Issuu

Central Scotland’s really useful magazine for busy families of children age 0-12

FREE Issue 41 July/Aug 2017

In this Issue

• Summer holiday feature • Back to school • Out and about

Solasta & Moyenda Ad (PRINT) (55mm x 70mm) (300dpi) (CMYK).pdf

30/05/2017

10:41:25

Falkirk’s newurs! fantastic flavo Now serving fresh homemade soup, Scottish stovies and innovative ice cream flavours every day from 10am until 5pm.

CMY

Glen Farm Glen Village Falkirk FK1 3AA Tel. 01324 630703 www.themilkbarn.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk

079302 64979

EXPLORE your built heritage LEARN new skills THE ENGINE SHED Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ your inner geek DISCOVER Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm FREE ADMISSION

EXPLORE your built heritage LEARN new skills DISCOVER your inner geek

Hands-on activities, innovative technology and immersive experiences for all the family at Scotland’s newly-opened conservation hub Find out what’s on by visiting engineshed.org

Central Scotland’s

really useful magazine

for busy families of

children age 0-12

FREE Issue 41 July/Aug 2017

contents News and Views................................................4-5

In this Issue

• Summer holiday feature • Back to school • Out and about

Here comes the Summer – so welcome to the July/August issue of the Families Central Scotland magazine. This issue is packed with lots of great things to do with the kids. We have our super Summer holiday feature so you will never be stuck for an idea of what to do to keep the kids entertained and active. Our back to school feature has an article on what to expect from your child’s first month at school and some top tips from local businesses on getting ready for the return to school. We have some essential advice on how to deal with toddler tantrums and our regular news and views, parent to parent and a packed out and about. We hope you have a sunny and fun Summer! Solasta & Moyenda Ad (PRINT) (55mm x 70mm) (300dpi) (CMYK).pdf

30/05/2017

10:41:25

Parent to parent.................................................... 6

Falkirk’s new fantastic flavours!

Now serving fresh homemade soup, Scottish stovies and innovative ice cream flavours every day from 10am until 5pm. Glen Farm Glen Tel. 01324 630703Village Falkirk FK1 3AA www.themilkba rn.co.uk

www.familiesonline .co.uk

CMY

editor@familiescen tralscotland.co.uk

079302 64979

Fiona & Louise the editors contact us

To advertise with us or have your event listed in our magazine email editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk Bookings are now being taken for the September/October Clubs and Classes issue – deadline for all adverts and editorial 1st August. Find us on facebook www.facebook.com/FamCS and twitter @FamiliesCentral and visit our website for our What’s On, more articles and our local directory www.familiesonline.co.uk

How to cope with toddler tantrums........ 7 Summer holiday feature.............................8-11 Back to school feature.............................12-15 Out and about.............................................16-18 Circulation 12,000 copies delivered directly to nurseries, playgroups, health centres, libraries, leisure facilities as well as selected shops, cafes and schools. Please contact us if you wish to receive our media pack, detailing costs and sizes of adverts. Design

- Lamb Designs

Printers

- J Thomson Colour Printers

Cover Image

- Istock

Families Central Scotland is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Central Scotland are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Any original materials are sent at the owners risk and while every care is taken neither families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage.

Events & sailings ut througho the year

Dougie McQ

Steamship Sir Walter Scott D The is fully wheelchair friendly

• Classic steamship cruises from Trossachs Pier, Loch Katrine on the iconic Sir Walter Scott • Legends of the Loch cruises on Lady of the Lake • Lochside dining in the Brenachoile Café • Katrine Gifts - Souvenirs & Crafts • Katrinewheelz - Cycle Hire • Borg Grech Photography • The Pier Café, Stronachlachar COMING SOON

ECO CAMP AT LOCH KATRINE A lochside location with a range of high quality camping pods, camping pitches and campervan stances with electric and water hook ups. Visit www.lochkatrinecamping.com or call 01877 376317 to find out more or make a reservation.

MUSIC ON THE LOCH - July & August – Sailings on Sunday evenings from 4pm to 6pm on the steamship Sir Walter Scott, with live music onboard:

FEATURING

2nd July - Iain Barrie (Scottish Music) 9th July - Elsa Jean McTaggart (Transceltic Folk & Multi-instrumentalist) 16th July - Alan Brown (Scottish, Folk Music) 23rd July - Jock the Box (Accordionist Performance) 30th July - Dougie MacQ (Rock, Pop & much more!) 6th August - Iain Barrie • 13th August - Dougie MacQ 20th August - Jock the Box • 27th August - Shaky

FAMILY FUN DAY - 29th July – A great Pirate themed event for all the family including a treasure hunt & family BBQ.

SIR WALTER SCOTT’S BIRTHDAY - 12th & 13th August – A costumed actor gives you an opportunity to meet Sir Walter Scott, the great superstar poet, playwright & novelist of the early 19th century, and hear about his life and works. Please note the events cruises are very popular so booking ahead is recommended. Performers and cruises are subject to change.

Trossachs Pier, Loch Katrine, by Callander, Stirling FK17 8HZ T: 01877 376315/6 • enquiries@lochkatrine.com • www.lochkatrine.com

Scotland’s Premier Pregnancy & Family Fair

Following the success of our Spring Fair, Bonnie Bairn is delighted to be returning to the MacDonald Inchyra Hotel on Sunday 10th September, 10am-3pm A local fair, for local families, sharing everything that is wonderful about raising a family in Scotland. Packed full of the best local experts, activity providers and services, as well as ‘not available on the high street’ shopping opportunities. With talks, taster sessions and activities there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Not forgetting the free Epic Prize Draw, as well as Premium Goody Bags for our first 100 families. To keep up to date with our fair please visit www.bonnie-bairn.co.uk or follow us on social media @bonniebairnfair

Playhaven Out of School Care Playhaven Out of School Care operates within the Raploch Community Campus. We offer a high quality service for children, providing exciting and inclusive childcare in a safe environment after school for Primary 1-7 from Raploch, Our Ladys, Castleview, Allan’s, Riverside and Cornton Primary’s. We offer a variety of opportunities and experiences both indoors and outdoors. Our staff have a vast knowledge and experience in the field of play and out of school care. Playhaven is open during school term times from Monday to Friday 3.15 to 6pm, with reductions for families with more than one child. For more information call 01786 272344 or email playhaven@live. co.uk

Annual Summerfest at Blairmains Farm Shop & Coffee Bothy –Saturday 12th August We invite you to join us on Saturday 12th August for our annual Summerfest and speciality fine food fair. With over 30 of our suppliers showcasing Scotland’s well stocked larder of food and drink, it’s your ideal opportunity to sample their tasty products – try before you buy! Demonstrations of hand-made jewellery, wood carving as well as new ideas from our photographic artist – with a luxury range of handbags, scarves as well as beer and whisky sampling. Central FM will provide entertainment and music, with free organised fun for the kids, a BBQ and beer tent – something for everyone. Free prize draws, discounts and deals will be available throughout the day, this is an event not to be missed – leave time for a visit to one of our coffee shops. For more information contact us on info@blairmains.com - Blairmains Farm Shop and Coffee Bothy, Blairlogie, Stirling, FK9 5QA www.blairmains.com

Celtic music with a twist We have two opportunities this August to hear Celtic music from a pair of highly gifted trios. Solasta’s music is virtuosic, exciting and weaves influences from early and traditional music with jazz. Moyenda is a talented Malawian/ Scottish combo band, skilfully fusing the music of Malawi with Scottish and other influences. Concerts start at 7pm in Blairdrummond Hall on 25th August and in the Church of the Holy Rude by Stirling Castle on 26th August. For tickets phone 01786 462366 or type ‘Solasta and Moyenda’ into Eventbrite. Proceeds go to the Iona Community Capital Appeal to enable the Iona Community to further develop its work at Iona Abbey. The Iona Community is an international ecumenical Christian movement working with peace and justice, rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.

