Online and in the shops: Personal touch

Busy mums are spending more time shopping online and if you would like to pop a gift card into your a Christmas stocking, add a personal touch with ‘Personalise my Card’.

This is a new online product available on One4all.ie, which allows you to customise the card using your own favourite photos or One4all’s library of images; www.one4all.ie

Baby toys: In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf... Eric Carle’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a first board book for babies to be enjoyed for years. Following the tiny bug as he eats his way through the holes in each page has been delighting children for more than 40 years and the book now comes in numerous versions and there’s also a range of baby toys made by Rainbow Designs, including this wooden stacker. Great for developing motor skills, it is suitable for age 6 months +, €15.40, www.debenhams.ie

Farming fans: Farm toys feature on this year’s Toymaster Top Toys list for the first time and are a popular Christmas gift, although they are more likely to be played with by rural children. “Farm toys are a fun way to educate children through ‘small world play’ as they role play and mimic the real world around us, and they might be particular-ly helpful for children who have never been on a farm,” says Irene Gunning, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland.

For a young child, Bumpety Bump Bernie is a friction-powered tractor and trailer, with a friendly farmer, sheep and pig, from WOW Toys, age 18m+, available in toy stores ; www.wowtoys.com

Tayto wonders: Tayto Park has been transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive season with Santa now in residence in his grotto. Visitors can also pick up stocking fillers like Mr Tayto dolls and gift cards to visit the popular attraction, set on 55 acres in Co Meath. Tayto Park entry and Santa visit is: children under 3 €10, over 3 €20, adults €8. For more information call 01-8351999; www.taytopark.ie