Tots to Teens: Toy Library to host swap-and-play time

There's also a new picture book from an award-winning writer, and a diary to help children embrace life

Kayleigh Trappe with students of St Mary's National School, Threemilehouse, Co Monaghan, at the launch of the European Recycling Platform's Batteries for Barretstown.

A SENSORY swap-and-play event to support children with additional needs is coming to Cork on March 29.

The Toy Library, Ireland’s first digital toy-sharing platform, is hosting it in the Aula Maxima at UCC.

This event is being organised in response to parents asking for calm, welcoming play spaces for children with sensory sensitivities and diverse developmental needs.

At this event, the layout will be designed to create quieter zones and to give children access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys that encourage them to explore textures, sounds, and social interaction without pressure or stress.

Visit thetoylibrary.ie for more information.

Topsy-turvy tales

Bring little ones on an imaginative journey to Rathlin Island off Ireland’s northern coast with a new picture book by the award-winning children’s author and illustrator Paddy Donnelly.

The Upside-Down Lighthouse tells the story of a girl called Meara and her grandad who set sail on a boat, get lost in sea fog, and discover a lighthouse that appears to have been built the wrong way up. Their adventure also sees them learning about the varied wildlife to be found above and below the waves.

The main message of the book is how surprising life can be if only we take the time to look at it from a different perspective.

Published by O’Brien Press, The Upside-Down Lighthouse retails for €14.99.

Recycle for charity

The Batteries for Barretstown Schools Challenge is back again this year, calling on children all over Ireland to recycle used batteries and raise funds for the Barretstown.

The challenge is run in partnership with the European Recycling Platform, which works to ensure the responsible disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment, including batteries. It teaches children that batteries should never be placed in the bin, and reminds them that almost 50% of batteries sold in Ireland still end up in landfill.

Children and their families can prevent this from happening by signing up for the challenge. When they do, they receive free recycling kits and educational resources that teach them about the importance of battery recycling and the benefits of the circular economy.

The children are then told to bring their used batteries into school, and every battery they recycle will contribute towards a donation fund for Barretstown.

Register to take part at erp-recycling.ie.

Recipe for success

The Irish Mammy Cooks Cookbook is aimed at busy mums and dads who struggle to find the time and the energy to prepare home-cooked food for their families at the end of a long day. 

It has 100 recipes ranging from brown breads and traybakes to simple dinners that the whole family will eat. There are sections that include 12 ways with chicken, eight ways with beef, and six ways with pork. All the recipes use easy-to-follow methods and time-saving techniques that will ensure everyone is fed with the minimum of hassle or stress.

The book is written by Orla Drumgoole, a former teacher from Dundalk who has built up a 212,000-strong Instagram following for her no-nonsense and practical cooking tutorials.

It’s out now and costs €23.99.

Time to reflect

Encourage the children and teenagers in your life to embrace life and its challenges with positivity with one of these Get Up and Go diaries.

The diary is produced by Sligo woman Eileen Forrestal and is designed to be fun and easy to use. It’s full of uplifting quotes that prompt young people to record and reflect upon what’s happening in their lives.

It costs €12.95 and is available from shop.getupandgodiary.com