“Mothers play a critical role in the family, which is a powerful force for social cohesion and integration. In essence, the mother-child relationship is vital for the healthy development of children and in their journey to independence."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant time of change. It comes with a number of mixed feelings. So much is changing and they’re about to start a whole new set of subjects, meet new people, create new friendships and take on new challenges."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Children who spend more time with their fathers during adolescence, usually have better social skills and a higher self-worth than those who do not. Fathers need to get in there and be involved, even if they get pushed away. Being persistent and present is important."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Whilst most children are resilient and seem to be demonstrating a remarkable capacity to manage this challenging time, others are not faring as well. This makes it really important for parents to be vigilant for any signs of distress."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Disappointment is a normal, though difficult, part of growing up and can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. How your children learn to respond to disappointment will determine its impact on their future achievement and happiness.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

"Starting at a new school is a big deal! Your child is going to meet lots of new people and be thrown into new situations. That’s bound to make them feel lots of different emotions."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

"Some psychologists worry that fears around the projected impacts of climate change may lead to a learned helplessness or hopelessness. ‘Eco-anxiety’ has begun to emerge in pre-schoolers, primary and secondary students."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Many parents today are afflicted with a Vitamin N deficiency…the inability to say, “No” to their children. It's incredibly important that parents set limits and boundaries. The consequences of bad parenting has both short and long-term effects.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Mobile phones are not only distracting, but cause stress for young children. Enabling them to focus on lessons and learn better socialising skills, can reduce their social media use and minimise online bullying.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“The game can be problematic for those kids who play in an ‘obsessive way’. It will interfere with their sleep, it will interfere with, obviously, homework, and it’ll interfere with normal relationships at home.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

“Up to 70% of primary school kids are on social media but they simply do not have the neurological maturity to manage their digital footprint. Parents need to get tough and understand the risks associated with it.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg