Things are happening here now in our world that we have little control over. Writing from here on 21st March 2020, I'm not sure when I will be able to perform for live audiences again. I'm not sure when my next kid's party will be. And I'm sure the vast majority of you are in the same boat with me.  We really are all in this together. 
One thing is certain, though, the world will most definitely be a very different place from now on.

For now, it's important that we allow children to continue being children. To play, to have fun, to have a routine.
And this is why I am now making videos. These videos will continue to be hopeful, colourful and fun. Hopefully I will reach children across Ireland, even all over the world and remind them that life is fun, we can laugh, we can dream and we can still use our own unique super-power; our imaginations.

You can check out my videos Videos here.  Thanks for reading, thanks for watching.

For now, I will temporarily pause my blogs about kids parties as I have a think about any new subjects I would like to share with you.

Let's all have hope and faith that all will be well again and that I will be performing for live audiences again really soon.

GAA or Sports Halls
​These kids parties Dublin work very well as there is ample parking for drop off/pick up. 
There are Bathroom facilities provided, plenty of tables to set your food on and space for the children to play in.

Some even have kitchen facilities and seem to be fairly flexible with allowing you to hang decorations.
The only disadvantage I have ever seen is that they can be too big. 
Yes, that’s right, I said too big.
I find that when a venue is too big, loud and echoey, children, particularly under age 8, love to run around and around....usually shouting and screaming (especially little girls!) in the process. And, with all that space and the lovely amplification for their voices, who would blame them? It’s fun!
However, for us adults, it’s not so fun and it can be difficult to round them up, ask them to sit down or organise games.
​
I have often arrived at parties to find frazzled parents watching little guests who’ve arrived early, run around I’m circles screaming with glee.
They have been relieved when I’ve whipped out my microphone and called the party to order to begin the kids entertainment dublin. All is safe in my hands...trust me, I’ve had a LOT of experience.

Private Rooms in Hotels And Pubs

​These are a great choice of venue if you’re having a family party with older relatives, where it’s not just a kids party dublin for your child.
Again, they have ample parking, the tables set up for you, space to socialise but not too large for children to run riot. The special added bonus is that the food and drink is served for you, so you can just relax and enjoy your party. 
The only disadvantage may be that there are restrictions about hanging decorations, but you can get around that by decorating using pretty helium balloons.

I am often asked about the seating plan at these events and, yes, it’s a good idea to seat all children over 5 together at a table. The hotel staff can serve the children first. The children love to feel grown up at their very own table and parents can have their time for their own adult conversation.

In terms of entertainment, remember that children really won’t sit still for very long and are likely to climb under or over the table, start wandering around the room or generally get up to mischief.
To avoid this, you can of course whip out a few phones/tablets/screens.
But why not go back to basics and provide them with card games and puzzles to get them socialising. Or colouring books and crayons? What’s also nice, is to provide a kids party dublin party bag each with small favours that can be played with such as a yo-yo, play-dough etc.

If you’re having me to entertain at your party, it’s best to have the magic show and games before the food, then glitter tattoos, face painting and balloons while they’re eating. If the children are all seated at one table, it means that I can get around to them all quicker.

​Church Centres or Community Centres

​
I have entertained at a few parties in these types of venues and they have all been nice parties.   
Usually these are a small or medium sized room, carpeted, so noise level is kept to a minimum.  They may not always provide kitchen facilities, other than for making tea/coffee, so be prepared to bring your own or to order those pizzas!


​Next week, I’m going to look at Weddings, First Communions & Outdoor parties and give all the advice that I can about those.

There’s really no need to serve elaborate foods at a child’s party. ​

I’ve been to parties where there have been a few sweets and a small, simple birthday cake.
In very busy households, I've seen pizzas deliveries, happy meals, or fish and chips.

​I’ve been to others where there has been a stunning spread of hot finger foods, cocktail sausages, chicken nuggets and chips followed by fluffy cupcakes, chocolate fountains, candy floss machine and towering 3 tier cakes beautifully decorated to the party theme.

Remember, the most important thing is that your child has a relaxed and happy parent to enjoy the party with them, so only plan to have what you know is the least stressful for you.

Also, it's good to check with parents beforehand if any of your little guests have food allergies or intolerances.
​
Having said all that, here are some extra tips that I’ve picked up over the years that you might find helpful!

