Trains by James Gulliver Hancock suitable for ages 0 to 2 years

Full steam ahead! From underground trains, luxury safari trains and speedy Japanese Shinkansen trains, explore EVERY different type of train available in this colourful book for very young children (aged 0-2), as well as railway stations, the history of trains and much more. With eye-catching illustrations and easy-to-read text, this is an engaging introduction for little train-lovers.

Superworm by Julia Donaldson suitable for ages 0 to 4 years

“Superworm is super-long. Superworm is super-strong. Watch him wiggle! See him squirm! Hip, hip, hooray for SUPERWORM!” Super-long and super-strong, Superworm is always on hand to help animals and insects in need. From rescuing Baby Toad from a busy road or fishing Beetle out of a well – do not fear, Superworm is here!

Sleepy Eyes Bedtime Soothing Owl Soft Toy from Baby GUND suitable for ages 0 to 2+ years

The Sleepy Eyes Bedtime Owl is perfect for bedtime and play. Press the head & watch the eyes slowly close and hear soothing sounds as his belly gently glows.

Tonies fun audio system for kids suitable for ages 0 to 2+ years

Toniebox – the new audio system for children. Turn it on, pop a Tonie on and simply let the audio adventure begin. It’s all in one box with room for 90 minutes, so you can upload your MP3s, audiobooks or even narrate your own stories.

LEGO DUPLO Town Barn, Tractor & Farm Animal Care Playset suitable for ages 18 months+

This play-and-learn farm is an ideal developmental toy for toddlers who love animals or tractors. There are farm buildings and a tractor to build, plus farm accessories and a pig, sheep, horse, dog, hen, rooster and 2 cows to care for. As toddlers role-play the different farm activities, they build fine motor skills and develop social and emotional awareness.

The Baddies by Julia Donaldson suitable for 3+ years

The brand-new picture book from superstar author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a riot of slapstick fun and silliness. The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land. They just adore being bad, and fight over who is the worst. When a little girl moves into a nearby cottage, the Baddies can’t wait to scare her out of her wits. But the little girl quickly shows them that you don’t have to be big to be brave, and baddies don’t always win. Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot Julia and Axel are the team that have created picture book favourites such as The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog and Highway Rat

Sir Adam The Brave & The Moody Monsters by David King suitable for ages 0 to 4 years

A brand new picture book adventure from the author-illustrator dream team behind the No.1 bestseller, A Hug For You, starring schoolboy Adam King in the guise of a medieval knight

When a trio of moody monsters jeopardise the Wompie Wonder Fair and throw the kingdom into chaos, something has to be done. And fast! Enter Sir Adam the Brave! Join him on his quest to save the day and find out what’s making those monsters so very moody!

David Walliams Memory Game suitable for ages 5+

A brilliantly entertaining Memory Game inspired by the stories from The World of David Walliams. Classic game of pairs featuring characters from books including Gangsta Granny, Billionaire Boy, and Grandpa’s Great Escape encourages concentration, turn taking and helps to develop memory skills.

Washimals Ocean Pets Playset suitable for ages 3+ years

Colour, clean and colour again with Crayola Washimals! Use the included Washimals markers to colour and create beautiful patterns and designs on your pets, before cleaning them off to play again! This fantastic Ocean Seashell Playset allows kids to play with new ocean themed pets at home or on the go! Features brand new pastel coloured pets in a fun beach theme that doubles as a storage solution. Contents include 2 pastel pets, 3 markers, 1 brush, 1 beach playset.

Squishmallow suitable for ages 3+ years

With a supersoft marshmallow-like texture each Squishmallow has its own fun personality shown on the hangtag. Each Squishmallow has its own unique style and design and there are loads to choose from with everything from an armadillo to a shrimp!

Cat Kid Comic Club – Collaborations by Dav Pilkey suitable for ages 6+ years

The Cat Kid Comic Club learns to collaborate in this creative, funny, and insightful graphic novel by Dav Pilkey. Excitement and imagination run wild as Naomi, Melvin, Poppy, Gilbert, Curly, and their siblings get back to making comics with originality and laughter. But wait – have they cleaned their rooms yet?! After their chores, the rambunctious group presents even more amazing mini-comics: a thrilling ride in “Chubbs McSpiderbutt”, an action-packed romp in “Frogzilla”, reflective haikus in “In the Autumn Pond”, a candy-coated mystery in “Mallo Cop”, and much, much, more.

By working together, the baby frogs discover that small things can have a huge impact. Readers of all ages will be inspired to dream up their own stories and unleash their own creativity as they dive into this pioneering graphic novel adventure from Dav Pilkey Heartfelt and humorous with an amazing cast of characters, this is the perfect present for Dog Man fans. Full colour pages throughout make it a fun and bright read!

The Friendship Fairies Go To Sea by Lucy Kennedy suitable for 6+ years

Meet the Friendship Fairies – sisters Emme, Holly and Jess. They’re just like regular girls, always messing and having fun, but they’re also fairies. Their mum works as a spy and she has a new case to crack – and this time she’s taking the Friendship Fairies along with her, to a little island off Connemara! All the girls know is that they’re going out to sea and that they need to take their swimsuits . Can Emme, Holly and Jess help their mum solve the mystery? This is the fourth book in the bestselling Friendship Fairies series by much-loved TV presenter Lucy Kennedy – magic, friendship and fun for readers aged 6+, with illustrations throughout by Phillip Cullen.

Pokémon The Collection suitable for ages 5 to 8 years

Join Pikachu for the ultimate Pokémon adventure in this creative collection! With 3 awesome activity books, a poster, a bookmark and stickers, this a perfect gift for fans of all ages. Jam-packed with Pokémon fun, this gift box contains a colouring book, search and find and a how-to-draw book.

Ravensburger Children’s World Globe, 180 piece 3D Jigsaw Puzzle suitable for ages 6 to 99 years!

This world globe is a great way to introduce your child to world geography. The design also shows different animals in the continents where they live. This puzzle uses unique plastic pieces, which slot together to build a sturdy and strong model. No glue required! Either assemble by eye or using the numbers on the reverse side.

Catan Junior suitable for ages 6+ years

Catan Junior takes place on a ring of tropical isles – including the mysterious Spooky Island, home of the Ghost Captain. Each island generates a specific resource: wood, goats, molasses, or cutlasses. You can also find gold. You start with two pirate lairs, and then build ships in order to expand your network. The more lairs you build, the more resources you may receive. Use your resources to build ships, lairs, or to get help from wise Coco the parrot.

This family game offers a world of adventure waiting to be discovered.

Spaceboy by David Walliams suitable for ages 9+ years

Ruth loves climbing trees, making a mess and throwing stones. But the thing she loves most is SPACE.

The girl is OBSESSED. She spends her days reading comics about alien invasions, doodling UFOs, watching B-movies about Earth being invaded by creatures from Mars… and gazing at the stars through her old, battered telescope.

Until one night, Ruth creeps out of bed in the attic room of her rickety old farmhouse to watch the stars – and is just dozing off when she spots something blazing across the sky. Something that looks like a flying saucer! Is she dreaming? No! And the flying saucer is on fire…

But when the UFO crash-lands in the cornfield, and Ruth rushes to help, she finds a mystery – and an adventure – beyond her wildest dreams…

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode by Jeff Kinney suitable for 9+  years

In Diper Överlöde, book 17 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is finding out that the road to fame and glory comes with some hard knocks.

When he decides to tag along with his brother Rodrick’s band, Löded Diper, Greg doesn’t realize what he’s getting into. But he soon learns that late nights, unpaid gigs, fighting between band members, and money troubles are all part of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

Can Greg help Löded Diper become the legends they think they are? Or will too much time with Rodrick’s band be a diper överlöde?

Keeper of The Lost Cities Series by Shannon Messenger Suitable for ages 9+years

The Keeper of the Lost Cities series is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Rick Riordan and Amari and the Night Brothers. It tells the story of Sophie Foster and her unique telepathic abilities, something she has never spoken of, even to her family until the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who also reads minds.

In the first book, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a magical world! There are currently 9 books in the series, although the 9th book, Keeper of The Lost Cities Unlocked, is known as book 8.5!

Where’s Wally Find It Fast Game suitable for ages 5+

How quickly can you spot Wally? The Where’s Wally Find It Fast game is a brilliant, fun, quick paced matching game! Pick a card that contains a multiple images of Where’s Wally and other general objects then roll the picture dice – find an image on the dice that matches one on the card to win the round. The player who finds the most matches wins. For 2-4 players it makes a perfect stocking filler that all the family can enjoy.

Robotime 3D Puzzles suitable for ages 9+

Robotime 3D puzzles are the perfect gift for any budding building and engineering enthusiasts. Offering everything from Sam’s Study to Orpheus the working Robot, you can build sturdy 3D models with moving parts that offers hours of enjoyment.

LEGO-Creator: Caravan Family Holiday Playset suitable for ages 9+ years

Creative camping adventures and fun are awaiting outdoor fans in the LEGO Creator 3in1 Caravan Family Holiday Playset. At least 3 different build-and-play experiences are possible. Kids can build a caravan with a retro car model, then rebuild it into a camper van or a detailed lighthouse. Or they can free their creativity, tap into different passions and build something totally new. Packed with accessories and features, the set also includes 3 minifigures to jump-start play.

Failosophy for Teens by Elizabeth Day suitable for ages 13+

A game-changing guide to being happier, healthier and succeeding better, from Sunday Time bestselling author Elizabeth Day! This is a handbook for when things to wrong!

The book is full of creative and inspiring advice on how to talk openly about failure and turn failure into success, build resilience for when life sends you curveballs and reframe negative thoughts about yourself and much more.

The First To Die At The End by Adam Silvera suitable for ages 15+

It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident. Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn’t.

Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.

LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet suitable for ages 16+ years

Feel the power of your creative Force as you build the Star Wars collectible Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet. The buildable model of Luke’s iconic pilot headgear is the first-ever hero helmet or open helmet in the LEGO Star Wars Helmet Collection. Channel your inner Jedi to recreate authentic details, including a brick-built microphone and interior padding, plus translucent red visor elements.

Ravensburger Eiffel Tower 3D Puzzle with lights suitable for ages 12+ years

Recreate the iconic Eiffel Tower with this 216 piece 3D jigsaw which includes real working LED colour changing lights! A perfect addition to any teenagers room as it glows from red to white to blue.

Quirky Water Bottles and Travel Mugs 

From the Eoin O’Connor ‘Mutz’ collection to the Orla Kiely Metal water bottle collection and the Bioloco collection of travel mugs and water bottles, you are sure to find a suitable stocking filler for the savvy eco conscious teens in your life.

Our instinct as parents is to provide and protect. This has become even more apparent as we navigate our way through the current COVID crisis. But our kids, especially our teens, are more resilient than we sometimes give them credit for.

Opening up and talking about the family finances (within reason) gives them an opportunity to ask questions, gain understanding and ultimately be better prepared for their future.

For most, they will face tough financial decisions and being equipped with the skills to navigate their way through those decisions is perhaps one of the best gifts you can give them.

Children pick up on and mimic the behaviour of their parents and their peers. From a young age they are forming their financial understanding, through the games you play together and from listening to and watching your attitude and behaviour to spending and saving.

Everyday events from shopping to paying bills, saving for bigger ticket items and bringing them along when you lodge money to your account are learning opportunities and can help start the discussion around money and goal setting.

As they get older, enlist their help to research things like insurance, household bills, holidays, etc. Could they help save the family money or find a better way to get away for a family break? Can you reward them by sharing a portion of the savings in return for their help? By doing this you are equipping them to want to research in the future when it is their money and they are looking for ways to save and spend wisely.

Most teens have a basic understanding of where money comes from. Talk to them about ways they can earn money. You may choose to pay your teen for chores or they may help neighbours with babysitting, car washing, grass cutting, etc. As they grow, encouraging them to apply for a summer job, where they may have to pay tax and learn to use a tax estimator, are all great ways to show them the time and effort required to get money.

It is also good to have the conversation around future plans. Jobs they think they may like and what they may need to do to get there. So chatting about interest areas, looking at college courses and drilling into what they offer, and even looking at recruitment websites to get an idea of what salary they can expect are all ways to help them plan their financial future better.

Once your teen reaches 18, the offers for credit cards, store cards and other tempting offers will come flooding in. Talk to them about their credit score and how easy it is to get into debt. Explain how a credit card works and what happens if you don’t clear the debt each month.

Investing in stocks and shares can be an exciting way to teach your teen about risk and reward.

“The stock market is just one big shop. Instead of buying a chocolate bar in that shop, you can buy a piece of the company that makes chocolate bars. If the company that makes the chocolate makes a profit, it’s worth more, and the price you bought it for may go up. Maybe that company will decide to give the profits directly to the people who own the shares and that’s called a dividend. If the company makes a loss, which can happen, the share price can go down, that’s called a risk,” explains Susan Hayes Culleton, CFA, “The Positive Economist” and author of Money Matters.

There are also other investment opportunities open to them, including crypto currency, starting their own business, and investing in other financial products or services.

Talking through the options with your teen and doing the research helps them make an informed choice, but they do need to understand the risks to their investment and only risk what they can afford to lose.

Money Matters is a financial literacy textbook with the support of CFA Ireland. It is written as menu of personal finance, investing and entrepreneurship life skills.

The book is tailored for young people in the following ways:

• It is story-focused whereby students can learn about pensions through characters like Sarah who starts her first job and is wondering what “tax relief” means for her.
• It is full of relevant modernity including ESG, fintech, online brokers, differentiating between trading and investing as well as using technology for active learning.
• It gives a real taste of the diversity of careers available today and tomorrow in finance. Each chapter contains a case study of a CFA Institute charterholder and highlights how the the theory learned in subjects like accounting, business, maths and economics connect with the practicality of everyday life and life-changing decisions.

Find out more and buy your copy here  so you can start talking to your teen about money and finances.

While celebrations such as receiving exam results are meant to be enjoyed, it is important that young people maintain a balanced approach, have fun and act responsibly while cherishing the occasion. 

You, as a parent, play a crucial role in influencing young people (even when they are young adults) to celebrate safely, especially when there is a possibility of risk or harm.

Receiving exam results can bring heightened emotions. It is important to listen to and support your child with the many mixed emotions they may feel. These heightened emotions may lead young people to take risks, particularly when they want to celebrate these milestones.

For those who sat the Leaving Cert, it is also a time of huge change. Young people can experience a sense of sadness, as they may be leaving the old and familiar behind. Others will experience uncertainty about the possibility of moving away from home and into the unknown.

For some there will be anxiety and stress, especially if they feel they did not do well. Or they may experience joy and elation at the thoughts of entering the adult world.

It is important that you are informed about the risks associated with alcohol so that you can chat openly and honestly to your young person.

Drinkaware can help with their dedicated parent hub where they offer online supports, information and resources. In addition, they run regular webinars for parents.

Their next webinar – “Parents’ role in influencing young people to celebrate safely.” takes place from 1pm to 2pm on Tuesday August 22nd.  Register for this Drinkaware Webinar today!

This is your opportunity, as a parent, to engage with your young person in a wholesome way and enable them to celebrate achievements and enjoy success without the need for exposing themselves to the risks of alcohol or binge drinking.

Did you know for instance, that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol-related problems later in life than those who wait until 21 years? (1)

Adolescents fear social rejection so the way they celebrate may reflect this as they may engage in behaviours that will increase their sense of belonging and connection with their peer group.

As a parent, it is important you are aware of how your child is planning to celebrate exam results night. Ask them how they plan to celebrate and get a conversation going, rather than telling them what to do.

This can help them share their concerns or fears with you and open up about difficulties they or their friends have experienced to date when socialising.

Trust is an important attribute to develop together as your child grows. Not only your trust in them and confidence that you have given them the skills to be resilient and make good decisions, but their trust in you.

When it comes to exam celebrations night, ensure your young person knows that you are there for them should they need you. That you are just a phone call away.

Some parents have told us that they have a ‘safe’ word or phrase agreed in advance with their child. If they call or message using the word or phrase, it is their way of letting  you know they need your help, without losing face in front of friends.

Exam results night is not the night for sleepovers. In a recent survey we carried out with parents, unsupervised parties were amongst the top concerns parents have when it comes to their young person and alcohol.

Insist on picking up your young person at an agreed time, so you can be reassured that they get home safely and come to no harm. 

Parents lead by example and modelling responsible behaviour is very important as young people emulate parental behaviour. It helps them develop responsible decision making and to understand there are consequences to behaviour – all valuable skills for living and working.

Showing them that alcohol isn’t an essential requirement for you to celebrate an achievement or to mark an occasion or to have fun can have a powerful impact on their future decision making.

Your attitudes and behaviour during this milestone can impact the young person’s attitudes, actions and behaviour.

Alcohol really should have no place in celebrations for those under 18 years old and should be treated with caution and respect by those over 18.

The brain is still developing up to the age of 24 and alcohol impacts memory and the decisions made while under the influence. Delaying a young person’s drinking age reduces the risk of harmful drinking later in life. (2)

Young people need to be aware of potential dangers linked to unsafe behaviours such as harmful alcohol consumption, reckless driving, or other risky activity.

They need to know of potential consequences, both personal and legal that may arise from such behaviours.

Having boundaries in place, that are agreed together in advance, can help keep them safe and well on nights out.

Parents and Family members have the single strongest influence of all external factors on young people’s attitudes towards drinking. (3) This was also identified by young people themselves (4) where they identified parents as being the main source of information on alcohol.

Having a good quality parent/child relationship is connected with delayed alcohol initiation and reduced later alcohol use. (5) Delaying alcohol consumption is important as research shows that 1 in 3 or 38% of young people aged 15 to 24 have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). (6)

By showing young people you are operating out of a place of love and respect you can really have an impact on the future they are creating for themselves.

Celebrating safely by staying sober reduces the risk of accidents and injuries to self or others and involves responsible decision-making.

This is the beginning of a new phase with new opportunities and new challenges for your young person.

They still need you – your presence, love and support in their lives. Do not underestimate that need or your influence.

Take care of yourself and mind your own health and wellbeing. You are their greatest resource!

For further support and information please register for Drinkaware Webinar – “Parents’ role in influencing young people to celebrate safely.”

