Blog List

Sausages, burgers and chicken nuggets are the most popular items on a kids’ menu, despite Ireland’s ever growing obesity problem. According to research conducted by Safefood, 40% of restaurants offer chips with every kid's meal while just 42% offer any kind of vegetables. The watchdog group, who launched the study at the All-Island Obesity Action Forum, is urging parents to demand that...

Still feeling guilty about eating that chocolate cake over the weekend? Well, according to psychologists, those who see eating cake as something to celebrate are more likely to stay slim than those who are consumed with guilt after. Researcher at the University of Canterbuy in New Zealand, Dr. Roeline Kuijer and Jessica Boyce, wanted to test whether guilt from eating sweet things undermined a...

More and more parents are turning to technology in order to occupy their children. A poll carried out on behalf of Cbeebies’ Mr Tumble, found that the majority of parents think it is more important to “start with technology from a young age,” with 27% of dads relying on tablets to babysit their children, followed by 12% of mums. Overall, more than half of parents regularly use technology to...

A study has found that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School analysed data from more than 19,500 British children born between 2000 and 2002 and found that the prevalence of childhood ADHD was much higher in families from the lower income bracket. On average, families...

Experts warn that children who use tablets or smartphones may develop long-term problems with their hands and fingers. Studies indicate that this is due to the fact that tablets and smartphones prevent a child from building up muscles needed for writing. Researchers found both a decrease in muscle strength and a delay in motor skill development among children who engaged with these gadgets...

Health campaigners are criticising Simon Cowell for smoking around his pregnant girlfriend. The X Factor judge was pictured lighting up in the back of a car while sitting next to Lauren Silverman, who is due to give birth in February. It’s not the first time Cowell has been snapped around his girlfriend with a cigarette in his hand. The couple were pictured out for dinner last month and also...

Worryingly almost half of British kids between the ages of 10 and 14 have seen their parents drunk. Children copy their parents’ behaviours and Elaine Hindal of Drinkaware calls on mums and dads to “understand their significant influence as role models and feel confident to set a good example.” Last year over 3,000 Britons, some as young as 12, had to seek help for a drinking problem and...

Mums understand just how hard it can be to give their kids medicine when they are ill. Most children refuse to take it unless it is brightly coloured or has a certain flavour but a recent survey found that these bright colours contain additives that are linked to hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. Under EU law synthetic colourings are banned from food and drinks targeted at children...

A 30-minute walk five times a week could prevent depression during your pregnancy. A new study from University College Dublin has found that only 20% of women achieve the recommended walks during pregnancy and these mums-to-be reported better health and emotional wellbeing. There is a significant trend of depression both during and after pregnancy, which has been linked to hormonal changes caused...

Late or irregular bedtimes have been found to cause problems for children. The study, which excluded children with ADHD, Asperger syndrome and autism, found kids with late or irregular bedtimes displayed hyperactivity, behavioural problems, emotional difficulties and problems with peers as they got older. However, the research conducted at University College London also found that children who...