Tots to teens: Snow time like now to book Santa

It might seem premature to be thinking of booking a visit to Santa, but anyone who knows the man in red will be well aware that he gets busy in the run-up to Christmas. 

That’s why the team at Cork’s Marina Market are already selling tickets for Santa’s Magical Market.

Taking place on selected dates from November 22 to December 23, this immersive Christmas experience will transform the market into a winter wonderland. 

There will be a frozen forest to explore, a light show in an ice cave to marvel at, an animatronic polar bear to meet and seasonal sweet treats to enjoy. 

Children will also be invited to post their letters to Santa at the North Pole Outpost and even get to meet the man himself in his cosy log cabin.

• Santa’s Magical Market will be fully accessible, dog-friendly and have designated sensory hours. Tickets cost €12 per adult and €25 per child and can be booked at marinamarket.ie.

Upcycled soft toys

We Make Good, hedgehogs cost €24 each. 

Ireland spends more than €290m on toys every year, and the vast majority of them are made from plastic that eventually ends up in landfill.

We Make Good has created a range of soft toys inspired by Irish wildlife. They’ve got owls, hedgehogs, puffins, bees, and dolphins. 

All are handmade from upcycled fabrics, and each one comes with information about the animal, its habitat and the steps we can take to protect it.

By giving a child one of these toys, you not only give them something to play with but also encourage them to become curious about the natural world. 

• They cost from €24; the full range is at wemakegood.ie.

Emotional outbursts

Is your child suffering from ‘after-school restraint collapse’? You might not have heard of this phenomenon, but if you’re the parent of a school-going child, you’ve probably seen it in action. 

It happens when children act out and release their pent-up emotions following a day of self-control at school.

The Instagram account @instituteofchildpsych helps parents deal with issues like this. 

It’s where Canadian psychologists, play therapists, and mothers Tania Johnson and Tammy Schamuhn share their hard-won insights and tried-and-tested tools that can support parents in raising emotionally and psychologically healthy children.

Managing kids’ anxieties

The West Clare Mental Health Association is hosting a free information talk with parenting expert Mary O’Kane at 6.30pm this Thursday, September 25, in the Kilrush Community Centre.

O’Kane will discuss practical tools parents can use to help children manage fears and anxieties and draw upon their resilience to get through difficult times.

• Attendance is free; book online at: eventbrite.ie.

Book for busy mums

Rachael Shephard.

Mum-of-two Rachael Shephard became particularly aware of how time management was a “crucial yet challenging” aspect of a mum’s daily life after she had her second child.

“It turned parenting into a full-blown juggling act,” she says. “I didn’t just lack time, I was stretched thin on patience, peace, and my nerves were like old guitar strings, one strum away from snapping completely.

“I wish I knew then what I know now. As a seasoned mother of two boys, I’ve learned I have to be OK before I can make sure they are. I actively prioritise making my life easier, and I keep that priority solid.”

Shephard, 42, wants to help other mums by sharing the ways she’s made her own life easier, so she’s written The Little Book for Busy Mums, €11.50, to outline the clever hacks and shortcuts she’s used to reduce the parenting load and rebalance self-care and motherhood.

One of our favourites is the crayon hairdryer hack: If the kids draw on the walls with crayon, don’t despair, just use your hairdryer on it.

“A hairdryer will soften crayon wax, making it easy to wipe off,” Shephard says.