year.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Breastfeeding counsellor Katy Lynn chats to Kerry about the emotive topic of breastfeeding.  They talk about some of the amazing qualities of breastmilk, the joys of breastfeeding and discuss awareness around the difficulties experienced when starting to breastfeed. They key message here is the  lack of support for mums who are starting to breastfeed, that can often lead them to stop sooner than planned. We've included some signposting information below. It is advised that the first port of call here in Northern Ireland would be a Community Midwife. Health Visitors should be able to supply information of local support groups, and all women can access the Infant Feeding Lead in each trust area too. Helplines (most are open 365 days a year until midnight)NCT - 0300 330 0700Breastfeeding Network - 0300 100 0212La Leche League - 0345 120 2918Social mediaNCT Breastfeeding Support NI on Facebook & instagramhttps://www.facebook.com/NCTBFNIhttps://www.instagram.com/nctbreastfeedingsupportni/Breastfeeding in Northern Irelandhttps://www.facebook.com/BreastfeedinginNI Breastfeeding & Medication Facebook page ran by pharmacist Wendy Jones https://www.facebook.com/breastfeedingandmedicationBoobcast podcast (NCT NI)https://open.spotify.com/show/6NJVZRPgy64pnphnNjuek3

Kerry talks to Hannah Conroy, mum to Ben, age 9, who has vision impairment. Hannah describes how she navigated getting support in place for Ben, as well as talking about his resilience and positivity! She also describes how much she values the support she gets from RNIB and Angel Eyes, and talks about the challenges of having child with a disability. https://www.rnib.org.uk/https://www.angeleyesni.org/

This episode Kerry talks to Sorina and Cosmin, parents of 8 year old Ezra. Ezra became ill at 14 months and is a below the knee double amputee. He also lost fingers on his right hand. Kerry discusses how Sorina and Cosmin coped, and are still coping, as well as Ezra's resilience and determination in progressing into a very active boy who loves school and lives a full life. 

Kerry McLean talks to Chris and Rebecca, who each have a son with a rare genetic condition, called PKU.They courageously discuss how it affects their lives, and the wider family circle. They explain the experience of being told the diagnosis, and how they coped and moved forward from there. This episode focuses on the feelings and challenges around having a child with a lifelong condition, and how the support from those in similar situations can help make things more manageable. We greatly appreciate Chris and Rebecca taking part in the Parentline podcast. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phenylketonuria/Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/

Teen Pregnancy - somemthing that is usually unplanned and unexpected, by both parents and their teenagers!Katrina, a teen mum with a newborn, and Paula, a former teen mum whose daughter is now in her 20's, chat about their experiences with Kerry McLean. They share challenges and shifts in their lifestyle, as well as what they have gained and their outlook on life. 

This episode shares the experience of Michaela, who lost her mother just six weeks after the birth of her first baby, all during the peak of Covid 19. Kerry and Michaela discuss how she coped with this tragic loss, during such a significant and intense period of her life. They share some similar experiences, and the message that despite how difficult life can be, if we reach out, it can make us feel so much less alone. Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

This episode is the second of our 'Parenting through...' series. Kerry talks to Casey and Becca, the recent founders of Melted Parents NI - their aim is to share the human stories behind the childcare crisis and it's impact on our society. They discuss the impact of childcare costs on whether parents (mainly women) are willing and/or able to return to work after having a baby. In addition, they talk about childcare being more than just someone looking after your child, and how nurturing a place nurseries can be.  Check out their Instagram after this episode to see the stories of many local parents. Resources related to this episode:Parentline - https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentlineMelted Parents NI - linktr.ee/meltedparentsniRemember Parentline NI are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any area of parenting.To avoid missing an episode of our podcast, click ‘follow' wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks for listening!!

The thought of our children or our young people going through emotional pain and hurt is horrible.  As parents or carers, we want them to have a perfect, stress-free, pain-free life. But of course, that's not possible for anyone. And sometimes that pain and hurt can lead to them having thoughts of self-harm, or worse still, thoughts of suicide.Kerry McLean talks to Connor McCafferty of Zest NI - Healing the Hurt, on how our own emotional literacy can help us provide the right kind of support to our children. http://www.zestni.org/Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/

In this episode, Pam Nugent, co-founder of The Laurence Trust, tells her story about the loss of her son, Laurence, to an eating disorder. For #eatingdisorderawarenessweek2023, there is a focus on men, and how eating disorders, contrary to popular belief, affect men as well as women.Pam shares the heartbreaking story of Laurence's eating disorder,  and her motivation for founding The Laurence Trust; a safe and compassionate space for men and their loved ones to find support, so that tragedies like this one can be avoided. https://www.thelaurencetrust.co.uk/Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000n1xxRemember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

