Families Glasgow Issue 56 March April 2016

Glasgow Issue 56 March/April 2016

Music and Dance for Boys and Girls aged 6 months - 5 years www.ballet4babies.co.uk

Miss Claire info@ballet4babies.co.uk

0775 911 9965

Places available from Birth-5 years

www.somersetnursery.com

6 Fitzroy Place Glasgow G3 7RH

News & Views

Inspiring Tuition

In this issue...

Free trial session!

2-5

News & Views

6-9

Easter Camps and Activities

Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities. The centres are open 7 days a week, meaning Explore can fit into busy family life.

As Explore members, children work with tutors who are great educational role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators. Each child has an individualised learning programme, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum in England and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland.

Find out how your child can benefit from Explore Learning membership today. Book your free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk.

56th Annual GUVMA Rodeo 2016 11-10 Mini Cruise Break 12-15 What’s On Highlights

Get in touch Editor: Anna Wignall editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk, 07796 946661 Keep up to date at www.familiesglasgow.co.uk or find us on facebook Next issue: Special features include Children’s Parties, Get Set for Summer, Family Breaks.

Booking deadline: 15 April Special ad rates and offers available, call or email to find out more.

We take every care in preparing this magazine but the publishers cannot be held responsible for the claims made by advertisers.

Designed by kris@grafikfabrik.co.uk.

Printed By Warners (Midlands) plc.

Copyright: Families Glasgow Magazine March 2016.

Families Glasgow 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 Glasgow are fully protected by copyright and non 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.

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March/April 2016

Every year, the Glasgow University Veterinary Medical Association (GUVMA) organises the Annual GUVMA Rodeo, an animal charity fundraising event.

This year, Students for Animals In Need, Trusty Paws, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Horse Rescue Scotland, will be the main beneficiaries of our event.

Riding for the Disabled will also be benefiting from the rodeo through our annual raffle ticket sale.

There are plenty of activities for the whole day from hand-made crafts, food, beverage and face-painting stalls to animal charities, games and animal interaction booths! There will also be animal-related showcases lined up for the whole day from falconry to guide dog demonstrations.

The rodeo will be held on the 16th of April 2016, Saturday from 11am to 5pm at the Garscube Estate.

Find out more about the rodeo by following us on Facebook - 56th Annual Rodeo 2016.

Did you know From 4-17 April 2 under 16s travel free with each full paying adult on the Glasgow Subway. www.spt.co.uk/kidsgofree

Families Glasgow

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Oscars Wi Childcare Easter Camp Places OSCARS are delighted to offer 2 x weekly tickets for their summer holiday programme based at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, senior school campus.

These can either be for 1 child for 2 weeks or 2 children for 1 week, and the prize includes all activities.

To enter children should simply email a photo or scan of a picture drawn by them of their favourite activity they participate in during the summer time.

It could be a picture of them playing football or dancing for example with a sentence saying why they would like to attend OSCARS. Please send all entries to editor@ familiesglasgow.co.uk subject line: OSCARS Closing date: 19 April. Good luck from OSCARS www.oscarschildcare.com

News & Views

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts Bunny’s been up to his old tricks again! He’s left clues at lots of National Trust for Scotland places across the country. Join us from Good Friday to Easter Monday for lots of family fun.

Let your kids follow the clues, solve the puzzle and claim a chocolatey reward.

Each Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt is different – the perfect excuse to try your hand at more than one!

Pollok House

Holmwood

Ben Lomond

You’ll find everything you need to know at

www.nts.org.uk

The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410

Sport Relief Games, Glasgow (Sunday March 20th 2016) Glasgow has been selected as one of six cities across the UK to host a Flagship Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games.

The Glasgow Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games will take place on Sunday 20th March 2016 in Glasgow Green and the surrounding area. Participants will be encouraged to walk, run, swim or cycle themselves proud by entering one of the many events on offer. The money raised by those taking part will help disadvantaged people living incredibly tough lives, both here in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities.

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile winds its way around the picturesque Green and the Cycle route skirts the River Clyde towards the East End and back towards the city centre. The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Swimathon action takes place a few minutes away from Glasgow Green in the Glasgow Club Gorbals.

Or, a good way to get the whole family involved is to join the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Cycle. It’s a 3-mile ride that’s the perfect chance for all budding bikers to saddle up with family and friends and wheel in the sponsorship cash – stabilisers and tandem bikes are more than welcome!

There will also be entertainment for the whole family throughout, so it really will be an unmissable day.

Sign up at www.sportrelief.com/glasgow and bring the whole family along to Glasgow Green on Sunday 20th March – events start from 9:30am.

Step by Step Private Nursery Places available for children from 6 weeks to school age.

Part and full time places Please call Karen on

0141 945 2030

www.stepbystepnursery.co.uk

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News & Views

Families Glasgow Magazine is for sale!

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• Make a work/life balance to suit you • Satisfied and regular customer base • Print and online growth potential • Training and support for any skills gaps • Families Magazines have around one million readers across UK • Support from both our Families and Emma’s Diary teams.

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Color Run Tickets now on sale!

Tickets are now on sale for The Color Run Presented by Skittles, as the original, happiest and most colourful party of the summer visits Glasgow for the first time, ready to cover Scotland in colour.

Last Year, the ‘Happiest 5K on the planet’ saw more than 59,000 ‘Color Runners’ from all walks of life enter into the spirit of the event in cities across the UK. The Color Run Presented by Skittles has now spread its love, fun and happiness to more than 39 countries and more than five million ‘Color Runners’ across the globe.

There are no stopwatches or timers involved in The Color Run Presented by Skittles, meaning participants can walk, jog, dance and party their way along the course at any pace.

Starting in a white t-shirt and reaching different colour zones at each kilometre, it’s impossible to finish the ‘Happiest 5K’ without being covered in colour!

Plus, brand new for 2016, The Color Run Presented by Skittles is bringing a tropical twist to the event. Featuring an all-new Tropicolor rainbow zone on the course where participants will be bathed in a tropical array of colours on their way to the finish line. Featuring island-style music and palm trees in the finish festival, runners will be given the chance to live their life in Tropicolor!

The Color Run Presented by Skittles in the City of Glasgow takes place on Sunday 17th July 2016 at 11am. Event entries are priced from £24, with individual entries, group entries or the option to purchase an exclusive premium ticket.

Participants should visit www.TheColorRun.co.uk to enter now with a special early bird price.

Childminders are Making it Work in Glasgow An innovative service in Glasgow is working to address both employment and childcare issues faced by lone-parent families in the area. The ‘Making it Work’ service, run by Scottish Childminding Association and funded by the Big Lottery, aims to help lone-parents tackle the challenges they face getting into the job market.

