Online and in the shops for kids

Toy Show: The Christmas Toy Show gets under way tonight with a 90-minute show on TV3, hosted by Brian McFadden, Karen Koster and Jedward at 8pm. 

The nine-day toy show opens at the RDS tomorrow giving visitors a chance to see this year’s top toys, with family entertainment including a giant ride-on tractor racing track, Nerf and Rebelle target ranges, storytime areas and puppet shows. You can also take a train ride to meet Santa. Admission to RDS is €6, with family tickets for five at €25 and children two and under admitted free. Visits to Santa are €15; www.christmastoyshow.ie. Argos is reporting generous donations to its Toy Exchange charity fundraiser. Pre-loved toys can be taken to Argos stores until next Tuesday, with a €5 Argos voucher in return for each donation; www.argos.ie/toyexchange

Party time: If you are in Dublin tomorrow, The Fat Controller from Thomas and Friends is coming to meet all of his fans at Hamleys in Dundrum. Join him for a free meet and greet and storytelling event from 12 to 4pm. There will also be a Playmobil party on November 30 to celebrate the toy range’s 40th anniversary. In I Met Father Christmas at Hamleys! children can enjoy up to an hour of magical stories and festive songs and games, write their own Christmas wish list and have a special chat with Santa — €25 per child. See www.hamleys.com/explore

Fairy tale: It was Christmas Eve and Pepper and her friends were very excited! They were getting ready to deliver the Iridescence, a very precious fairy dust that helps Santa Claus deliver all of the presents around the world... Find out how disaster struck and how a certain little fairy saved Christmas in the new book from The Irish Fairy Door Company, which has been flying out the door since its launch earlier this month, €7.95, from www.theirishfairydoorcompany.com

Cork Glowing: More than 150,000 people are expected in Cork City centre this year for Glow, A Cork Christmas Celebration. The highlight of Glow, which begins on November 28, is the free festively themed attraction for children at Bishop Lucey Park, next to the markets on Grand Parade. The park will be transformed into a life size pop-up story-book of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from 4 to 7pm each weekend until Christmas; www.glowcork.ie