In this episode we were delighted to have Rebecca from Eden Consultancy  back with us to chat more about autism. Kerry and Rebecca chat about next steps after diagnosis, as well as discussing stigmas and dated views. Rebecca gives some excellent tried and tested techniques as well as advice for parents and carers to try involving the whole family in using a consistent approach for their children. They also chat about normalising a diagnosis - it does not change your child and is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. If you would like to talk one of our Parentline NI support officers please call 0808 8020 400. We are here to support you without judgement. Useful links: https://www.edenconsultancyni.com/https://www.facebook.com/Edenconsultancynihttps://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/https://www.facebook.com/parentlineni

Lisa and Kerry chat about the impact of childhood trauma on the person we become, and in turn our own parenting styles. They discuss the vocabulary we need to talk about trauma and it's impact on our mental health. They also discuss self care, and how empathy and compassion can make such a positive difference to those carrying the weight of trauma. Lisa discusses how having those conversations about the legacy of trauma, don't always make things better, but that addressing things can lead to valuable learnings and realisations. Lisa Cherry is an author, researcher and leading international trainer and consultant, specialising in assisting schools, services and systems to create change that supports working with the legacy of trauma. Lisa has been working in Education and Children's Services for over 30 years and combines academic knowledge and research with professional skills and personal experience.Conversations that Make a Difference, by Lisa Cherryhttps://www.lisacherry.co.uk/ We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

This episode, Kerry talks to Col Bignell, founder of DadBods - a group for dads to get together and connect through what it's like to be a dad!Every Sunday they get together in a new outdoor location for a walk and a chat - and bring their babies and toddlers of course!Col explains what it has done for him as a parent, as he feels he can connect with the other dads about how much of a life changing event parenthood is.If you'd like to get in touch with Col, find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dadbods.ni/

Patrick McIlwee, from New Ways NI - Tailored Mindset Coaching, chats to Kerry McLean about ways to use mindfulness in our parenting, both for ourselves and for our children. Resources:https://5lovelanguages.com/https://www.facebook.com/NewWaysNI/

Ed Sipler, a Health Development Specialist in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, talks to Kerry McLean about building resilience in ourselves and our children. It's been a tough few years for us all, and with the current cost of living challenges, we have all had a lot to cope with and try to overcome. Ed talks about resilience in this episode, and how it's more effective to build our own resilience first, before modelling it to our children. Ed talks about his own family, and his twin granddaughters, giving us an insight on the challenges we all face, and how to work through them using our own resilience and instilling it into our children and grandchildren.  Resources mentioned in this episode: CYPSP - https://cypsp.hscni.net Family Support Hubs - https://cypsp.hscni.net/family-support-hubs Parentline - https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline Remember Parentline NI are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any area of parenting.To avoid missing an episode of our podcast, click ‘follow' wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks for listening!!

This episode, Kerry chats to Wayne Denner, an online reputation and safety expert,  who has spent decades in the digital space teaching people of all ages to protect themselves online, take control of technology and maximise the opportunities it can offer.They discuss safeguarding in the online world; something that is becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives. As parents we know the world is a very different place to the one we grew up in, and our heads can sometimes be filled with questions, worries or fears about how we can keep our children safe online. Wayne and Kerry talk through how we, as parents, may feel about our children using smartphones, tablets and laptops, as well as online gaming. What age is too young? How do we manage parental controls? What about the positive, educational experiences our children and young people get from being online? They also discuss how we can keep up to date with the latest technology, and suggest ways we can get involved in our child's digital world. Wayne covers how to monitor usage, and also shares tips on how the whole family can reduce their time spent on devices, to encourage our young people to do the same. The online world offers a world of potential social and educational experiences for our children and young people, as well as fun and enjoyment, however it is so easy to spend too much time staring at a screen, or stumble upon content that is too advanced or even dangerous.  But if we implement strategies like enabling parental controls on devices and routers, putting our phones in sleep mode at night time, or keeping all devices away from the dinner table or bedroom, we can feel reassured we are not overdoing our screen time, and worry less that our children are accessing content that is unsuitable. Listen in to the chat and tell us with you think! And if you like it, please share it! Resources:OpenDNS Family Shield – www.opendns.comThe Students Guide to and Epic Online Reputation – Wayne Denner – www.waynedenner.comPutting your phone in sleep mode – https://cellularnews.com/mobile-phone/ways-to-set-sleep-timer-on-your-android-and-iphone-devices  Remember Parentline NI are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any area of parenting. To avoid missing an episode of our podcast, click ‘follow' wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!!