Food Packets
This works well for venues outside the home. 
In advance, prepare party-bag style foods in a ziplock or themed party bag with goodies for each child. Suggestions for this are:
* Breadsticks
* Small pack of sweets
* Bun/cupcake
* Sandwiches cut into triangles (kids love triangular shaped food!)

And remember; always serve food and drink AFTER kids entertainer dublin have performed the magic show and played games to avoid distraction.

The Cake
Ah, the cake! As I mentioned before, I have seen so many different cakes. Sometimes they’re the centre of the party, others they are a simple cake.
Bear in mind that if you’re serving a lot of food at your party, the children may not be hungry enough for cake. If this happens, be prepared to have a lot of leftover cake.
Or plan to have a very small one! 

Be prepared in advance with a lighter/matches, plates and spoons/forks (if needed) so you can serve the cake as quickly as possible. Again, I’ve seen a few parties where the parents awkwardly hunt for a lighter for about 10 minutes while children, gathered around the table wait impatiently for the cake to be cut.

When the candles have been blown out, ask children to raise their hand if they want some cake. This gives them the option of choosing and avoids you cutting too many slices of cake, which may then be wasted.



Whichever type of cake you choose to serve, it’s the candles, the wish and the gathered friends and family uniting in singing happy birthday that makes it so special.
It’s a lovely way to finish off the day - remember to have your camera ready so that you can capture the magical look on your child’s face to remember forever.
​If you’re busy with organising cake cutting etc (it can get frantic!), designate another adult or older sibling to snap plenty of photos for you. 

That's it for now, but check back for my next blog where I will talk about having your kids party dublin in venues outside your home!

My last blog post about planning your at-home party was quite popular and I’ve had a few people email me with questions, which I hope to address. It would seem that this has turned into a bit of a series! 
And that’s great, as I realise that I actually have a lot of knowledge on the subject that I’ve gathered over the years and I’d love to share. 
So, here we go with more advice about hosting a kids party Dublin at home!

Decorations
In my opinion, the only necessary decoration is a banner saying “happy birthday” taped to your front door and a couple of balloons tied to your front gate.
Why? Because then I know that I’ve found the right place! It’s great, not just for me, but for your guests too, to know that we don’t need to cruise very slowly up and down the road trying to see the very tiny house numbers on each door. 

It has happened on more than one occasion that I turned up dressed as a fairy to the wrong house, subsequently giving the occupants a good laugh and a bit of a shock!
But with decorations, it’s up to you. 

If you’re having a party at home, a simple way to do it is to decorate only your party table with pop up banners and favours.
If you’re hiring a venue, a wall hanging and some helium balloons look great on a large, blank wall.
Remember, I will most likely be supplying balloons to the kids (depending on the package you choose), so there’s really no need to inflate 30 balloons and randomly drop them around, but if you want to do that, it’s nice. And what kid doesn’t love playing with a balloon?

I have seen a few spectacular decorations, lots of Princess and Harry Potter themes. 
I went to one Harry Potter party where they had transformed the door of the community hall into a “wall” from platform 1 & 3/4, that the kids could enter the party through.
Another Frozen party had actual fake snow on the doorstep. 
​
By far, my absolute favourite was this mermaid themed party in a hotel venue. I really did feel like I was performing under the sea!
If you’re looking for some DIY themed ideas, you need to look on Pinterest. 
Open up an account and get pinning, it’s absolutely the best resource for any party decorating ideas.

What to wear?
When your child hears that a fairy/princess/mermaid/kids entertainer Dublin is coming to their party, naturally most will want to dress up in a costume or party outfit for the occasion. 
If they do, that’s great, but it’s not a prerequisite.
Boys and girls are always welcome to dress as their favourite character if they wish. Just remember that those costumes can be uncomfortable and hot on delicate bodies, so have the comfortable clothes ready just in case.
And for most kids, it’s ok for them to come as “themselves”. They will always be equally as magical as the kids who are wearing costumes.

​When I arrive at the door...
When a fairy/princess/kids entertainer Dublin arrives at your door, there can be great excitement.
Your home has been filling with friends and family, all here to celebrate your child’s party.
And the next thing, here is another extra special guest landing on the doorstep.
I always advise that parents to inform their child a little in advance (perhaps that morning) that I will be coming. This will avoid any shocks or over-excitement when I actually get there, thus ensuring maximum enjoyment for the birthday child.

