PARENTING / KIDS

All Aboard The Christmas Express With A Personalised NSPCC Letter From Santa

This year, take your little ones on the ‘Christmas Express’ – Santa’s magical flying train, with a personalised NSPCC Letter from Santa. In return for a donation, Santa will write a personalised Christmas letter to your little one featuring enchanting stories and illustrations, and lots of details that only Santa could know – such as …

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Belfast Christmas Market Delighted To Support Lord Mayor’s Charity Kids Together Belfast

As plans are underway for the 18th Belfast Christmas Market, Market Place Europe (operators of the market) are excited to be working closely with the Lord Mayor of Belfast’s chosen charity, Kids Together Belfast, in order to raise awareness and support them in the work they do for children with moderate to severe disabilities. This …

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More Than Half Of Childline Counselling Sessions Focus On Children Struggling With Mental Health Issues

New figures from the NSPCC reveal that in the past year, 55% of all Childline counselling sessions where the child stated that they were in Northern Ireland, focused on mental and emotional health and wellbeing. In 2022/23, Childline delivered 4,038 counselling sessions to children in Northern Ireland, 2,219 (55%) of which focused on all mental …

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Over £14,000 Raised In The Annual Walk To Scotland Fundraising Event For The Northern Ireland Children To Lapland And Days To Remember Trust

The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) enjoyed a resounding fundraising success with its annual ‘Walk to Scotland’ fundraising event, which took place on Sunday, October 1, 2023.  Over 100 enthusiastic fundraisers participated, collectively raising over £14,000. These funds will play a crucial role in supporting this year’s Lapland trip, meticulously coordinated by the charity and …

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New Lower Shankill Park Officially Opened

A new park on the Lower Shankill, adjacent to the Westlink in Belfast, was officially opened on Friday, September 29. Funded under the Building Successful Communities programme, the £1.9million park stretches from Peter’s Hill, alongside Denmark Street to Regent Street and includes two play areas, an outdoor gym, a multi-use games area and a community …

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Thinking About Home Education? Consider These Tips

Home education is exploding in popularity, and this is due to a variety of influences. Some parents just believe they can provide better education and development to their child than a well-meaning but underpaid and overworked teacher trying to teach 30 children at once, which in some cases can be true. However, it’s important to …

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Belfast Mind Coach Says “Parents Should Look After Their Mental Health During The Summer Holidays”

While the summer holidays are intended as a relieving respite for your young ones, it might not feel quite the same for you.  Gone are the scheduled six to seven hours of childcare each day, homework to occupy your children in the evenings, and after-school clubs to keep them stimulated.  Now you need to think …

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Co. Antrim’s Dad Of The Year Takes On Lidl’s Daddy Dash

County Antrim’s Dad of the Year has been the lucky recipient of an entirely free grocery shop courtesy of leading supermarket retailer Lidl Northern Ireland, after taking part in a thrilling ‘supermarket sweep’ style competition in their local Lidl Northern Ireland store. In honour of Father’s Day 2023, Lidl Northern Ireland launched a special Father’s …

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10 Tips To Cut Your Shopping Bills In Half

A food guru has shared 10 tips that could cut your shopping bills in half – including always looking at the lowest placed items on a shelf, avoiding the bigger trolleys and investing more in the frozen food aisle. Personal finance expert Lynn Beattie – also known as Mrs Mummypenny – is recognised for her …

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What’s For Dinner? 6 In 10 Adults Apparently Cook Meals On A Loop – Is That You?

Six in 10 adults cook meals on a loop – with spaghetti Bolognese, roast dinner and a curry topping the list. A poll of 2,000 adults found 53% are ‘stuck in a rut’ when it comes to cooking at mealtimes – with pizza, sausage and mash, and chilli con carne also go-to dishes. Seven in …

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More Children Turn To Childline During Summer As They Struggle With Eating Disorders And Body Image Issues

Childline, the counselling service run by the NSPCC, reveals new data showing that 40% of all the counselling sessions they delivered last year on eating disorders and body image took place in the summer months (June to September). Across the whole year – April 2022 to March 2023 – Childline delivered 4,179 counselling sessions across …