Following our popular workshop delivered together with Elaine McCrisken from Strive NI, Elaine joins us on the podcast to chat about Anxiety Based School Avoidance.  Listen in as Kerry chats to Elaine and explores reasons why a child or young person may be finding it difficult to attend school. As well as discussing practical strategies for parents/carers to support children to return more willingly to the school environment.We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Following our recent workshop series delivered together with Rebecca McCullough from Eden Consultancy, Rebecca is back to talk to us again about ADHD.ADHD is one of the most common, yet most misunderstood conditions amongst children and young people. In this podcast we will look into what ADHD actually is, talk about the myths surrounding ADHD, the challenges of ADHD and how to support a child or young person with ADHD through various strategies. We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Parenting/caring for children is both a joy and a challenge and can often have big impact on our relationships with those around us. Life is full of ups and downs and conflict is normal within all relationships, it is how conflict is handled which can impact our children most both now and long term. Listen in as Kerry chats to Kellie from Relate NI all about their new programme, ‘Sustaining Healthy Relationships'. These sessions look at developing skills and tools to manage the rough & tumble that can appear in any relationship; including couples & family relationships, friendships and our relationship with ourselves! We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Our Parent Workshops looking at Autism have been hugely popular with parents and carers and these sessions have proved really supportive so far. We have had huge demand for these and places filled quickly, so we are delighted to have had the chance to record this follow-up podcast with Rebecca from Eden Consultancy to share with you. Kerry chats to Rebecca McCullough all about Autism; what is it, how might it present, what can we learn and how can we support our children. We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

We continue our series exploring and listening to the diversity of family units across Northern Ireland. Today Kerry chats to Lesley, a kinship carer. Listen in to hear all about what a kinship carer is, how Lesley came to be a kinship carer and her parenting experience in this role. Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Our Parent Workshops looking at Autism have been hugely popular with parents and carers and these sessions have proved really supportive so far. We have had huge demand for these and places filled quickly, so we are delighted to have had the chance to record this podcast with Rebecca from Eden Consultancy to share with you. Kerry chats to Rebecca McCullough all about Autism; what is it, how might it present, what can we learn and how can we support our children. We hope you enjoy the conversation, share with friends and family and let us know what you think.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Traditionally families have been viewed as mum, dad & 2.4 children. But society is thankfully moving forward. Single parents, unmarried mothers and fathers as well as separated and divorced parents are now accepted as the norm.  We may still have a long way to go in Northern Ireland with equality, no less so in truly accepting and including LGBTQI+ parents as the ‘norm'.In this new series of podcasts we aim to normalise and celebrate the diversity of families in Northern Ireland.First up is George who raises his teenagers with his husband. Join the Kerry and George as they chat about his experience of dads raising teens, representing a modern family unit in 2022.Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Parenting teenagers certainly brings its challenges and can have parents questioning themselves day in day out!  Following our popular workshop ‘Talking Tricky Topics with my Teen ' Kerry is joined by Sara an Education Worker with Common Youth. Sara chats with Kerry all about supporting our teenagers through those tricky conversations and subjects we sometimes shy away from. We hope you enjoy the conversation and share with those with teens at home!  Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

Parenting teenagers certainly brings its challenges and can have parents questioning themselves day in day out!  Following our popular workshop ‘Communicating with my Teen' Kerry is joined by Ciaran, a social worker and father to twin boys who has survived parenting through the teenage years!! We hope you enjoy the conversation and share with those with teens at home!  Remember Parentline are here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

It's that time of year again, Christmas! Twinkly lights, Santa trips, presents to wrap and cards to write! You might say, Christmas is all around! So what might it be like to grow up in a largely Christian society like Northern Ireland as a person of another faith and exposed to all the Christmas hype? In this episode Kerry chats to Bellal Yaqub, about his experiences as a Muslim at Christmas both as a child and now a parent. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Remember Parentline are here on 08008 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

As the Christmas break approaches, so ends the first few months in ‘Big School' for those children who have transferred to post primary this year. Those initial nerves may have eased but at Parentline NI we know that this first year can continue to throw up challenges along the way. As we all know this is the third academic year for our children to be faced with Covid restrictions and for children entering a new school with all that brings it can certainly be an anxious time. Kerry chats with Toni and Anna who work with children and their families throughout this first year in post primary and share their insight, tips and reassurance. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Remember Parentline are here on 0800 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

In this episode we talk about back to school and all that brings. For some children and their parents school life can bring with it a whole set of challenges.Kerry chats with one of our Parent Support Workers, Kathy, talking all about some of the tricky issues faced at school including: anxiety, bullying, homework stress, communication with school. Have a listen and let us know what you think!Remember, the Parentline Team are here, on 0808 8020 400, to listen and offer support & guidance on any parenting issue.

