Families Glasgow Magazine Jan/Feb/Mar 2019

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IN THIS ISSUE Throw an Awesome Kids Party Find Your Next Family Adventure Master the Childcare Maze …and lots more!

Issue 73 January/February 2019 familiesonline.co.uk

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Welcome to issue 73 Glasgow Editor Susanne Hein editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk 01355 459 314 Next issue Apr/May/Jun 2019 Tell us about any events or classes you want to publicise. Please get in touch.

Booking deadline 8 March Special ad rates and offers available. call or email to find out more.

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up Keep ate to d Families Glasgow Magazine www.familiesonline.co.uk © Families Glasgow Magazine 2019 Families Glasgow is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Glasgow are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Glasgow. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Glasgow; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

LANGUAGE CENTRE & CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP The Language Hub C.IC. 5219Keith G116QQ 6QW KeithCourt, Street,Glasgow, Glasgow G11 www.thelanguagehub.co.uk info@thelanguagehub.co.uk t: 0141 258 2700 m: 07505 144 476

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The shortest day is well behind us, and in the coming weeks we can look forward to a little sledging, walking to school in the snow and rainy weather – brrr. What better time of year to plan your summer holiday! Turn to page 14 for some travel inspiration. We also take a look at Early Years Childcare and how to make your kids’ party memorable for them and stress-free for you! Plus, we chat to a couple of local ladies about their passion for netball. And as usual we’re packed full of news and local activities for you to enjoy during the early spring days.

First one to spot a snowdrop chases away Jack Frost!

Susanne

In this issue 4. News & Views 6. Supporting your child with challenges 9. Mind map a children's party 10. Local party directory 11. Finding the right childcare 14. Family travel adventures 16. Working from home 14. What's on in January & February

Be your own boss!

Are you interested in working for yourself, flexibly from home and working around your family commitments? Do you have an interest in sales and researching local family events and information? Then Families Magazines might be the job for you. We have an opportunity to run your own franchise in the Glasgow area. Life is moving on for me so after 3 happy years I am looking to sell the Families Glasgow Magazine franchise and am looking for someone with passion and enthusiasm for running their own business. You can become your own boss while keeping the profits of your business for yourself, and enjoy the satisfaction of producing a high-quality local magazine.

Families Magazine is loved by local parents who find the content invaluable so, as Editor, you play a vital and rewarding role in bringing essential information to your community. Full support will be given to ensure any transition is seamless to continue this fantastic magazine that has been built up over the past 12 years. You will also get the support and advice of a Head Office team, including the Families Franchise Director, while retaining full control of your business. You will also become part of a friendly and supportive community of editors! If you think you have what it takes to take on this exciting business opportunity then please contact Susanne on editor@familiesglasgow. co.uk or phone 01355 459 314.

Families Glasgow 3

News & Views

Change of Ownership at Pied Piper Pied Piper Nursery changed ownership in October 2018.

It is now owned by Care Concern Nurseries, who also run a very successful nursery in Edinburgh, The Murrayfield Nursery. They are very pleased to have acquired Pied Piper and to have the opportunity to offer the same high standards of care and education that they are able to in Edinburgh. The staff team has been very welcoming and is involved in the rolling refurbishment that will be going on over the next year, to ensure that their environment is ideally suited for babies and pre-school children with the very latest resources available.

Head to Aviemore for Your Next Family Adventure!

Macdonald Aviemore Resort is one of the leading family break destinations in the Highlands with a choice of four-star hotels, pet friendly woodland lodges and family friendly restaurants onsite.

You’ll find great facilities at the resort designed with families in mind. A purpose-built indoor activity centre houses a myriad of activities for all ages: there’s a large pool with flume and wave machine, a four-storey soft play centre and a choice of activity rooms to suit all children: from a sensory room for the tiniest to a games room with X-box for older children.

In the resort grounds you’ll also find a playpark and Activity Zone offering activities including Segway treks and archery.

Macdonald Aviemore Hotel in the resort is perfect for families with large rooms that feature a double bed and bunk bed zone with its own TV for the kids. For larger families interconnecting rooms are an option in addition to the woodland lodges in the forest.

For guests dining in the resort children aged 16 and under eat for free with a paying adult making hotel breaks easier on the wallet.

There are also family packages on offer at the resort including Toddler-Tastic Breaks and Landmark Park Breaks including lots to do for the whole family. www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/Aviemore/ Families

Reading, Writing and Mental wellbeing Children and young people who enjoy reading and writing are three times more likely to have better mental wellbeing than those who don't, new research has found. The National Literacy Trust have worked with children's mental health charity, Place2Be, to develop a series of free wellbeing-inspired teaching resources for primary and secondary schools, including book lists and assembly plans. There is also a series of top tips and activity ideas to help parents use reading and writing to support their child's mental wellbeing. Visit www. literacytrust.org.uk for more information.

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Although the children who attend the nursery won’t have had any change, staff have had a very busy first few weeks! They took some time out of their busy days to welcome two reindeer at the end of November, who came to visit the children in the run-up to Christmas. They children had the chance to stroke the reindeer and even feed them, whilst promising they had been ‘very good’ so the reindeer should come back and visit with Father Christmas on Christmas Eve!

The Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 26 to 28 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

More info at www.rspb.org.uk

Spin a Tale during National Storytelling Week The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations during which we re-tell events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes.

To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive, visit www.sfs.org.uk

Family Friendly Café in the Heart of Partick After expanding their space and services last summer, The Language Hub are happy to announce the opening of their Café Hub just two doors along. Here, you can find yummy food, lovely cakes and great coffee in a parent and child friendly atmosphere. In addition, the café functions as event and exhibition space. Do pop in, take a break and enjoy.

For more information see www.thelanguagehub.co.uk or contact them directly at The Café Hub, 7 Keith Street, Glasgow G11 6QQ or The Language Hub children’s bookshop and language centre, 19 Keith Street, Glasgow G11 6QQ, 0141 258 2700 or 07505144476.

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Hidden Condition Affects Maths Learning Many children are suffering from an undiagnosed developmental condition which affects their ability to learn maths, according to a study from Queen’s University in Belfast A team of experts carried out research on the prevalence of Specific Learning Disorder in mathematics (SLDM), which is also known as dyscalculia and affects up to 6% of people.

Find Your Bounce Being a parent is hard work. Mums especially tend to carry an emotional load around which is difficult to shift. Recent research has shone a light on the prevalence of loneliness. Add to that changes in your body and your social networks, and your physical fitness can take a back seat.

It can stretch on for years, if you find it difficult to take control of the situation.

Experts agree that an active body contributes to a myriad of health benefits, both physical and mental. Apart from anything else, it gets you out of the house, whether into fresh air or the company of other adults.

If you are keen to improve your activity levels, then Netball Scotland’s Bounce Back to Netball scheme may be for you.

Launched in 2014, the ‘Bounce Back to Netball’ (BBN) programme was designed to encourage people of all ages and abilities over the age of 18 to participate in regular, fun, safe and affordable netball sessions which will have a positive impact on health and well-being. The programme provides the opportunity for people to ignite or rekindle their passion for netball in a fun and sociable environment. Although open to anyone over the age of 18, the average player is in their 30s or 40s.

Community Impact Officer Katelyn is keen to stress that it is a fully inclusive programme, welcoming people of all abilities and levels.

“The clubs are just about showing up and playing a game, learning the rules on the go. It’s a very low-pressure environment. You don’t need to commit to every week, and it’s run by volunteers who were just as nervous on their first day as you might feel.”

Sirens Team Captain, Claire, acknowledges it might feel daunting: “Even though I’m sporty and I’m highly skilled [in Netball], if I was to go into something I’ve not been to before I also would feel daunted by it. You can see in the first session some people are a bit petrified, and that’s understandable and it’s ok to feel like that, but then you see them only a couple of sessions down the line and they feel a lot more at home and a lot more comfortable, and it gives them this new lease of life.”

“You get people in all situations, who aren’t maybe quite as included, for a variety of reasons. The more basic we can strip back the practices, the more the emphasis is on fun, the less you push, the less they get inside their own heads. Stripping it back and allowing each person to feel comfortable that they can achieve things is key.”