​Older Siblings and Cousins
If you're lucky enough to have any children over 10 at your party, these can be the gems of a party filled with five year olds. If you tell them in advance that it’s their “job” to help, they will most likely take it very seriously and be an invaluable resource to you on the day, doing small but important jobs that could usually stress you out.
I’ve had older kids help organise games, find a drink for a random thirsty guest, help serving food and cake and manage the face painting queue - the list of duties is endless.
I will always reward them with an extra special glitter tattoo for their hard work.
So it's time to start inviting those older helpers to your parties!

​So that’s it for now! Next time I will be sharing tips on what food to serve at your kids party Dublin. Including cakes and party bags!

So your child’s party is coming up very soon and they have expressed a wish to have their kids party dublin  at home....don’t panic! Help is here!
I am often asked by parents for advice about how they can make their parties run more smoothly.
​
I have had the pleasure of entertaining at hundreds of parties over the years. During this time, I have picked up so many useful tips that I’d love to share with you.

Keep it Simple!
My first piece of advice is to keep it as simple as possible for you.  Every family, home and child is different.  Sit down with your child and ask what they would like the most.  Then take the list and remove or change anything that you think would be out of your budget or too stressful.  You need to enjoy the day too and there's no point in being stressed to the point where you can't take photos or watch how much your child enjoys their special day!

​

Preparing your Home for the Kids Party
After you've decided on the plan, it's a good idea to have a little chat with your child to explain what they can expect from the day.
This will prevent any tears or tantrums that might arise from an over-stimulated child. 

It’s ok to have a few simple rules in place for your guests. Children like to have clear boundaries set and will be happy to stick to them.
For example, upstairs is out of bounds, no jumping on furniture (I’ve actually never seen this happen, so don’t panic!), make sure that everyone is included in the games etc. 

Tidy away any toys that might get broken or damaged and also put any breakable or precious items away for safe keeping.
​If you are going to have very young babies or toddlers at your party, remember that there can be many hazards lying around at a party. Plastic wrapping, popped balloons and unsuitable sweets are just some of the things that can be popped into mouths.

Also be mindful of loud music or flashing lights, these might unsettle those with sensory processing issues or special needs (adults as well as children!)

Present Opening
Its a good idea to wait until after the party is over to allow your child to open their presents.
Again, have a chat with your child beforehand to explain that the presents will be placed somewhere safe (bedroom/playroom etc) until the party has ended. They will have something to look forward to when everyone has gone home.
Over the years at kids parties dublin, I’ve been witness to many brand new toys being broken, lost or fought over because they’ve been opened during a party. 
Opening them afterwards will also give you a chance to take note of who has gifted what, so that you can send thank you notes afterwards.
​Teaching your child to send thank you notes sets up a very important lesson for life about gratitude and friendship.

So now you're all set for your party! Check back here for my next blog for tips about the kids party dublin with what food to serve, how to decorate and much more. 

​I love to relax and unwind with my latest crafting project. 

It’s so important to introduce the magic of crafting to children at the earliest age possible.
Now, for most people, particularly those with busy schedules, I can already hear you screaming nooooo! But before you exit from my page, allow me to plead my case by introducing non-messy craft ideas! 

Believe me, I’ve had years of experience with this and I have learnt a lot!
I have also had plenty of experience managing craft disasters too. Like the time the two little boys I was minding found the paint and decided to turn the living room rug into a rainbow. 
Or the time the 4 year old at a craft workshop drew a green beard on himself with marker. The look on his mother’s face when I returned him to her...!

So, it’s time to ditch the paint (and glitter!) stock a small shelf in your cupboard with some of the following:

* Glue-sticks
* Sticky tape
* Crayons or twist crayons (instead of markers)
* Stickers
* Pack of paper plates
* Pack of multi-coloured paper
* Plastic safety scissors
* Colouring and multi-activity books (older kids love colouring challenges)
* Coloured paper & card
* Stencils in fun shapes
* Pre-cut shapes & designs to decorate (you can get these in most craft stores in various shapes and sizes) 

I tend to avoid glitter and paint, however, if you’d like to add them to your crafts, here are some ideas to make them a little less messy:

* Always supervise - never leave children alone with glitter or paint!

