Articles by Melissa Carton
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  • PartyWizz launch free boredom combatting video series for families

    PartyWizz launch free boredom combatting video series for families

    So handy. We’ve been stuck at how for a couple of weeks now and for many of us the cabin fever is getting very real. I’ve been trying to think up as many activities as possible to do with my kids, but I’m starting to run short on ideas. If you’re in the same boat […]

    6 years ago

  • Wayne Denner is hosting a free Online Safety class through Facebook tonight

    Wayne Denner is hosting a free Online Safety class through Facebook tonight

    Really important for parents. Right now we’re all spending a lot more time at home to try and stop the spread of COVID-19. While at home the majority of us will be using the internet as our main form of entertainment, whether it’s watching Netflix, connecting with family and friends on social media or online […]

    6 years ago

  • Dublin business donates its car park to Crumlin hospital amid COVID-19 outbreak

    Dublin business donates its car park to Crumlin hospital amid COVID-19 outbreak

    A wonderful gesture. Living beside Crumlin Children’s Hospital I’ve seen myself how little parking there is available for staff members and patients. Many residents around the Crumlin and Drimnagh area offer up their own driveways regularly to that those attending or working in the hospital don’t have to park somewhere where they may be clamped. […]

    6 years ago

  • No need to run to the shops: a recipe that will turn you into a bread making pro

    No need to run to the shops: a recipe that will turn you into a bread making pro

    Pass the jam and butter. With all of us spending more time indoors than usual, there’s nothing like a bit of baking to pass the time. Bread has become a particularly popular choice with those looking for something delicious to make. If you’re on the lookout for a straight forward and tasty bread recipe then […]

    6 years ago

  • Bressie will be hosting mindfulness classes for kids on his Instagram Live

    Bressie will be hosting mindfulness classes for kids on his Instagram Live

    A fantastic idea. Right now is a very anxious time for all of us but for children it can be even more confusing and stressful. With schools closing and being cut off from physically meeting up with those outside of their family unit, they may be feeling more anxious than ever. I know my own […]

    6 years ago

  • My children and I signed up to penpal schemes and it really helps the cabin fever

    My children and I signed up to penpal schemes and it really helps the cabin fever

    I highly recommend it. It’s been roughly three weeks since the schools closed and we all started spending a lot more time at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We’re lucky enough to have a nice back garden, so even though we’ve been keeping leaving the house to just shopping trips, we’re still getting […]

    6 years ago

  • My kids watched RTE’s new Home-school Hub today and this is what it taught

    My kids watched RTE’s new Home-school Hub today and this is what it taught

    It will be on every day this week. The last couple of weeks have been stressful for parents and students across the country since schools were required to close to stop the spread of COVID-19. RTÉ recently confirmed that it will broadcast over an hour of “school on TV” to support primary school children and […]

    6 years ago

  • Recreate afternoon tea at home with these delicious Mini Yogurt Scones

    Recreate afternoon tea at home with these delicious Mini Yogurt Scones

    Absolutely divine. I’m a big fan of afternoon tea, but of course I can’t go out for treats like that at the moment. But I got to thinking, if I can’t go to afternoon tea, maybe I can bring afternoon tea to me. So I went on the hunt for a great scone recipe that […]

    6 years ago

  • Hospitals start to request mothers not have birth partners amid COVID-19 outbreak

    Hospitals start to request mothers not have birth partners amid COVID-19 outbreak

    Understandable but hard for expectant mums. Whether it’s your other half, parent, other family member or friend, almost all mums will have a birth partner to help get them through child birth. It’s a time where as a mum you need as much support as possible, so naturally the news that some hospitals are requesting […]

    6 years ago

  • #entertainingathome: Pokemon origami that you can print out and create

    #entertainingathome: Pokemon origami that you can print out and create

    This looks like a lot of fun. Both of my kids are huge fans of Pokémon, which I will admit I encourage because I’ve been a massive fan of everything Pokémon since the 1990s. One of the after school clubs that my son was in before the mandatory school closures was a Pokémon card club […]

