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Seasonal Fruits…
May 18th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
It’s a widely held view that getting kids to eat vegetables is not an easy task but is getting kids to eat fruit any easier? In my case it is as my son is a soft fruit muncher, probably from my pureeing days and not to forget the fact strawberries and raspberries are much sweeter than spinach and broccoli!
We are coming right into the soft fruit season with next month seeing Strawberries, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Gooseberries and Raspberries all in season in June.
A good way to get fruit into our kids diet is by making smoothies. Below is a recipe I have used for a mixed berry smoothie which kids and adults alike will find yummy!
Mixed Berry Smoothie (to serve 2)
400g/14 oz mixed berries – blueberries, raspberries and blackberries
250ml unsweetened orange juice
2 tbsp honey
8 tbsp natural yoghurt
950 ml milk
Cut any large berries in half, then place in a blender with the orange juice and honey. Pulse to chop then add the yoghurt and milk and blend until smooth. Serve immediately with a few whole small berries of your choice on top.
Filed under: Blog, Childrens Health, stay at home mum, Working Mums, Your Health on May 18th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
Exam Time
May 17th, 2010 | Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
Guiding your children through their exams can be a stressful time not only for them but also for you. Professor Fiona McNicholas of the Lucena Clinic gives us some useful tips to hold it all together. 
Develop good study Habits
1. Timetable
2. Preparation
3. Frequent breaks
4. Morning is best
5. Mix hard and easy
6. Avoid late night cramming
7. Mind mapping, key words, summaries, revision notes
Read more on how to stay calm during this stressful time.
Filed under: Blog, Website Related on May 17th, 2010 by Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
Win Tickets for Dublinia!
May 12th, 2010 | Claire Hayes | Comments (7)
If you’d like the chance to win one of three family tickets ( 2 adults and 2 children ) for a Viking exhibition at Dublinia, Irelands first Viking and Medieval Heritage Centre, featuring a replica Viking ship thats sure to keep the kids happy.
The exhibition starts Wed.12th May. To enter just tell us the name of the medieval woman who tells of the perils of not brushing your teeth ( read our last blog for the answer )
Leave us a comment and we’ll announce the winners shortly
Filed under: homepage-articles, How to Entertain the Kids on May 12th, 2010 by Claire Hayes | Comments (7)
Did You Ever Speak Viking Or Want To Be An Archaeologist For A Day……?
May 9th, 2010 | Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
Did you know Vikings used moss for toilet paper, that in Medieval Dublin touching a dead man’s tooth would apparently cure a tooth ache or that the different layers of archaeology over time are called ‘strata’?
You can learn all this and more at Dublinia, the home of Ireland’s only purpose built Viking and Medieval Heritage Centre, which will be relaunched on Wednesday 12th May after a €2m investment. With improved exhibitions and an exciting new exhibition, History Hunters (CSI meets history!), visitors can expect a uniquely authentic, interactive experience. 
Located at the crossroads of old and contemporary Dublin on St Michael’s Hill, Christchurch, Dublinia offers a fascinating insight into the lives of our Viking ancestors and Medieval forefathers. Visitors to this unique attraction will step through the hull of a replica Viking ship, before being transported back in time to Viking and Medieval Dublin. There they can view genuine Viking and Medieval artefacts (on display courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland) and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of Medieval Dublin with a walk through a life size Medieval ‘Streetscape’. They can even meet Maggie, a medieval woman who will tell of the perils of not brushing your teeth properly, before discovering where it all began with History Hunters, the brand new exhibition, which gives visitors a unique insight into the world of archaeology. 
The centre is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm and the entrance fee is €6.95 (adult) and €4.95 (child), a special family ticket is available priced at €20.00 (2 adults and 2 children).For more information telephone (01) 6794611 or log onto www.dublinia.ie
Filed under: homepage-articles, How to Entertain the Kids on May 9th, 2010 by Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
Asthma Society of Ireland Calls for 50% Reduction in Asthma Hospitalisations by 2015
May 7th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
To mark World Asthma Day, the Asthma Society of Ireland has joined with international experts in a global initiative to cut asthma hospitalisations in half by 2015 by improving asthma control.
In Ireland, 60% of people with asthma do not have their symptoms controlled. There are approximately 5000 asthma related hospital admissions every year in this country.
The goal of the Asthma Society of Ireland is to reduce these admissions by 50% over the next five years.
In the past year, The Asthma Society of Ireland has developed and funded a major initiative in primary care to improve asthma management and control in Ireland. As a result of this project the Health Service Executive (HSE) has prioritised asthma care and is developing a nationwide asthma management programme. Rapid implementation of this programme will have a real impact on asthma control and quality of life for the 470,000 people in Ireland living with asthma.
Dr Jean Holohan, CEO, Asthma Society of Ireland commented, “Asthma cannot be cured, but we know that with proper guideline based treatment, most patients can achieve good control of their condition. Controlled asthma means no, or very minimal symptoms, and very infrequent asthma attacks. A person whose asthma is under control can go to work or school, exercise and participate fully in life. Our target for the next five years is a reduction in hospitalisations by 50%. In the Irish context this would mean a reduction in asthma hospital bed days of approximately 40%.