You Can Make a Difference Could you offer a child or children a good family home, opportunities to grow, the confidence to fulfil their potential and childhood memories to last a lifetime? Fostering with Falkirk Council could give you the opportunity to do this and we need carers particularly to keep brothers and sisters together, foster teenagers and carers to offer a permanent placement for children. We offer on-going and in-depth training and support to ensure your fostering experience is fulfilling and the difference you could make to a child’s life could be remarkable. We welcome enquiries whether or not you are married, single or in a same sex partnership. Do you have patience, understanding and a sense of humour? Are you warm and nurturing? We want to hear from you or you could complete our online enquiry form. www.falkirk. gov.uk/services/children-families/fostering/ For more information please contact us on 01324-508656 or email fostering@falkirk.gov.uk like/follow us on facebook - Falkirk Council Adoption and Fostering

families central scotland / issue 41

Natural play equipment & cable ride Farmers Den Tearoom – Homebaking Indoor soft play frame Tractor go-karts Giant jumping pillows Farm animals Children's parties Tractor and trailer rides round the farm (£1 per person)

The Summer Reading Challenge 2017 The annual Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. During the holidays they are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice - fact books, joke books, picture books or audio books - just as long as they are borrowed from the library. There are collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate for every child who completes the Challenge, which is run by independent charity The Reading Agency. Children can sign up at their local library from the end of June onwards and all materials are absolutely free. This year’s theme is Animal Agents, introducing young readers to a variety of clever creatures, specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel mysteries. Animal Agents is illustrated by Tony Ross, illustrator of the hugely popular Horrid Henry series. He is published all over the world; his awards and nominations include the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Kate Greenaway Medal, and the Smarties Prize. The Challenge is open to all primary school children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers. Why not head to your local library during the summer holidays and enrol. It’s completely free and any child can take part. The Reading Challenge is happening at Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire libraries Read more at www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

o Kids g !* e e fr

OPEN FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER

Visit the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Travel on our steam railway and enjoy Scotland’s largest railway museum. Open 25 March - 29 October www.bkrailway.co.uk

Registered charity SC002375

Union Street, Bo’ness. EH51 9AQ

*one child free with a paying adult with this ad.Valid for one transaction only, any day until end Aug 2017 (except 29 & 30 Jul) ref famCent

Open afternoon on Friday 29th September

Arnhall Nursery is a private day nursery that provides high quality childcare from 3 months to school age. • Graded Excellent in all areas by the Care Inspectorate 2016 • Set in beautiful surroundings near Dunblane with ample parking • Access to daily Forest Schools • Open all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm • All meals included - home cooked by our in-house chef • Fully qualifed & trained staff For further details or to arrange a visit please contact the Nursery direct

on 01786 822 391 Keir Estate, Dunblane FK15 9NU www.arnhallnursery.co.uk

parent to parent Hi, my name is Emma and I live in Tillicoultry with my husband David, children Anna (2) and Finn (8 months) and our dog Roody. I am the new optometrist in the local opticians Ochil Eyes.We are passionate about promoting the importance of eye care and know firsthand how important it is to look after your children’s sight. Problems with vision can lead to difficulty in school so it is important to get your child’s eyes tested regularly. Eye tests are free in Scotland so pop in to our child friendly opticians on High Street Tillicoultry or phone us for an appointment on 01259 752755. Why you like living where you do? I am originally from Gourock but I love living in Tillicoultry as there are so many places I can walk with the children and the dog. Anna loves to be out and about, especially up the woods where she jumps in all the puddles and plays in the park. We go on Gruffalo hunts, collect pine cones and dig for worms! Favourite park We love going the short drive through to the Helix Park at the Kelpies. There are lots of places to eat, a large pond and pebble beach, huge play park and it’s dog friendly. We were there a lot last summer! Favourite children’s club/class Now we have the two children and both work it’s harder to get to classes but I loved Music Bugs along in Menstrie when Anna was a baby. We also took her to swimming lessons with Water Babies at Alloa Leisure Bowl – they were fantastic. Favourite day out Our favourite day out would be to Briarlands Farm – we have a season ticket for this year! Anna absolutely loves it. It is a huge, safe space where kids can run around freely. Animals to feed, indoor and outdoor play areas,

arts and crafts, fruit picking…the list goes on. Also a lovely café for tired parents. The price for admission is so reasonable considering the range of entertainment and the food is great. Favourite child friendly restaurant Nandos in Stirling, it’s loud so I don’t worry about the children making too much noise, service is fast which is ideal for parents and you can order something relatively healthy so I don’t feel guilty afterwards. Proudest eco-friendly moment We have planted an area of the garden with flowers selected to attract bees and butterflies, Anna helped and loved being out in the mud. uncle he was bonkers recently...

Best planet saving tip Recycling – we are just so in the habit now I forget we do it. Also walking instead of taking the car.

Most loved children’s book Our favourite book has to be The Gruffalo’s Child.

No parent should be without No parent should be without a good buggy. It opens so many doors in terms of where we can go and what we can do. We have the Out n About 360 double – it’s all terrain and I can even go out for a run with it.

Best children’s tele programme Favourite television programme is In The Night Garden – it calms the children down so much at the end of a long day and Anna quite often drifts off to sleep if we put it on.

Parenting pet hates My parenting pet hate would be public bathrooms with no baby changing area.

Most played with toys Anna loves shape sorting, building towers and plastic food – they are her favourites.

Most embarrassing moment Most embarrassing moment would be one of the many poop explosions – I’m sure other parents will know what I mean, haha. Funniest comment your kids have ever made Anna is just learning to talk so everything she says is pretty funny! She told her

Emma’s Local recommendations The Helix Park, Falkirk Music Bugs classes Alloa Leisure Bowl WaterBabies Nandos in Stirling Briarlands Farm near Stirling.