The service has two main aims: firstly to match lone-parents who want to return to work or education but are struggling to find childcare with a suitable childminder and, secondly; to encourage lone-parents to open their own childminding services to get them back into employment and provide a much-needed quality childcare service in their community.

Making it Work Childminding Development Officer, Jacqueline Spence said,“This service offers great support to lone-parents trying to get back to work. I’m delighted SCMA can help not only in finding reliable childcare but also in helping some parents start their own businesses too.”

Are you a lone-parent looking to get back to work but struggling to find flexible childcare? Or would you like to find out more about becoming a childminder? Call the Making it Work service on 01355 238593 or visit childminding.org.

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Families Glasgow

Confidentiality agreement must be signed before financials released. Please email Anna for more information: editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk with subject “Magazine"

New Dance UK classes in Giffnock Dance UK are delighted to announce they have launched their popular Mini Movers Dance Classes in Giffnock. Classes are held every Wednesday, from 4-4.45pm in the lovely dance studio at the Maccabi Sports Centre which is situated just behind the Police Station in the centre of the town.

Principal Jacqui Wilson told us, ‘we want to welcome any mums with little girls from 2 yrs upwards who love to dance. To book a free taster, please get in touch. Hope to see you soon.’

Dance UK Office weekdays: 0141 387 5163 or via the website www.danceuk.co.uk at any time. Check website for classes across Glasgow and Wishaw.

ParentLine Scotland providing support for parents Becoming a parent makes beginners of us all. You might prepare by reading books, or by asking other parents for tips.

But acting on such advice doesn’t necessarily give you the results you hoped for. Or, what worked with one child, doesn’t work with another. What then? Talking things through, with someone who is caring, non-judgemental and impartial, can help. That’s what ParentLine Scotland offers. It can support you through parenthood’s challenges, from the early to teenage years.

Call us on 08000 28 22 33 and we’ll listen while you say what’s on your mind. We’ll ask some questions so we’re clear about your concerns. Then together, we’ll explore options for moving forward, or perhaps look at ways to cope with any difficulties you face. Our call-takers are trained to assist with very serious concerns for or about children. But mostly we help ordinary parents with everyday problems such as family relationships, bullying, online safety, coping with parenting pressures, children’s behaviour and family separation.

o Kids g free!*

Visit the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Travel on our steam railway and enjoy Scotland’s largest railway museum.

Open Easter - October www.bkrailway.co.uk

Registered charity SC002375

Union Street, Bo’ness. EH51 9AQ

*one child free with each full paying adult with this ad not valid with any other offer.Valid any day until end April 2016 ref famglas

News & Views

Big Pedal 2016: 18-29th April

Sustrans’ tips on cycling and scooting to school The Big Pedal, run by Sustrans, is back for another year and for 2016 the charity has provided a number of top tips for parents to get involved. The competition is the UK’s largest interschool cycling and scooting competition.

Top tips to get your child walking or cycling to school: • Plan your route together in advance, finding quieter roads and cycle paths wherever possible.

• Practice the journey at the weekend when the roads are likely to be quieter.

• Make sure your child’s bike fits and that all your bikes are roadworthy.

OSCARS After School Clubs OSCARS operates After School Clubs, Breakfast Clubs and Holiday programmes from 21 venues across Central Scotland.

Founded in 1992 by Andrew and Fiona Fisher the programmes are now attended by 800 children aged from 5-14 years on a daily basis. Trading in its earlier years as EAC, the company established its first holiday programme in Glasgow in 1997 and was fully rebranded as OSCARS in 2009.

2016 sees OSCARS celebrating their 25th operational year, and they will be holding a number of events throughout the year. Andrew Fisher commented ‘Everyone at OSCARS is delighted to be celebrating our 25th operational anniversary.

We work hard to always provide a safe and fun experience for children, whilst offering a truly reliable, secure, flexible and personal service for parents’. He goes on to say that ‘the success and quality that OSCARS offers is made possible through our fantastic staff many of whom have been with the business for many years. Indeed, the Operational Manager Jonathan Combe, commenced employment as a Play leader in 1994’

Become part of the Oscar’s Network?

OSCARS is always looking to expand its network of services and will be pleased to hear from any operators who are finding further regulation around policies and staffing a daunting proposition. On this point Andrew Fisher commented ‘becoming part of the OSCARS network of out of school care can guarantee the on-going development and viability of a service’ Andrew Fisher can be contacted on afisher@oscarschildcare.com .

If you’re on the road with children, take up a position behind them as you’re likely to be more visible to anyone approaching.

If there are two adults in your group, it’s a good idea to have one at the back and one in front of the children.

Look into local cycle training schemes, it can be a great way to help children develop skills and increase their confidence on the roads. Sustrans runs the Big Pedal to encourage children and parents to travel to school in ways that are healthy, better for the environment and that help reduce congestion at the school gates.

To find out more about how schools can take part in the Big Pedal visit www.sustrans.org.uk/bigpedal. The website also has lots more information on cycling with children – including information on what to look for when buying a bike and safety.

Find out more about Step by Step Nursery The opportunities for the children who attend Step By Step Nursery in Sandfield St, G20, are quite exceptional. In addition to visits to the Children’s Woods in Kelbourne Street, the older children enjoy Music and Mini-kickers almost every week.

Last year they were part of the first year of ‘Play on Pedals’ in Glasgow where our pre-schoolers had the chance to learn to ride a bike, and this year they have added swimming lessons to their programme. Some comments from parents include “the swimming lessons are fantastic – we both work full time and don’t have time to fit these into our busy family schedule”, “I have been amazed at how my daughter’s confidence has improved since she has been swimming regularly”.

In their recent inspection they were graded Very Good or Excellent across the board, and their care for babies was particularly commended. They have a full and exciting programme of activities for all children from babies right up till they go to school, and they have a few places available at the moment.

If you would like to visit or to book a place for your child please call Karen on 0141 945 2030.

AAhelpline, helpline,email emailand andweb webchat chat service servicefor foranyone anyonecaring caringfor fororor concerned concernedabout abouta achild. child.

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2 great tracks in Glasgow, call 0141 641 0222 or visit www.scotkart.co.uk for brilliant Birthday Parties! (age 8+)

t:t:08000 0800028 2822 2233 33 e:e:parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk w:w: children1st.org.uk/parentline-scotland children1st.org.uk/parentline-scotland Children Children 1st 1st Registered Registered Office: Office: 83 83 Whitehouse Whitehouse Loan Loan Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 EH9 1AT1AT Registered Registered Scottish Scottish Charity Charity No.No. SCSC 016092 016092

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Easter Camps

WORKING TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN GLASGOW CITY PARTNER

CITY PARTNER

SUPPORTER

RCSshortcourses RCSshortcourses

SPRING SCHOOLS 2016

We are offering a selection of fun and exciting performing arts spring schools this April for young people aged 4 - 17.