Both women I spoke with are in their twenties and don’t have children.

However, they speak fondly of the positive influence their own families had on their active lifestyle, and are clearly passionate about sharing the benefits of this women-only team sport with as many people as possible.

Katelyn’s description of the regular Netball Festivals they organise ring a chord: “When you go in a room with these ladies, I mean, they’re mad, in the nicest way. What they will do just to win some sweeties is unreal.

That’s what gets them truly engaged. And that’s when it really hits them that they’re part of something. “ Perhaps, I think, as I exit the Emirates Arena, even I could try it out?

“Take a chance,” Claire said. “Be brave. You won’t know until you try it whether you enjoy it, how much you enjoy it, and that could then change your life.” It is quite a challenge to muster up the courage.

But us mums will do anything for a packet of sweeties!

For more information and to get involved go to www.netballscotland. com/bounce-back

To support your local team, and get the Netball buzz, see the Strathclyde Sirens play Team Bath in round 2 of the Netball Superleague at the Emirates Arena on Jan 11th. They then take on the Celtic dragons on Feb 8th and Severn Stars on Feb 22nd. Tickets available at www.sirensnetball.com/ fixtures-results familiesonline.co.uk

A child with dyscalculia can have normal intelligence in every other way but struggle to do well in maths due a specific impairment in the brain.

The researchers studied the mathematics performance of 2,421 primary school children over a number of school years. The study showed that, in almost all cases, children who appeared to have dyscalculia are not being diagnosed, meaning that, in the view of the researchers, children with persistent, serious difficulties with mathematics, unlike children with dyslexia, do not receive specialist support.

More info at www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news

Babies Prefer Hearing Voices of Other Babies Recent research has revealed that babies appear to be much more interested in listening to other babies than they are listening to adults.

Researchers from McGill University and the University of Montreal conducted experiments on 5 month old babies. By using a synthesizer that simulates movements of the mouth, tongue, and vocal cords, they were able to produce vowel sounds that mimicked human voices.

The babies displayed a clear preference for the synthetic baby voices, listening to them for 40% longer, on average, than the adult voices.

“This doesn’t mean mum or dad should give up oohing and aahing in high voices“ says Linda Polka, a professor at McGill University.

“Babies do respond to these kinds of sounds. However, infant speech captures and holds infant attention, sometimes prompting positive emotions.

This may motivate infants to be vocally active and make it easier to evaluate their own vocalisations, perhaps energising and supporting spoken language development.”

More info at www.sciencedaily.com

Break Time is Important School break times can contribute just as greatly as formal lessons to the quality of pupils’ education, according to experts. In Scotland, a typical break pattern for both primary and secondary schools is 15 minutes in the morning, followed by a lunch break of up to 45 minutes.

However, the latest report on education systems across the world from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted many countries where longer breaks are the norm and suggests that breaks in formal instruction play a vital role in allowing pupils to play, rest and interact with their peers.

The benefits are not just a refreshed pupil, but the results of play in further developing cognitive, emotional and social skills allows these attributes to be used in the classroom to improve learning.

Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive of the Play Scotland charity, said: “School break initiatives are amongst the most promising interventions for improving physical activity, academic skills, attitudes, behaviour and social skills.”

Families Glasgow 5

Supporting your Child with Friendship Challenges

By Lianna Champ Life and relationships are not always easy and we learn our skills as children, watching the interactions of our parents and other adults in our lives. What we learn as children then sets our patterns of relating in adulthood.

Falling out with friends is normal during childhood and it is through struggling with friendship challenges that our children learn about themselves, relationships and how best to interact with others. Through experience, children also learn how to set boundaries - what they will or will not accept in a friendship. We cannot make these decisions for our children but we can guide them gently and encourage them to use their instinct, intuition and intellect.

The most important thing we can do when our children are struggling with friendship issues is to listen. Falling out with their friends can feel like the worse thing in the world. Saying anything negative about their friends at this point will only cause your child to withdraw and can create further emotional confusion for them. Gently encouraging your child to talk about their feelings can help to identify areas of conflict, disagreement or unfairness which may have led to the fall out.

Ask what they think went wrong. Do they think they could have reacted differently?

Do they feel that they did nothing wrong?

When friends fall out, it doesn’t necessarily mean any of the children in the mix did anything wrong. Fall outs just happen and they can happen all the time! Girls especially can change friends quickly, moving from one to another in succession. There is an important lesson here too - that friendships grow and change and sometimes come to an end. Children are still developing and so must their friendships.

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As we grow up, it is healthy that our friendship groups grow and diversify. Our needs change and different people provide different things. Learning how to be a friend is like learning anything else. Sharing your own stories of your own friendship experiences can be helpful, showing your children that friendships can hit a rocky patch which has to be worked through.

Help your children to understand the importance of sharing, taking someone else’s feelings into account and listening to each other. It’s important that children learn about allowing their friends the privilege of sharing their feelings without being judged.

Teach your children that their friends should also allow them this privilege too.

We can teach our children to decide whether a friendship is worth persevering with or whether it’s best to just walk away.

Don’t be afraid to talk about the differences between healthy and toxic relationships.

It’s important to help children understand that there are different kinds of friends too – best, great, good and casual friends - and that new people are constantly coming into our lives. As we navigate life we can’t expect to get everything we need from one friendship, which is why we need quite a few to fulfil our needs.

Children have a tendency to think about things over and over again. Gently reflect back to them using clear language how they are feeling and what happened. Try a bit of role play around a friendship challenge which can help your child see what is happening more objectively. If you think your child’s behaviour was the catalyst for a fall out, role play can help them learn how to be a better friend in the future. It can also help them see more clearly whether they were at fault.

Always take an interest in your child’s friendships and if you sense something out of the ordinary, be there as a buffer.

But avoid taking sides, actively interfering or taking decisions for your child about their friendships. Working through their experiences is an extremely important part of growing up and a learning curve for adulthood and taking this away from them robs them of the chance to learn valuable life lessons. Equally, do not make them feel like victim in a relationship as this can prevent them from taking responsibility in relationships later in life. Encouraging new activities and providing arenas for new friendships can give your child confidence in their ability to make new friends and be a good friend.

Studies show that children who have healthy relationships with the adults in their lives are more likely to make sound decisions about friendship, because they understand things like empathy and mutual respect, and they have better problem-solving skills. So above all, nurture your own relationship with your children and others in your family.

Lianna Champ has over 40 years’ experience in bereavement and grief recovery. Her new book How to Grieve Like a Champ is out now priced £9.99. More information at www. champfunerals.com

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Parenting

How to Get Your Child Talking About Their Day

By Sophia Heaton

We all want to hear about our child's day—what they did in the playground, who they sat with at lunch, whether they understood what was going on, and, most importantly, whether they had a "good" day.

So we frequently ask, "How was your day?" In response, we often get grunts and shrugged shoulders. As an alternative we try asking, "What did you do at school today?" This time you get the customary one-word answer: "Nothing."

Rather than push harder for answers to your standard end-of-the-day questions, why not try some new conversation primers?

Here are some tips for getting your child to open up when they come home.

Ask Open-Ended Questions "How was school today?" is too vague and children need more specific questions to help them recall their day. Avoid questions that can be answered in one word, especially with a “yes” or “no.”

Instead, try some open-ended questions like, “Tell me about what you played at break today?” or “I wonder what you had for lunch today?”

Use their Artwork to Start Conversations A child’s art work can refer both to school activities or things of specific interest to your child. Take advantage of these masterpieces by asking open ended questions of your little artist and don’t forget to listen to the answers. Showing interest in their work can increase your child’s self-esteem, as well as provide vital emotional and mental links between school and home.

Know their Timetable This way you can start talking about library day, sports or art class. “What kind of books did the librarian show you today?” or “Tell me about the books that you chose?” Take the time to sit down and read the books with your child affirming their choice and encouraging them in their reading habits. Discuss what your child feels went right in the football match – or what went wrong!

Model “Sharing” about your Day "I had a great day today. I talked to nanna about…" or "I met a new friend and we had coffee." It is important to share your interests, friends, challenges and joys with your kids so they see that communication modelled for them.