In this episode we talk about exam results with our Parent Support Officer, Julie Schiess.We all know this is an exciting but potentially stressful time for young people and their families. Feeling emotionally prepared yourself and having some resources and coping strategies in place, can really make all the difference.Kerry talks to Julie about helping families to make the most of any exam outcomes. They focus on strategies to maintain communication, strengthen connections and prioritise positive mental health.Remember, the Parentline team is here on 0808 8020 400 to listen, offer support and guidance on any issue.

For the final episode in our Formative Years series we are talking about transitions. In this podcast we are chatting about transitions we parents make in our parenting journeys, and having a chat with parent guest Laura all about the transition of stepping back into work after parental leave. Returning to work after maternity leave, parental leave or career break can be a big step for both your child/children, for yourself and your family. Navigating the practicalities, the separation and emotions can be a challenging time as you, your child and your family adjust. Kerry chats with parent guest Laura who has returned to work after maternity leave just this month. Kerry and Laura talk about how she is managing this big step, how she has felt, practical tips and most importantly being kind to yourself always. We hope you enjoy the conversation and if you or someone close is returning to work soon this podcast will help support you in your transition.  Remember Parentline are here on 08008 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

In this episode we talk all about sleep or the lack of, with infant sleep consultant Susan Wallace from Settled Petals.  Sleep is a fundamental need for us all and getting a good nights rest is crucial for our overall health and wellbeing, but for many parents and children this is easier said than done!  Kerry talks to Susan about how sleeps works and encouraging positive sleep for our children and babies. Susan shares some helpful advice on; ·       Bedtime routines  ·       Sleep environments ·       Support to sleep ·       Naps/ nap scheduling ·       Sleep that works for the whole family We hope you take away some helpful tips and strategies to put in place for your family and hopefully catch some more zzzZZZZ's. Remember Parentline are here on 08008 8020 400 to listen, offer support or guidance on any parenting issue. 

As we fast approach the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown, it is no wonder that many parents are concerned about the future mental health impact of the ongoing pandemic on our children and young people.So, what can we do, as parents, to help safeguard our children against mental health risks? How do we talk to our children about topics like anxiety, depression or even suicide? And where do we turn to, if we need extra help?For some answers to all of these questions and more, our host, Roger Gowdy, recently chatted to Professor Siobhan O’Neill, Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland.Don't forget you can call our free confidential helpline at Parentline NI, on 0808 8020 400, if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

In this episode, we dive in to all things "books and reading". We are encouraged as parents to read to our children from day 1, but just why is it so important? Is the benefit of reading purely academic or is there another side to it that perhaps far outweighs this?How do we encourage our children to continue to read as they grow and develop into teens and young adults?Lucy Lewis from BookTrust joins our host Roger Gowdy to shed some light on these and other questions.Many thanks to all who contributed to this episode - Lucy Lewis, Carolyn Gowdy, Ciaran Traynor, and our fabulous readers, Finn Gowdy, Taliah Bittle and Caleb Bittle.For further information on BookTrust go to www.booktrust.org.uk.Don't forget you can call our free confidential helpline at Parentline NI to chat about any parenting issue on 0808 8020 400.

In this episode we talked to Sarah Wright from Advice Space all about money management - a hot topic for January (and let's face it, the rest of the year too!).If you have concerns about money, listen to find out how to maximise your income, reduce your outgoings and find ways to get immediate help with your finances.You can contact Advice Space on 0300 123 3233 and find more information at www.advicespace.meRemember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

Listen to Stevie from Relate NI share information and tips on how to positively communicate with your children about the topic of Relationship and Sexuality Education. Engagement with children can be difficult as a parent, these are positive ways to bring up the conversation and talk openly.We hope you get lots of value from this episode and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to receive our next episode hot off the press!Remember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