Blairmains st 2017 Summerfe

Free tasting & samples, Free Raffle, Discounts on the day, Kids fun & games, Central FM Roadshow, For more details contact us

Showcasing all that’s great about Blairmains Farm Shop

ust

Saturday 12th of Aug 10am - 4pm

Blairlogie, Stirling FK9 5QA (Off the A91) 01259 762266 www.blairmains.com blairmains@hotmail.com

families central scotland / issue 41

coping with toddler tantrums

How to cope with toddler tantrums

When your child is in the middle of a tantrum, it can be very hard to stop yourself from joining in! Every toddler will throw a tantrum at some stage of their life. But do not fear! There is a solution to the tantrum episodes and ways to prevent them from happening again. Ignorance is bliss You should respond to a tantrum, but not react. When a child is in a full blown screaming tantrum, they have exploded with emotions, and there is no way of dragging them back to reality... yet. Ride the tantrum wave, and when they calm down (which they eventually always will!) then you can talk. Nothing you say during the tantrum will help - if anything, it will make the situation worse. Keep calm and breathe Even though you may want to lay next to your child and kick and scream alongside them, if you bite your tongue and remain authoritative rather than stressed, then your child will be more likely to calm quicker. Patience is needed, as children often throw tantrums because they see that as effective communication and know no other ways to communicate. It takes time and practice until they realise it is not! Distraction A brilliant weapon in the parenting toolbox! Try and distract them before they descend into utter madness. Use humour to distract tricky situations, such as silly songs, laughing, or even tickles. Children have a pretty short attention span which proves useful when you need to distract! Recognise the signs The good old saying “prevention is better than cure” is apparent here. Although we can’t always predict what will cause a tantrum, we can try and avoid it a

+ s 8 Age

second time around, or be prepared for heightened emotions such as hunger and tiredness that can lead to a tantrum. Why not make a note of the cause of the tantrum and hopefully try and avoid it next time? The calm corner Admittedly you may want to sit in this corner yourself when you think it’s too much to handle, but it’s for the little ones! If your child is having a meltdown at home, create a quiet corner such as the bottom step of the stairs, or the corner of the hallway. Whilst they are there, don’t give them a lot of attention and make sure they don’t have access to their favourite toys, books, or fun distractions we don’t need them wanting to return to the calm corner! Do not give into ‘I want it all’ style tantrums One of the most common tantrums in the book. If your toddler is having a strop because you’re not allowing them to steal a toy off another toddler, or because of the chocolate you refused to give them, or even the toy they aren’t allowed to currently play with... do not give in! If you do, they catch on very quickly that throwing a tantrum means they get their own way, crafty little ones! It’s hard to stay strong, but it will be worth the investment in the future. The limited words tantrum There’s a lot of frustration with trying to communicate but only having a word bank

of around 100 words. These tantrums can be helped with your assistance. Help your toddler explain and understand their feelings. Try to guess what they’re experiencing and ask them “are you sleepy?” or “are you sad because that’s not your toy?” This gives them a chance to think about their feelings and eventually express them in a different way. Compromise Tantrums in toddlers are often caused by a feeling of no control. Your toddler is desperate for a little control over their life, so try and keep the balance by giving them a choice within a choice. Instead of saying “you need to hold my hand when crossing roads”, say, “would you like to hold mummy/daddy’s hand or the pram when crossing the road?” That way they think they’re getting a choice, but you’re still getting the desired outcome. Win-win! Praise the good Reinforce and praise good behaviour. Try making a star chart, and if they hit a target of stars in the week, give a reward. This helps your child realise there is a certain type of behaviour that leads to great results, hopefully teaching them to avoid tantrums as no stars are awarded to screaming toddlers! Tantrums aren’t forever, but hopefully these tips will make them a little easier! For more advice on tantrums, visit www. familiesonline.co.uk

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Summer days out feature

Things to do with the kids in the Summer holidays

The Summer holidays have arrived and Families Central Scotland have put together a Summer feature packed with lots of great ideas of things to do with the kids this Summer to keep them and you active, entertained and happy. We live in a beautiful part of the country so let’s hope we get some lovely weather so we can enjoy our surroundings however we have some rainy day ideas too because we are sure there may be a few of those. Read on and have a fun Summer!

The Engine Shed, Stirling

A warm welcome awaits you at Stirling’s newly opened conservation hub – a place to truly embrace your inner geek. Discover the building blocks of our heritage with our 35ft interactive map, get hands-on with the materials which built Scotland or even have a go at constructing your own Lego masterpiece. Transformed from an iconic, former military building, the Engine Shed brings heritage stories to life through hands-on activities, innovative technology and immersive experiences for all the family, plus an on-site café. Find us on Forthside Way, a short walk over the footbridge from Stirling train station. Booking not required.Visit us anytime Mon-Sat between 10am and 4pm. FREE. Find out what’s on by visiting us at www.engineshed.org

Cinema

Looking to catch Despicable Me or Transformers this Summer? Then head for The Bo’ness Hippodrome www. falkirkcommunitytrust.org/venues/ hippodrome or Macrobert Stirling www.macrobert.org/cinema for these and more family friendly films.

The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway & Museum of Scottish Railways – fun for the kids Share an adventure with your friends and family travelling by steam train and exploring Scotland’s largest railway museum. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of old fashioned train travel. The Guard will clip your ticket as your journey begins. Buy a snack from our buffet car then sit back and relax as the train travels through the Scottish countryside.

Back at Bo’ness, visit the Museum of Scottish Railways via our new Visitor Trail. Enjoy homemade, locally-sourced produce in our Station Buffet and we’ve a great Gift Shop. Visit our website for more ideas on planning your day out www.bkrailway.co.uk

Museums and art galleries

A visit to a gallery is a great day out for the kids and you, it is fun and often free and your child will be learning too. So check out some local museums and galleries. Families Central Scotland love Callendar House and the

families central scotland / issue 41

Georgian Kitchen www.falkirkcommunitytrust/heritage The Stirling Smith www.smithartgalleryandmuseum.co.uk and The Dunblane Museum.

When the kids are ready to let off steam – make tracks for Loch Katrine!

There’s always something memorable about family days out in the great outdoors- and when it comes to finding spaces for adventure – they don’t come on a much grander scale than The Great Trossachs Forest! At its heart is one of the most popular destinations when it comes to finding a place to let children go exploring – Loch Katrine. Loch Katrine is the starting point for so many different experiences – from walking by the loch shore, through to family cycling expeditions, and of course the opportunity to enjoy a sail on the legendary steamship Sir Walter Scott (or the modern cruiser Lady of the Lake). This really is the best way to enjoy the stunning scenery which was shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago, and to discover the story of how the loch itself has supplied Glasgow’s tap water since the middle of the 19th century. Look out for ospreys and otters, and see if you can spot the wild goats on the shore during your cruise! Sailings depart from Trossachs Pier, which is easy to reach from all across Central Scotland, and where visitor facilities include The Brenachoile Café Bar and Restaurant. Details of all sailing times are available at www.lochkatrine.com

Go on a bike ride

Bikes are a great, free and fun way to spend a few hours. Explore some of our local cycle tracks or drive to a park, the children will love the independence and freedom that comes with riding a bike. It’s a great way to travel long distances in a short space of time, and they’ll feel like they’ve really achieved something. Take a picnic to make the adventure more fun. Loch Katrine have bike hire and beautiful cycle paths if you want to hire bikes or take your own.