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Give Children Time to Unwind

Use 'reflective listening'

Whilst it may seem your child is brushing you off, they are likely to be tired and attempting to disengage from school business. Give them a snack for an energy boost and a run in the park before you get home. They’ve been hemmed in all day by walls and instructions and need to cut loose for a bit. They’ll be more inclined to give you a glimpse of their day once they’ve been fed and exercised!

This is a way of re-framing questions into statements that invite a response and de-personalise conversations. Instead of asking “Are you worried about your test?” you could say something like “Lots of kids your age get worried about tests.” This makes it easier for your child to reply.

Play Talking Games Playing the ‘sad and glad’ game will encourage your child to talk without feeling they are being bombarded by questions.

At the dinner table everyone takes turns answering “I was glad today because…..” and “I was sad today because…..” You can extend it to “mad” too – what made you cross. This is a good way to open up discussions.

Give your Child Special One-toOne Time This doesn’t mean special treats or hot chocolates but doing something together every day, just the two of you. It could be as simple as preparing a meal. These are times when easy conversations occur.

Be Ready and Available to Listen When your child wants to speak, stop and listen to them. Turn off the TV or put away the phone, look up and show that you are listening fully and you value what they have to say.

Try Communicating without Words.

The best way to connect with your child may not necessarily be through talking.

Talk is not how all kids express themselves: play is. Many children prefer to reconnect with a hug, by playing a game or even rough housing. Some are more physical than verbal, so you might ask them to give you thumbs up or thumbs down about their day instead of discussing it.

Avoid Face-to-Face Interrogations You might do better in situations where you’re not face-to-face, like in the car.

Listen Before you Talk Let your child lead you into conversations on their own. Sometimes your child will drop hints without your asking, like “We planted seeds today!” or “Where’s the atlas? I need to find Antarctica.” These are perfect openings to talk together about their day.

Families Glasgow 7

Parties

Mind Map a Childrens’ Party!

By Tony Buzan

Who doesn’t enjoy a good party? Planning the party, however, can be quite another matter – especially a children’s party, for which expectations have rocketed in recent years. Here’s a suggestion for approaching party planning in a completely different way.

I’ve created a Mind Map to show how to plan a children’s birthday party with a superhero theme, but you can, of course, use any theme you like – or, alternatively, leave out the children, if you wish!

Step 3 Send out secondary-level shoots from the main branch. Then draw third-level branches that spread out from these secondary-level shoots. Write keywords on all the branches or draw symbols, or a combination of both. Give each symbol its own branch. There’s no need to rush: leave some of the branches empty at first, as this will naturally inspire your brain to fill them in.

What is a Mind Map? A Mind Map is a powerful thinking and planning tool that can help you get to grips with any topic. At its simplest, it is a diagram with branches radiating out from a central image, each branch carrying a single word or a picture that summarises an aspect of the topic. The branches then expand into sub-branches, as you delve further into each aspect. Mind Maps have symbols, images and colours and can be really bold, bright and inspiring.

The branches of a kids’ party Mind Map could explore the same core logistics as an adult party: once you’ve set the date, you need to choose a theme (if you want one) and a venue, setting considerations such as cost, space and transport against each other. Then draw up your guest list and plan the entertainment, the food and drinks and the decorations, exploring these on the main branches and sub-branches of your Mind Map. If the party is going to include any special features, such as games, swimming or a magician, include these in your Mind Map too. You could also use one of the branches to explore how your party will reflect the theme, perhaps through costumes, decorations and the small gifts that the children get to take home.

You will need: A large sheet of plain white paper A selection of coloured pens or pencils A brain An open mind Imagination

Step 1 Place the sheet of paper in front of you in landscape format (i.e. horizontally). Next, use at least three different colours to draw an image in the very centre of the paper that represents the party (in this example, it’s a superhero figure). This central image will activate your imagination and trigger associations in your thoughts, so make sure it’s positive and inspiring. You can also have a word at the centre; if so, make it multidimensional and brightly coloured.

Step 2 Now choose the first aspect to explore. Pick a colour and draw a thick branch coming away from the central image, like the bough of a tree.

Let the branch curve organically, as this will be visually engaging and therefore more interesting to the brain, making you more likely to memorise the information on the branch. Shade in the branch. Label the branch with a single word in capital letters. For a kids’ party Mind Map, you might label this first branch VENUE or FOOD or DECORATIONS. Alternatively, instead of writing a word, you might decide just to draw a powerful image.

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Step 4 Pick another colour and create your next main branch, working around the central image. (Many beginners find it easiest to work clockwise around the centre, but do whatever suits you best.) As before, draw secondary and third-level branches from this new branch and label them. Keep adding main branches until you have about five or six of them to work with.

Step 5 Now you have your main branches, move freely around your Mind Map, leaping from branch to branch, filling in any gaps and adding new subbranches as ideas and associations occur to you.

Step 6 If you wish, add arrows, curving lines and links between your main branches to reinforce the connections you have found between them.

When you have completed your Mind Map, you can use it as a list ticking off each of the branches once you’ve completed the task. When the party’s over, it’s useful to keep it to refer back to in future years!

Tony Buzan’s is the writer of Tony Buzan’s Mind Map Mastery: The Complete Guide to Learning and Using the Most Powerful Thinking Tool in the Universe, available from most bookstores priced £14.99.

VIP BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Contact Ryze now on events@ryze.co.uk or 07739 383 561 to book the coolest, most exciting birthday party of the year?

A Ryze party offers an adrenaline of packed, high energy, fun, exciting and healthy unforgettable experience!

Prices start mid-week from only £105 for up to 10 guests and includes: 1-hour flight 45 mins in the Party room Dedicated Party Host + much more! www.ryze.co.uk

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Parties

The Best Party Games Our daughter used to hate pass the parcel, and always sat it out. Don’t stress too much if not everyone joins in. A selection of three or four games will be enough to keep most kids entertained – just remember they’re almost always over quicker than you thought they would be!

The Chocolate Game The children sit in a circle and take turns to throw a dice.

If they get a six they put on a hat, scarf and gloves then attempt to eat a wrapped bar of chocolate with a knife and fork. Meanwhile the other children keep on throwing the dice.

When the next person throws a six, they get their turn.

Sleeping Lions Children lie down on the floor as still and as quietly as possible pretending to be ‘sleeping lions’. A judge roams the room and any child that moves is ‘out’ and the winner is the last child ‘asleep’.

Last week I went on holiday Each person has to start the sentence with “last week I went on holiday and I packed”. Each person has to remember what everyone before them packed, and then add an item. Items must be recited in order, or you’re out. Rounds for younger kids can be very quick, but older children can remember around fifteen items.

Doughnut Challenge Hang ring doughnuts (or pretzels or hot dogs – laundry clips can help) on strings. Children must attempt to eat as much of the doughnut as they can without it falling off the string – the challenge is that no hands are allowed! An alternative is eating a Tunnocks Teacake off a plate with your hands behind your back. This game is great as no one feels left out, and everyone gets a snack/treat!

Pass the Parcel Children still love to sit in a circle, pass that parcel around and rip off the paper when it’s their turn! A small chocolate treat in each layer is a nice touch to make everyone feel included.

Party etiquette demands that the final present is won by a guest, so try to make sure the winner isn’t your child!

Monster Dance After a couple of sitting games, kids need to shake it all out, so get them to show you their best moves: the one-legged monster, the jelly monster, the flying monster – make them up as you go along!

Easy Party Hacks Have a small guest list: more space and a bigger budget to make the party feel really special for the select few.

Go digital with paperless invitations: Some traditions can be let go of and they’re easier, cheaper and eco-friendly to boot.

Begin making food and decorations well ahead of time so on the day, all you have to do is put them out on display.

Decorate balloons by putting confetti on the inside or dipping them in glitter for a pretty effect and hanging them upside down will save the cost of helium. Or try personalised balloons by using stickers to spell out your child’s name.

Opt for simple party food: You can’t go wrong with party staples like sausage rolls, pizza, sandwiches and cocktail sausages. Kids will choose strawberries and grapes, and possibly carrot and cucumber, but forget the tomatoes and peppers – it’s a party, after all!