* Store the items either high up, far away or somewhere that little hands can’t get to them, especially when you’re not nearby

* Use glitter glue instead of shakeable glitter - this also can be used instead of paint - adds a bit of colour without the mess and you can buy it in several pretty colours

* If you really do want to use glitter, put it in a pre-used salt shaker, then put it in a plastic box or shoe box and place the item to be glittered over it, so that any excess glitter is collected in the box, not on your carpet.
​
My advice is, avoid glitter completely when working with anyone under 8! All you have to do is turn your back for 30 seconds and...glitter explosion!

Start seeing craft time, not as messy time but as learning time. There are so many things a child can learn from creating a simple craft.
To name but a few:
* Build fine motor skills
* Improve coordination
* Taking a break from screen - blue back-lights can damage eyes
*Listen to an audio book or some nice relaxing music

Most importantly, once you start to make time in your life for craft time, you will see how much more relaxed your child will become.  It's a quiet time to spend away from loud noises and distractions, a mindfulness that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

So, I hope that these tips have helped you to introduce some crafting time into your busy schedule. Stock up on those items - and let the crafting fun begin!

Christmas can be a crazy time with shopping, parties, more food then usual and late bedtimes. This is the time of year when we need mindfulness and quiet time more than ever. And what better way to find this than with a good Christmas book? Nothing better than snuggling up with a sweet book.

Every December, the libraries put out their loveliest selection of Christmas books. There always seem to be new books on offer and I can spend hours going through them all, carefully selecting which ones I will read at my storytelling events. 

During my storytelling, depending on my audience, I will use a mixture of books, along with a brand new, unique story that I will create with the children’s help.

Over the years, I’ve found that a good children’s book is a mixture of great pictures, a lovely rhyme or story and some humor.

So, to make things a little easier for you to choose, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite Christmas books for you to read with your kids this festive season

​“When it snows” by Richard Collingridge
The pictures in this book are stunning, they look so realistic that they really draw you into the story.
And the final page reveals that, when we read a book, we can be transported anywhere we want

“Silent Night” by Juliet Groom and Tim Warnes
Based on the classic Christmas song “Silent Night”, this book, again, is visually stunning with pictures of animals in the forest. It’s a beautiful book to read softly while you’re curled up in bed and waiting for sleep. When I read this one out loud at my evening Christmas events, the children really are silent and listening.

​“All I want for Christmas”
This is quite possibly the cutest Christmas book I’ve ever read and it’s says everything in it that I ever want to say to people at Christmas.
It’s a reminder that, amongst all of the busy-ness of Christmas, the most important part of it all is time with the ones we love. And a lovely opportunity for a cuddle at the end!
Each time I read this book, the final page gets an “awwww” - from the adults!
And it features penguins....I mean, come on, PENGUINS ARE THE CUTEST!!!

​And, everyone loves a good laugh, so here are a couple of giggly ones...

“Snowball” by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
This book actually doesn’t mention Christmas at all, but there’s snow it, so it works! A snowball lives at the top of a mountain all on his own and decides to roll down to the village to make friends, taking half the countryside with him as he goes. Fab pictures, great for a laugh.

“The Tooth Fairy’s Christmas” by Peter Bentley and Gary Parsons
The pictures in this book are beautiful. And the story is so original. All about how the tooth fairy helps Santa sneak into the houses on Christmas night. As you can imagine, fun and madness happens with a very sweet ending.

I hope you can start your own Christmas storybook tradition and have some quiet time this Christmas with plenty of good books. Pop into the library and spend some time selecting your favourites, which you can return again once Christmas is over and choose more next year instead!

I absolutely love storytelling at Christmas. It can be such a frantic time with events and excitement, shopping and visiting that children can get caught up in a whirlwind. We can all get a little wound-up, without realising it, adults and children alike.
And there’s nothing better to help us to unwind than a few Christmas stories and songs.  And, it's even better if a professional storyteller dressed like a Christmas elf does the storytelling.....





Christmas is an extremely busy time for me too.  Again, I have to have the two calendars, one on the phone and stuck on my fridge, to keep a close eye on all of my bookings! 

​However, I do have one event that's close to my heart every Christmas. 
"‘Twas the night before Christmas Storytime” is a storytelling event that I have facilitated annually in Lucan library for the past 7 years.  This year, I will also be performing in Ballyroan Library on 18th December at 6.30pm and Cashel Library, Co. Tipperary on 19th December at 6pm.
I will have a morning Storytime in Naas Library on 20th December at 10am. This won't be a pyjama event, but the same stories and sing along!