Step inside The ZooLab Jungle Room and leave Central Scotland behind! Immerse yourself in our intimate animal handling, indoor rainforest experience - where you will be transported by our expert rangers into the depths of the rainforest as part of our jungle tour! Meet creatures that include a chameleon, sugar gliders and a 7ft Burmese

python! With its magnificent rock-work, jungle vines, and of course selection of amazing exotic inhabitants, the dramatic setting of the rainforest makes for an exciting family adventure! The fun doesn’t stop there, throughout the summer holidays The ZooLab Jungle Room will host themed activities for children age 0-14. Interested? Call 01324 667 356 to find out more. Booking required, please visit bookwhen.com/zoolabjungleroom for availability and prices.

Get gardening with the kids

One of the beautiful things about gardening for adults is the ability to create a vision in your head, plant and then watch that vision grow into reality. The kids will love that too, so help them plant some flowers or seeds and not only do you have entertainment for one day, but it’s something you can go back to and chart how they grow. It’s a wonderful biology lesson too and they won’t even realise it!

Summer Fun at The National Wallace Monument

There are plenty of family fun events on at Stirling’s famous landmark over the summer months! Visitors will get the chance to discover the hidden history of the Abbey Craig, from volcanic outcrop, right through to the present day during Abbey Craig Through the Ages, which takes place on the 12th and 13th August. Activities include a guided walk from Stirling Council’s Archaeologist Dr Murray Cook, special actor performances and free facepainting for kids. In September, The National Wallace Monument will be celebrating Wallace’s greatest victory at The Battle of Stirling Bridge on the anniversary weekend (9th-11th September). The three day celebration will feature actors performing scenes from William Wallace’s famous encounter with the army of King Edward I, weapons demonstrations, falconry displays, and medieval style games for modern day warriors. The National Wallace Monument is open all year with regular actor performances from March through to October. Event details can be found online at www.nationalwallacemonument.com

Climb a hill

This can be a mountain or a fairly small hill, depending on how old your children are. (We are spoilt for choice in beautiful Central Scotland). Enjoy helping one another to make the climb: your reward is the view from the top, and the picnic lunch you have up there!

Summer days out feature

The Milk Barn, nr Falkirk.

Come and enjoy a delicious homemade ice cream at The Milk Barn, we have 18 different flavours on display. We also have soya ice cream for diabetics, dairy free sorbets and frozen fresh fruit yoghurt. The Milk Barn is situated on a working dairy farm, and is very child friendly with indoor and outdoor play areas. Enjoy a fun, delicious day out for all the family and have a try at milking the Fibre Glass milking cow Glenda. We also serve sandwiches, baked potatoes, home baking etc. Ask our staff for any dietary guidelines. Opening hours 10am to 5pm everyday. Icecream available until 6pm in School Summer Holidays. Glen Farm, Glen Village, Falkirk, FK1 3AA Contact 01324 630703 or visit www.themilkbarn.co.uk

Sports at the park

Grab a bat, ball or whatever they love and head to the nearest park. Get your friends and their families involved and make a day of it with a picnic. Remember to watch out for the Stirling Council Play in the Park events on during the Summer in local parks and their Superbus. If you live in the Stirling area you should get info sent home from your school. There will be free family entertainment at The Helix Big Picnic on 13th August.

Summer Fun down on Briarlands Farm

We offer acres of space with natural play equipment and cable ride, tractor go-karts, giant jumping pillows and an exciting new football golf course, soft archery and more to allow all ages to enjoy the fresh air. Why not buy a Season Pass to keep the kids entertained all summer and visit our tearoom for a delicious freshly baked cream scone with our own strawberries. Pick Your Own Strawberries will be open again this year – check our website for availability. We also love to host birthday parties and can offer a fantastic indoor space for any celebration. For more information and to see our range of events please visit our website at www.briarlandsfarm.co.uk or become a fan on Facebook to keep up to date!

Build a den

Whether you do this indoors, in the garden or in the woods you’ll have lots of fun. Joint tasks like making a den together bring out team working skills and help you see one another’s hidden strengths. Once the den is built do something fun like having tea in it.

Summer days out feature Fun for the kids at The Howgate and The Thistles

Visit Toy Hub for great Summer fun

Summer days out across Falkirk Community Trust

Sleep outdoors

The Howgate Shopping Centre, Falkirk and The Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling have lots of fun things on to keep the kids happy this Summer. The Howgate have Howie’s Kids Club on the 1st Saturday of each month - with the Minion Takeover Day on Saturday 1st July and entertainment with Uncle Billy on Saturday 5th August. The Thistles have Little Thistlet’s Club on the 1st Sunday of each month - theme on the 1st July ‘Anyone for Tennis’ and on 5th August ‘Let’s Go Camping.’ and from the 1st – 10th July at The Thistles is the School of Spells. For more information on what’s on - www.howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk and www.thethistles. com

Callendar House is the ideal destination for a family day out – there’s so much to see and do and lots of open space for kids to run around, plus easy free parking. In conjunction with our Roman Frontiers Exhibition (20 May – 29 Oct) we’ve lots of free activities lined up, ranging from sampling from an array of Roman delicacies in the Georgian Kitchen, a Roman dress up area for wee ones, looking at Roman books from Falkirk Library in our cozy corner or following our family trail through the house and grounds to find out more about Falkirk’s Roman connections. The fantastic play park with its spacious play area is an ideal spot for a picnic or just pop into Callendar House Tearoom for delicious home baking. Check out www. falkirkcommunitytrust/heritage for full details and info on Roman workshops for families.

Start a collection

Your collection can be anything – football cards, postcards, photographs or fun things you’ve been up to, perhaps pebbles from beaches you’ve been to. You can collect experiences as well as items: keep a book where you short review every film you watch, every book you read, or a description of every day you have. Collections aren’t about what they are, they’re about learning to organise your thoughts in a coherent and logical way.

families central scotland / issue 41

The long summer holidays are rapidly approaching providing an excellent opportunity for families to exercise together and enjoy being outdoors and active. Toy Hub have expanded their outdoor toys with ranges suitable for all ages including traditional toys such as Hula Hoops and paddling pools through to extreme bouncing Moon Balls and an award winning range of kickups and boomerangs from Wicked Toys. Open 7 days a week in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane you can drop in whatever the weather to pick up a treat to keep your kids entertained all summer long. If you enjoy the stunning sights and surroundings of the Stirling area you can pre-order your copy of Stirling Monopoly due for release in October. Just pre-order in store or online at www.toyhubdirect.co.uk

Nothing says Summer like the chance to kip outside. If you can, find a campsite where you can go for a few days, but if you can’t do that just put up a tent in the back garden. No tent? Just borrow one. You’ll be amazed at the amount of fun kids can have with a few torches under canvas. Make sure they have lots of snacks – and don’t forget the singsongs!