Forget the table cloth and forgo paper plates altogether: cover the table with tin foil. Kids will love it, and all you have to do at the end is scrunch it all up into the bin.

Remember the time: schedule the party at an age-appropriate time, and keep in mind if you have it 12-2 or 4-6 you WILL be expected to provide a full tummy – any other time and major snackage is acceptable fodder.

Get a cleaner. It might be extravagant, but organising a oneoff clean for after the party is a luxury that might be worth splurging on.

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Parties

Local Party Directory Our top picks of party providers

Activity Delivered

Ryze

Type of business: venue/ entertainment (+extras) 07739 383561 www.ryze.co.uk events@ryze.co.uk Starting price £150 Number of guests – minimum 10 Defy Gravity with Ryze for your birthday party this year! Their state-of-the-art facility will have everyone jumping for joy with excitement, you can soar over the sea of oversized trampolines or leap from above onto the stuntman airbag and much more!

Afterwards, relax, or rave, with exclusive use of one of the party rooms. With a dedicated party host there to take the stress out of your day, they will make sure your party is an unforgettable one!

Optional extras also available, contact events@ryze.co.uk or call 07739 383561 to book your ultimate birthday experience. #YoureUp!

Music Bugs

Type of business: creative and sensory party entertainment 0844 412 8173 www.musicbugs.co.uk/glasgownorth glasgownorth@musicbugs.co.uk Starting price £100 Number of guests - up to 20 children.

Best suited to: pre-schoolers.

Glasgow Music Studios

Type of business: experience 0141 552 0907 www.glasgowmusicstudios.co.uk info@glasgowmusicstudios.co.uk Starting price: £65pp Number of guests: minimum 5 Best suited to: budding singers of all ages. Quote Families Glasgow when enquiring.

Glasgow Playbus

Type of business: Mobile party/ event entertainment 07545 534 013 www.glasgowplaybus.com info@glasgowplaybus.com Starting price: £225 Number of guests: up to 30 Best suited to: young, active children.

10 Families Glasgow

Type of business: entertainment 0131 510 7165 www.activitydelivered.com info@activitydelivered.com Starting price: from £200 Number of guests: varied per activity Best suited to: bringing a unique experience to your location

Deadly Acts Theatre

Type of business: entertainment 07598 334 858 www.deadlyacts.co.uk enquiries@deadlyacts.co.uk Starting price - £170 Number of guests – up to 30 Best suited to: imaginative pirate and fairy lovers aged 4-10yrs.

Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre

The Children’s Wood and North Kelvin Meadow

Type of business: venue only 07762 029 663 www.thechildrenswood.co.uk info@childrenswood.com Starting price: donation suggested Number of guests: as many as you can handle. Best suited to: outdoor fun in a community space.

Sea Force

Type of business: full party service (excl cake) 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppet.co.uk info@maskandpuppet.co.uk Starting price - £10.50 per child Number of guests - up to 40 Best suited to: everyone with a sense of wonder age 4+.

Type of business: experience 0141 221 1070 www.seaforce.co.uk Starting price: £5 per child/ 20min boat ride / £10 adults (includes stop-off at Krispy Crème) Number of guests: minimum 5 Best suited to: a blast of fresh air for sugar lovers. Quote Families Glasgow when enquiring.

The Cocoabean Company

Gary Dunn’s Amazing Magical Parties

Type of business: full party service 01557 860 608 www.thecocoabeancompany.com workshops@ thecocoabeancompany.com Starting price - £15.95 Number of guests – up to 75 Best suited to: chocolate lovers of all ages.

The Language Hub

Type of business: full party service/ venue (excl cake) 01412 582 700 www.thelanguagehub.co.uk info@thelanguagehub.co.uk Starting price - £80 for venue and entertainment, food £3.50pp, party bags £2.50pp Number of guests – max 12 Best suited to: calm youngsters in a homely atmosphere.

Type of business: entertainment 0141 637 2892 www.garydunn.com garydunn@mac.com Starting price: varies Number of guests: 10+ Best suited to: comedy magic for curious youngsters

Pinkston Watersports

Type of business: active/sports venue 0141 332 5636 www.pinkston.co.uk info@pinkston.co.uk Starting price - £15 per person Number of guests – from 6 to 16 Best suited to: adventurers aged 8+.

Grosvenor Cinema

Type of business: entertainment & venue 0845 166 6028 grosvenorwestend.co.uk Starting price - varies Number of guests – varies Best suited to: movie lovers of all ages.

Wonder World

Type of business: full party service/venue 0141 429 8004 www.wonderworldsoftplay.co.uk/ glasgow glasgow@wonderworldgroup. co.uk Starting price: £11.95 per person Number of guests: 10+ Best suited to: jumping and climbing.

Scotkart

Type of business: activity/venue 0141 641 0222 www. scotkart.co.uk race@scotkart.co.uk Starting price: from £180 Number of guests: up to 12 Best suited to: thrill seekers 8+.

Enjoy-A-Ball

Type of business: entertainment 07780 610 595 enjoy-a-ball.com george.barr@enjoy-a-ball.com Starting price: varies Number of guests: 12-30 Best suited to: active 4-9yr olds.

Sparkle Stars

Type of business: entertainment 07956 873 601 www.sparklestars.com info@sparklestars.com Starting price: varies Number of guests: up to 16

Bricks 4 Kidz

Type of business: entertainment 07971 515 141 www.bricks4kidz.co.uk/ scotland-glasgow cbarr@bricks4kidz.com Starting price - £120 Number of guests – up to 50 guests . Best suited to: Lego lovers familiesonline.co.uk

Early years

Finding the Right Childcare Provider Finding good quality childcare can be a difficult task for parents. Here is a step by step guide to the things to look out for and to questions to ask when selecting the childcare provider that is right for your child.

Make a List Draw up a shortlist of providers using information from your local Family Information Service which should be available from your local authority.

Remember to check: •

The hours that childcare can be provided

•

The hourly, daily, and/or weekly cost

•

If they have places available for your child

•

Whether they are offering the 30 hours of government funded childcare (if you are eligible).

Visit Providers on your Shortlist It's a good idea to visit several settings and to ask questions in person. It might help to take a friend or your partner to give you a second opinion.

What to ask: •

What is the ratio of staff to children? How many children do they care for?

Things to look for:

•

What qualifications and/or experience do the staff have?

•

What are the daily routines and how can they incorporate my child's and other children's routines?

•

Do they operate a key worker scheme (whereby one member of staff has main responsibility for your child)?

•

Trained and experienced staff, ready to learn and respond to your child's individual needs

•

Busy but relaxed children who seem happy and purposeful

•

Safe, clean, welcoming premises

•

Outside play space

•

•

Cultural sensitivity and responsiveness to children's home life

What are their policies on discipline and how do you manage children's behaviour?

•

•

A staff team and group of children who reflect local ethnic and cultural groups

Do they provide meals, snacks, nappies, etc. or will you need to provide them?

•

Fun activities planned each day – childcare providers all need to plan their days with children's interests and enthusiasms in mind

•

Planned exercise and quiet times to relax are important

•

A big welcome for you and your child

What will your child enjoy?

Here's a list of the things children said were most important when asked for their views: Friends - check that a stable group of children attend so your children can make and maintain friendships Food - check mealtimes are relaxed and fun and ask if children can help themselves to drinks and snacks Fun outside - check the outside area is well planned, spacious and safe as children love playing outside

First class early education for 0-5 year olds 25 Hector Road, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3RJ

0141 649 2715

www.piedpipernursery.co.uk

Discovery - make sure there is plenty of opportunity for children to learn new things with varied, carefully planned, structured things to do Feeling safe and loved - check that the staff are able to respond to individual children's needs, to comfort and encourage them and to keep them safe Remember to also think about the things that matter to you and your child, and make sure you ask about them.

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Most childcare providers looking after children under the age of eight years usually have to be registered with Ofsted. You can check Ofsted's grade and report for the providers you are considering at www.ofsted.gov.uk.