It takes place from 1.00pm -2.00pm on Tuesday 22nd August. The webinar aims to:

• Highlight the important role of parents in supporting young people to celebrate safely
• Provide you with facts, knowledge and tips to help you have a conversation about celebrations and alcohol with your young person
• Offer tips and advice on how to stay safe, especially if choosing to drink
• Establish what other supports would benefit Parents.

Sources:
(1) Grant et al (1997) cited in Mongan et al (2007) Health Related Consequences of Problem Alcohol Use. Overview 6. Dublin. Health Research Board.
(2) Straight Talk – A Guide For Parents on Teenage Drinking, Health Promotion Unit, H.S.E.
(3) Behaviour & Attitudes (2016). Alcohol Education. Is it meeting the Needs of Junior Certificate Students? Dublin: Report Commissioned by Drinkaware.
(4) The Drinkaware Index (2019): Analysing Hazardous Drinking in Ireland. Dublin, Drinkaware
(5) S. M. Ryan, et al, Parents Factors Associated with Reduced Adolescent Alcohol Use, (Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2010) p 779.
(6) Health Research Board (2022) HRB Overview Series 12 Alcohol and other drug use among children and young people in Ireland: prevalence, risk and protective factors, consequences, responses, and policies Anne Doyle, Salome Sunday, Brian Galvin, Deirdre Mongan

When asked about your influence on your children around alcohol you told us – “I completely believe as a parent I have a huge part to play in the perception of alcohol in my daughter’s life.”

“The influence we have as parents, I believe, is more to do with our own attitudes towards alcohol and how we model this in front of our children.”

This is backed up by research which shows that Parents and Family members have the single strongest influence of all external factors on young people’s attitudes towards drinking. (1) This was also identified by young people themselves , (2) where they identified parents as being the main source of information on alcohol.

It is important as a parent that you recognise the influence you have.

Parental self-efficacy is belief in your ability to make a difference in your child’s attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and overall well-being and healthy functioning.

If you don’t believe you have a strong influence this will come through in your actions and behaviour around your young person. By believing friends and others have more of an influence on your young person, you are handing your power away.

However, the strength of your influence depends on the type of relationship you have with your young person. The impact of your relationship with your child lasts a lifetime and influences a young person’s self-esteem, resilience and decisions.

By creating a supportive and nurturing relationship, you will enable young people to make healthy decisions in a world where alcohol is freely available. It will mean your child will turn to you for guidance and support when needed.

Parenting is never easy and there is no such thing as the perfect child or perfect parent.

Adolescence can be a particularly challenging stage of development for both you and your young person. It is a time of immense and confusing changes when fitting in becomes very important.

As young people try to find their place in the world, they look to friends for acceptance and want to be independent of you, their parents, while being under the control of or being led by their friends. A young person who does not feel a sense of belonging may succumb to friends’ requests to fit in, including experimenting with alcohol.

Maintaining a strong, loving, nurturing and open relationship with young people during adolescence will enable them to feel secure and stand on their own two feet without the need for alcohol.

As one parent commented: “You need to bring your children up to think for themselves and make their own decisions. They will of course make mistakes, but you need to be there for them.”

By your attitudes to, beliefs about and behaviour around alcohol, you can be an enabler of underage drinking or a protector from underage drinking.

You are a role model for your child around alcohol and have a unique opportunity to help them develop healthy attitudes towards alcohol use. The example you set around alcohol, the home rules you establish and behaviours you allow are important.

The research found that the majority of parents believe they are responsible in influencing their child’s attitude to and behaviour around alcohol. Comments included:

“Behaviour is learned- what they see parents doing is normalised. Children will copy their parents’ behaviour if not consciously, then unconsciously.”

“Yes, I think parents have a huge influence, as young children especially would observe their parents’ attitudes and use of alcohol and so most often would be a child’s example to form a child’s first opinions around alcohol use.”

Alcohol is often the first substance used by young people with the average age of consumption in Ireland being 15.5 years. (3)

• The earlier young people start to drink the greater the possibility of harm including damage to the brain and to mental, emotional and physical health.
• Young people who drink before or at 15 years old are four times more likely to develop alcohol-related problems later in life. (4)

It is important that you have conversations with young people about alcohol which can help protect your child from future alcohol harm.

• Without the conversations, young people may see no harm in starting to drink underage. As one parent commented; “I would really love kids to know that alcohol doesn’t make you cool.”
• By not talking about alcohol to young people, you may give the message that alcohol use is ok.
• Disapproval of underage drinking needs to be clearly and consistently conveyed to your teen and matched with positive role modelling.
• It is important that you monitor your teen’s behaviour and who they are with. “As parents, we have to keep a close eye on who they are with and where they are.”
• You shouldn’t assume that young people know all about alcohol or that they and their friends are all drinking or will drink or that they won’t listen to you.

Assumptions distort our perception of reality and impact the decisions we make. Assumptions can stop you having the conversation or underestimate the impact of having conversations with young people about alcohol.

In our findings, 80% of parents said they had a conversation with their child about alcohol. They talked about “How alcohol makes you feel when you drink it and how you feel after.” “Knowing the limits of your own body. Effects it has on behaviour.”  And “… why one should never drink and drive and the responsibilities that come with consuming alcohol.”

Parents thought the following should be discussed in conversations with young people:

• The effects of alcohol on the body
• The legal age to drink
• Healthy and unhealthy attitudes towards alcohol
• Peer pressure and alcohol
• Consent and alcohol
• Dispelling myths
• How it can affect others, not just the drinker
• How the body processes alcohol
• The law re drinking and driving
• Losing control/inhibitions

Parents were interested in finding out when and how to have the conversation with their children about alcohol. It is never too early or too late to start the conversation.

By talking to them at an early age you have a greater chance of influencing their decisions. You should tailor answers to their age and experience.

By having ongoing conversations with your child and role-modelling healthy behaviour, you are reducing the risks of harmful drinking now and later in life and giving your child the chance to develop resilience, cope with hurt and disappointment and celebrate achievements without the need for alcohol.

