Tots to teens: A toy rental scheme to save families money this Christmas

Separate chapters focus on different elements of poetry, such as sound techniques, structure, creative language, and tone, with examples and exercises to keep young people engaged.

The guide is available in paperback and Kindle versions, which cost €14.50 and €12, respectively. You can purchase both from Conway’s website at trevorconway.weebly.com.

MS explained

Being diagnosed with MS is life-changing, and explaining it to the little ones in your life can be deeply challenging.

Exploring MS, a new children’s booklet from MS Ireland, makes that process easier. It’s an activity book with stories, fun exercises, and easy-to-understand explanations that teach children what MS is, how it can affect people, and what they can do to be supportive.

It’s a learning tool, but it’s also more than that. It’s a conversation starter that will help young people process their feelings and learn how to respond compassionately to the struggles faced by those with MS.

It’s available as a digital download from exa.mn/MS-activity-book or by request from www.ms-society.ie.

Toys for rent

Imagine if your children could try toys before you shelled out hard-earned cash to buy them. Imagine the money you would save when you handed the toys back, the lack of clutter around the house, and the environmental benefits.

Vicky Noble saw the success of such initiatives in Australia. Parents there would rent four or five toys to make a fuss of a child on their birthday and then keep only the pieces they loved. They also used them to gauge their children’s interest in expensive toys, such as balance boards and climbing frames, before they committed to paying the full price.

On her return to Ireland, Noble thought a toy rental scheme would work well here, so she set up dlulukaloo.ie.

Here’s how it works: You choose toys from the selection available on the website and rent them for a month, paying a security deposit and a rental fee.

At the end of the month, once the toy is returned, the deposit is refunded. If you decide to keep the toy, the deposit and the rental fee are deducted from the total cost.

Renting from www.dlulukaloo.ie could save lots of families lots of money this Christmas.

Chocolate factory

You’ve heard of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But have you heard of Elf and the Chocolate Factory? It’s a unique Christmas experience at Hazel Mountain Chocolate in the Burren this year.

The experience starts with children and their families being greeted by an enchanted elf, who will guide them through the chocolate factory, doling out delicious treats at each pitstop.

The elf will also ask for the children’s help making up bags of reindeer food to leave for Rudolf and his friends on Christmas Eve. In return, the elf will help them to write and post their letters to Santa.

Once all these tasks have been completed, everyone will sit down and savour a cup of hot chocolate made from the finest North Pole cocoa beans.

Elf and the Chocolate Factory is open on December 14, 15, 21, and 22. Tickets cost €10 per adult and €15 per child, and they can be booked at hazelmountainchocolate.com.

Cosy PJs

Add an extra sprinkle of Christmas magic this year with these pyjamas from personaliseme.ie, a Cork-based business. Made from 100% cotton, these cosy PJs cost €23 and come in sizes from six months up to ten years.