5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Tots to Teens: Back-to-school and off-to-college — info and supplies
ALDI is introducing its back-to-school range this week to offer parents a chance to stock up on classroom essentials.
From August 7, stores nationwide will stock a comprehensive array of products, including stationery, lunchtime must-haves, and techie tools.
The stationery selection will include highlighters, copybooks, pencil cases, folders, and arts-and-craft supplies. Lunchtime options will feature reusable cutlery, multi-compartment bento boxes, and stainless steel bottles.
There will also be alarm clocks to ensure nobody is ever late for school, power banks, learning workbooks, learning posters, activity cards, and three-in-one chargers.
My Forever Tooth Fairy gift set
Tooth Fairy tradition
What could be more magical than losing a tooth, placing it under your pillow, and waking to find that it's been replaced with a coin by the Tooth Fairy? Irish mother Emma Duffy has the answer.
She has created My Forever Tooth Fairy to amplify the magic of this age-old childhood tradition.
It's a gift set that includes an illustrated picture book that tells the story of the Forever Tooth Fairies.
The book also teaches children a song to help them brush their teeth. The gift set contains a Forever Tooth Fairy doll.
These dolls have soft, posable bodies, so they can be used for both imaginative play and comforting snuggles.
There is a magic tooth tote and tracker. The tote is a little velvet pouch in which milk teeth can be placed, before being popped under a child's pillow.
The tracker allows children to record each time they lose a baby tooth and what happens when the Tooth Fairy visits.
Finally, a display case has a light-up swing for the doll and storage for the book, tooth tote, and tracker.
The My Forever Tooth Fairy gift set is available at for €59.95
Rainbow swim shoes, €21, from Freddie and Millie Toys
Swim shoes
Protect your children from the hazards of swimming with these swim shoes, from
Designed to fit feet ranging in size from a children's size two to an adult size three, they come with non-slip soles to reduce the risk of skidding on wet surfaces.
They provide a barrier between feet and hot sand and prevent the spread of infections, like verrucas.
They do all of this while being light and flexible enough to swim in and sufficiently stretchy that children can put them on and take them off all by themselves.
They cost €21
Third-level with a disability — practical workshops
University College Cork (UCC) is organising three workshops for secondary school students with disabilities who are considering third-level education.
On Tuesday, August 19, there will be a workshop for students who are blind or vision impaired.
On Thursday, August 21, there will be another for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. And on Tuesday, August 26, the third workshop will be for students with physical disabilities.
Parents are welcome to attend these workshops, too. Each will take place from 10.30am to 3.30pm in the assistive technology lab in the Boole Library and will involve fun activities, as well as information sessions on the supports currently available for students with disabilities in UCC.
Lunch will also be provided.
Attendance is free, but needs to be booked via
Cuidiú end of summer picnic
Cuidiú Cork is a social network for parents and carers.
It runs weekly meet-ups and coffee mornings, offers breastfeeding support by phone and in-person groups, organises antenatal classes and information events, and hosts social events for parents and children.
One of these events is taking place from noon to 2pm on Saturday, August 23. The End of Summer Picnic at Fota House and Gardens will feature a nature hunt, face painting, a book swap, cupcake decorating, live music, and games for all the family.
All you have to bring is a blanket and some snacks and refreshments.
Tickets cost €3 for Cuidiú members and €5 for non-members and can be booked via