Come and meet new friends, discover new things and be a part of the RCS.

Apply now at rcs.ac.uk/spring

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Easter Camps

Language Hub Camp In need of some Easter holiday fun and child care? Between the 4th and the 15th of April, The Language Hub will be running an Easter holiday camp with lots of different activities and workshops for kids to enjoy, not just language related. Costs are £19,per child for an 8:30-13:00 session (snacks included) or £6,- per child for an hourly session; best suitable for ages 4-8.

For more information see www.thelanguagehub.co.uk or contact us directly at The Language Hub children’s bookshop and language centre, 52 Keith Court, Glasgow G11 6QW, 0141 258 2700 or 07505144476.

Oscars Easter Camp Oscars Childcare will again be running their successful Easter camp at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, located on the south side of the city.The school provides excellent facilities, with a large sports hall, playing fields, tennis courts, a dining hall, bistro, classrooms and an art room. For swimming activities, children will be taken by private coach to the Gorbals Leisure Centre. OSCARS@Hutchesons is open to children ages 5-14 years, and from any school.

The Easter camp runs from Monday 4th – Friday 15th April 2016 between 0800hrs – 1830hrs each day. www.oscarschildcare.com/easter/glasgowhutchesons

Enjoy Free & Discounted Family Activities this Spring with Glasgow Life Join the thousands of Glasgow kids who enjoy Glasgow Life’s free or discounted Holiday Programme activities when they show their Kidz Card!

When the schools close for the holidays, Glasgow Life opens their doors to let the kids in! Their community centres and libraries are bursting with fun, free, local activities that your kids will love.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Camps This April the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has a selection of fun and exciting spring schools for young people aged 4-17.

Improve your dance techniques at one of our modern ballet courses, perform some of the most iconic songs from West End and Broadway hits at a musical theatre course or rock out at our very first Rock School, there’s something for everyone at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this spring.

There’s also a variety of summer schools on offer for children, young people and adults. Students will learn from guest artists such as; Nicola Benedetti, Sir James McMillan, Patricia McMahon, Tommy Smith and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

To find out more about our unique spring and summer schools, visit rcs.ac.uk/rcsfamilies

Coming up this spring we’ve got: • Arts and crafts • Dance and drama • Indoor and outdoor play clubs • Fun storybook activities • Play activities for kids with additional support needs • Games • Plus lots more So if you’re a parent who wants their kids away from the tv, or maybe you just want a few hours of peace and quiet, let the friendly Glasgow Life staff entertain the kids so you can relax or get involved yourself!

Find out more about the Holiday Programme or apply for a Kidz Card at youngglasgow.org.uk

We can make the difference

Open Morning on Saturday 23rd April 10.00am-12.30pm At Belmont House School, we value every child for the individual that they are. Discover how your son or daughter could benefit from small class sizes, personal attention and a seamless transition from Nursery to Junior School and Junior through to Senior School.

Sandringham Avenue, Newton Mearns

0141 639 2922

www.belmontschool.co.uk

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Easter Activities

NTS Easter Egg Hunts!

Bo’ness & Kinneil Trip The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway & Museum of Scottish Railways five fun ideas!

Make the most of your visit to central Scotland’s family friendly steam railway and museum when their 2016 season starts on 19 March.

1. Show your old fashioned ticket to the Guard, he may even let you help him clip it on the journey!

2. Watch the engine being coupled up to the carriages … is it really magnets that hold them together?

3. Be Harry Potter in a compartment carriage with its own sliding door.

4. Enjoy some spotting fun on the Visitor Trail to the Museum 5. Have fun sorting letters in the Travelling Post Office in the Museum. www.srps.org.uk/railway 01506 822298

For the ninth consecutive year, the National Trust for Scotland has teamed up with Cadbury to host dozens of Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts across the country from Friday 25 to Monday 28 March.

The Easter Bunny has left clues to follow, and children can collect them, solve the puzzle and claim a chocolatey reward.

Highlights include the indoor hunt at Pollok House, Pollok Country Park and the hunt around Greenbank Garden in Clarkston to the magnificent hunt around the grounds at Culzean Castle & Country Park in Ayrshire.

Carly Lamberty, Marketing Manager said: “We’re getting cracking on our visitor season extra early this year, with lots of Easter fun thanks to our partnership with Cadbury. And every egg hunt helps us to look after the special places in our care.”

Each of the hunts is completely different – the perfect excuse to try your hand at more than one!

For details see nts.org.uk 25 March Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts - David Livingstone Centre, 165 Station Road, Blantyre, G72 9BY, 0844 9932207 Turn eggsplorer at the David Livingstone Centre...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 11am - 4pm / £2 per child www.nts.org.uk From 25 March to 28 March Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt - Holmwood House, 61+AC0-63 Netherlee Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, G44 3YU, 0844 493 2204 Turn eggsplorer at Holmwood House...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 11am - 4pm / Normal admission charge applies + £2 per hunt

Hop into Easter at Dobbies With Easter weekend fast-approaching, get set for a cracking Bank Holiday at Dobbies Garden Centres. With lots of events running in-store including Bunny breakfasts, you can also make a day of it at Dobbies with fun for all the family, find your nearest store at www.dobbies.com.

Plan the perfect egg hunt

To make the most of the Easter Bank Holiday and make it eggstra special, why not host your very own egg hunt at home.

Perfect to keep the little ones (and big kids) entertained, simply hideaway sweet treats or wrap up little gifts with clues to the next lot of treasure dotted around the home or, if the weather allows, out in the garden. Traditional garden trugs are also ideal for easy gathering!

- Felt Egg Basket (3 Asst) £3.49 each; Easter Bunting £2.99 - Large Easter Egg Hunt Bag (12 X 500g) £8.99; Large Traditional Trug £24.99 - Hare Pencil Sketch Cushion £14.99; 4pk Egg Tealight Holder £4.99; Faux Daffodil in Paper Bag £4.49

Greenbank Garden, Flenders Road, Clarkston, Glasgow, G76 8RB, 08444932201 Turn eggsplorer at Greenbank House and Garden...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 11am - 5pm / Usual entry prices applies plus £2 per hunt Pollok House, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0844 4932208 Turn eggsplorer at Pollok House...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 10am - 4pm / Usual entry plus £2 per hunt.