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Translink Little Explorers is Back for Another Summer of Fun

Due to popular demand, young bus and rail passengers will be able to enjoy the return of Little Explorers, a mini campaign aimed at highlighting the fun and wonder children can experience on their Translink journeys this summer. Whether it’s a simple trip into town with mum or dad, a family day out further afield, or …

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Less Than Half Of Children In Northern Ireland Have Been Taught About Money

Less than half of children in Northern Ireland have been taught about money at home or in school, according to a new report from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).  Financial Foundations, based on a survey of 4,740 UK children aged 7-17, found that just 43% of those living in Northern Ireland had received a …

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Disney On Ice To Presents 100 Years of Wonder In Belfast This Winter

Grab your mouse ears and get ready as Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder skates into Belfast’s SSE Arena, with the magic of Disney’s 100th Anniversary closer than ever when Disney On Ice brings the celebration to you! Encanto joins the show for the very first time in the UK, inspiring families to make magical memories they will treasure forever. Relive …

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GALLERY: NI Charity Wraps Up The Magic Of Disneyland Paris For 12 Children Living With Life-Threatening & Life-Limiting Conditions

The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, a charity that makes dreams come true for children living with serious conditions that are either life-limiting or life-threatening, has taken 12 local children to Disneyland Paris this week where they will spend three days. The trip, which was last organised in 2015, has …

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Armagh Observatory And Planetarium Announces Series Of Summer Events

– Family friendly events to take place on site at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium this summer – Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has announced a number of family friendly events that will take place on site during the summer holidays of July and August 2023. These will include: Planet Roar Live Dinosaur Show. Running at 10:30am, 12:30pm …

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Here Are The Top 30 Foods Children Will Turn Down

The foods children are most likely to turn their nose up at are Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions. A study of 1,000 parents of 5-11-year-olds revealed the top 30 foods kids are particular about, including broccoli, tomatoes and spinach. Others complain about eating mushrooms, avocado and fish. It also emerged 14 per cent of the …

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Here Are The 5 Things Researchers Say Hinder Family Time, Do You Agree?

The typical family spends just six hours-a-week together as long working hours and digital devices keep them apart. A study of 2,000 mums and dads, with children at home, found their work shifts are the top cause of hindering family time (56 per cent), as well as homework (29 per cent) and social media use …

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8 In 10 Pregnant Women Worry About Passing Allergies On To Their Child

A study of 500 women who are currently pregnant, or who gave birth within the last five years, found 25 per cent avoided eating nuts while pregnant in case they gave their unborn child an allergy. Gluten (20 per cent) and pollen (16 per cent) are also among the list of potential allergens avoided by …

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Festival Of Fools Is Back Again This Weekend

Ireland’s largest free street performance festival returns with its 2023 programme in Belfast city centre from April 29th – May 01st 2023.  The programme offers three days of jam-packed, all-inclusive entertainment for the whole family including circus, magic, puppetry and much more. It takes place at various locations across Belfast City, and with all daytime shows free to attend, this …

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New Research Shows Cost-Of-Living Crisis Is Worsening For Disabled People In NI, As Charity Announces Emergency Financial Support For Households

The disability charity Sense, has announced that it will provide emergency financial support to disabled households, in response to its latest research, published today, that shows the impact of the worsening cost-of-living crisis on disabled people. More than four in five (83 per cent) of disabled people in Northern Ireland say that their financial situation …

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Carnlough School Reaching Out To Families During Financial Crisis

Healthy Heroes Lunch Club among series of initiatives Carnlough Integrated Primary School is reaching out to pupils and their families as the cost-of-living crisis bites, with a series of initiatives to provide support and healthy, curriculum-led options designed to offer practical options. The school has launched its Healthy Heroes Lunch Club with P6 and P7 …

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A Retired Sales Manager And Mum Of Four Have Joined Forces To Visit Schools And Deliver NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe Service

Teaming up to help protect childrenA retired sales manager and mum of four have joined forces tovisit schools and deliver NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe service It’s an unusual partnership, but mum-of-four Jennifer Kilpatrick and retired salesmanager Hamilton Topping have been joining forces two mornings a week to helpchildren recognise abuse.Jennifer and Hamilton volunteer with …

