With children who have experienced abuse and neglect waiting for places with foster families right now, Barnardo's NI says it needs more potential foster carers to come forward.

A SENSORY cube to help children with special educational needs overcome communication barriers has won high praise at a major competition.

Q: MY 12-year-old daughter’s teeth stick out and she’s started to get upset about them.

PREGNANCY, childbirth and caring for a newborn make huge demands on both the body and mind, and new mums taking time to recover is vital for both their welfare and baby’s.

LAST week was some week for education.

Well, what a couple of weeks it's been.

Q: I’VE just had a miscarriage and I’ve received a lot of help to cope with my feelings about the loss.

THE pandemic has been tough for everyone – and that includes our children.

A LOT of us are struggling with lock down at the moment.

EVEN before the pandemic, record numbers of young adults were living with their parents – and now it's likely even more 'adult children' will have returned home so they're in a family bubble until the virus crisis eases.

Q: My five-year-old daughter is terrified of dogs after she was nipped by one last year.

BY NOW most of us will have realised that our worlds did not dramatically change with the chiming of the clock at midnight on New Year's Eve.

So, here we are then guys, 2021 - a new year, a clean slate, 12 new months of possibilities - and yes, we're still in lockdown.

I THINK this year has changed all of us beyond measure.

RISING family stress as a result of the pandemic, topped off with the pressure of the festive season, means more children than ever are being exposed to the damaging effects of parental conflict, according to family support experts.

Q: WE LIVE on a busy road and I've just found out I'm pregnant.

Q: MY three-year-old daughter hasn’t been on any play dates during the pandemic and, as she’s an only child, I’m really worried not playing with other children will harm her development.

IT’S important to get kids interested in science – particularly the science behind climate change, which could have a profound impact on their lives.

DEAR Santa, it's me, Leona O'Neill.

The toddler, who was born 15 weeks premature, spent 185 days in hospital before he was seven months old.