Tenement House, 145 Buccleuch Street, Glasgow, G3 6QN 0141 3330183 Join us for a weekend of fun as we celebrate Easter at the Tenement House including an Easter Egg hunt. 1pm - 5pm

Easter Eggstravaganza Mugdock Country Park, Sunday 27 March 2pm to 4pm Celebrate all things spring-like and join in with all the cracking activities! Remember to bring decorated eggs for the competition and hard boiled eggs for the rolling race and egg assault course. Activities will be based around the Visitor Centre. Free.

See Pages 12-15 For loads more Easter ideas!

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Easter Activities

Easter Activities at Scottish Youth Theatre There’s plenty going on over at the SYT Building in the Merchant City this Easter! Their ever-popular interactive Family Storytime sessions have an Arabian Nights theme this season, and the Easter’s holiday’s offering will be The Historic Fart.

Great fun for 3-7 year olds and their grown-ups, with loads of opportunities to join in!

For those of you whose kids have ambitions for a career on the stage , the Easter Theatre Toolbox offers a range of day-long workshops for ages 8-11 and 12-15. Whatever you are interested in there’s a specialist skills to choose from, and you can take part in the whole week or pick and choose the ones you fancy.

For more information and details of how to book go to www.scottishyouththeatre.org info@scottishyouththeatre.org

Egg Bunting -

You’ll need: Plain white paper Poster paints Stickers Glitter Glue Scraps of paper, fabric and wool Mini pegs String

1. Cut out lots of Easter egg shapes from the paper 2. Get the kids to use paint to create patterns on the eggs; stripes and circles work well.

3. Next, use the scraps of craft fabrics and stickers to make the eggs even more decorative.

4. Use some glue to create lines or shapes and scatter the glitter for the final touch.

5. When the egg shapes are dry, hang them on a piece of string with the colourful pegs. If you can’t find pegs, use coloured paper clips or simply thread the st Families Glasgow

March/April 2016

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Easter Breaks

Mini-Cruise: DFDS Newcastle to Amsterdam

By Families Glasgow Editor and family (kids age 6 and 10)

What is a Mini-Cruise?

You take an overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam and either return the following night or choose to extend the trip by spending an additional night or two in Amsterdam. You can leave your own car at the terminal because DFDS provide a shuttle bus into the city centre where you can then walk or catch a bus or a canal bus to pretty much everything there is to do in this great city.

What is on the ferry for families?

Most kids absolutely love ferries and ours especially do. Our summer holidays usually begin the moment we arrive on board, when someone hands them a balloon animal or two and they run off to the play area or disco. (Mum’s holiday starts a moment or two later, once the wine is ordered...). We always spend a good hour exploring all the different decks and seeing what’s happening where. Then we head outside and watch out for whales and dolphins as the sun sets. (The stern deck is the best place as it’s sheltered from the breeze.)

King Seaways and Princess Seaways, the ferries which ply the Amsterdam - Newcastle route, have a Kids Zone (thoughtfully placed right next to the Navigator Bar and Light House snack bar!) where a children’s entertainer can be found at fixed times for balloon tying, face painting and treasure hunts etc.

There’s also one of those grab-a-toy machines, with that Claw from Toy Story, which for the first time in my life I actually saw grab a teddy bear! The delighted little girl then handed her newly-won teddy to my daughter because she had already won one, which, sad to say, if their situation had been reversed wouldn’t have been reciprocated in a million years...

On board there is also a small arcade games room, a whale and dolphin spotting exhibition, plus a couple of shops with excellent kids clothes. There are two cinemas, showing PG films until around 8ish. (Dad didn’t fancy Alvin and the Chipmunks and I swiftly vetoed his plan to take our ten year old to The Revenant). There was also a nightclub, a small casino and a live entertainer at the Navigator Bar.

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On board Family Dining.

The largest dining area is the Seven Seas restaurant that offers a huge 80-dish all you can eat buffet, including a kids section with the old standards, spag bol, nuggets etc. The main buffet has a fantastic selection and the starters in particular were very tasty. (As always with buffets, I ended up with an eclectic mix of dishes that Chef most likely never intended!) Although we returned to the buffet many times for starters mains, puds and cheese and the quality was decent enough, I still wasn’t entirely convinced that 40 euros/adult is all that great value but if you haven’t eaten all day and feel in the mood for a serious feed, then the Seven Seas is the place to dive in. The house wines were very good value though. The Seven Seas breakfast buffet is 15 euros/adult with a great Dutch-style continental buffet (breads, fruits and ham), cereals, pastries and our opinion was that these were definitely the better option to the English cooked breakfast although our daughter loved the perfect soft boiled eggs on offer.

We also ate at the Little Italy restaurant offering... you guessed it, pizza and pasta. Our pizzas here were absolutely fantastic, among the tastiest and most perfectly cooked pizzas we have ever enjoyed. Our daughter is the pickiest eater in Scotland, suspicious of anything ‘different’, and even she agreed it was brilliant. Our total bill including drinks for the four of us was 88 euros and we were stuffed, so I think Little Italy for us this time around was definitely the best value food on the ship. There is an a la carte restaurant called the Blue Riband with menus starting from around 45 euros/head. (children are welcome). Finally, we checked out the Lighthouse snack bar next to the play area has a simple selection of snacks as well as a quality cook-to-order selection of fish and chips etc which looked very nice indeed with decent portions for around 17 euros/main.

Key Info

i

Newcastle – Amsterdam www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-routes/ ferry-to-holland/newcastle-to-amsterdam Prices start from £38 each way for a car and two passengers. This is an overnight crossing.

DFDS have other destinations www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/mini-cruise-breaks 0871 522 9955 travel.sales@dfds.com

Easter Breaks

Accommodation

Standard family cabins sleep four with two bunk beds plus a sink/shower and cupboard. These ferries (and the DFDS cross channel ferries) have slightly larger cabins than their competitors and this does make a difference as they are definitely less claustrophobic and I have to say all our family members reported a very comfortable and good night’s sleep. There is also a Commodore class cabin if you want even more space.

What is there in Amsterdam for families?

The ship docks at around 9.00am which, after passport control and bus transfer, means you arrive in Amsterdam central around 11.00am, surely one of the most beautiful city centres in the world. The last bus back to the ship, departs at 4.00pm so there’s little time to waste if you’re returning the same day, so choose your activities wisely.

The main family attractions are Artis Zoo, a canal boat trip (1hr or 2hrs), a bus tour and the Nemo Children’s Science Centre. If you visit the zoo, there’s no time for seeing anything else but we’ve visited before and the Zoo makes for a lovely family day out and well worth visiting as you still get a good feel for the city.