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4 Corners Festival Bringing Communities Together Through Sports

4 Corners Festival returns for its 11th annual instalment on January 27 for a 9-day event running until February 5, covering a variety of music, art, talks, sporting and religious-based events. This year’s theme, Dreams…Visions For Belfast is hoping to inspire individuals from all areas within the city to create a peaceful home for all …

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NSPCC NI Calling On Volunteers To Help Children ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’

It’s estimated that in the average UK primary school class, at least two children have suffered abuse or neglect. NSPCC Northern Ireland is calling for volunteers to join its Schools Service and visit primary schools to help children understand how to spot and speak out about the signs of abuse. Last year (2021/22), across the …

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Christmas Toys to Suit Every Budget

With the rising cost of living front of mind for all families, Lidl Northern Ireland promises incredible prices and an amazing array of Children’s Toys in all stores this Christmas. The market-leading discount retailer will have more toys than ever before, catering for children of all ages and for every budget. Alongside the retailer’s expanded range of …

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Are You Ready For The Ghost House?

A much anticipated, spooky new walkthrough show has opened to rave reviews this week as part of Belfast International Arts Festival.  The Ghost House, by award winning children’s theatre company, Cahoots runs until Halloween night. The show takes place inside an enormous complex of creepy corridors and shadowy rooms that has been built from scratch …

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Live Life Well-Being Centre Celebrates Successful First Year

The Live Life Well-Being Centre in Lisburn have recently celebrated their successful first year of operation. It was set up in 2021 to offer young people with additional needs in the Greater Lisburn area new services better suited to their needs. It was designed with the help of parents, who were able to identify the …

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New Employer-Focused ‘Guide To Childcare’ Supports Employees And Boosts Economy

As labour shortages and staff retention continues to impact the economy, the issues associated with accessing or affording appropriate childcare – viewed by many parents as one of the main barriers to employment – have been addressed in a new Guide for Employers. Working with the Labour Relations Agency (LRA), the Department for the Economy …

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New Initiative Will Help Young Consumers Avoid Falling Victim To Scams And Identity Theft

If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is; If you have not entered a competition, you cannot win it – these and many other useful tips have been offered by the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland as part of the new efforts to protect consumers from scammers, particularly young students.  Together …

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New Initiative Launched To Help Young Students Avoid Scams And Identity Theft

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Consumer Council have launched a new initiative in time for the new academic year, aimed at helping students avoid scams and identity theft. The Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 resources have been jointly produced by CCEA and the Consumer Council on behalf of the …

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4C UR Future Welcomes Schools From Mid and East Antrim Borough Council To LIVE Careers Inspiration Event

4C UR Future, the industry-led social enterprise that aims to empower young people to make well-informed decisions about their education and future careers, held a successful 4C UR Future LIVE event for students from Mid and East Antrim Borough at Jim Baker Stadium, Templepatrick on 20 June 2022.  The LIVE event welcomed pupils from Ballymena …

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Online Gaming: Everything You Need To Know As A Parent

Online gaming is a wonderful thing, but to an outsider it may seem..arbitrary, and irrelevant.  If you’re a parent/guardian, you’ve likely had it explained that you cannot pause online games, and so on.  So today, we’re going over some easy ways to relate to your child and understand this hobby of theirs, a primer on …

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20 Beautiful Beaches To Check Out In Northern Ireland

With the summer holidays in full swing some families might be planning adventurous getaways and relaxing retreats. But if you’re not heading away this year it’s worth remembering that the Northern Ireland coastline is full of some spectacular hidden gems that can cater to a wide variety of tastes. Whether you’re looking for adrenaline-filled water …

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Things To Do With The Family Over The Easter Break Around Northern Ireland

17 Things To Do With The Family Over The Easter Break Around Northern Ireland

It’s the Easter holidays and sometimes one of the hardest things to do is figure out what to do with the family. Here are 17 things you can do with the family over the Easter holidays and beyond this April: Belfast Easter Egg Hunt April 7th – 20th, Belfast This hour-long trail will allow attendees …

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