Take up References Other parents' experiences of a childcare provider can be very useful. It is advisable to take up at least two references. Childcare providers should be happy to give you names of other parents to speak to about the service they provide.

Book a Place Book your child's place and arrange details like hours, start date, and who is allowed to pick up your child. You may need to pay a retainer fee to keep the place open until your child starts.

Settling In Your child may take some time to settle into any new childcare setting, so allow them time to adjust to their new surroundings, especially if this is their first time in childcare. Most settings will offer a ‘settling in period,' during which you have an agreed length of time to assess whether the setting is the right one for your child and that they are happy there.

Funding Support In Scotland, all children aged 3 or 4 years old and some 2 year olds are entitled to a parttime, funded nursery place in either a Council nursery, or in a nursery or playgroup which has a partnership contract with the Council. Places are for up to 16 hours per week (600 hours per year). In Glasgow, children become eligible for places at the START of the term during which your child has his/her 3rd birthday.

The Family and Childcare Trust provide a useful tools and guides visit: www. familyandchildcaretrust.org.

Families Glasgow 11

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10/10/2018 11:39

Early years

New Nursery at Hutchesons’ Hutchesons' Grammar School is delighted to announce its new Nursery will open in August 2019 and their dedicated early years staff are looking forward to welcoming their youngest learners.

The launch of the nursery class is the culmination of Hutchesons’ 'whole school' strategy which saw the successful introduction of the Pre-School class in 2018. The whole school strategy now allows for a child to join Hutchesons' at the age of three and remain with them until they leave school in S6.

Children in the nursery and pre-school will develop their creativity and curiosity and gain a better understanding of the wider world and their place within it. They will enjoy a broadbased, balanced curriculum incorporating key skills to ensure a smooth transition to Primary 1, while the spacious learning environments enable the children to develop their literacy and numeracy skills through ‘real’ and imaginative activities. The youngest pupils also experience specialist teaching in music, art and P.E. The partnership between parents and staff is tantamount to the success of pupils - staff communicate openly with parents, setting clear goals together which support each child’s learning journey.

If you would like more information about the Nursery or PreSchool classes or if you would like to book a tour then please go to www.hutchesons.org/nursery

Morrison’s Academy Primary School opens new storytelling space The space, officially opened by the Rector in November, was created as a collaborative pro-ject, with parents, pupils and staff all contributing under the creative supervision of parent vol-unteers Anna Olson and Neil Thomson. The space presents a Scottish/Celtic landscape, with local wildlife and mythological characters under a forest canopy. The main feature is a magi-cal tree made from ropes and felted leaves which rises to the ceiling and bridges the main space and the central corridor of the school.

For the official opening, the school held a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, with pupils and teachers in their most fantastic costumes to celebrate the wonders of books, words, rhyme, music, song and storytelling. The programme of events included a musical concert

by Neil Thomson and Sandy Black, traditional Scottish tunes, feltmaking, caricatures, and a visit from local folklor-ist, author and singer Margaret Bennett, who entranced the children with her gentle and charming stories about rude rabbits and helpful hedgehogs, and old true tales of the Drovers and the Highland way of life handed down from the past.

The space will be used to encourage a love of books and reading, hosting ‘guest readers’ throughout the year, and as a special space where classes can let their imagination run wild. The school and Miss Bulloch would like to thank Anna and Neil for their tireless hard work, creativity and dedication to pull off a truly magical project and create a learning space which will encourage our children to have a passion for books and reading

Top Ten Tips for Teaching Your Child to Love Reading Alone 6. Get them to make a bookmark and feel proud of how many pages they clock up without interruption.

7. Many favourite authors are available in accessible comic book form, especially the classics.

8. Lead by example – if your child sees you finding a corner and a book to retreat with, they will follow.

1. Start them young. Board books, cloth books, lift the flap. Let them bite, chew and tear.

4. When they are small, keep tablets and phones solely for games – preferably educational ones.

2. Encourage babies to turn the page themselves. It will help develop fine motor skills.

5. The switch from picture books to chapters is an exciting rite of passage. Celebrate by going to the library or bookshop and allowing them to choose stories to try.

3. With siblings around, especially newborns, have a box of books the older child can escape to. Tell them it’s theirs and nobody else’s.

12 Families Glasgow

9. Don’t push them to read at bedtime when eyes and minds may be tired. Offer to finish a chapter aloud for them instead.

10. Don’t force them, ever. Reverse psychology is a wonderful device.

Justine Crowe is the author of The Little Book of Nits published by Bloomsbury. Parent of three, she owns her own bookshop with her partner, is a qualified swimming instructor and is the food critic of The Transmitter.

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Opening August 2019

Hutchesons’ Nursery ...be one of us Drop off from 8am 9am - 3pm Wrap-around until 6pm Term - time After a very successful first year, Hutchesons’ Pre-school staff are looking forward to welcoming the next intake for 2019/20 For more information go to www.hutchesons.org/nursery

The Governors of Morrison’s Academy, known as Morrison’s Academy, is an independent school for boys and girls, founded in 1860.

The School’s Scottish Charity Number is: SC000458

OPEN MORNING Tuesday 12 February 2019 Morrison’s Academy is a lively and nurturing independent school in the heart of Perthshire. Our experiential approach blends digital technology, rich classroom settings, and outdoor learning in our local environment to create a personalised education for every child. The same friendly and engaging ethos that allows our three- and four-year olds to flourish also encouraged our National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher students to achieve their best SQA results on recent record last year.

Come and meet us and see for yourself how our passion for learning inspires curiosity and encourages every child to strive for their highest.

Register online at bit.ly/MAOpenMorning Places available from August 2019 or earlier by arrangement

01764 653885 morrisonsacademy.org

MORRISON’S ACADEMY

Morrison’s Academy, Crieff, PH7 3AN

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Families Glasgow 13

Family travel

Family Holiday Adventures!

Picking the right family holiday can be tricky. You want to spend quality time with the kids, but also want to enjoy the break too. Claire Winter offers some ideas to give you inspiration for your 2019 travel plans.

Go to Fairy School in Northumberland

Wannabe fairies and sprites can now perfect their magic skills while holidaying in the heart of Northumberland’s Kielder Forest Park. Thanks to the new weekly Fairy School at Landal Kielder Waterside.

Older children can also learn archery amongst the trees. Stay in comfortable, wooden lodges and explore the 27-mile shoreline of Europe’s largest man-made lake, on foot or by bike. If you just want to chill out, you can unwind in the on-site spa. From £669 for a four-night stay. More at www.landal.co.uk/uk/landal-kielderwaterside-kiel.

Stay in a Yurt

You haven’t properly glamped until you have stayed in a Yurt! A Yurt is a portable home, traditionally used by nomads in central Asia and Mongolia. Galloway Activity Centre near Loch Ken offers traditional Mongolian Yurts to stay in all year round. They can sleep six and are great fun to stay in. Explore during the day, making the most of the awesome activities available, including archery, laser tag, kayaking and loads more. Spend your evenings looking up at the stars in Galloway Forest Park, the first area in the U.K. to be awarded Dark Sky status. From £495 for a seven-night stay. More at www. lochken.co.uk.

Explore the New Forest

If you like the idea of being in nature but like top-notch facilities, why not stay at the Sandy Balls Holiday Village Park?

You can explore the outstanding natural beauty of the New Forest National Park with its beautiful scenery, wild ponies and donkeys. There is a variety of accommodation from luxury caravans, camping pods to wood cabins, and some even have hot tubs! You can find something for everyone at the park, with indoor and outdoor pools and a wealth of activities to suit all ages. From £192 for a seven-night stay. More at www. sandyballs.co.uk.

Stay in an Ancient Church on the Isle of Wight

Stay in a spectacular church conversion on the coast of the Isle of Wight, with Totland Beach just a short walk away. The Church House is spaced over three floors and includes magnificent stained glass windows. The first-floor living area offers space for everyone to relax with a huge 14 Families Glasgow

window and stunning, original timber high ceilings. Enjoy the local beach and family feasts in this stunning house. Sleeps seven. From £672 for a seven-night stay.

More at www.sykescottages.co.uk.