Visit Blair Drummond Safari Park

Set in 120 acres of beautiful woodland, a visit to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park will be both fun and educational with plenty of open space to explore, bags of fresh air and the chance to get up close to some amazing wild animals. A ‘must see’ is the sea lion presentations and the bird of prey demonstrations and not forgetting the boat trip around Chimp Island. Lemur Land and Pets Farm are very popular haunts and the Keeper Talks also have a question and answer session. The adventure playground is always a favourite stop as is the pedal boats, flying fox and giant astraglide. All of the above is included in the ticket price but there is a charge for face painting and the fun fair. We have a brand new disabled toilet/changing room and extra baby changing facilities. Bring a picnic, use one of the BBQ’s or eat in the restaurant. Blair Drummond, Stirling, FK9 4UR www.blairdrummond.com

Create a rainy day jar

Has your child ever asked you to do something that you had no time to do? Maybe it’s baking a batch of biscuits, building some lego they’ve had since their birthday or showing you a dance routine they’ve created. Whenever time is against you, get your child to write the idea on a piece of paper and pop it in the

Rainy Day Jar. It means you can reach into it for ideas as soon as you hear the words “It’s raining!”

Summer days out feature

Summer Holiday Fun in Alloa Town Centre

Looking for great family activities in Alloa this Summer? There will be FREE family entertainment hosted by Alloa Town Centre Bid in Alloa High Street every Thursday during the school holidays from 6th July to 17th August. Just head along to the High Street between 11.30am – 2.30pm to see a different performer every week. With magic from Gary Dunn and Bob Bonkers, puppets with Scott Lovat, dance with Just Dance Elite, The Animal Man and some beautiful owls, we have something for everyone. There will also be face painting and balloon modelling (small charge). Call Alloa Town Centre Bid on 01259 404104, visit www.atcbid.com or follow us on facebook for further details.

Classes Across Central Scotland

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Little Pony Wishes Minature Horse Parties & Events

Family Fun in Falkirk Town Centre this summer.

Emergency Services Day on Wednesday 16th August is a must with fun for all the family. With displays, demonstrations and free giveaways, from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, British Red Cross and other partner agencies. There will be First Aid displays, Mounted Police, Police Vehicles and much more. Then on Saturday 19thAugust come along and support one of 40 charities who will be taking part in this year’s Charities day. Organised in partnership with Falkirk Delivers and The Rotary Club of Falkirk, this event is to help local charities with their fundraising efforts. The day is always a huge success and gives local charities an opportunity to promote themselves by offering visitors to the town a chance to take part in raffles, tombola’s and much more. www.falkirkdelivers.com

With a wide range of budgets and packages!!

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A family day out at Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo is packed with a variety of fun and unusual things for you to do this summer. With over 1,000 rare and amazing animals, there is so much for you to explore and discover.

Why not visit our world famous penguin parade, watch the penguins dive in their underwater viewing window and watch out for the waddle of little penguin chicks. Immerse yourself into the wild world of Sumatran tigers at our dynamic tiger tracks enclosure. Watch the big cats pounce overhead in their glass tunnel walkthrough and get up close to nature. Or say hello to some of our newest Zoo residents, red pandas, Bruce and Ginger. Explore our animal walkthroughs, learn all about our amazing animals at the daily talks from our expert keepers and discover more at the Wee Beasties exhibition, new for 2017! Visit: edinburghzoo.org.uk to book your tickets today.

Little Stars has been in Falkirk Stadium for over 10 years and is the only nursery in Falkirk with direct access to the Kelpies and the Helix. Easy drop off and parking and with its own eco park and outdoor learning area. NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FALKIRK COUNCIL FOR PRE SCHOOL FUNDING Falkirk Football Stadium, 2 Stadium Way, Grangemouth, Falkirk FK2 9EE

www.littlestarsnurseries.co.uk

Back to School

ast August, I was one of thousands of parents across the country waving their child off at the school gates for the start of their school life. The beginning of the journey started with a summer of anticipation followed, with trips to buy school uniform, name writing practice, playing ‘schools’ and making the most of those final flexible days before we were tied into the daily routine of school runs and living a life that revolved around 9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Everything was building up to that point, but I hadn’t really considered beyond that, and how much school life would impact on us as a family. That first month at school left me feeling surprised, bewildered, proud, frustrated, and a whole host of other emotions – and I am in no doubt that my 5-year-old was probably experiencing something similar to me daily. It helps to be aware of the possible challenges of having a new school starter, so that you are best armed to get through that first four weeks together unscathed!

Don’t feel guilty if you experience a sense of relief on that first day Not all mums will be reaching for the tissues at the first drop off. For many mum’s (and this was me) there’s a sense of relief that the hectic toddler years are over and life becomes a bit more structured. Local mum Katie explains “I just felt relieved as my daughter was so ready for school…I could start reclaiming some of my grown-up time and return to work.” Blubbing is not compulsory and no one will judge you if you skip back to your car!

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12 families central scotland / issue 41

Back to School Give after-school activities a miss It may be tempting to extend the school day with a few stimulating after-school clubs but mum Jenny explains “Rebecca was so tired and grumpy after school in her P1 year that she just didn’t have the stamina to do anything after school except sit and watch TV – after school clubs would have been a complete waste of money for us!”. If they’re keen to do more, wait until the spring or summer term when they will be accustomed to the demands of the school day.

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Take snacks with you in the afternoon Mum Amy has this tip – “pre-empt any school run whinging with a snack for the journey home!” You will be amazed how hungry they are when they come out of school (to the point where you question whether the school gave them any lunch…)

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YOUR homework will be… Aaah yes, the class mascot – good old Dingle the Dog. Dingle comes with his own bag, instructions and a ‘diary’ in which YOU will have to write exactly what Dingle has got up to that weekend at your house, and provide photographic evidence. Looking through the diary and seeing Dingle on a skiing trip and at horse-riding lessons will make you cringe as you glue in a picture of Dingle watching TV or playing on the iPad (oh the shame….!)

You will be asked to part with money on a weekly basis - keep a spare change pot Dad of two girls, Steve, has this practical tip to share – “you’ll never know when you need a bit of spare change to send in to school – for cake sales, raffle tickets, PTA donations, sponsored spells – it doesn’t have to be loads but it’s useful to have say £5 in spare change that you can dip into at short notice”. Or you could be like me and be looking down the back of the sofa at 8.30am for 50p on mufti-day…..

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Buy more uniform than you think you’ll need They will lose some uniform, and they will also come home covered in unidentifiable stains that will see you putting an entire outfit straight in the washing bin after only one wear. “You’ll be amazed by the amount of stuff they come home covered in…” explains Amelia, “…it might be a good idea to pick up some second-hand uniform for spares otherwise it can get really expensive” You will never feel prouder… …than when they learn to write their name, read something independently or cross the finish line at sports day – erm…has anyone got a tissue??!

A one snap solution - they’re re-usable too! “A truly wonderful product—Snappy Tags takes the hassle and pain out of labelling.” www.verymummy.com

For more information about starting school, visit: www. familiesonline.co.uk

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Back to School

Back to school with Clever Clogs in Falkirk Young Persons Counselling Service

Clever Clogs @ 19 is a family run specialised children’s shoe shop based in the heart of Falkirk. Our brands range from Start-rite, Ricosta, Lelli Kelly, Primigi, Hunter, Converse, Super-fit, Geox and many other continental brands. The health of our children’s feet is as important to us as it is to you. To ensure your child’s feet are in safe hands simply pop in to meet our friendly staff. We offer fitting appointments too, this will save queuing at a very busy time of the year. It is a good idea to bring the school socks your child will be wearing. Shoes must be fastened securely otherwise they will slip and rub, we will show you how best to do this and even give your child a chance to practise this in the shop. After a summer wearing sandals and trainers, school shoes will definitely feel strange, therefore it would be best to have your child wearing them for a little while every day for a week before they go to school. Remember shoes which are looked after and polished last longer! Come and see us at 19 Bank Street, Falkirk or phone us to book your back to school appointment on 01324 633090. We will also be offering autism, sensory and special needs friendly appointments on the 16th July.