In this episode we talk all things Christmas with our new Parentline Head of Service, June Onyekwelu.The festive period can be the "most wonderful time of the year" as the song goes, but for many families it can come with all sorts of challenges. In addition to this, we are still in the grips of a global pandemic which is set to make Christmas 2020 a very strange one indeed.We talked to June about a host of issues around the topic of parenting at Christmas, including:pressures of buying expensive giftsfinancial pressures in generalimportance of self caremanaging separation and contact arrangements at Christmas...to name a few.We hope you get lots of value from this episode and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to receive our next episode hot off the press!Remember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted almost ever aspect of our lives in 2020. Arguably one of the most affected groups in society has been our children and young people whose education has been disrupted in unprecedented ways.In this episode we speak to Glenda Walsh, Head of Early Years at Stranmillis University College, Belfast about the impact that lockdown had, and continues to have, on children, young people and their parents in Northern Ireland.We also discussed more generally our approach to Education in Northern Ireland and how parents can help our children strike the right balance between academic achievement and wellbeing.You can read the report into homeschooling during lockdown mentioned in the podcast here: https://www.stran.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Research-Report-Homeschooling-in-Northern-Ireland-during-the-COVID-19-Crisis.pdfYou can access the Good Childhood Report, also mentioned, here: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/good-childhoodRemember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

The vast majority of the time, care is provided behind closed doors, in people's homes. It is often largely invisible too. We chat to Clare-Ann Magee from Carers NI about what support is available to parent carers and what steps can be taken to help. Report Behind Closed Doors can be downloaded here: https://www.carersuk.org/images/News_and_campaigns/Behind_Closed_Doors_2020/Caring_behind_closed_doors_April20_pages_web_final.pdf Carers NI can be contacted here: https://www.carersuk.org/northernirelandRemember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

In this episode we sat down (virtually) with Q Radio Presenter and Parentline Ambassador Ibe Sesay. Ibe and our host Roger Gowdy chatted all things fatherhood in the modern era.Topics covered, among other were:- the joys and fears of witnessing the births of our children- the changing role of being a dad- where our parenting styles comes from- the values we want to instil in our kidsThe songs that reminded us of our kids were:Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia: https://youtu.be/s4KZs0mLJiQPaul Simon - Father And Daughter: https://youtu.be/COQPSoRFdwgBarry White - My First My Last My Everything: https://youtu.be/tB54XUhA9_wCamelPhat & Elderbrook - Cola: https://youtu.be/LcNXG-6SqWAPhats & Small - Turn Around: https://youtu.be/2kXMcjKhBgUJohn Mayer - Daughters: https://youtu.be/rZLbUIa7exETo find out more about Ibe's radio show go to https://www.goqradio.com/on-air/q-rad...Remember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

In this podcast we talk to Joan Burney Keatings MBE, CEO of Cinemagic. Cinemagic is a local charity, founded in Belfast over 30 years ago, and each year they put on the Cinemagic International Television and Film Festival for young people which is running for the month of October in 2020.We talked about:- the highlights of the festival this year and how parents and young people can get involved- the challenges of scheduling a festival during a global pandemic- how parents can encourage their kids to use technology and encourage creativity in the home while staying safe- the booming TV industry in NI at the moment and how young people can embrace the opportunities that will come from thatIf you want to find more information about the festival go to https://filmfestival.cinemagic.org.ukRemember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance on any parenting issue.

Life under lockdown can be especially tough for parents. Our professional Parenting Support Officer Julie talks about life during lockdown and shares some tips for helping with the educational side of things, looking after yourself and dealing with those tough situations which you feel you can no longer cope.Remember Parentline is here for you so please call 0808 8020 400 if you wish to discuss anything in this podcast.

Parenting can be a challenge for us all, but when a child has disabilities, a further set of complex challenges are added to the parenting role. We sat down with our parent advocate Marian Bradley whose daughter Meabh has lived with severe disabilities from birth. It was deeply moving to discuss the achievements and challenges of Marian's parenting journey. We got to ask her some questions that some people may be too afraid to ask. We really hope this rich conversation helps you on your journey as a parent. Remember Parentline is here for you so please call 0808 8020 400 if you wish to discuss anything in this podcast.

In this podcast we talk to Lindsay Robinson about maternal mental health during pregnancy, after having a baby and in general. She shares her journey past and present and debunks the notion that there is such a thing as the perfect motherhood. Listen now to hear about Lindsay's journey as well as information on where to go for help and support.Remember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance.

Christmas is just around the corner. During this festive season there is no doubt that parents feel some degree of stress or anxiety. Whether it’s the financial pressure or living up to expectations, this podcast is all about you having a stress free family Christmas. We hope these tips will help you as parents relax and enjoy the day.Remember to contact Parentline on 0808 8020 400 if you need advice, support or guidance.