Tots to teens: Carnival of thrills as circus festival rolls into town

View the full programme and purchase tickets at circusfestival.ie.

Colourful and cheerful

The cheery trio of prints from thewishingline.com will add colour to any child’s bedroom. Created by a Dublin-based designer and mum of two, the messages are positive and uplifting. ‘Maidin mhaith’ means good morning. ‘Bí sona’ translates as be happy. And ‘oíche mhaith’ agus ‘codladh sámh’ is goodnight and sleep well.

The set of three costs €22 for A4-sized prints and €32 for A3-sized ones.

‘The Salmon of Knowledge’

If you have a little one who constantly asks questions, the new illustrated retelling of The Salmon of Knowledge could be just the book for them. It is about Fionn, a boy who is determined to know everything.

His relentless questioning tried his mother’s patience so much that she sent him off to discover wisdom elsewhere. He met and learned from wise women and men and ultimately encountered a most unusual fish, which led to him becoming the respected leader of Na Fianna.

The book is available in hardback from €14.99.

The Dragon of Shandon

Make your way to Shandon in Cork for an encounter with ghosts and ghouls this Halloween. As darkness falls at 7pm the Dragon of Shandon will emerge from the underworld and wind its way through the city streets. A loyal legion of spectral skeletons and gruesome beasts will accompany it on its journey.

The event, organised by the Cork Community Art Link, is free of charge and open to the public.

Mid-term storytelling

Limerick-based families whose children complain of boredom over the mid-term break can head to their local library for free entertainment. At 11am this morning (Tuesday, October 29), Adare Library is hosting a free storytelling session for children. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Watch House Cross Library at 12pm. And on Thursday, October 31, there will be storytelling fun at Dooradoyle Library from 1pm.

Spooky biodiversity

Dead creatures are never really dead. This may sound like the premise for a horror movie, but it’s actually a biological fact. It’s one of many facts taught to the children attending the Spooky Biodiversity Workshop at Myross House in Leap, Co Cork, this Wednesday, October 30.

This three-hour workshop is aimed at children aged seven to 12. It will introduce them to a wide variety of Irish plants and animals, allow them to get up close and personal with the natural creatures associated with death and decay and show them how to find and make natural Halloween decorations.

Tickets, €10, available at www.eventbrite.ie

Safe phone use app

Many parents struggle to know when the time is right to give their child a phone. They can also find it difficult to make their child aware of the challenges of using one.

The Tozi app makes this process easier. It was developed by the Vodafone Foundation in partnership with DUC’s Anti-Bullying Centre and the ISPCC to educate children about how to stay safe and well online. It encourages children to journal their experiences and feelings. And it’s got a direct link to Childline for further support.

It’s free to download from all app stores.