As the Cat in the Hat (Dr Seuss) says ‘There is no-one alive who is youer than you’. Life can throw in tricky things to deal with that prevent young people being the ‘you’ they want to be. These can be demands of school, relationships, losses, change. “Road bumps”, “log jams” – whatever we call them can all have a profound impact on young people. It can be tough out there – sometimes just for a season and for some, for longer. Counselling can be a positive support at such times. It offers a non-judgmental, confidential breathing space to which all are welcomed. In my experience this process can help our young people to negotiate the “road bumps” and “log jams” however that obstacle presents itself. In other words to get them back to being the ‘you’ they want to be. For more information or to arrange an appointment phone 01786 469939 or visit www.youngpersoncounselling.com

Back to school with Ruby Ruby Shoes in Dunblane

Your child will be wearing their new school shoes all day, so it is very important that they are properly fitted with good quality leather uppers, allowing the foot to breathe. Childrens feet are continuosly developing until they are 18 years old and badly fitted shoes can cause permanent damage to their feet. We have a fully qualified Professional Shoe Fitter and other staff who have been fully trained by the Society of Shoe Fitters, ensuring we can offer you an excellent, knowledgeable fitting service, complimented by our top class customer service. We are situated in the beautiful cathedral city of Dunblane and open seven days a week, 9.30 to 5pm, (5.30pm on Saturdays) and 12-4 Sundays, so there are plenty of opportunities to come in and have a look, whether you are buying your child sandals for holidays, school shoes for the new term, or trainers for PE. Let your child wear their new shoes around the house, for a few days before school starts, to get them used to shoes after a summer in the freedom of sandals and trainers. We stock a huge variety of children shoes including the world renowned StartRite, Geox, Lelli Kelly, Primigi, Petasil, Superfit, Richter and lots more. Call now to book your Back To School Shoe appointment on 01786 824903 and visit us on www.facebook.com/ rubyrubyshoes or www.rubyruby.co.uk

14 families central scotland / issue 41

Beat the back to school rush with Snappy Tags®

With long summer days stretching ahead, and a whirlwind of holidays, day trips and numerous ice-creams, it’s all too easy to misjudge how quickly August comes around. Then it’s a scramble to buy uniform, shoes, coats and bags, and then aarrgghh….all that labelling to do! Well, it doesn’t have to be that way! Snappy Tags® are all you need to get ahead of the game, and to ensure quick and hassle free clothes labelling! Snappy Tags® are similar to a small button - your child’s name is permanently etched onto the tags before they are delivered to you. There’s NO sewing or ironing, and they are so easy to apply to the care label with the Snappy Tags® applicator, the kids will want to do it all for you! Mum of two boys, Eszter recently bought some Snappy Tags® as she was sick of the’ iron on’ labels falling off. “…The ease with which the tags are applied was quite unbelievable. No time, no effort and a very smart finish. Literally a child could do it….” Eszter P, Hull To order tags, visit www.snappytags.co.uk

Note from the editors. We have always found our kids

primary teachers to be very helpful if there was anything we needed clarifying so always good to ask. Here are some websites we have found useful as well. Sadly these BBC websites are no longer being updated but they have been useful for topic work.

Step back to school with 2 FEET 1st in Linlithgow

Pauline & Angela would like to welcome you to our shop based in Linlithgow High Street. As your child’s feet continue to develop it is essential to ensure their shoes are a perfect fit, after all they will be wearing them over 6 hours every day. As fully trained fitters we are here to offer a personal touch with the knowledge and experience of all our brands, Start-rite, Ricosta, Geox, Lelli Kelly, Superfit and many more continental brands. We would suggest that you bring your child’s school socks along with you to ensure that we have the correct fitting and fulfil your requirements. It is also a good idea to allow your child to wear their new shoes around the house prior to school starting to get them used to wearing school shoes again. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for us so why not take advantage of our appointment based system to save a timely wait. We also have a wide range of summer sandals, trainers and pre walkers and shoes to fit all occasions.

Include a sight test in your ‘back to school’ routine

Every child dreams of what they will be one day... Pilot, fire fighter, train driver, police officer. Many professions have minimum eyesight requirements and up to one in five children have an eye condition they do not know about which may make achieving those dreams difficult. Up to the age of 7 is a critical time in the development of a child’s eyes. A sight test gives every child the opportunity to see clearly, learn effectively and fulfil their career aspirations. Emma Kelly optometrist at Ochil Eyes in Tillicoultry, is passionate about children’s eyecare. As a mother of two, she is keenly aware of the benefits of good sight to a child’s development and learning. At Ochil Eyes, we provide a fun environment for children of all ages to have their eyes tested. Call 01259 752755 to book your child in for their free back to school eye test. 105 High Street, Tillicoultry, FK13 6DS www.ochileyes.co.uk

Please call to arrange an appointment at a suitable time on 01506-847-576 or pop in to see us at 73, High Street, Linlithgow. We look forward to welcoming your little “tootsies” to our shop.

www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk www.sumdog.com www.spellingcity.com www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11 www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/learningathome 15

out & about

aturday 1st September

Whilst every care has been taken to compile the Out and About section please remember that this magazine is printed weeks in advance of the event. Please call and check events with the venue to avoid any disappointment before setting out.

Friday 30th June to Thursday 13th July

Despicable Me 3 Bo’ness Hippodrome various times. Despicable Me 3 Macrobert Arts Centre various times. Saturday 1st July

Howie’s kids Club at The Howgate Centre - Minion Take Over Day To celebrate the release of Despicable Me 3 come along for lots of Minion inspired fun and games. 12-3pm. Free. For more details visit www. howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk Jupiter’s Magical Meadows at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Celebrate national meadows day by learning about the importance of this rare habitat, wildflower identification and take part in our great grassland survey. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk or phone 01324 486475. RZSS Wild about Scotland bus at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Hop on-board the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s ‘Wild about Scotland’ bus at Jupiter. There will be fun activities for all the family to find out about our amazing Scottish wildlife! £2 per person. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Do Lunch! For Brain Cancer Research Get together with your friends, family and colleagues and grab some grub for Brain Tumour Research to help feed vital research! www. braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/ do-lunch Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July

Spectacular Jousting at Linlithgow Palace Come along for two days of action and excitement at this royal tournament. Over the weekend you can meet the knights and their retinue and cheer on your favourite as they fight for victory. For tickets and information phone 0131 668 8885. Saturday 1st to Monday 31st July