    6 years ago

  • Sky has just launched a new Learning from Home collection on Sky Kids

    Sky has just launched a new Learning from Home collection on Sky Kids

    A brilliant idea. Like most parents I’m still getting used to teaching my kids from home. I’ve been looking up any tips and tricks I can find online to help them from falling behind on what they would be learning at school. It’s not easy but there has been no end of support for parents […]

    6 years ago

  • Mothercare temporarily close stores but range can still be bought on website and app

    Mothercare temporarily close stores but range can still be bought on website and app

    Good news for parents. Expecting a new baby can be a stressful enough time without a global pandemic coming along. The nationwide shut down will be particularly difficult for parents expecting their first child who may not have bought everything they needed for their newborn before the stores closed. Mothercare has long been the go-to […]

    6 years ago

  • School in Meath to close permanently due to the current coronavirus crisis

    School in Meath to close permanently due to the current coronavirus crisis

    The school will not reopen. Two weeks ago schools across Ireland closed in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19. Originally, schools were to reopen next week but that has now been postponed to mid April. Unfortunately, not all schools will reopen in April as the current pandemic has resulted in the permanent closure […]

    6 years ago

  • #entertainingathome: create a post-shutdown ‘to-do jar’ with the kids

    #entertainingathome: create a post-shutdown ‘to-do jar’ with the kids

    A great idea. Right now we’re living through a fairly stressful time and it can be hard to stay positive. Between not being able to visit family and friends and cancelling travel plans, it can feel like we’ve nothing to look forward to. Given time though, this too will end and when it does there […]

    6 years ago

  • Photographer turns newborn babies into the cast of Friends and it’s beyond cute

    Photographer turns newborn babies into the cast of Friends and it’s beyond cute

    No one told me life….was going to be this cute! I have a soft spot for newborn photoshoots, especially themed ones. Whether it’s Disney princesses or different types of flowers, I’m a sucker for the adorableness. This photoshoot though sent me overboard when it came to the cute factor- I think you’ll understand why when […]

    6 years ago

  • Barretstown continues therapeutic programmes through online platforms

    Barretstown continues therapeutic programmes through online platforms

    A fantastic idea. Many of us have had our lives turned upside down but none more than the most vulnerable in our society. Hundreds of sick children and their families depend on the services provided by Barretstown every year but due to social distancing and self isolation these services can no longer be done in person. […]

    6 years ago

  • RTE are set to broadcast an hour of ‘school on TV’ everyday from Monday

    RTE are set to broadcast an hour of ‘school on TV’ everyday from Monday

    A great help to parents. The last couple of weeks have been stressful for parents and students across the country since schools were required to close to stop the spread of COVID-19. Only today I had to stop by my son’s school to collect more school work from his teacher and it all still feels […]

    6 years ago

  • Always topical, Baby Shark bring out a new hand washing song for children

    Always topical, Baby Shark bring out a new hand washing song for children

    Is there nothing Baby Shark doesn’t think of? If you’re a parent there’s no doubt that you’ve heard of Baby Shark. I made it a good long while before a relative played it for my kids but now I’m a Baby Shark dance routine expert. ‘Run away, do, do, de, do’, if only I could […]

    6 years ago

  • 3D recycled cardboard castles and playhouses perfect for passing the time

    3D recycled cardboard castles and playhouses perfect for passing the time

    Need something that will keep the kids entertained? We’re into our second week since the schools closed and it can be difficult to achieve the same levels of stimulation that a classroom has, especially when it comes to creativity. It can be difficult to think of new and interesting ways of passing the time with […]

    6 years ago

  • ISPCC/CHILDLINE and RTÉ 2FM team up for fundraising digital music show

    ISPCC/CHILDLINE and RTÉ 2FM team up for fundraising digital music show

    A fantastic idea. Unfortunately, child abuse does not stop when there is a global pandemic and with everyone self isolating it means some children are spending more time in abusive households. ISPCC / CHILDLINE in association with RTÉ 2FM want to help by teaming up with some of Ireland’s top artists to present a two […]