If you take a canal boat tour, there’s still time to enjoy a bus tour and visit Nemo. However, there are just so many great shops and cafes close to where you meet there you meet the bus, including several big toy shops, that we had a lovely couple of hours just walking, popping into shops and soaking up this stunning city, particularly enjoying the flower market, the endless canals, bridges and the world famous ‘dancing houses’ - which are rows of houses so crooked they appear to be dancing. There are so many art galleries and museums in walking distance it feels like you have to do everything.

Getting to Newcastle (North Shields Ferry Terminal) Driving is pretty easy: straight down the M74/M6 turn left at Junction 44 towards Hexham / Newcastle and pick up signs to the ferry terminal once you approach Newcastle.

Websites www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/mini-cruise-breaks www.e-nemo.nl/en/ www.rijksmuseum.nl/en www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical.../Online-ticket-sales/ Amsterdam is obviously famous for its stag/hen parties and those districts you wouldn’t visit with children but the tourist maps make it clear where to avoid. Amsterdam city centre feels as safe as any other major tourist destination. Although it’s a very cycle friendly city with dedicated cycle lanes and traffic lights, many cyclists seem to ignore all the traffic lights and even mount the pavement when they please - so stay alert!

In Conclusion

Obviously, your family has to love ships to enjoy a mini-cruise like this, because your time at the destination itself is so limited compared to the travelling time. We have tried this mini-cruise twice now and thoroughly enjoyed each weekend but on both visits we concluded there was so many more activities we would have liked to have tried if we had time. (Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Museum, Van Gogh Museum etc.) So we think spending the additional night off-ship in Amsterdam itself would probably be the recommended option and packing in more before returning back to Newcastle. All the same, we felt like we’d truly been away from it all and given the kids some wonderful family memories.

Families Glasgow

March/April 2016

11

What’s On 5 March

Regular Events Times can vary so please check their websites before going. They all have other activities going on too.

Every Wednesday Playdays at the Museum Paisley Museum, High Street, Paisley, PA1 2BA 0300 300 1210 www.paisley.org.uk Playdays at the Museum are creative play sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers at Paisley Museum. 1.30pm - 2.15pm Wee Wednesdays Burrell Collection Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0141 287 2550 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Fun museum sessions for children aged 2-5 years and their carers.

1-2pm

Toddler Time Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Join us for fun in the galleries with songs, rhymes and stories. Sessions take inspiration from artworks and animals on display 11.30‚ 12noon Every Saturday ARThouse 5-8 Years House For An Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW 0141 353 4770 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk The ARThouse course at House for an Art Lover will inspire, entertain and educate children aged 5-8 years! 9.30am-10.45am,11am 12.15pm / £90

8 March Goodnight Mister Tom The Theatre Royal Glasgow, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3QA www.atgtickets.com The Olivier award-winning Chichester Festival Theatre production of Goodnight Mister Tom comes to the Theatre Royal. / Tickets £14.40 - £32.90 plus £2.85 transaction fee

12 March

Every Sat from March 5 to 26 Annual Lochwinnoch Arts Festival Family Poetry Competition Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk RSPB Lochwinnoch would like to invite families along to their poetry writing workshop as part of the Arts Festival. 11am - 12 noon

March/April 2016

Funday Sunday at the Avenue The Avenue Shopping Centre, 250 Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, G77 6AA 0141 639 5926 www.avenueshoppingcentre.co.uk The Avenue Shopping Centre holds their Funday Sunday every week with loads of free kids activities. 11am - 4pm

Glasgow World Cup Gymnastics Emirates Arena, 1000 London Road, Glasgow, G40 3HG 0141 287 7000 www.emiratesarena.co.uk Glasgow World Cup sees the world’s top gymnasts compete in the uk’s only round of the prestigious FIG World Cup Series. 11am - 6pm / £8 - £58

ARThouse 9-12 years House For An Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW 0141 353 4770 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk The ARThouse course at House for an Art Lover will inspire, entertain and educate children aged 9-12 years. 1pm - 2.30pm, 2.45pm4.15pm / £90

12

Tiny Tales Tron Theatre Ltd, 63 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HB 0141 572 4267 www.tron.co.uk Tiny Tales are fun-filled storytelling sessions especially for babies and crawlers. 10.30am / £5

12 March

Every Sat from March 5 to 26

Wee Write! Family Day Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DN 0141 287 2999 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Wee Write! the dedicated book festival for children and families returns to the Mitchell Library. 10am - 5pm

5 March

6 March

Every Friday

Every Sat from 5 March

Deadly Dinosaurs Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Travel back in time and meet and learn about the most dangerous animals to roam the planet! 11‚ 12noon & 2‚ 3pm

Hessilhead Wildlife Hospital Visit Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663, www.rspb.org.uk Come and learn about the wonderful work done by Hessilhead Wildlife Hospital on this visit with RSPB Lochwinnoch. 12 noon - 3pm 12 March Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children The Stand Comedy Club, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6NG 08443358879 www.thestand.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Enjoy charmingly sickable songs and lots more for the whole family at The Stand Glasgow. 2.30pm & 3.30pm / £4

12 March National Disabled Access Day Castle Semple Visitors Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4EA 01505 842 882 www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk Castle Semple staff will show you the ropes at Scotland’s first and best Centre of Excellence for Disability Sailing.

12 March Pinocchio Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppet.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Clive Chandler and Tip Top Puppets present Pinocchio at the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre. 2pm, £5.95 13 March Den Building and Survival Skills Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Come along to Finlaystone Country Estate and try your hand at den building. 1pm - 3pm 13 March Family Entertainment Afternoon St Athanasius Community Hall, 21 Mount Street, Carluke, ML8 5EB 01555 771250 www.stathanasiuscarluke.org/hall Don’t miss an interactive entertainment event performed

by Ricky Nelson to raise funds for Carluke & District Gala Day. 3pm 5pm / £3.00 per person 13 March Mr Punch’s Antics Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppet.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Clive Chandler present Mr Punch’s Antics at the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre. 2pm / £5.95 16 March Avenue Q (School Edition) Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Avenue Q is a laugh-out-loud Tony Award Winning musical performed by harlequin youth theatre. 7.30pm / £12 - £14 19 March Allergy and Free From Show Scotland 2016 Secc, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW 0141 2483000 www.secc.co.uk The Allergy & Free From Show Scotland at Glasgow’s SECC is Europe’s greatest ‘free from’ family day out. 10am - 4pm

From 19 March to 20 March Bikes, Buses and Boats Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Join us on a fun-packed interactive journey through our amazing transport collection. 11‚12noon & 2- 3pm From 19 March to 20 March Jack & The Beanstalk Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppet.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Talking Heads Puppets present Jack & The Beanstalk at the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre.

