Tots to Teens: Jigsaw helping put the pieces back together for students during exam season

The next few months will likely be stressful for teenagers and their parents.

Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw. Picture: Moya Nolan

School and State exams will be held nationwide, and some young people will struggle to cope with the pressure.

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, may be able to help.

It delivers a mental health support programme for post-primary schools called Neart. 

Neart also offers a range of supports for parents, including a webinar series featuring experienced dietitians discussing issues relating to the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

The next webinar is scheduled for 7.30pm on Saturday, April 29, and will cover how parents can help young people manage exam stress. 

It’s free to attend, and registration is open at exa.mn/jigsaw-webinar.

Baby essentials

Welcoming a new baby into the world is a memorable moment for any family.

The discount pharmacy Chemist Warehouse wants to make it even more special with its latest in-store offer.

Customers who spend €40 or more on baby products will receive a free Bundle of Joy Box. The box is packed with baby essentials like moisturising lotion, baby shampoo, soothers, nappies, and more.

It also comes with treats such as eye masks, hydrating serum, and lip balm for parents.

The total contents are valued at over €90. This offer will run in-store until April 20 or until stocks last.

Walk the walk

Alison McGrath, the founder of children’s shoe retailer myfirststeps.ie.

Children’s feet should be measured every time they get a new pair of shoes.

Yet research from Glasgow Caledonian University has found that this only happens in 6% of cases.

One reason for this is that parents are now buying their children’s shoes online rather than in a high-street store.

To overcome the problem, Alison McGrath, the founder of children’s shoe retailer myfirststeps.ie, has added a new tool to her website.

Using your phone, SizeWise allows you to scan children’s feet easily and accurately in seconds, ensuring that their shoes are always a perfect fit.

Run for the Hill

Fairy Hill is the latest release from Marita Conlon-McKenna.

Fairy Hill is the latest release from one of Ireland’s best-loved children’s storytellers, Marita Conlon-McKenna.

Conlon-McKenna is the author of the beloved Under the Hawthorn Tree, which is set during the Famine.

Her new book is a more contemporary tale, but it has references to ancient Irish folklore.

It tells the story of 13-year-old Anna, who is unhappy at being sent to stay with her father and his new family in the West of Ireland while her mum and new husband go on honeymoon.

Initially, things weren’t quite as bad as she had expected, and Anna enjoyed spending time in the woods and by the sea and getting to know the other side of her family.

But then strange things start to happen and when Anna’s little brother Jack goes missing, she wonders if the stories she has heard about the fairies are true.

And could there really be such things as changelings?

The book is about how families come in all different shapes and sizes.

It’s suitable for children aged nine and older and costs €12.99.

Express yourself

The No More Worries Kit contains a portable plaque, conversation cards and a journal.

This No More Worries Kit can encourage children to express and process difficult feelings.

Produced by the Irish Fairy Door Company, it contains a portable plaque, conversation cards and a journal. Children are encouraged to place their thumb on the plaque whenever they are worried. It will glow red when the fairies listen and turn green when they have taken their worries away.

They can use the conversation cards to help them open up to the grown-ups in their lives, and the journal will allow them to reflect on their feelings.

The No More Worries Kit is available from theirishfairydoorcompany.com and costs €19.99.