Valuable advice for parents at learning festival

Cork’s Lifelong Learning Festival returns for 2025, and promises to be another week-long array of workshops, seminars and events promoting and celebrating learning for all.

The festival runs from April 2-9, and with the motto of Investigate, Participate and Celebrate in mind, the public are invited to attend a wide variety of free learning opportunities hosted across Cork throughout the week.

‘Staying Connected with our Children and Teenagers’ - an enjoyable, experiential evening workshop with therapist and teacher, Sinéad Hartnett, is one such event.

Presented by the Bishopstown/Glasheen Local Education Committee, on Thursday, April 3, in Bishopstown Community School from 6.15-9pm, the workshop will explore fostering healthy connections, building resilience and coping skills in your home.

Continuing with the theme of family support, the evening will include a short presentation from charity food bank, FeedCork.

The Bishopstown/Glasheen Local Education Committee are no strangers to the Lifelong Learning Festival and have been running events for the past 14 years. Kevin McAuliffe, Home School Community Liaison Officer of Bishopstown Community School, explains why contributing to the festival is important to the committee: “Often, the word ‘learning’ is just associated with school and college settings and can have negative connotations. The festival showcases that learning is not just confined to school, it is life-long and can take many forms such as dance classes, walking tours and wellbeing talks.

“As an education committee, it is important for us to be part of and promote that ethos.

“It is also important to us to provide something that we see as beneficial in not only promoting life-long learning but something that can positively impact our community.”

The topic chosen by the committee to explore this year seeks to find ways for parents and carers to maintain solid connections in order to provide support to children and teenagers.

Home School Community Liaison Officer for both Glasheen Boys’ and Glasheen Girls’ National Schools, Tara Leen, tells us more about what can be expected from the event and who it may appeal to: “This workshop would be of benefit to all parents, especially those who wish to deepen their connection with their children while fostering their emotional resilience.

We have held numerous workshops with Sinéad over the years for Glasheen Boys’ and Glasheen Girls’ NS for children, parents and staff and the feedback has always been hugely positive.

“Sinéad is so engaging and compassionate and her techniques are so relevant and empowering. She provides us with actionable tools that can be used at home and school. This also creates a unified approach between home and school which supports our mutual goal of every child reaching their own potential.”

Tara goes on to discuss the importance of supporting younger children to develop emotional regulation and the positive impact this can bring about, stating: “We have a window of opportunity with primary school-aged children, to provide them with the tools they need while their ability to manage their emotions is still forming.

“If a child is dysregulated, they cannot focus or learn effectively. Consistent emotional support at home and at school will lay the foundations for healthy relationships, help them feel understood and valued, and in turn facilitate their learning.”

Considering the benefits the workshop can offer to parents and carers of second level students, Kevin adds: “Finding ways to connect with teenagers can be difficult in today’s world. As they look to discover who they are and to try to be independent, it can seem they don’t want to be around or connect with their parents. This is partly true but they still need connection. It is almost like they are saying, ‘Stay away from me but don’t go too far!’ Developmentally, this is normal behaviour.

“This connection gives them a secure base from which they can safely discover who they are and learn to be independent.

“So, they still need the safety and reassurance a parent can offer as they are discovering themselves, despite what they might say.

“Finding moments and ways to connect helps to maintain a relationship they might say they don’t want, but really they do need, is important. With this workshop, we are hoping to give parents ways to connect with their child and to help them build the resilience they need to be the best that they can be”

FeedCork are proud to be supporting the workshop led by Sinéad Hartnett.

Emma Byrd, community worker with FeedCork, tells us about her role both with the food bank and with the education committee.

“I work closely with HSLOs (Home School Liaison Officers) across the city, supporting school-going families who may be struggling with daily challenges. For children to thrive at school, they must first have access to essential needs such as food at home. This is where FeedCork plays a crucial role - helping to alleviate some of the immense pressures families face.

“This year marks my third year representing FeedCork on the local education committee at Bishopstown Community School, contributing to initiatives in conjunction with the Lifelong Learning Festival to promote learning and wellbeing within our community.”

Places for the workshop are free but limited, those interested can contact kmcauliffe@ bishopstown-cs.ie for booking information. Further information about the services of FeedCork can found on www.feedcork.com