• Don’t make a big deal about the chat as it should be ongoing and happen when having a meal or when watching tv etc
• Don’t wait until your children are teens to have the conversation
• Encourage conversation with listening as well as talking
• Talk directly and answer questions honestly
• Find out what they know already
• Set clear expectations and explain clearly what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour around alcohol
• Explain the rules in place and negotiate consequences
• Chat about what their friends are doing and don’t criticise them but do criticise unacceptable behaviour
• Explain the risks and law regarding underage drinking
• Chat about healthy ways to deal with stress, coping, disappointment
• Practice refusal conversations with your child
• Respect your child’s growing independence
• Revisit the topic regularly

Alcohol should have no place in childhood and Drinkaware passionately believes that parents need to be supported with information, advice and tips for how to communicate and role model positive behaviours towards alcohol.

Drinkaware recently launched the ‘Talking Matters’ parent’s booklet which covers:

• How and when to talk to your child about alcohol,
• The risks of underage alcohol use,
• The importance of building resilience in young people,
• How you might respond to certain questions,
• The importance of prevention
• The law and alcohol in Ireland.

Order your copy 

To accompany the newly launched resource, Drinkaware will be facilitating workshops across the country for parents and webinars for online attendance, providing a safe and supportive space for parents to help the young people in their life remain alcohol-free.

For more information regarding workshops and webinars to support parents in having this conversation with the young person in their life email: martha@drinkaware.ie.

References: 

(1) Cairns, G., Purves, R., Bryce, S., McKell, J., Gordon, R. & Angus, K. (2011). Investigating the Effectiveness of Education in Relation to Alcohol: A Systematic Investigation of Critical Elements for Optimum Effectiveness of Promising Approaches and Delivery Methods in School and Family Linked Alcohol Education Alcohol Insight, 83.
(2) Behaviour & Attitudes (2016). Alcohol Education. Is it meeting the Needs of Junior Certificate Students? Dublin: Report Commissioned by Drinkaware.
(3) The Drinkaware Index (2019): Analysing Hazardous Drinking in Ireland. Dublin, Drinkaware
(4) Grant et al (1997) cited in Mongan et al (2007) Health Related Consequences of Problem Alcohol Use. Overview 6. Dublin. Health Research Board

When you’re parenting a teen and there are these new things that come along it can be a bit daunting to know how best to advise them.

Doing your college course applications is a big decision, but there’s time to change your mind. The online CAO Change of Mind deadline for 2023 is July 1st at 17.00.

For those students who are still unsure if they have made the correct course choices, this is an opportunity to look at alternatives they may not have considered.

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A survey carried out by Smartfutures found that 51% of college students said their parents influenced their decision making, and that they’d advised their son or daughter, based on what they thought would suit their personality.

So, for example, if a parent holds any stereotypes about science and maths themselves (“It’s too difficult!” or “it’s not really for girls”) this can be picked up on and limit a student’s perceptions about what to consider.

Especially important for those having CAO change of mind conversations!

Discuss options with your teen and keep an open mind. Try not to steer them in the direction you feel they should be taking. The last thing you want after all is for them to start a course then drop out because they just aren’t into it.

Some parents decide to use a career advisor to help with choices at this point too.

• 5th May (12pm): Online Change of Mind facility becomes available (Free)
• 1st July 2023 – CAO change of mind deadline.
• First week of July: Initial CAO offers (mature applicants and applicants who accepted and then deferred places in 2022) are made by post and online on CAO.ie and remain open for a week. Offers lapse if not accepted within a week.
• End of July: The SEC will complete the standardisation process on the assessed grades submitted by schools.
• TBC: Leaving Cert results. Once the results of the written papers become available in August, the SEC replaces assessed grades where the student secures a higher grade in a written paper. These combined results will then become the provisional results released to students by the SEC in mid-August.
• Mid to late August 2023: Grades go to schools, available through a secure online service at examinations.ie from noon. CAO releases Round One offers to candidates online. A week after the issuing of round one offers, the CAO will close off the option to accept that place. Within a few days the CAO releases Round Two offers to applicants.

Experience the breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of Sydney and make once-in-a-lifetime memories as you climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Feel on top of the world as you journey along the upper arch to the peak of an Australian icon, soaking in the stories from your expert Climb Leader and the sights of the Harbour and the City skyline that surround you.

You will ascend 1,332 stairs along the upper arch and stand 134m in the air with 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour once you reach the top. Better still, you can opt for dawn, day, twilight or night climbs to experience all that the city has to offer and making this one of the best things to do in Sydney with teens and older kids.

Located 250m above the Sydney streets, you can enjoy unrivalled 360-degree views of the city and beyond from the observation deck of Sydney’s tallest building. Spot iconic landmarks and hidden gems of this beautiful harbour city, plus on a clear day, you can even see the Blue Mountains, located 80km away!

If that’s not enough, step out into the open air for a breathtaking 60-minute SKYWALK tour at the highest outdoor viewpoint (268m) in the city.

Visit the iconic Bondi Beach for a fun day of splashing, making the most of the sunshine at one of the world’s most stunning beaches.

Bring a picnic or pick up some fish and chips to enjoy while you watch the skilled surfers near the beach’s southern end. Want to give it a try yourself? Even complete novices can learn to surf at one of the accredited surf schools!

If you want to try a swim in the unique (and Insta-famous) Bondi Icebergs pool, plan on getting there early. It’s popularity means that it gets busy on a daily basis.

This massive saltwater pool is made even more iconic by the splashing of the waves from the nearby ocean. As you swim, you might even feel the wave hit you as you come up for air. This is part of the appeal of the iconic pool and is also responsible for its gorgeous blue-green hue.

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Cockatoo Island is a former convict penal establishment and naval shipyard, located in the heart of Sydney Harbour. Cockatoo Island is a source of intrigue and inspiration for visitors owing to its heritage buildings, distinctive terrain and panoramic views.

Tours cater for different ages and interests – from history buffs and ghost seekers through to families and seniors’ clubs. They’re also a great opportunity to discover iconic landmarks, including heritage buildings rarely opened to the general public.

iFLY Downunder, located in Penrith in Sydney’s west, was the first indoor skydiving facility in Australia. It is also​ the largest and most powerful indoor skydiving facility in the Southern Hemisphere!

Indoor skydiving is a thrilling experience, but if you’re not a fan of flying, the 365-degree glass tunnel allows spectators to watch and cheer on friends and family.

Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned pro that wants a new challenge, head to Cables Wake Park for some water-based fun!

Learn to wakeboard or progress your skills on the linear cable system with some expert coaching. Your coach can teach you all the basics and, if you’re ready, more technical tricks too.

Each year from May to November, more than 40,000 humpback and southern right whales make their way along Sydney’s coastline in their annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Pacific.

There are lots of great vantage points along the New South Wales coastline to do some whale-spotting, or you may choose to head out on a whale-watching tour to see if you can spot one of these majestic creatures.

Fancy joining the circus? Take to the high wires with a flying trapeze class at Circus Arts Sydney.

Circus Arts’ experienced fly coaches will take you through all the steps and teach you the correct technique to perform various tricks.

Do you believe in ghosts? For a unique night out in Sydney, try The Rocks Haunted Ghost Tour, a walking tour where you will learn about some of the dark and spooky history of The Rocks.

The guides and researchers are all historians, and the tours are based on historical documentation and information that has been handed down through generations of local residents.

With classic family rides, rollercoasters and adrenaline-boosting rides, all on the shores of Sydney Harbour, Luna Park is a great day out for thrill-seekers and fun-lowers of all ages.

When the thrills reach fever pitch, take a break for some fairground games including ring toss, knock ’ems, and a test of strength.

Sydney Underwater Scooter Tours give you the opportunity to experience the unique underwater world with a fun and easy to use water scooter. During a 90 minute guided underwater scooter tour in the beautiful Gordon’s Bay marine reserve, you’ll experience Sydney’s only underwater nature trail.

The secluded bay is Sydney’s most popular snorkelling spot, protected by an offshore reef, and home to many schools of fish, the famous Eastern sea blue groper, cuttlefish. octopus and more.

Lap up the fun at Raging Waters, with relaxing pools, adventurous slides and thrilling water rides!

There’s something for all ages, with height requirements in place for most attractions. Older children and the more adventurous can move on to moderate and intense rides, such as the Tropical Cyclone, the Typhoon, the Tantrum or the Bombora Water Slide!

Just 30 minutes by ferry or car from the city centre, Manly is Sydney’s premier beachside destination, featuring more than ten beaches and spectacular coastline views.

Explore the area and make the most of the fabulous sea air with bike rentals. Manly Bikes has road, mountain, tandem, kids, hybrid and e-bikes all available for hire.

There is a mix of outdoor and indoor activities on this list, so whatever the weather your teen is sure to find something to do this summer.

Encourage your teen to visit older family members and interview them, they could use their smartphone to video some of the conversations. Things to ask about:

• What was it like when you were a teenager?
• Were your parents strict?
• Who was your favourite family member?
• What did you eat?
• What did you do to amuse yourselves?

Irish Geneaology Toolkit has free templates for your family tree. Ancestry.com is also a good site to get started exploring your family’s ancestry and offers a 14 day free trial.

We all know many artists such as Lorde and Dua Lipa launched their careers on YouTube. Your turn to create and produce a new music video.

Now read How to Make Your Music Video go Viral.

As well as the standard cutting grass / washing cars / babysitting options to earn some extra cash, how about

• dog walking / pet sitting while the neighbours are away to save them kennel fees;
• digital photo sorting and printing;
• or offering to pick up and sort out all the lego for busy parents?

You can find lots of ideas for teen jobs here.

Have you had any inklings about starting your own business? The Student Enterprise Awards website has some useful information.

A Haiku should have seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five. This is not as easy as it sounds. Learn more about haikus here.

A teen writing a

haiku could be a challenge

but you can do it

Not only will you make your parents extremely happy but you will find all those lost cds/books/must have items that are buried under the heap.

You can now have a car boot sale/sale of work/garage sale to get rid of the non-essential non-teen stuff you no longer want and make yourself some cash at the same time.

See #6 now that you have cleared out your room.

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Try a new colour if parents will allow. If not, try a furniture rearrange and appropriate some small furnishings from elsewhere in the house.

Here are some other tips for quick and easy fixes.

You might like to try out a course in something you might be interested in doing in college as a taster.

There are lots of engineering / IT / animation / acting / language courses for teens.

If you’re in Ireland, check out our Summer Camps for Teens article.

Here’s the rules:

• Create 3 new menus and practice them
• They must include starter, main + dessert
• They must be tried out on your family
• They must be of a high standard i.e. empty plates at the end.

Check our Family Recipes for lots of ideas and How To Make Family Dinner.

Pick a night forecasted to be warm, clear and rain free and grab a sleeping bag, blanket and pillow and head out for a night outdoors.

Are you familiar with the constellations? See how many you can find in the night sky.

Make a Dream Destinations Board if you’re on Pinterest. Or hang out online on Lonelyplanet.com and create the best ever round the world itinerary.

• Where to go
• How to get there
• What to do
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Rules:

• It must be tuneful
• It must be lyrical
• Witty is good

Either write your own or do a karaoke style number. Now record yourself singing it and file away for viewing in 10 years’ time.

This is a good one if you’re planning to do some babysitting, to be able to tell prospective parents that you know first aid.

St John’s Ambulance Brigade run first aid courses as well as Irish Red Cross and there are lots of private organisations running them locally as well.

Check out our list of 10 of the Coolest Classic Books for Teens. From old classics to new, all of them thought provoking and inspiring.

Now that you have read your way through a bunch of classics how about trying your hand at a short story? And if you thought writing a short story was hard, try a short story in 100 words.

Writer John Scalzi gives useful tips for writing.

Skating is fun and you get to exercise at the same time without realising. If you’ve never skated before, here’s some good advice:

If you have read a book and loved it, time to create a Booktok. Here are some popular YA booktoks.

If you’ve never tried skateboarding, you have plenty of time this summer to give it a go and keep practicing to get better. Baseball caps worn backwards and baggy pants are not compulsory.

Fill balloons with water and get on some swimming togs for a water fight in the backyard.