    6 years ago

  • Small Irish businesses you can buy from online during the COVID-19 shutdown

    Small Irish businesses you can buy from online during the COVID-19 shutdown

    It’s important to support small businesses. Ireland has no end of incredible small businesses but unfortunately many of them will be impacted by the current coronavirus shutdown. Businesses across the country have taken the very responsible decision to close to protect their staff and customers and instead turn to online stores so that customers can […]

    6 years ago

  • The Space Between is running free family Yoga sessions online during shutdown

    The Space Between is running free family Yoga sessions online during shutdown

    Just what we needed! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and I’m sure I’m not the only one is starting to run low on ideas when it comes to keeping the kids entertained. One thing I’ve been trying to do with my kids is get them outside exercising, especially since they won’t be taking […]

    6 years ago

  • Video of baby in amniotic sac shows what they get up to when they kick

    Video of baby in amniotic sac shows what they get up to when they kick

    This is amazing! I’ll never forget the first time that I felt a kick when I was pregnant. It was such a special moment. You always have to wonder though what exactly they are getting up to in there when they’re kicking and moving about. Or do we? Recently a video was uploaded to Reddit […]

    6 years ago

  • Rowling lifts license allowing teachers to read Harry Potter books to kids at home

    Rowling lifts license allowing teachers to read Harry Potter books to kids at home

    Great news. Right now is a very difficult time for both teachers and students. Everyone is dealing with a situation that we really weren’t prepared for, but I think teachers in particular have really come up to the challenge of keeping things as normal as possible for their students. My son’s teacher sends him out […]

    6 years ago

  • My son is worried he won’t get to see his class again and it’s heartbreaking

    My son is worried he won’t get to see his class again and it’s heartbreaking

    As a parent, I feel so powerless. When the schools closed almost two weeks ago, like most kids my son was excited. He came running out of his school delighted that school was off until April. As the days went on though, he suddenly realised that while yes, he didn’t have to follow the teacher’s […]

    6 years ago

  • My mum has compromised immunity so I can’t visit her this Mother’s Day

    My mum has compromised immunity so I can’t visit her this Mother’s Day

    It’s going to be a very strange Mother’s Day. The spread of COVID-19 has affected all of our lives in one way or another. Whether it’s parents learning to juggle home-schooling with their normal tasks, or others concerned about how the shut down will affect their jobs, even aside from worry about the virus itself […]

    6 years ago

  • Dublin Cookie Company make special activity packs to stave off cabin fever

    Dublin Cookie Company make special activity packs to stave off cabin fever

    We’ll take the lot. If there’s one thing that most of us have turned to now that we’re spending a lot more of our time indoors, it’s baking and cooking. Of course sometimes you don’t always have everything you need, and let’s face it sometimes it’s just nice to get down to the eating with […]

    6 years ago

  • Vogue Williams says she feels more relaxed about her second pregnancy

    Vogue Williams says she feels more relaxed about her second pregnancy

    Very relatable. Vogue Williams recently revealed that she is expecting her second child with husband Spencer Matthews and says that this time around she feels different. The mum and DJ says that unlike her first pregnancy with son Theodore she feels much more relaxed and I feel like a lot of second time around mums […]

    6 years ago

  • CJ Fallon and Edco now providing free access to their books until end of term

    CJ Fallon and Edco now providing free access to their books until end of term

    This is brilliant! In the last week, teachers, students and parents have had to drastically change how they teach and learn as all schools have now shut for the foreseeable future. Last week I wrote about some resources suggested by teacher Sinead Kavanagh but now I’m delighted to share even more good news as text […]

    6 years ago

  • World Vision Ireland extends essay deadline for children due to shutdown

    World Vision Ireland extends essay deadline for children due to shutdown

    Great news. If you’ve got children at home itching to get stuck into a creative activity outside of their normal school work then they are in luck. World Vision Ireland has extended the deadline for their Climate Change Essay Competition so that children can write essays in their homes, while schools are closed during the […]

    6 years ago

  • Tasty Oaty Banana Bread Buns recipe to try out with the kids during self-isolation

