CathyMum's Blog

A report by Girlguiding found that half of seven to 11 year olds wear make-up and a growing number of girls are unhappy with the way they look. The research involved nearly 1,300 respondents aged between seven and 21 and was conducted online under controlled conditions and also included face-to-face interviews. Of those surveyed, 51% of girls aged between 14 and 16 were unhappy with their...

Getting your child to eat their greens can be a frustrating task but the new sweet Brussels sprouts may be the answer, and they are ready just in time for the festive dinner. Christmas wouldn’t be the same with the little green vegetable, even though kids, and even adults, will turn their noses up at it. However, the new ‘child-friendly’ greens will apparently trick the brain into thinking...

In a flourish of generosity, Irish TV show host Ryan Tubridy decided to throw a few much sought after One Direction dolls into the audience - but there wasn’t enough for everybody. Usually when you don’t win something most people will admit defeat, but not the man in this video clip. He wasn’t going to let that 1D doll go, even if it meant pulling it from the arms of the unsuspecting woman...

Before you sigh in frustration as your little one throws their food across the kitchen, you might find comfort in the fact that messy children are likely to be better at learning. According to a new study carried out by Dr. Larissa Samuelson from the University of Iowa, toddlers who grasp, feel, taste and throw objects are constantly gathering information about the world. Psychologists tested 72...

Mums and dads in the UK will be able to split 50 weeks of parental leave under new Government plans which come into effect in April 2015. British fathers, who were only entitled to two weeks off, will now officially be able to take parental leave. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was time to change the “Edwardian” rules that only mums could take time off while dads had to go back after...

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...

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister will unveil plans to allow new parents to share leave. Nick Clegg wants to break away from the “old-fashioned assumption” that women, rather than men, prefer to stay home to mind their children. The proposals have been the subject of a hot debate with the Institute of Directors saying it will be a “nightmare for small businesses.” The Confederation of...

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...

Research reveals that several women own a pair of skinny jeans in hope that they will lose weight. The study conducted by StyleClub, a fashion and lifestyle club questioned 1,000 women and found 87% wear jeans at least once a week. The study revealed that more than half keep a pair of skinny jeans in the closet that they don’t fit into, in the hope they will soon lose enough weight to wear them...