Tots to Teens: Nurturing sustainable appetites with Let's Grow

It runs from March to June, starting with the growing phase when children plant seeds and care for them as they grow. They are then challenged to create a recipe featuring the vegetables they have grown. Finally, they taste all of the different vegetables and write a review of each one.

Each participating school receives a pack containing various seeds, pots, and compost they need to grow, as well as a booklet that features growing guides, recipes, and fun activities.

By participating, schools are also entered into a competition to win a range of prizes, including the top prize of a new school garden worth €1,000.

Schools can register for their packs by visiting exa.mn/grow.

Book for rugby fans

If you have little rugby fans in your house, a new book by the legend Gordon D’Arcy could be just the thing for them. It’s the second in a trilogy that he is writing in collaboration with Paul Howard of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly fame.

Let’s Play Rugby is an interactive picture book for children aged eight and younger. It puts them in the boots of rugby players as they prepare to play in the big final and teaches them the skills they will need to win the game. The children are asked to jog on the spot and do star jumps to prepare them for their opponents. Parents may even be inspired to join in.

Let’s Play Rugby is published by Little Island Books and costs €11.99.

Bake for sick children

The food writer and TV presenter Donal Skehan is calling on the public to participate in the Great Irish Bake for Sick Children. This annual event raises funds to support the more than 300,000 sick children who pass through the doors of Children’s Health Ireland hospitals at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght, and Connolly each year. In 2024, it raised €170,000, and it’s hoped that the efforts of star bakers nationwide will make even more money this year.

To help make that happen, you need to host a bake sale, either by yourself or with your friends, family, coworkers, or local community. You can register and start planning your event at exa.mn/bake.

Sensory seminar

All children can find it challenging to regulate their emotions but those with neurodiverse conditions can struggle more than most.

On Tuesday, April 1, in Waterford, a seminar will be hosted by Dr Áine O’Dea, an occupational therapist who has spent 20 years working in child and adolescent health. She will share practical tips and strategies to support children’s wellbeing. There will also be an opportunity for parents to share their own experiences and insights.

Tickets are on sale now at exa.mn/Seminar-sensory-regulation. Early bird tickets costing €17 will be available until Friday, February 28. Full-price tickets cost €40 per person or €60 for two.

Dealing with divorce

Separation and divorce is often a stressful time for families. It’s hard for parents to establish new ways of looking after their children, and it’s equally challenging for children to adapt to the changes in their lives.

A workshop hosted by the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick City from 6pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 11, will be led by experienced support workers who will provide guidance on how to navigate co-parenting post-separation.

It’s free to attend, but parents are advised to reserve their place in advance at exa.mn/Workshop-parents-separation.