Art Backpacks at Macrobert Arts Centre Come and grab a free art park and explore the world of Hairy Maclary within the Macrobert Arts Centre building. Search for clues around our venue, see if you can spot your favourite

characters and make some Hairy Maclary inspired arts and crafts. www.macrobertartscentre.org Sunday 2nd July

Thistles Centre Little Thistlet’s Anyone for Tennis Come and help Coach Cosy to get Andy Murry Mint in shape? Free fun in The Thistles for children. 11-4pm. Monday 3rd July

Opening of The Engine Shed in Stirling With interactive exhibits, 3D theatre, augmented reality experiences and hands-on activities this will bring Scotland’s built heritage to life. Free entry. Open Mon-Sat. www.engineshed.org Tuesdays in July and August (during school holidays) Linlithgow Holiday Club at Linlithgow Palace Join the Historic Scotland rangers in a variety of activities from minibeast hunts, camouflage capers and survival skills. Suitable for ages 8-12. For tickets and information phone 0131 6528150 or visit www. historicenvironment.scot Wednesday 5th July Weird watery world at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Dip into the pond and discover the weird and wonderful watery creatures. Suitable for ages 5 to 12. £2. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Thursday 6th July

Summer fun in Alloa Family Fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along and enjoy Gary Dunn’s fantastic magic show. 11.30 am – 2.30 pm. Thursday 6th, 20th and 27th July and 10th and 17th August Toddling O’Clock at Callendar House Sensory play, drama, music and play for 2-5 year olds and their carers. Phone 01324 506850 for tickets and information. Saturday 8 July

Alva Games Day Randolph Hill Summer Fete in Dunblane Tombola, bottle stall,

families central scotland / issue 41

craft stalls, raffle, splat the rat, cake stall and refreshments. For information phone 01786 825362. Get lost! At Jupiter Wildlife Centre Put your map reading skills to the test and have a go at our orienteering challenge! Drop in anytime between 2 and 3 pm to give it a go! This event is aimed at children 5 to 12 years old. £2. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Weekends in July

Tales From The Battlefield at The Wallace Monument Travel back in time to one of the most dramatic periods in Scottish History, when Stirling was at the centre of all the action, during our live performances with costumed actors! www. nationalwallacemonument.com Monday 10th and 24th July Summer Bookbug Sessions at Macrobert Arts Centre A fun, free storytelling session for little ones and their grown-ups. 10.30am. Wednesday 12th July

Feed the Animals at Newparks Farm at Muiravonside Country Park Come and join the stock keeper and learn about the animals on the farm. Get to feed them by hand! Meet in the Farm Courtyard. Booking essential. £3 For tickets and information phone 01324 506850. Thursday 13th July

Summer fun in Alloa Family Fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Animal Man with his mini zoo will visit Alloa High Street. Come along and see a variety of animals, birds and reptiles. Handling and photograph opportunities. 11.30 am – 2.30 pm. Friday 14th to Thursday 29th July (ex Mon) Transformers: The Last Knight Bo’ness Hippodrome Various times. Saturday 15th July

Bonny butterflies at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Take part in the Big butterfly count with us and learn more about these impressive

insects. Suitable for ages 5 to 12. £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@ scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Monday 17th and 31st July

Storytelling Sessions at Macrobert Arts Centre Free story telling session for 2-6 year olds. www. macrobertartscentre.org Thursday 20th July

Summer fun in Alloa Family fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along and enjoy a lively magic show with Bob Bonkers. 11.30 am – 2.30 pm. Friday 21st July Magical Moths at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Learn about these interesting insects, help set up our moth trap and other nocturnal activities. This is aimed at children over 7. 7.30-9.30pm. £2. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Saturday 22nd July

Airth Highland Games Magical Moths at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Join us to check the previous night’s catch and discover the identity of Jupiter’s mysterious moths. 9-11am. For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July

Spark Bo’ness Hippodrome various times. Thursday 27th July

Summer fun in Alloa Family fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along and join a dance workshop with the experts from Just Dance Elite, or come along and enjoy watching the experts at work! 11.20 am – 2.30 pm. Woodland Stories at Plean Country Park Parents, grandparents, babies, toddlers and buggies come and join the Rangers for a stroll and a story in the woods and some ideas for making your own stories. Booking

is essential. Call 01786 404040 or email countryside@stirling.gov.uk Saturday 29th July

Family Fun Day at Lock Katrine A great pirate themed event for all the family including a treasure hunt and family BBQ. For more details visit www.lochkatrine.com Know your nettles at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Take the sting out of nettles… Discover many amazing uses for this plant for both people and wildlife. Have a go at making nettle rope and try some nettle nibbles! £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Meet the Animals at Newparks Farm at Muiravonside Country Park Come and join the stock keeper on a tour around the farm and learn about the animals! Meet in the farm court yard. Booking essential. £3 For tickets and information phone 01324 506850. Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July

Hairy Maclary and Friends

at Macrobert Arts Centre A fabulous family adventure featuring lots of your favourite characters from the Lynley Dodds books. For tickets visit www. macrobertartscentre.org Day Out With Thomas at Bo’ness Railway Engines with friendly faces, children’s entertainment, competitions, face painting, fairground attractions. www. bkrailway.co.uk Rock Dog Bo’ness Hippodrome various times. Tuesday 1st and 8th August Summer Story Trails Join Storyteller Daniel Serridge for a story walk around some of the University’s most interesting sculptures. Suitable for ages 2-7. For tickets and information visit www.macrobertarstcentre.org Wednesday 2nd August

Find the art in nature at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Discover the diversity of colours and textures when using natural materials in your creations. This event is

aimed at 5-12 year olds. £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Thursday 3rd August

Summer fun in Alloa Family fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along, meet the owls and learn about these beautiful and mystical birds. Handling and photograph opportunities. 11.30 – 2.30 pm. Friday 4th August Art in the Park at Muiravonside County Park Awake your inner artist and make some natural art with the ranger service. Also enjoy a 45 min self-guided walk around our new 7 piece sculpture trail themed around the wildlife on site. £2 Friday 4th to Thursday 10th August War of the Planet of the Apes Bo’ness Hippodrome various times.

out & about

Saturday 5th August

Howie’s Kids Club at The Howgate Centre - Uncle Billy Uncle Billy returns with his hilarious show which includes magic tricks, puppet shows, singa-longs and circus skills. Free. For more details visit www. howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk YDance: Project Y 2017 at Macrobert Arts Centre Project Y is back for 2017 with another exciting programme of new contemporary dance works and brings together talented young dancers aged 16 to 21 from across Scotland. www. macrobertartscentre.org Sunday 6th August

Bridge of Allan Highland Games Thistles Centre Little Thistlet’s Lets Go Camping Join Captain Camp and Wilder Wildernessicals to learn the basics of setting up camp, singing camp fire songs Free fun in The Thistles for children. 11-4pm.