Try out some new topping combinations on homemade pizza. Making your own dough is easy to master. Here’s our own super easy dough recipe:

Ingredients:

• 450g strong white bread flour or Tipo 00 flour (the Italian pizza or pasta flour)
• 500 ml warm water
• 2x7g sachets of dried yeast
• 2 tblsp olive oil
• pinch of salt

Method:

1. Put flour in a large mixing bowl.  Stir yeast into warm water in a jug. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add salt, olive oil then stir in yeast mixture until a dough forms (add a little more water or flour depending on if your dough is too sticky or too dry). Knead for up to 10 minutes. Place back in the bowl and cover with tea towel and leave for at least 1 hour to rise.
2. Divide into 4 balls and knead them a little to make them smooth.
3. Roll out flat to about 1 cm thick and place on your oiled pizza sheet or tray.
4. Now go wild with the topping combinations.

Maybe you like animals. Or are happy helping homeless people. You can do this through a local volunteer centre or at a local event or for a local charity, they always need people to help. (PS good for the resume/CV too!)

Offer to help at a local gallery or museum. Many galleries offer teens the chance to curate or help put exhibitions together.

Get a hold of a fishing rod and head off to a local stream, river or lake for the day.

Get down and mucky on the farm or at the stables and have a bit of fun. You never know you might love driving tractors and feeding cows and horses. If nothing else, it will give you a good appreciation of what a tough life farming is.

If you’re not familiar with Geocaching, it is basically a modern-day treasure hunt that uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to guide you to the treasure. People all over the world have hidden trinkets and objects at various locations, which you can go out and find.

There’s a good chance that there is a geocache hidden somewhere that you pass-by everyday !! When you find the treasure (cache), you trade items in it – swap an object of your own that has similar or higher value, before returning the cache to its original hiding place.

Check out nearby golf clubs. Many have good coaching deals for teens and some clubs let members collect stray golf balls as well.

Or head to nearest Mini Golf or Crazy Golf and see how many holes in one you can get.

Ever fancied yourself as a playwright? Summer holidays are the perfect time to get writing and create a cast of characters and have a bit of fun as well.

Organisations do it all the time so why not you, create super-summery cover images for your favourite social media page.

What would your dream house be like? What would it look like outside and in? Where would you situate it? Money’s no object in this exercise in dreaming so fire away with indoor cinemas and swimming pools and separate motorbike garages. Now file it away for when you have made your first million.

Get up in time for sunrise and record it on video or as a series of Time Lapse Photos (see #33).

Find a safe place to set up a bonfire (the beach is a good place away from driftwood and shrubbery) and have a simple cookout with sausages and smore’s.

Head on out to a nearby pavement and spend some time with chalks creating a mural.

We challenge you to skip 10 in a row on a river/lake/at the sea. And if you can manage 10 in a row, we challenge you to do 15 in a row and tell us (honestly) below on our comments if you managed this amazing feat.

Over the space of e.g. a week take photos of a plant growing or the same street scene.

If you’re not familiar with Pitch & Putt it’s like a mini version of golf, and considerably cheaper to play as you only need 2 clubs, an iron and a putter, and you can usually pay as you go.

Take your camera or smartphone out with you and take a series of photos on a theme. For example, try our Alphabet Photography Hunt or take photos by a colour theme. Then print and frame your creative pictures for your room.

Create a playlist of the best ever summer songs (then go and ask Mum or Dad what a compilation tape is).

Here’s how to create a stop motion film. Take inspiration from these 50 incredible Stop Motion Videos.

You always wanted to fly through the treetops on a zip wire or roll around in a giant ball, didn’t you?

Put together a memory book. Could be about a special time during your life or about primary/junior school if you’re heading to high school:

• friends made
• best memories
• favourite teachers (or not!)
• favourite subjects
• hopes/feelings about going to secondary etc. (It will all be forgotten so quickly!)

There are lots of free online tools for helping you to create cartoons or comic strips. Maybe you could develop your cartoons into a graphic novel?

Decide on your film genre, broad story and characters and make a storyboard. You could film your neighbourhood, a day in your life or get friends to be characters in a fictional film.

An excuse to research a long ago decade like the 70s or the 50s

• check out the rock-glam or hippy costumes worn in the 70s or the rockabilly outfits from the 1950s
• find the soundtracks to a cool film eg Mamma Mia / Grease and
• create some of the past food miracles such as cheese and pineapple hedgehogs

Have you ever been surfing, body boarding or kayaking? Even if you don’t live by the beach, if there’s a river or lake nearby you may find a company that does water sport training.

Ask Mum or Dad nicely to drop you off for a day’s mountain cycling, don’t forget to take plenty of water with you (and your helmet…).

Coillte Outdoors has lots of bike trails and maps for different counties.

Organise a rounders or tag/touch rugby tournament at nearby green space/field. Someone bring the ball/bat/food/drinks.  Get everyone to bring camping chairs or picnic blankets to crash on while waiting for their turn.

Unfamiliar with the rules of touch rugby? Check out the Tagrugby Ireland website.

Construct your own sailing vehicle from plastic bottles or containers and then sail it on the local river or lake. Rule for this task: must not sink.

Walk somewhere with a group of friends for a day (bring a picnic and drinks), see how far you get and nicely ask Mum or Dad to pick you up at the end.

Touch typing is a great skill to learn, not only will it stand you in good stead for your own computeration but you will get access to lots of temp jobs if you can type fast and with few mistakes. It also means you’ll get school projects done much quicker too.

Pick a new language, such as Arabic or Mandarin (current on-trend languages to learn), and master 10 phrases well.

Katie O’C from Clare aged 13 was the winner of our writing competition on the topic of A Teenagers’ Guide to Living with Parents.  Here’s her article: “A simple survival guide for teenagers on how to live and deal with parents“.

Get in touch if you’d like to write for us!

Make a list of the universities that your teen is considering and check out when they hold their open days. Here are some tips for maximising the visit for your teen:

There are different types of open days that a college might offer:

• Pre-offer open days: these are for prospective students to come visit and see the college before they make their choice for application.
• Post-offer open days: These are held after you have received an offer. There is a greater focus on the degree course itself, with more detailed tours of and talks about your chosen department(s). However, it can be a good opportunity to visit accommodation and parts of campus you didn’t get to see before, though the number of buildings open to the public may be limited.
• Interview-oriented open days: if the course at a particular university you’ve applied to requires an interview, the university will invite you to attend and also offer guided tours and the chance to talk to current students during your visit.
• Residential/overnight open days: some universities offer the chance to stay in university accommodation overnight, and attend some lecutres or seminars the next day. This lets you get a feel for what student life would be like too.
• Campus tours: if you can’t attend the university set open day, then often universities will offer guided or self-guided tours. While they may not include course-specific tours, you can usually contact the department you are interested in to see if they are happy for you to arrange to visit and talk to lecturers and students.

