Tots to Teens: Keep little hands and minds busy

Sit your little ones down over the next few days with pencils, markers, paints, or a tablet or laptop so they can then enter their designs in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Holly Madden, from Foxrock, Co Dublin, was a finalist in Toyota’s 18th annual Dream Car Art Contest. Picture: Conor McCabe

WHEN little ones require downtime over the next few days, sit them down with pencils, markers, or paints and ask them to design their dream car. Or get them to create it digitally on a tablet or laptop. They can then enter their designs in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.

This competition runs from now until February 27, 2026. Open to children under 15, it invites them to imagine what the car of tomorrow might look like. Twelve of the most innovative designs will be chosen, and there will also be a special honorary mentions category for children with additional needs.

The 12 finalists will be celebrated at a ceremony in Dublin next year. The top winners from each age category (under seven, eight to 11, and 12 to 15) will then represent Ireland in the global finals and be in with a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. 

For more details on how to enter, visit toyota.ie.

Build resilience

The Mindfully Me series of books aims to boost children’s mental wellbeing and resilience. Written by author Louise Shanagher, it comprises three books for children aged between four and eight years old.

‘Mindfully Me’ helps children cope with everyday problems.

Book one, It’s Always There, focuses on breathing techniques that children are encouraged to use when they find themselves in stressful situations. Book two, Where is Happy? teaches children how to practise self-compassion and kindness. And book three, Look Who’s Here, shows children how to identify, manage, and express difficult emotions.

With their accessible text, colourful illustrations, and practical tips children can implement in their daily lives, these books aim to equip children with tools to cope with everyday problems.

Available from creative-mindfulness.com, €30.

Bag a winner

These canvas bag design kits are a great rainy-day activity to have up your sleeve for times when little ones complain of boredom. Each kit contains a canvas bag, 12 fabric pens, a pencil, a themed design template of your choice, an alphabet template, and step-by-step instructions.

A DIY canvas bag crafting kit from Hullabaloo.

There are lots of themes to choose from, ranging from butterflies and unicorns (as pictured above) to cats, dogs, outer space, soccer, and Christmas. The kits are suitable for ages five and older and cost €20 each. From hullabaloo.ie/shop-diy-kits.

Put boredom on ice

A great way of making the most of Twixmas (the period between Christmas and New Year) is to treat everyone, old and young, to a trip to On Ice at Marina Market in Cork.

The ice skating rink is suitable for all levels, with skating aids available for those who don’t feel confident on the slippery ice. Also, sensory hours are scheduled for those who struggle with loud noises and bright lights.

It’s open from now until January 4 and costs €20 per adult and €18 per child. There are also discounts for family groups. See onice.ie for more details on how to book, as well as information about other rinks now open in Dundrum Town Centre and Swords in Dublin and Arthur’s Quay in Limerick.

Reality check

If you’re looking for a dose of reality among all of the Christmas cheer on your socials this Christmas, check out @lifewithtinyhumans, the Instagram account by Clare-based mum Emma O’Leary.

O’Leary has three young boys, and her account is brimming with tips, routines, and strategies she uses to make everyday family life run more smoothly. Recent posts include simple ways families can make the festive season special, weekday dinner recipes and a foolproof biscuit recipe to make with the kids over Christmas. The pictures and videos are always gorgeous, but O’Leary never fails to acknowledge the ups and downs that are part and parcel of parenting.