Online and in the shops: Family time

Santa will be leaving lots of presents under the tree next week but there will also be gifts from parents and other family members, often some books, puzzles or a new board game to play together over the holidays. 

Despite real worries that with the advent of tablet and smartphones children are spending a lot of time on screens, there has also been a renewed interest in board games, reading, science kits and so on (just take a walk through Easonology at Eason’s, for example). New board games this Christmas include My Monopoly, €24.99, which allows players to personalise the game for the first time by using family photos for property spaces. Hasbro has also updated teen games like Scattergories, Cranium Party and Taboo; www.hasbro.com