TURNING THE TIDE Skerries 

Date: September 16th at 7.30pm 

Venue: Skerries HARPS Clubhouse upstairs 

Cost: Free

We’re absolutely delighted to share the new name and logo for the initiative. We feel that “Turning the Tide, Skerries – Childhood in its Own Time, Technology at the Right Time” really embodies what we are hoping to achieve together: Creating a positive, supportive community and a safe digital pathway for parents and children to navigate an ever-changing technology landscape.

This initiative is for all parents, whether your child currently has access to a smartphone / social media or not. Everyone is welcome, and we hope this can become something that we build together as a community.

Please save the date of our first initial meeting: Wednesday, 16th September.

The evening will include:

A presentation from Dr. Claire Conlon, Clinical Psychologist and one of the founders of Turning the Tide. 

We aim to provide an update on the progress of the initiative so far and provide an opportunity for anyone to get involved in the steering group or one of the smaller working groups that will be needed to help get the initiative off the ground and ready for official launch in January. 

Just to say, there is no obligation to be involved on a steering group, it is only if you want to and have the time to do so. Just being there and listening is more than enough participation. 

Let's come together as a community to educate ourselves on protecting the mental health and wellbeing and childhood of the next generation.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Claire Conlon is a Clinical Psychologist with nearly two decades of experience working with children, adolescents, and families across Ireland and the UK. She has extensive experience supporting young people with anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation challenges, and neurodevelopmental differences.

She is the founder of The Caterpillar Clinic, a psychology-led service based in North County Dublin, providing neuroaffirmative, strengths-based, and trauma-informed support to families.

Through her clinical work, Claire has seen a significant shift in the challenges facing young people, with increasing links between emotional wellbeing and the rise of smartphone and social media use. She is passionate about equipping parents with the knowledge and confidence to support their children in a rapidly changing digital world.

Claire is also the creator of a range of accessible online programmes supporting parents and young people, and writes a weekly email, The Cocoon, offering practical, science-informed guidance to families.

The Case for Waiting: Rethinking Smartphones and Young Teens

Date: May 5th at 6pm to 7pm

Venue: Skerries Town Library

Cost: Free

Places are limited but we will do our best to accommodate as many as we can. 

Parents today are navigating something entirely new. Smartphones, social media, and constant online access have become a modern rite of passage, often introduced at the transition to secondary school. But emerging research is telling us something important: this may be too much, too soon for young developing brains.

In this talk, Dr. Claire Conlon, Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Caterpillar Clinic, will explore what the science tells us about the impact of smartphones, social media, and online access on children and young teens.

Drawing on both research and nearly two decades of clinical experience supporting young people with anxiety, low mood, and emotional regulation, Claire will share what she is seeing first-hand in practice and why many families are beginning to reconsider the timing of smartphone introduction.

This is not about fear or judgement. It is about understanding.

Together, we will explore:

• What is happening in the developing brain during early adolescence
• How smartphones and social media interact with anxiety, sleep, attention, and self-esteem
• Why the transition to secondary school may not be the right time for a smartphone
• The power of a community approach in reducing pressure on families
• Practical alternatives to smartphones that still support safety and connection

This talk will offer parents both clarity and confidence, helping them to make informed decisions and feel supported in taking a different path.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Claire Conlon is a Clinical Psychologist with nearly two decades of experience working with children, adolescents, and families across Ireland and the UK. She has extensive experience supporting young people with anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation challenges, and neurodevelopmental differences.

She is the founder of The Caterpillar Clinic, a psychology-led service based in North County Dublin, providing neuroaffirmative, strengths-based, and trauma-informed support to families.

Through her clinical work, Claire has seen a significant shift in the challenges facing young people, with increasing links between emotional wellbeing and the rise of smartphone and social media use. She is passionate about equipping parents with the knowledge and confidence to support their children in a rapidly changing digital world.

Claire is also the creator of a range of accessible online programmes supporting parents and young people, and writes a weekly email, The Cocoon, offering practical, science-informed guidance to families.

Secure your spot below. 

Places are limited but we will do our best to accommodate as many as we can. 

We are trying to also see if we can record this event, so make sure to register and you can stay updated on this. 

 This event has ended but please see the recording via this link