    Tasty Oaty Banana Bread Buns recipe to try out with the kids during self-isolation

    So yummy. It can be difficult to keep the kids entertained during the self isolation period. I know my eldest is already bored and actually missing school and one of the things in particular that he’s missing is his regular cooking lessons. He usually does one cooking class a week in school so in addition […]

    6 years ago

  • Mums share great hacks to prevent kids for asking for snacks all day long

    Mums share great hacks to prevent kids for asking for snacks all day long

    Noted. Since the country was asked to go into self isolation last week my children have been eating me out of house and home. This has meant going to the store every second day to replenish things like fruit and yogurts which sort of defeats the doing the self isolation in the first place. Of […]

    6 years ago

  • Nine-month-old baby diagnosed with coronavirus in Manchester

    Nine-month-old baby diagnosed with coronavirus in Manchester

    His parents are in disbelief with the diagnosis. Up until recently we’ve been told to keep young children away from vulnerable or elderly people as they are vectors of the virus. In recent days though, we’ve seen a rise in the number of young children being diagnosed with coronavirus including a newborn baby. Most recently […]

    6 years ago

  • Almost one week into isolation and I’m wondering if I can sell the kids on eBay

    Almost one week into isolation and I’m wondering if I can sell the kids on eBay

    Has it really been less than a week? Last Thursday it was announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that all schools and child care facilities were to close until at least March 29. After the Taoiseach’s speech last night it became clear that the period of the for school closures would probably be a lot longer and […]

    6 years ago

  • As the parent of a toddler, I’m panic buying Percy Pigs not toilet roll

    As the parent of a toddler, I’m panic buying Percy Pigs not toilet roll

    We’ve all got our priorities. Schools across Ireland are set to close, as are childcare facilities and that means only one thing, snacks, lots and lots of snacks. It’s a rare occasion where I get more than 30 minutes without my toddler asking for cheese or a banana or her favourite treat, Percy Pigs. I […]

    7 years ago

  • Aldi is bringing out an incredible playroom range and yes that’s a car bed

    Aldi is bringing out an incredible playroom range and yes that’s a car bed

    I wish these came in adult size! With everyone being advised at the moment to spend more time at home and the possibility of schools closing parents are going to have their thinking hats on about how to keep the kids amused. There’s always the concern that they will spend way too much time using […]

    7 years ago

  • I was today years old when I learned that you can unblock a toilet with a mop

    I was today years old when I learned that you can unblock a toilet with a mop

    It’s a serious game changer. Yesterday something happened that has happened to many of us. The toilet got blocked. My eldest child used a crazy amount a toilet roll and then attempted to flush it causing the toilet to nearly overflow with water. I know what you’re thinking, a plunger will sort that out and […]

    7 years ago

  • Teenagers in quarantined Wuhan deactivate app that sends homework

    Teenagers in quarantined Wuhan deactivate app that sends homework

    Leave it to teenagers. There’s nothing fun about getting sick as a kid but usually it means you get to sit home with your flat 7-up, watching TV and of course avoiding homework. Unfortunately if you’re one of the many students living in quarantined areas like Wuhan that is not the case as thanks to […]

    7 years ago

  • Pregnant Katy Perry criticised for saying that she wants to have a girl

    Pregnant Katy Perry criticised for saying that she wants to have a girl

    Are people being too harsh? Only last week singer Katy Perry announced that she was expecting her first child along with her partner, actor Orlando Bloom. The singer shared their happy news in the music video for her new song, Never Worn White. The child will be the second for Bloom, who shares 9-year-old Flynn […]

    7 years ago

  • Earth Baby Fair cancels April event due to coronavirus concerns

    Earth Baby Fair cancels April event due to coronavirus concerns

    Understandable. In recent days a lot of big events, including the St Patrick’s Day parade have been cancelled due to fears that they could cause coronavirus to spread. Many local events have also decided not to go ahead in a bid to keep attendees safe including Earth Baby Fair which announced today that their April […]

    7 years ago