Break the Ice in Swedish Lapland

Newly launched, there is now the chance to undertake the Icebreaker activity, a polar expedition into the icy Bothnian Sea at Swedish Lapland’s frosty wilderness.

Aboard the Arctic Explorer, you get the chance to bathe in the icy ocean and even walk on the frozen waters. Survival suits are provided, and the hot drink served will ensure explorers are fully warmed.

From £920 per adult and £635 per child.

Additional activities and flights extra.

Departures from January to March 2018.

More at www.activitiesabroad.com.

Go on a Miffy adventure in Holland

This the perfect short break for families with young children. Take a trip to Utrecht in Holland to see all things Miffy. The iconic character, by much-loved artist Dick Bruna, is now a popular character in a new TV show on kids’ channel Tiny Pop. You can book a night in the new Miffy room at Stayokay Utrecht-Centrum which is fully decorated in Dick Bruna’s iconic minimalist style, with Miffy furniture and bedding.

You can also visit the newly opened Miffy museum (www.miffymuseum.com), which is in the old part of the city. Utrecht has traditional Dutch houses, canals and picturesque cobbled streets and is only a 40-minute train ride from Schipol airport.

Horse-riding Heaven in Portugal

Set amongst pine forest and gardens and overlooking the Algarve coastline, Epic Sana offers a varied holiday for the whole family. It has direct access to a private beach and fun family activities from horse riding to cycling, with plenty to explore and enjoy together. There is also a baby club and kids club, so you can take some well-deserved time out to unwind at the Sayanna Wellness centre. From £1,145pp for a seven-night stay, including includes breakfast, return flights and transfers.

More at www.healthandfitnesstravel.com.

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Family travel

Learning Holidays Holidays are the perfect opportunity to take a break from the norm – sit on a beach, enjoy relaxed evenings, and freedom from the daily, inevitably rushed, routine. But they are also opportunities to find out something new, and chasing those chances could give you the most fun of all.

Star gazing is another great way to weave science into your holiday. A camping holiday is often the key to the most impressive display of the constellations. Wetlands centres and natural history museums are more great ways to introduce the subject into your vacation in an exciting way.

Art

Literacy isn’t just about the books: taking your children to the places where the characters from, and authors of, their favourite books come from will show them a whole new side to reading. For younger children, theme parks such as Thomasland or Peppa Pig World bring their characters to life in a new way. Older children will enjoy retracing the steps of some of their favourite heroes, like Harry Potter (www.visitbritainshop.com/world/articles/ harry-potter-film-locations).

Children start learning about individual artists from nursery school. Pick an artist your child has talked about at school or nursery. Easily accessible artist who use a lot of colour are ideal – think Van Gogh, Mondriaan, O’Keeffe.

If you want, you can make it about more than just museums. In Arles in the south of France you can see copies of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings set up on permanent easels in the exact same spot where he painted them, and dine at the Starry Night Café; or head to Figueres, in Catalonia, Spain, Salvador Dali’s hometown, and the Teatro Museo, built to be a surrealist journey through his bizarre world. Of course, Glasgow has a wonderful collection of MacIntosh venues, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the Lighthouse and the Scotland Street School Museum.

Science and Nature

The simplest way to introduce nature into your holiday is to go for a walk in an undeveloped area, and to explore the green space around you. Look for bugs, birds, small animals and their habitats.

Literacy

Learn a New Physical Skill

History

It’s hard to have a holiday without straying onto the margins of history, even if you don’t try. Castles, National Trust Houses, museums, cathedrals, palaces - it only takes a tiny bit of imagination to put it into action on holiday.

Languages

bitte” may not be appropriate, but every child likes to ask for ice cream!

The 1+2 approach in the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence means all children experience learning another language from primary 1, but in reality many nurseries also offer early exposure to other languages. The benefits are numerous, so make the most of a trip abroad and practice those simple phrases. “Ein Bier,

Summer activity holidays in the Alps must be one of the best-kept secrets in travel. If you’re holidaying with small children, finding a resort that delivers in-chalet childcare, easy access to activities and plenty of entertainment for the parents can prove to be a challenge. Chilly powder offer the flexibility for parent to do outdoor activities together with their children.

Younger children can be left in the creche or kids’ club. Learning a new physical skill builds confidence and mental resilience, and doing so as a joint activity bonds the family unit – benefits you’ll be grateful for long after the flight home! www.chillypowder.com

THE LEADING FAMILY RESORT IN THE HIGHLANDS Plan your next family adventure to Aviemore.

Discover four star hotels, woodland lodges and a choice of restaurants and bars. You’ll find loads to keep the kids amused from our large swimming pool, family activities and cinema plus an endless choice of things to do on our doorstep.

GREAT OFFERS ONLINE NOW Children aged 16 & under eat breakfast and dinner for free (from children’s menu only) when booked on same meal plan as adults. Subject to availability. Subject to change.

Visit our website for full details.

www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore-families T: 0344 879 9152

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Families Glasgow 15

Working at home

Working from Home: The Pros and Cons if the computer stops working and a solution if the internet goes down, for instance, a local library or nearby cafe with Wifi.

Create a routine Some people like to do the difficult calls or tasks early in the day to get them out of the way and to kick start the day. Take regular breaks, do some exercise and get out and see people. Let people know your working hours and let neighbours and family know you are working and not lounging about at home.

Get good childcare

So you want to work from home? For many parents the chance to work from home on a regular basis is the Holy Grail. Not only does it cut down on endless hours spent commuting and travel bills, but it means you are around for your family in case of an emergency.

Yet working from home isn’t for everyone. If you’re in a sector where working from home is possible or you are considering freelancing or running your own business from home, you need to be honest with yourself about whether the pros outweigh the potential cons.

Ask yourself some questions. Do you work best as part of a team, bouncing ideas off each other? It is possible to exchange ideas with people via Instant Messenger and technology is enabling people who work remotely to have virtual colleagues in their home office, but if face to face contact is important to you, then you might find working from home a struggle.

You may be able to mitigate this, of course, through creating or joining a local business network or ensuring you get out regularly to meetings or other events - or even just to walk the dog!

The advantages of working from home are significant. In addition to those mentioned above, the wellbeing of most parents would be enhanced by not having to deal with rush hour traffic or train delays and the anxiety of not getting to school or nursery pick up on time.

One of the worst nightmares for many parents

are the days when their child wakes up sick and they have to frantically ring round friends and family to get cover while they go to an important meeting. Not having to deal with this can hugely lower stress levels.

Once you have decided if homeworking is for you, you need to consider what you need to work successfully from home.

Try to have a separate work space It is good, if possible, to draw a line between home and work so you can close the door on work both mentally and physically at the end of the day. Having a separate space - a room, an outdoor building etc - creates the sense of ‘going to work’. It also means that your work papers are kept separate and away from small hands! Alternatively, if you don't have a separate space, you can still create the feeling of going to work by walking round the block before you start work. You may, of course, need to go out to drop off children in any event before you start your working day.

Make Sure you have the Technology you need The basics are likely to be a computer, good phone, Wifi connectivity and a printer. Bear in mind that you are likely to have very little technical support so it is vital to have a back-up

COULD YOU BE THE NEXT EDITOR OF FAMILIES GLASGOW

?

Employers may stipulate childcare if you are working from home. In any event, it is very stressful trying to work from home with small children, particularly if they don't have regular sleep patterns.If you are working from home while other colleagues are in the office, ensure that you are visible by attending selected social events and meetings and keeping up with people in the office as much as possible.

Co-working space If you are not sure about homeworking, but need to work closer to home, you could consider using a co-working space or creating your own local hub with other homeworkers in your area. Alternatively, you could consider homeworking for part of the week to get the best of both worlds.

As with everything, it’s advisable to know yourself and approach different ways of working with your eyes as open as possible. Sometimes though, it takes a bit of experimentation to know what works best for you. Compromises may be involved. Ultimately, it is only you who can judge what is best for your family’s circumstances - and, of course, as with all things parenting, those circumstances may change with time...!

Mandy Garner is Editor of Workingmums.co.uk.