Usually held the final week before Christmas, this is an evening event. So, the children come dressed ready for bed! They come to the library dressed in their pyjamas and with their teddies and blankies too.  Something exciting - and very different!
I see many familiar faces, some of the children and their parents who have attended my regular events at the library throughout the years. Many who have attended (and outgrown!) my toddler time events and I get to see how they've grown up and find out how they're enjoying school.
​For some families, it's part of their Christmas tradition to start their Christmas time off with, which is lovely too.

​I take this opportunity to officially kick Christmas week off.  We have a most important job, which is bringing in the magic and the spirit of Christmas. Together we help to activate the Christmas magic that helps Santa travel around the earth. We ring jingle bells, see what’s in the magic bag, sing a few Christmas classics and hear some nice, calming stories.

And to finish the event, our final story is the classic “‘Twas the night before Christmas”, which opens Christmas up for everyone and they can go home with a warm, traditional Christmassy feeling.

I don't want to give too much away, but this year, the magic storytelling box has a story inside that involves some penguins (my favourite!) and a Christmas Unicorn (of course!). You'll just have to come along to my storytelling event to hear what happens to this group of characters!

If you want to book your own Christmas Storytelling Event, please click here!

So, you want to take your storytelling with kids to the next level?
Look no further, for here I have combined the magic of upcycling with storytelling. Two projects in one to try out with your children.

So you might remember in an earlier post, I shared an upcycling workshop that I had done with the kids in Athy Library? They transformed Egg Cartons into treasure boxes.
Well, here's another Egg carton upcycling project for you.

​I present to you, a Storytelling Treasure Box!

What you'll need:
* An empty egg carton
* Glue: PVA or Gluestick
* Coloured Tissue/crepe Paper
* Markers/Coloured pencils
* Stickers

And now you're all set to start telling your stories!  These items can be used to give you ideas for your story. 
For instance, the shell can be a magic shell used to call a magical creature or mermaid.
The bell could be used to call the fairies, or Santa Claus.
Roll the dice to give you more ideas for where your adventure can take you. You can purchase a storytelling dice online or from a craft shop.

For older children, you can set them a challenge.  To go away and come up with a story that uses all of the items, with a prize for any child who gets it right (they will probably all manage to use them, so if you're working with a big group, stickers are a fab and cheap reward for this!)

Keep adding more and more items to your box. Take nature walks for leaves, twigs or any other treasures. 

​The possibilities are endless! Just watch your child's imagination grow and flow.
And remember, the one rule in Storytelling is; there are no rules!

I will be posting more tips and ideas for Storytelling with your kids, so please keep an eye out for those.

I hope you have lots of Storytelling fun with your kids! ​

​So many people ask me for advice about storytelling with children. My first piece of advice is quite simple;
“Remember what it’s like to be a child!”

So many adults have completely forgotten the magic and wonder of childhood. 
Sadly, for some adults, the magic of imagination and carefree play simply did not exist for them as children.
Some had to deal with difficult and tragic circumstances that required them to grow up far too fast. 
Others were surrounded by adults who didn't encourage this imaginative play and so it was lost to them.

Here's the good news; when you start storytelling with children, it’s your chance to capture the magic once more.
​
Children naturally possess the special power of imagination and are only too willing to share it with any adults who are available to share it with them.  If you take a look at my previous post from Storytelling in a school, you will find that children are natural storytellers.

Whether you’re a parent, carer or teacher, I've gathered together some useful tips from my 10 years experience of professional storytelling for kids.
​

Remember when you were little and you made your own "house" using sheets propped over a table or between 2 chairs?  Kids simply love to make their own secret space, that's all for them.

​Create your own den with your children, fill it with soft blankets, cushions and favourite stuffed toys.

If you can't make a covered den, then create a "storytelling armchair" and curl up in the cuddly cosiness to tell your stories.

Play some nice classical music in the background, relaxing and soothing to little brains after a busy day of loud noises!
​
Once your child is in this space, they will know that it's time for stories and imagination!

Reading a short book filled with pictures and colour can help awaken imagination. 
​
By reading the words and ideas of another creative mind, we are inspired with ideas of our own.

If you choose a book about talking animals, use it as an invitation to ask your child what adventures they think their neighbour's dog gets up to.  Or what their granny's cat might say if they had a voice. The possibilities are endless....

For more prompt ideas, check out how to make your own Storytelling treasure box, which I've written about in a previous post.

I hope you have an amazing storytelling adventure!