2pm / £5.95 19 March James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids The Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow, G5 9DS 0141 429 0022 www.citz.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Lollip ladies and tartan badgers find out more with James Campbell’s comedy 4 kids. 2pm / £7.50 19 March Peregrine Watch Launch 2016 New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Head along to the Falls of Clyde for the 2016 Peregrine Watch Launch event on 19 March. 10am - 1pm 19 March Wildlife Explorers - Barking Mad Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Calling all children, learn about nature, get dirty and have fun.

10am - 12 noon / £5 ( £3 RSPB Members ) Adults free 20 March March Hare’s Springtime Shindig Whitelee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Join the Whitelee Countryside Rangers for some fun crafts and games at the March Hare’s Springtime Shindig. 1pm - 3pm 20 March People’s Postcode Lottery Peregrine Watch New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Visit Britain’s best peregrine watch site at the Falls of Clyde and view these beautiful birds nesting. 10am - 4pm

See www.familiesglasgow.co.uk for our complete listings!

Families Glasgow

What’s On 20 March

From 25 March to 28 March

27 March

27 March

Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games Glasgow Green, Greendykes Street, The Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5DB 0141 287 5064 www.sportsrelief.com Join in with the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games taking place on Glasgow Green.

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Pollok House, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0844 4932208 www.nts.org.uk Turn eggsplorer at Pollok House...collect teh clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 10am - 4pm / Usual entry plus £2 per hunt.

Easter Eggstravaganza at Mugdock Country Park 2pm – 4pm Celebrate all things springlike and join in with all the cracking activities! Remember to bring decorated eggs for the competition and hard boiled eggs for the rolling race and egg assault course. Activities will be based around the Visitor Centre. Free.

Easter Sunday Fun Day National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, Wester Kittochside, East Kilbride, G76 9YR, 0300 1236789 www.nms.ac.uk Meet the Easter Bunny and join in the Easter Egg trail at the National Museum of Rural Life. 10am - 5pm

20 March Southside Mother, Baby and Parenting Fayre Pollokshields Burgh Hall, 70 Glencairn Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, G41 4LL 0141 423 8858 www.merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk Annual family fayre. 11am - 4pm / £2 20 March Story Telling - with TV Presenter Rory!

Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Join TV presenter and RSPB employee Rory Crawford for some story telling at RSPB Lochwinnoch.

11am - 3pm

From 25 March to 28 March Once Upon a Time The Theatre Royal Glasgow, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3QA www.atgtickets.com The Theatre Royal Glasgow runs regular delightful interactive workshops, inspired by favourite authors for pre-5s. 10.45am / £8 From 25 March to 28 March Peregrine Watch: Easter Weekend Special.

New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Complete our peregrine clue trail to our watch site over the Easter weekend and receive your FREE Easter egg. 10am - 4pm

27 March Cinderella Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk A family screening of the popular film Cinderella. 10am / £2 27 March

27 March

Evening Talk - Feathered Friends? Are there Dinosaurs in your Garden?

Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Are there dinosaurs in your garden? Join Simon Cuthbert at RSPB Lochwinnoch for this evening talk and find out!

7.30pm to 9pm / £5 adult £3 child (RSPB Members £3 £2)

Bunny Masks Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Hop along to the activity room today and make a funny, fluffy bunny mask

Easter Egg Hunt Tollcross Children’s Farm, 254b Wellshot Road, Tollcross, Glasgow, G32 7AX 0141 2760931 www.glasgow.gov.uk Join the Glasgow Countryside Rangers at Tollcross Park and take part in some Easter fun on this family event. 10am - 3pm

26 March

27 March

Egg-stravaganza Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Join RSPB and KG Learning & Access team to do a range of fun eggy activities! 1-4pm / RSPB suggested donation of £1.

Easter Eggstravaganza Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 7LL www.roukenglenpark.co.uk Bring your boiled egg to Rouken Glen for a fun-filled Easter morning or afternoon full of activities. 11am - 12.30pm or 1.30pm - 3pm

26 March

27 March

Spring Fayre & Easter Egg Trail Quarriers, Laing Shrewsbury House, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SX 01505 616000 www.quarriers.org.uk Put on your bunny ears and hop along to Quarriers Village to join in the Easter Egg Trail and Spring Fayre. 10.30am - 2.30pm / £3 for Easter Trail, free for Spring Fayre

Easter Eggstravaganza Crafts Chatelherault Country Park, Carlisle Road, Fernegair, Hamilton, ML3 7UE 01698 426213 www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Decorate your own Easter egg before heading to roll it at Chatelherault Country Park this Easter Sunday. 12pm - 4pm, £2.50

From 25 March to 28 March Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Holmwood House, 61+AC063 Netherlee Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, G44 3YU 0844 493 2204, www.nts.org.uk Turn eggsplorer at Holmwood House...collect clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat.

11am - 4pm / Normal admission charge applies + £2 per hunt From 25 March to 28 March Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Greenbank Garden, Flenders Road, Clarkston, Glasgow, G76 8RB 08444932201 www.nts.org.uk Turn eggsplorer at Greenbank House and Garden...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 11am - 5pm / Usual entry prices applies plus £2 per hunt

27 March A Cracking Day Out Whitelee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Join the Whitelee Countryside Rangers for ‘A Cracking Day Out’ this Easter and enjoy an afternoon of fun and games. 12 noon - 4pm

New Lanark Easter EggStravaganza New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy lots of fun filled activities at the New Lanark Easter EggStravaganza. 10am - 5pm

From 27 March to 28 March

26 March

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt David Livingstone Centre, 165 Station Road, Blantyre, G72 9BY 0844 9932207 www.nts.org.uk Turn eggsplorer at the David Livingstone Centre...collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury treat. 11am - 4pm / £2 per child

Faery Hunt Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 0141 276 0924 www.glasgow.gov.uk This Easter, bring the kids down to Pollok Country Park and go on a hunt for the new residents...fairies.

1pm - 3pm

Easter Duck Race New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Help raise money for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Falls of Clyde at their annual Easter Duck Race.

3pm / £2 per duck

23 March

25 March

27 March

From 27 March to 28 March Rumble in the Jungle Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Explore the Amazonian rainforest and learn about the animals and people living there. You will handle real objects from the rainforest and then re-create your own blowpipes and headdresses. 1‚ 3pm 28 March Easter Eggstravaganza Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663, www.rspb.org.uk Fancy some egg-cellent Easter fun? Come and join us at RSPB Lochwinnoch for some egg-tastic Easter activities. 12pm - 3pm / £6 (RSPB members £3) Adults go free 28 March Easter at Greenhead Moss Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park, Tinto Field, Perchy Pond, Wishaw, ML2 8AY 01698 402090 www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk Bring the family along to our annual Easter celebration at Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park. 12pm - 3pm

27 March Easter Eggstravaganza Magic Show Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppet.co.uk Glasgow Comedy Festival: Alex the Magician presents an Easter Magic Show at the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre. 3pm / £5.95

31 March Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR East Kilbride Village Theatre, Maxwell Drive, East Kilbride, G74 4HG 01555 248669 www.eastkilbride.org

See www.familiesglasgow.co.uk for our complete listings!