Workingmums.co.uk advertises homeworking opportunities and offers tons of advice on how to set up your own business and different ways of working, including case studies in a variety of sectors.

Well established print distribution and loyal readership

Are you interested in working for yourself, flexibly from home and working around your family commitments? Do you have an interest in sales and researching local family events and information? Then Families Magazines might be the job for you. We have an opportunity to run your own franchise in the Glasgow area.

The Glasgow edition of Families magazine is part of a successful franchise group with 40 editions around the UK - being a ‘Families Editor’ means becoming part of a growing and supportive network and trusted name - established in 1990!

To register your interest in Families Glasgow Magazine email editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk 16 Families Glasgow

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Healthy eating

Healthy eating trends for 2019 Do you know your kombucha from your quinoa? Every year new healthy food and eating trends pop up that soon have many people following them. 2018 seemed to be the year for veganism with vegan food lines being released in many of the major supermarkets. You can even buy vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream now!

Claire Winter looks at what people will be trying this year.

Your Gut Matters Gut health is fast becoming an important factor to consider when looking at your overall health.

Nutritionists say that poor gut health can lead to fatigue and depression. A move away from carbohydrates, meats and processed foods and to a plant-based diet can really help your intestinal health. According to Nutritionist Resource member Jane Snooks, foods good for your gut health are often unknown or feared: “Probiotic foods and drinks are fantastic for boosting the population of good bacteria in our gut. Sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, and kimchi are all readily available in health food shops and more recently in some mainstream supermarkets. Don’t buy the pasteurised versions though as all the beneficial bacteria will have been killed in the process! These foods are also fairly easy to make at home at a fraction of the cost. Equally as important, we also need to be eating prebiotic foods such as onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus and leeks, berries and bananas to name a few.

Good bacteria in our gut need food to survive, and they thrive on these.”

Vegetables Take Centre-Stage Vegetarianism and plant-based diets will become increasingly popular this year, as people become more educated about the health and environmental benefits of eating less meat. New Covent Garden market in London has highlighted some veg trends for 2019: The rise of vegetables with meaty consistency taking centre-stage in a meal – we’ve seen a real increase in the usage of jackfruit, which is now available from the market’s traders whole, peeled and cut or ready to cook. This trend also applies to wild and cultivated mushroom species such as cloud fungus and hen of the woods selling well.

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Skin-on veg and ‘root to flower’ eating – there’s been a shift towards not peeling veg, just simply scrubbing to clean and cooking skin-on – particularly something we’re seeing more of with carrots and potatoes. Similarly, ‘root to flower’ eating is becoming popular in a move to reduce food waste. You can cook with ruby chard stalks, the green flags from leeks and the pale green leaves from cauliflower heads.

Cooking from Scratch Jenny Tschiesche, nutritionist and bestselling author, is an advocate of easy, nutritious cooking from scratch. “Whether it is meal delivery boxes or fresh organic vegetable deliveries you can’t fail to have noticed that there is a definite move away from the processed ready meal and towards meals that are freshly cooked and prepared. While our lives have not necessarily got any less busy, we have decided, perhaps, that to keep up with the pace of life we may need to think about how we fuel our bodies better. Thankfully that’s where one pot or one pan cooking really hits the mark. This style of cooking is designed for modern lifestyles. Jenny’s latest book The Modern Multi-cooker Cookbook: 101 Recipes for your Instant Pot® is available from Amazon and bookshops.

Eating for Healthy Skin What you eat also affects your skin. Camille Knowles, natural chef and author of The Beauty of Eczema says you can improve your skin with what you eat. “As an eczema sufferer for 20 years, I am incredibly passionate about understanding what foods you should fuel your body with to promote healthy, glowing skin. Juices are something that the whole family can enjoy - a great way of ensuring that little ones get a variety of vegetables in their diet. My green juice recipe includes an apple, lemon, cucumber, celery, and a broccoli stalk. Meals full of protein, and essential fatty acids are great for your skin. Try a salad with mixed leaves, steamed vegetables, quinoa, and homemade hummus or avocado pesto. For dinner, a great skin boosting combination is an organic piece of fish (full of omega 3s which fight inflammation) or organic meat (full of the wound healing mineral zinc) with lots of green

vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, and courgette.” For more information, you can buy The Beauty of Eczema on Amazon or visit www. thebeautyofeczema/join for more healthy skin recipes.

Healthy Snacks Victoria Prince, who has just launched the UK’s first vegan healthy snack kit www.

EnergyBallRecipes.com, is passionate about making nutritious snacks easy to make and affordable for all. “With ever increasingly busy lives many of us are looking for food on the go that is quick and easy. Yet we are knowledgeable and passionate about what we put in our bodies and are striving for only the best ingredients. Gone are the days when we are happy to just consume processed, easy, ready meals. Consumers are looking to have it all – healthy, quick and affordable. I believe packs of nutritious superfoods, which are rich in plant based goodness and which you can easily make at home will be a big draw in 2019 because they are fast, nutritious and cost savvy.”

While food trends may come and go, it is clear that the benefits of eating, a healthy, balanced diet of unrefined foods will never go out of fashion. We can all make small changes to our diets that can boost the health and wellbeing of our families so consider putting this on your list of New Year resolutions for 2019.

Families Glasgow 17

WHAT’S ON

Don't forget to say you saw these events in

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Your essential guide to family events this January, February & March. We take great care in compiling our events guide, but check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print.

Regular Events Imagine Lab Every Tuesday 10-11am I pre-5s I FREE The Village Storytelling Centre, 183 Meiklerig Crescent, Glasgow, G53 5NA 0141 8823025 www.villagestorytelling.org.uk Through interactive storytelling and play, pre-5s and their adults can cook up fantastic fictions and discover new worlds together.

These sessions are informal and friendly and a great environment for little ones developing early speaking and listening skills.

Wee Kidders Every Monday during term 5-6.30pm I S1-S3 I FREE Every Monday during term 3.30-5pm I P4-P7 I FREE Every Monday during term 3.30-4.30pm I P1-P3 I FREE Every Tuesday during term 3.30-4.30pm I P1-P3 I FREE The Village Storytelling Centre, Glasgow, G53 5NA 0141 8823025 www.villagestorytelling.org.uk Hold on to your hats everybody because The Village's young people's storytelling group is back!

Free to local children. Spaces are limited, please contact to book.

Saturday Art Club Every Saturday 10.30 – 12.30pm I 5-11yrs I FREE Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G1 3AH, 0141 229 1996 Get creative and messy at these popular art sessions. If you’re waiting to participate, visit our CREATE Space, full of inspiring art activities and trails.

Tiny Tales / Tall Tales Every Saturday 10.30 I 11.30 I £6 Tron Theatre, Glasgow, G1 5HB, 0141 552 4267 www.tron.co.uk Tiny Tales are fun-filled storytelling sessions, brought to life with props, movement, music, percussion and creative play and all carefully designed to stimulate your little one’s senses.

Workshops help with physical, social, emotional and language development while encouraging imaginations to flourish. Best of all you get to join in too! All workshops require parent/child participation, allowing you to share the experience and give you a host of storytelling ideas to try out at home. Tiny Tales at 10.30 up to 23months, Tall Tales at 11.30 suitable for wee ones walking independently up to 4yrs.

18 Families Glasgow

Baby Breakfast at Loks Tuesdays/Thursdays 10am-12noon I £3.50 Loks Bar and Kitchen, Glasgow G43 2XU 0141 632 5727 All parents and carers are welcome to bring along baby between 10am and 12noon to play in our private and secure area in our function suite with toys and soft mats while you enjoy a lovely coffee and pastry for only £2.30 (full breakfast menu also available.) Jo Jingles joins us every Tuesday, £3.50 entrance for Jo Jingles from 10.15am and complimentary tea and coffee!

Glasgow Libraries Bounce ‘N’ Rhyme Various times and venues I FREE www.glasgowlife.org.uk A fun activity for parents, carers and children 3 or under with action songs, rhymes and stories that help children’s literacy and numeracy and are a great way for parents and carers to brush up on their nursery rhymes! Bounce and Rhyme sessions are held regularly in libraries throughout Glasgow.