YOU SHOULD SEE HOW

BIG CAT OUR

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out & about

aturday 1st September

Wednesday 9th August

Fantastic minibeasts and where to find them at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Discover where the beastly bugs are hiding in Jupiter’s Wild Wild Woods. This event is aimed at 5-12 year olds. £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Thursday 10th August

Summer fun in Alloa Family fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along and enjoy a puppet show and some magic with Scott Lovat. 11.30 am – 2.30 pm. Friday 11th to Thursday 17th August (ex Mon)

Captain Underpants Bo’ness Hippodrome various times. Friday 11th and Saturday 12th August

Knock on History’s Door at The Wallace Monument This experience offers guests access to Stirling’s famous landmark after hours to explore the exhibitions and see the breathtaking views in a new light. For tickets and information visit www. nationalwallacemonument.com Cats at The Dunblane Centre Come along to the ‘show in a week’ performance of Cats by the talented youngsters of Dunblane. For tickets and information phone 01786 824224. Saturday 12th August Feed the Animals at Newparks Farm at Muiravonside Country Park Come and join the stock keeper and learn about the animals on the farm. Get to feed them by hand! Meet in the Farm Courtyard. Booking essential. £3 For tickets and information phone 01324 506850. Summerfest at Blairmains Farm Shop and Coffee Bothy Featuring over 30 local producers and FREE children’s entertainment with inflatable fun and arts and crafts, this is a great family day out. Central FM will be broadcasting live from the event playing music and running competitions. 10-4pm. www.blairmains.com

Saturday 12th and 13th August

Sir Walter Scott at Loch Katrine Celebrate Sir Walter Scott’s birthday with an opportunity to hear more about the man, his poetry and life. www.lochkatrine. com Abbey Craig Through The Ages at The Wallace Monument Unlock the hidden history of the Abbey Craig during this special themed weekend for the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017. Follow the story of the volcanic outcrop, from its time as the setting for an ancient fort, through to the present day. For more information visit www. nationalwallacemonument.com Sunday 13th August

The Big Picnic at The Helix Bring a picnic and join in the free family fun with music and outdoor entertainment . 11-5pm Wednesday 16th August

Emergency Services Day Falkirk Town Centre Join us as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, British Red Cross and other partner agencies put on a great show and demonstrate emergency service response to Road Traffic Collision (RTC) demonstrations. Exciting First Aid displays, Mounted Police, Police Vehicles and much more. With free giveaways. Fun for all the family. www. falkirkdelivers.co.uk Dragons on the move at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Join Froglife’s Dragons on the Move roadshow event with Scottish Wildlife Trust. Bring the family and come pond dipping. Could you become a dragon finder at Jupiter? £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Thursday 17th August Summer fun in Alloa Family fun with face painting, balloons and free family entertainment in Alloa High Street. Come along and join the fun with our End of Summer Party! Disco, games, competitions and prizes along with some surprise guests. 11.30 am – 2.30 pm

Saturday 19th August

Charities Day in Falkirk High Street Come along and support one of 40 charities who will be taking part in this year’s Charities day. Organised in partnership with Falkirk Delivers and The Rotary Club of Falkirk, this event is to help local charities with their fundraising efforts. The day is always a huge success and gives local charities an opportunity to promote themselves in one of the busiest streets in the town, by offering visitors to the town a chance to take part in raffles, tombola’s and much more. www. falkirkdelivers.co.uk Wildlife photography for beginners at Jupiter Wildlife Centre A local photographer will give you top tips on the best way to use your camera, before heading outside to capture spectacular shots of Jupiter’s wildlife. Please bring your own digital camera for this event. Suitable for over 8’s. £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. The Big Hunt 2017 Geo-caching Taster Session at Muiravonside Unleash your inner treasure hunter and learn how to geocache. There will be help for first time geo-cachers to get you started. FREE. Stirling Highland Games Sunday 20th August Goldilocks and the Three Bears Singalong at Falkirk Town Hall The much loved fairytale Goldilocks and The Three Bears comes to life on stage in an unforgettable live stage production of song and laughter that the children will love. For tickets and information visit www. falkirkcommunitytrust.org Friday 25th and Saturday 26th August Solasta and Moyenda in Concert at Blairdrummond Hall (25th) and Church of the Holy Rude (26th) Celtic music with a twist from two highly gifted trios - be prepared for a great evening. For tickets and information phone 01786 462366 or type ‘Solasta and Moyenda’ on Eventbrite. Saturday 26th August

Check out our new ‘what’s on’ Illyria Theatre present The Emperor’s New Clothes at The guide on our website at www.familiesonline.co.uk

families central scotland / issue 41

Helix Based on the timeless Hans Christian Andersen story There are larger-than-life characters, lots and lots to join in with - and an ending that will leave you helpless with laughter! Suitable for children age 5+. For tickets and information visit www.thehelix. co.uk Scrumptious summer foraging at Jupiter Wildlife Centre Find a bounty of berries, numerous nuts and other assorted wild delicacies at Jupiter’s wild harvest. Suitable for over 5’s. £2 For information contact the ranger on falkirkranger@scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk or phone 01324 486475. Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August Spider Man Homecoming Bo’ness Hippodrome various times. Saturday 2nd September

Howie’s kids Club at The Howgate Centre - Be Experimental Be Experimental are holding a hands on science workshop where you can get messy and learn cool facts about science. Free. For more details visit www.howgateshoppingcentre. co.uk Sunday 3rd September

Thistles Centre Little Thistlet’s - Woof Woof! Come and join Barbara Woofhouse and Reginald Rollover for some crazy canine capers Free fun in The Thistles Shopping Centre for children. 11-4pm. Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th September

Tall Stories present The Grufallo at Falkirk Town Hall Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world! For tickets and information phone 01324 506850. www. falkirkcommunitytrust.org Sunday 10th September

Bonnie Bairn Pregnancy and Family Fair at MacDonald Inchyra Hotel nr Grangemouth With over 45 stalls, the fair will showcase the best local experts, activities and support groups; as well as not-available-on-the-highstreet shopping opportunities. www.bonnie-bairn.co.uk

You can make a difference... Falkirk Council urgently needs Foster Carers to offer a permanent placement for children and young people. We need carers to keep sibling groups together and also for older young people. We need to keep Falkirk Bairns within Falkirk. Can You: • Provide a stable and loving home? • Work as part of a team?

Drive through Wild Animal Reserves, Boat Trips around Chimp Island, Sea Lion Presentations, Bird of Prey Centre & Displays, Lemur Land, Bug Land, Pets Farm, Elephant Habitat, Adventure Playground with Pirate Ship, Giant Astraglide, Pedal Boats, Flying Fox, Fun Fair, Restaurant, BBQ & Picnic areas. Free Parking. Open daily - 18th March to 29th October 2017 10am – 5.30pm, last admission 4.30pm

• Encourage a brighter future for a young person who is unable to live with their own family? In return you will receive: • On-going and in depth training and support. • The knowledge you are helping to shape a young person’s future. Please complete our enquiry form: www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/children-families/fostering

Foster.

fostering@falkirk.gov.uk 01324 508656 www.falkirk.gov.uk/fostering

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Discover the life and legacy of Scotland’s National Hero

Special events for all the family to enjoy!

is the perfect place to stop and relax - any time of day. Abbey Craig, Hillfoots Road, Stirling FK9 5LF (01786) 472140 • info@nationalwallacemonument.com www.nationalwallacemonument.com