Families Glasgow

March/April 2016

13

What’s On 1 April

From 2 April to 7 April

Annie Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock, PA15 1HJ 01475 723723 www.beaconartscentre.co.uk Join the talented Albany cast at the Beacon Arts Centre for Annie - the extraordinary story of a little orphan. 7.30pm & 2.30pm Saturday Matinee / £18 / £13

New Lanark Easter Holiday Daily Tours New Lanark World Heritage Site, New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Explore New Lanark with one of our guides and discover some amazing insights into the history of the site. 2pm / £2 on top of your Visitor Centre ticket

From 1 April to 2 April The Dragon Who Hates Poetry Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk The Dragon who Hates Poetry is a fun, solo show packed full of lyrics, laughter and lots of joining in. 11am / Standard £5 Family £15 2 April Buzz Off! Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Come and visit Scotland Street’s very own hive and watch as the bees begin to buzz around again looking for nectar! And if you ‘bee hive’ yourself, you can join in with some bee craft activities as well! 11‚ 12.30pm & 1.30‚ 3.30 pm 2 April Family Storytime: The Historic Fart Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sherriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF 0141 552 3988 www.scottishyouththeatre.org Join Scottish Youth Theatre for the interactive storytelling adventure The Historic Fart. 10:30am, 12:30pm & 3:30pm / Standard ticket £5 or Family ticket (Family of 4) £15 From 2 April to 6 April Funbox in Animal Magic Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, G67 2BN 01236 737235 www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk Join Funbox for their singalong show, Animal Magic, at Cumbernauld Theatre this Easter.

1pm & 3.30pm / £11/Family Saver (4 tickets) £42 Every other Sat from April 2 - 16 Knight-tastic Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Come and explore the world of knights and princesses and have a go at our castle crafts. 1‚ 3pm

From 2 April to 17 April Pole to Pole Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org.uk This spring Kelvingrove unveils Phase 1 of its West Court redisplay, with more exhibits coming next winter. † 11‚ 12noon 1.30‚ 4pm From 2 April to 17 April Puss in Boots Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Come and see the classic furry tail Puss in Boots. 12pm / Standard £5 Family £15 2 April Wild Challenge - We are going on a bear hunt Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663, www.rspb.org.uk Spend some quality family time together at RSPB Lochwinnoch on their Wild Challenge - Going on a bear hunt event. 10am - 4pm / £3 (£1 RSPB members) 3 April The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Come and join Pinocchio on his incredible journey at Eastwood Park Theatre this Easter. 12pm / Standard £5 Family £15 4 April Camp Indy - Easter Holidays Kelvinside Academy, 33 Kirklee Road, Glasgow, G12 0SW 0141 357 3376 www.kelvinsideacademy.org.uk Camp Indy return to Kelvinside Academy for the Easter Holidays with their personalised activity programme for kids. 8am 5.30pm / £150 per week / £33 per day From 4 April to 15 April Easter Holiday Club The Experience, Lothian Street, Hillington Park, Glasgow, G52 4JR 0141 883 4005 www.theexperience.org.uk Looking to keep the kids entertained this Easter? The Experience can guarantee a cracking time for children aged 6-14. 8.45am - 4.15pm / £150 per week or £35 per day.

14

March/April 2016

Families Glasgow

From 4 April to 15 April Make Your Own Mondays Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663, www.rspb.org.uk Head along to RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve during the Easter holidays for their Make Your Own Monday events. 11am to 1pm or 2pm to 4pm / £5 (RSPB members £3) Adults go free From 4 April to 11 April Spring Break at Pollok House Pollok House, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0844 4932208 www.nts.org.uk Join us at Pollok House during the Easter holidays for a variety of fantastic children’s events. / £10 per child, one accompanying adult per child.

5 April Holiday Programme: Driving You to Abstraction!

Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk As part of the Glasgow International Festival 2016 we will be immersing ourselves this spring holiday in sculpture, abstract design and creating 3D objects. † 10.30‚ 11.30am & 1‚ 3pm From 5 April to 15 April Holiday Programmme: Tabletop Siege Engines Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0141 287 2550 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Make your own small crossbow from paper, string and lollipop sticks 2pm From 5 April to 12 April Pitschi - The Kitten with Dreams Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, G67 2BN 01236 737235 www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk Pitschi - The Kitten with Dreams is the perfect show for young kids and their families, full of music and song. 2pm / £5 5 April Ready, Set... Create!

Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS 0141 287 2720 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Leap into Spring this year with creative fun at Riverside! Explore the museum through painting, drawing, dressing-up, looking, writing and much more! † 1.30‚ 4pm From 5 April to 14 April School Holiday Programme: Simple meditative & mindful activities for families St Mungo, 2 Castle Street, Glasgow, G4 0RH 0141 276 1625 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Come along to create your own mini Zen Garden and try other simple activities that help relaxation and awareness of life’s joys in a busy world. 1‚ 3pm

From 5 April to 16 April Whitecraigs April Rugby Camp Whitecraigs Rugby Club, Aurs Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, G77 6BD 0141 616 3337 www.whitecraigs.org/rugby Whitecraigs Holiday Camp, is open to anyone willing to give rugby a try in a fun and safe environment.

10am - 3pm / £12 for a day, £30 for 3 days 6 April Anonymouse Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, Paisley, PA1 1JF 0141 887 1010 http;//www.paisley.org.uk Anonymouse is a lyrical story for under fives told by a very shy and furry little poet. 10.30am & 2pm / £3 + booking fee* 6 April The Elves and the Shoemaker Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, G67 2BN 01236 737235 www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk The Elves and the Shoemaker at Cumbernauld Theatre is a fun adaptation of the classic Grimm tale. 2pm / £5 From 6 April to 13 April Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear Rutherglen Town Hall, 139 Main Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow, G73 2JJ 0141 613 5700 www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Join us on a visual journey into an exciting world of dreams and imagination with Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear. 2.30pm / £6.00 / Family ticket (x4) £20.00 Contact Information 6 April Pips and Panda Meet The Toothfairy Lanark Memorial Hall, St Leonard Street, Lanark, ML11 7AB 01555 667999 www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Pip & Panda Meet the Toothfairy is a fun story told with glow-in-thedark puppets by the world famous Purves Puppet. 1.30pm / £5.50 all tickets 7 April Elves and the Shoemaker Rutherglen Town Hall, 139 Main Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow, G73 2JJ 0141 613 5700 www.slleisureandculture.co.uk The Elves and the Shoemaker at Rurtherglen Town Hall is a fun adaptation of the classic Grimm tale. 2.30pm / £6.00 / Family ticket (x4) £20.00 From 9 April to 16 April Catch Me Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, G67 2BN 01236 737235 www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk Catch Me is a puppet based comedy with running and singing designed for the youngest audience at Cumbernauld Theatre.