Pre-offer days are usually held in the autumn, with post-offer open days being held in the spring time.

Interview-based open days will be earlier in the year. Campus tours can take place regularly across the academic year.

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University open days vary from university to university, but there are some standard things you can expect. For example:

• Tours around campus, these are usually done by current students which means you have a chance to ask someone who is studying there about what college life is like.
• Visits to accommodation options such as halls of residence.
• Talks and lectures about different courses and subjects as well as about the university.
• Many university put on extras such as taster classes or advice events, talks and have stalls available to browse.

When I took my daughter to her post-offer open day, there was a schedule for the day that included introductions to the course, tours of labs and lecture theatres as well as tours of the campus.

1. Get Dates in Your Diary in Advance. Check all the websites of the universities and colleges you are interested in visiting and make a note of their open day dates. Most of them will ask you to register your email to receive information about the open day.
   Contact the University in advance if you have any special needs.
2. Read the University’s Open Day Schedule. This is usually emailed to you the week before.
3. Decide which talks/departments you want to attend/visit. Narrow down the areas you are most interested in and check the schedule for their talks.
4. Write down questions you want to ask. Bring a list of questions you want to ask when you are there.
5. Plan how to get there. Plan your travel to the campus, if you are driving then make sure you are aware of the parking arrangements for the Open Day.
6. Familiarise yourself with campus. Take a look at the map before you go so you know roughly where you want to visit while you are there.

Here are a few things to think about bringing with you to an open day:

• You will definitely want to bring a tote bag or some kind of bag to carry any brochures you will pick up
• A water bottle and a snack just in case you need food options while you are there
• Notepad and pen
• Your list of questions
• Charger bank to keep your phone charged
• Your ticket or confirmation email and if you need a parking permit don’t forget that.
• A parent or friend

Spend some time reflecting on what you learned there.

Think about what you saw and heard during your visit. Can you imagine studying there for at least 3 years?

Do you feel the location and atmosphere were a good fit for you? Could you be happy there? Think about both the campus and the location of the university, e.g. if it’s in a town or city. You want to make sure it is somewhere you would be happy living as well as studying.

Make a list of pros and cons for each university/course.

Talk through your options – discussing your ideas and plans with family, friends, teachers or advisers can help you think through what would be best for you.

Check out student reviews if you haven’t already done so.

Finally, if you have any unanswered questions, call or email the university to ask those. You might even want to book another visit if you didn’t get to see everything that day or you aren’t sure about something.

The best way to get kids interested is to show them the graph of a share price for a company they use a lot.

For example, most teenagers today are on Instagram. They may not know that Meta owns that company (even if they’re Meta or FaceBook users themselves). It can be interesting for them to see how the share price has changed over the timeframe that they have been using it.

Often, when Susan gives this scenario to a group of teenagers, they wonder how Instagram makes money since its a free app! That leads to a whole other conversation around the business models behind social media. You can lead them further then by comparing how much it has changed relative to others, i.e. Twitter or Snapchat.

Rather than try to pick the “right stock” or focus on short periods of volatility, at the beginning it’s a good idea to consider how the stock market has performed over time.

The Blackrock Asset Return Map is an interactive visual that points out exactly how all the things you can invest in (stocks, bonds, commodities, cash, etc) have performed over the past decade.

You can compare US stocks to European stocks when you click ‘Relative to Zero’ on the display button. This is a good way for them to test out ideas and compare what would have happened to money invested in different parts of the world.

There is no greater education in the stock market than when you buy your first stock. Susan says she remembers it vividly, it feels like you have some “skin in the game”. The next best thing is to have a watchlist and to monitor it prior to investing.

Sit down together and create a watchlist on Google Sheets with the stocks that they’re familiar with, as mentioned in the point above. Agree on a time that you will check in regularly on this and have a chat about what might have happened to cause those changes.

Doing this consistently will cultivate a space your child associates with financial education or, even just that special time to talk about what’s important to them.

Ask your teen to pick out the characteristics of a stock that they would ideally like to have. Some might say that it gives lots of income each year. Another suggestion might be one that “makes a load of profit”.

Next, help them build their on screen dream portfolio. The first wish could be translated into a dividend yield greater than 3%. The third might be that the earnings grow by 20% per year.

Have fun with this search and show them that it can be a very efficient process to find what they’re looking for… when they know what they want.

Investing in the stock market can be an exciting way to teach teens about risks and rewards.

“The stock market is just one big shop. Instead of buying a chocolate bar in that shop, you can buy a piece of the company that makes chocolate bars. If the company that makes the chocolate makes a profit, it’s worth more, and the price you bought it for may go up. Maybe that company will decide to give the profits directly to the people who own the shares and that’s called a dividend. If the company makes a loss, which can happen, the share price can go down, that’s called a risk,” explains Susan Hayes Culleton, CFA, “The Positive Economist” and author of Money Matters.

Help your teen to make an informed choice by using the options suggested above. And remember to explain the risks involved with this type of investment and how they should only ever invest what they can afford to lose.

Susan Hayes Culleton is the author of Money Matters, a financial literacy textbook with the support of CFA Society Ireland. It is written as menu of personal finance, investing and entrepreneurship life skills.

The book is tailored for young people in the following ways:

• It is story-focused whereby students can learn about pensions through characters like Sarah who starts her first job and is wondering what “tax relief” means for her.
• It is full of relevant modernity including ESG, fintech, online brokers, differentiating between trading and investing as well as using technology for active learning.
• It gives a real taste of the diversity of careers available today and tomorrow in finance. Each chapter contains a case study of a CFA Institute charterholder and highlights how the the theory learned in subjects like accounting, business, maths and economics connect with the practicality of everyday life and life-changing decisions.

Find out more and buy your copy here  so you can start talking to your teen about money and finances.