In May, the Asthma Society is asking the public to support their fundraising “Cupcakes for Asthma” campaign. People are encouraged to bake, buy or sell cupcakes to raise funds.They can show their support by logging on to www.asthmasociety.ie to order a fundraising pack or to donate a virtual cupcake via facebook. Supporters of the campaign include celebrity chef Rozanne Stevens, Ireland and Manchester United footballer John O’Shea, Munster and Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara, former Leinster and Ireland winger Denis Hickey and rugby pundit Brent Pope.
Filed under: Blog, Childrens Health, Your Health on May 7th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
Making Babies…
May 6th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comments (4)
From Sperm tests to iPhone apps, home fertility tests have become the new best friend for couples trying to conceive.
Many home family-planning kits endeavour to predict ovulation and fertility in women and men. These kits and monitors can be expensive and difficult to use.
At Tot2Teens we are considering the usefulness of including an Ovulation Calculator on our site – the calculator would work on the basis of a free menstrual calender to predict the optimum time to conceive and respective due date if conception is successful. Personally I think an Ovulation Calculator is a really useful tool as not everyone has a 28 day cycle and if you are trying for a baby knowing your most fertile time can only help.
Does anyone have any comments on the usefulness of Ovulation Calculators or home family-planning kits?
Filed under: Blog, Having a Baby, mum to be, Your Health on May 6th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comments (4)
Travelling with Kids
April 29th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
With the volcanic ash at bay and May approaching its time to think about summer holidays! The days when you could pin a flag on a map, book a cheap flight and think about accomodation later are gone when you have kids and a little more organisation is required.
Tara Cosgrove of Sticky Fingers Travel provided us with some Tips and Advice for Travelling with kids of all ages…..
Travelling with a Baby
http://www.tots2teens.ie/baby/travelling-with-a-baby/
Travelling with Toddlers
http://www.tots2teens.ie/tots/travelling-with-a-toddler/
Travelling with school age children
http://www.tots2teens.ie/tots/travelling-with-school-age-children/
Travelling with Teenagers
http://www.tots2teens.ie/teens/travelling-with-teenagers/
Filed under: Blog, Family Holidays, How to Entertain the Kids on April 29th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
Can men and women be treated equally in the workplace?
April 26th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
Running from work to collect my son from crèche last Friday a Dublin Bus passed me with a huge advert all over the back with a picture of a woman and a man and the question do they get paid and treated equally for the same work?
The first thought that entered my mind was that it was a bit of a waste of money having that big advert up on the back of the bus and does an advert like that really make any difference?
Can there ever be equality in the workplace for men and women when women are the child bearers?
Can we be expected to be treated the same? Should we be treated equally?
Recently I have had two friends who have had to ‘mask’ the fact that they are actually pregnant until promotions were finalised or long awaited pay increases were secured.
Stressful times when your growing bump threatens to ‘out’ you!
Does anyone have an opinion?
Filed under: Blog, Having a Baby, mum to be, Working Mums on April 26th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
The Tooth Fairy
April 23rd, 2010 | Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
After many weeks of observing, wiggling and sometimes tugging his loose front tooth the tooth fairy finally got the chance to visit our house last night. With as much excitement as Christmas brings, the tooth was carefully wrapped and placed under his pillow and bedtime ran with extreme ease in anticipation of the tooth fairies visit. 
I’m not sure what the going rate for the tooth fairy is these days and was frantically trying to remember what she left for the older brother so as not to ensue any ‘ I got more than you’ singsongs.
With the loss of baby teeth comes the responsibility of keeping the ‘big’ teeth clean and decay free. A daily routine of brushing properly twice a day should keep the dentist at bay. It’s advised that you brush your child teeth until about the age of 7 when they are able to brush them properly themselves. Also, brushing for about a minute is required to get them into good routine.
Its easy to neglect the brushing especially at night when you want them in bed as the glass of wine downstairs in calling you but establishing a good routine early on is really beneficial to a healthy mouth.
If you have any funny stories of the tooth fairies visit please leave us a comment.
Filed under: Childrens Health on April 23rd, 2010 by Claire Hayes | Comment (0)
Weaning – Babys first spoonfuls
April 20th, 2010 | Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
A friend asked me yesterday about feeding her nearly 6 month old – fruit or veg, homemade puree or jars??
The strange thing is how quickly I forgot when I started feeding, what I pureed first etc. What I do remember is a few months into weaning making a big pot of casserole, spending ages on it thinking I was a great mother and that Annabel Karmel wasnt a patch on me. I whizzed it all up delighted with myself and fed the first spoonful - the reaction on my sons face as he took his first mouthful was one of disgust and he spat it all back out at me….weaning can be frustrating at times but its not long before the little mouths are opening and the feet kicking with the excitement of whats coming in that bowl.
Therese Dunne, Phyllis Farrell, Valerie Kelly – Paediatrician Dieticians at Temple Street Childrens Hospital have provided us with an article on Weaning and answer some of the most asked questions -
When to wean? Suitable foods? Suitable Drinks? Prevention of Allergies?
See – Weaning or Complementary Feeding
Filed under: Blog, Childrens Health, New Mum, stay at home mum, Working Mums on April 20th, 2010 by Tots2Teens | Comment (0)