2pm / £5

What’s On 9 April The Historic Fart Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Join Scottish Youth Theatre for an interactive storytelling adventure.

11am & 1pm / Standard £5 Family £15 Every Sat from April 9 to 16 Song of the Sea Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, Paisley, PA1 1JF 0141 887 1010 www.renfrewshire.gov.uk A screening of Song of the Sea, a wonderful family animation, rich in Irish folklore, at Paisley Arts Centre. 2pm / £4 + booking fee* 10 April Bear Behaving Badly Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX 0141 332 1846 www.paviliontheatre.co.uk Get ready for chaos and calamity as the hilarious CBBC show Bear Behaving Badly comes to the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow. 1.30pm / Adults: £15.00 Children: £13.00 Family Ticket: £13.00 Per Ticket (Minimum 2 Tickets) 10 April The Chris & Pui Show Motherwell Concert Hall And Theatre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB 01698 403120 www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk CBeebies’ favourite double act, Chris & Pui from Show Me Show Me are coming to Motherwell Theatre. 11.00am and 2pm / £12 and £10 Concession, £40 Family of 4 12 April Wild Challenge - Let’s Go Hunting for Food Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Spend some quality family time together at RSPB Lochwinnoch on their Wild Challenge - Let’s go hunting for food event. 10am - 4pm / £3 per child ( £1 RSPB members) 13 April Pedalers’ Picnic Whitelee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Get on yer bike and join the Whitelee Countryside Rangers for an easy family bike-ride to Blackwood Hill viewpoint. 11am-2pm

13 April

21 April

Ponds and Rivers: Water Explorers Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 7LL www.roukenglenpark.co.uk Grab your wellies and waterproofs and come hunting for Riverbeasts at the burn in Rouken Glen Park.

1pm - 3pm 15 April Artie’s Tartan Tales Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Join Artie for traditional stories and songs with a Scottish accent.

11am & 1pm / Standard £5 Family £15 15 April The Gruffalo’s Child Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, Hamilton, ML3 6HH www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Tall Stories Theatre Company returns with their magical, musical stage adaptation of The Gruffalo’s Child. Friday 4.30pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am & 2pm / £11.00 19 April Into the Woods Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk Eros Musical Society presents Into The Woods, a twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytales 7.30pm & 2.30pm Saturday Matinee / £14- £16 From 19 April to 23 April Viva Las Vegas Motherwell Concert Hall And Theatre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB 01698 403120 www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk The Easter Egg Club proudly presents Viva Las Vegas, a great night out for all the family at Motherwell Theatre. 7.30pm / Tuesday £12/Concession £10/ Children (U16) £6, Wednesday ‚ Saturday £14/Children (U16) £7 20 April Paisley Beer & Food Festival Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, Paisley, PA1 1JF 0141 8803388 www.renfrewshire.gov.uk Scotland’s biggest beer festival is back and accompanied by the Paisley Food Festival.

23 April

Bugsy Malone Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, Hamilton, ML3 6HH www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Hamilton District Youth Theatre presents Bugsy Malone at The Town House Hamilton in April.

7.30pm & 2.30pm Saturday Matinee / £10.00 / £9.00 concession From 21 April to 23 April Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock, PA15 1HJ 01475 723723 www.beaconsartscentre.co.uk Inverclyde Musical Youth Theatre present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Beacon Arts Centre. 7.30pm & 2.30pm Saturday Matinee / £16 / £14 23 April The Singing Ringing Tree Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 http;//www.maskandpuppet.co.uk A folk tale of European origin which tells of a prince and his quest for the magic tree. 2pm / Adult £6.50 child £5.95

WWE Live The SSE Hydro, SECC, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW www.thessehydro.co.uk Get your ticket to an incredible night of action packed entertaining experience when WWE Live hits The Hydro. Doors 6.30pm / £34.05 - £400.00 23 April Wildlife Explorers - Group Reintroductions Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663, www.rspb.org.uk Calling all children! Learn about nature, but most importantly, get dirty and have fun doing it at RSPB Lochwinnoch. 10am - 12 noon / £5 (RSPB members £3) Adults go free 28 April Disney on Ice: Silver Anniversary Celebration The SSE Hydro, SECC, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW www.thessehydro.co.uk Celebrate the most memorable Disney tales with all your favourite characters at Disney on Ice at The SSE Hydro. / £17.60 - £45.40 29 April Leaf by Niggle Tron Theatre Ltd, 63 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HB 0141 572 4267 www.tron.co.uk Richard Medrington recounts JRR Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece Leaf by Niggle. 7.45pm (+ 2.30pm Sat 30th April) / £10- £16

Useful Apps & Websites KidED: Playtime, Educated.

A children’s app that automatically pops up after set periods of kids screen time to force them to play educational games! For android.

See google play store. www.192.com/schools/ FindASchool is the first service to display Successful Applicant Areas – the area where you needed to live last year to get a place at the school of your choice. www.web-blinds.com/resources/kids-sleep-calculator/ When should your child go to bed? Sleep calculator. www.myfamilycare.co.uk Tips for mums returning to work.

For lots of Egg-citing Easter events taking place in Glasgow visit our website www.familiesglasgow.co.uk Families Glasgow

March/April 2016

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Large enough to offer an excellent choice of venues and a safe, fun and exciting experience for children, but small enough to provide a truly reliable, secure and personal service for mums and dads.

We are looking to expand our network of after school clubs, breakfast clubs and holiday programmes and will happily discuss establishing new venues in schools or taking on the responsibility for existing facilities.

Our Easter and summer holiday programmes are open from 8am-6.30pm Monday to Friday and take place at: Hutchesons’ Grammar senior school 4-15 April + 27 June–12 August 2016

Interested in finding out more?

Contact: admin@oscarschildcare.com 0131 557 7500

OSCARS half page childcare ads.indd 1

27/01/2016 14:52

Award-winning tuition Maths & English ages 5 -14

New skills Confidence Enthusiasm

Free trial session - book today!

Glasgow Darnley

0141 404 1049

Glasgow East Kilbride

01355 587 220

www.explorelearning.co.uk 16

March/April 2016

Families Glasgow