There is no doubting that children have it all. Visiting a children's toy or clothes shop makes me feel like a kid myself. There is such a choice of beautifully coloured clothing end shoes something for every child. Kids About Town in Athenry and and Cat's Pyjamas in Gort are two of the finest kids clothes shops in the region.
When it comes to gifts any shop catering for children, and there are many, make it easy for you to choose. From soft teddies, to artists packs to red engines, balls, drums, dollies it is like entering Alladin's Cave. You end up wanting to buy almost everything you see. Walk into The Gift Box at Gort PO and you will see what I mean.
I think I would really like working in a kids gift shop. Wrapping them up is half the fun!
Stone Wall School Pack
The attractive workpack has been designed particularly for national schools as participatory material for both teachers and pupils. It may also be used by families who would like to learn, in a unique way, about a familiar, though often overlooked, aspect of our countryside. Though designed with the limestone walls of the west of Ireland in mind, the theme and the pack, with slight modifications to take account of local conditions, may be utilised in any part of the country. Using the workpack children are encouraged to become nature detectives; to become aware of, to explore and look closely at, the various distinctive characteristics of drystone walls in their locality. They are encouraged to seek out features such as fossils, erratics, badger scratchmarks etc. and to take note of the various flora and fauna found living in the wall. Naturally safety is to the fore and a stone wall code emphasises care and respect for the wall itself and its various inhabitants. Fun indoor activities are outlined in the workpack: build your own stone wall - lifesize, with cardboard cut-outs, to be stuck on to the school corridor wall; or in miniature, with playdo or plasticine, showing field layouts and different wall styles. The workpack includes a full colour, A2-sized poster depicting the drystone wall with its typical flora and fauna. As a class lesson children are encouraged to illustrate their own section of wall, drawing on the various species found in fieldwork. A jig-saw of the poster, aimed mainly at younger children, is included in the workpack. It can be ordered from ENFO, at 17 St.Andrew Street, Dublin 2. Ph.(01) 8883925, email: brendankeenan@environ.ie.