Dice Roll Café Every second Sunday from 1pm I £2 The CCA, Glasgow G2 3HW 0141 352 4900 A pop-up board games café, offering Saramago's great menu and a great collection of classic and modern board games. Play any game, all-day for just £2 each, from our extensive collection.

Re-visit a few classics from your childhood like Hungry Hippos, Buckeroo! or Operation. Keep your mind agile with timeless games like Chess, Scrabble or Risk! Or be adventurous and try some less-known classic titles of modern gaming including Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, and Ticket to Ride- our team at Dice Roll are always willing to walk you through it!

Play Together on Pedals Various times and locations FREE www.playonpedals.scot Play Together on Pedals is a project supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, getting preschool children across Glasgow cycling before they start school. Bikes and instructors are provided, sessions are designed to allow children to play on bikes but also gain some instruction and support to get them pedalling.

Please keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates on dates, times and locations.

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Play Café Every second Wednesday 0-4yrs I FREE Platform, Glasgow G34 9JW 0141 276 9696 www.platform-online.co.uk It doesn’t matter if you are a parent, grandparent, carer, auntie or uncle - just come along with your wee pal and sample the different creative activities offered each week, led by Platform’s associate artists. It’s open to everyone in our Local Links postcode areas. Numbers are limited and reach capacity most weeks so please make sure that you book in advance either in person or call 0141 276 9696.

Include Me 2 Club - Junior Youth Club Mondays I £2 I 0-12yrs Dalmeny Community Centre, Barnes Street, Barrhead, G78 1EH 07525208738 www.includeme2club.org.uk Junior Youth Club for children, young people and families with additional support needs or disabilities. Take part in games, activities, sports, play, creative arts and much more. Parents can find information and resources with our Parents Peer Support Group.

Healthy Eating – Weaning Monthly I FREE Merry-Go-Round, Glasgow G41 2AN 0141 423 2299 www.merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk Specially designed by nutritionist Eliza Twaddle and delivered by MGR team member, doula, mother of 3 and experienced baby-led weaner Debbie. How to feed your baby with healthy foods the whole family can enjoy. This class will focus on introducing your baby to food using everyday, healthy, wholesome foods. We'll discuss why Baby-Led Weaning works and why it is healthy and convenient.

We'll guide you through a recipe booklet of 'first foods' that includes super-simple food preparations and recipes for you and your baby.

You'll be provided with tools and tricks to make eating easier for your baby and simple for you to prepare Glasgow’s Flower Power Community Wildflower Nursery Volunteer Days 15 Jan, 2 Feb, 12 Feb 10am-12noon I FREE Pollok Country Park, Glasgow G43 1AT 0141 287 9001 Glasgow's Flower Power is an exciting project which brings flower power to the people of Glasgow, our aim is to reverse the decline of meadow and insect species through propagating and nurturing locally sourced seed and plants. We are looking

for keen volunteers to help in the community flower nursery at Pollok Country Park; growing native wildflowers which will restore valuable meadow habitats to our Glasgow Parks and Local Nature Reserves.

Castlemilk Explorers Monthly 1st week-end 10.30-12.30 I 7-12 yrs I FREE Castlemilk Park, Glasgow G45 0AZ 0141 634 2673 Fun nature group to learn about nature in a fun environment!

Places are limited, pre-booking is required. For more information contact Community Woodland Officer on 0141 634 2673.

Family Fun Week-Ends Every week-end 12.00-17.00 I Free R Cade, Glasgow G1 5LB 0141 552 4905 www.rcadeglasgow.com Our arcade will be set up with all the best family friendly multiplayer video games. Our tabletop corner will be stacked will lots of fun board and card games which are free to play. Our bookshelves as always are bursting with books, manga, and magazines. We will be holding family activities such as arts and craft events, tournaments and workshops, and our snack bar will be fully stocked with tasty ramen noodles, snacks and drinks.

Please note: Standard Arcade Fees apply to enter and play in the arcade area. Board games and crafting table are free to use.

Saturday Art Club Saturdays 11.00 I P1-P7 I FREE Platform, Glasgow G34 9JW 0141 276 9696 www.platform-online.co.uk A playful and creative art session that gives young artists the chance to draw, paint, make and get creative with new friends.

Please wear old clothes, it can get messy! Come and work with some incredible artists based in Glasgow and let’s play!

Pater Patter Every 2nd Saturday I FREE Merry-Go-Round, Glasgow G41 2AN 0141 423 2299 www.merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk Fathers can come along and have a coffee and a chat with other Dads and Dads-to-be, share experiences, support and encourage each other - and just hang out for a couple of hours! As always, wee ones are welcome too, so bring them along! All welcome, free of charge, no need to book.

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January 8 & 24 Jan Toddler Tuesdays & Thursdays 10.30-11.15 I £3 I 0-4yrs The Tall Ship at Riverside, Glasgow G3 8RS 0141 357 3699 www.thetallship.com Song, rhymes, puppets, music, games and imaginative play...

Parent and child participation is encouraged.

dozens of classic vehicles flagged off from Aurora Avenue and is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the area. The cars will set off through the streets of Clydebank as they begin their 1,500 mile dash to Monaco, in the South of France.

February 1-3 Feb Strictly Come Dancing – Live Tour I From £39.75 SSE Hydro, Glasgow G3 8YW

www.mediaevalglasgow.org University of Glasgow students have worked with over thirteen primary schools to produce this festival of song and drama to bring the legends and life of St Mungo into 2019. Who is Bishop Mungo and what is the Bell? Come and see.

www.thessehydro.com Arena audiences are in for a real treat, as they enjoy a fantastic evening of entertainment, showcasing all the amazing choreography and incredible live music that Strictly is famous for. They will experience a host of breathtaking dance routines guaranteed to leave them spellbound, together with all the glitz, glamour and magic of the TV show live on stage - this is a mustsee spectacle for fans of all ages.

19 Jan Brave in Concert 14.00 & 17.30 I from £16 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow G2 3NY

3 Feb Kids Intro to Sewing 13.00-15.30 I £35 I 8-15yrs Sew Confident, Glasgow G3 8ND

11 Jan Mungo’s Bairns 10.00-12.00 I FREE Wellington Church, Glasgow G12 8LE

www.celticconnections.com Celtic Connections 2019 will present the world premiere of Brave in Concert- the computeranimated fantasy adventure film will be screened live while the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Dirk Brossé, perform Patrick Doyle’s iconic score.

22 Jan – 6 May Dippy on Tour 10.00-17.00 I FREE Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow G3 8AG

0141 276 9500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, is coming to Glasgow! As part of a road trip across the UK, Dippy is venturing out of London for the first time since 1905. And he’s on a mission …to inspire five million natural history adventures, encouraging families to explore the incredible natural history collections and biodiversity right on your doorstep in Glasgow. Access to Dippy is via the Argyle Street entranceway during normal museum opening hours.

27 Jan Sing-A-Long The Greatest Showman 14.30 & 19.30 I £16 Theatre Royal Glasgow, Glasgow G2 3QA

www.atgtickets.com Experience The Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible - with lyrics on the screen so you can join in as loud as you want. Our live host will teach you a unique set of dance moves that will truly make you Come Alive. As they show you how to use our interactive prop bags, you also get to practice your cheers, your boos and even a few wolf whistles. It couldn’t be easier or more fun! The first rule of Sing-a-long-a is THERE ARE NO RULES! Fancy dress is strongly encouraged.

30 Jan Monte Carlo Classic Car Rally From 15.30 I FREE Clydebank www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk The world-famous event will see familiesonline.co.uk

www.bookeo.com/ sewconfidentglasgow In just one afternoon your child will become a sewing whizz-kid! To start off everyone will be taught some sewing machine basics. We will then use these new skills to practice on creating some fun felt shapes which will be used again later to decorate their first ever project...a tote bag! Perfect for carrying about all their future makes and sewing accessories! Fabric, juice and biscuits are included in the class price.

10 Feb Little Fix 14.00 I from £13 The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow G2 3AX

0141 332 1846 www.paviliontheatre.co.uk The UK’s official number 1 Little Mix Tribute Band deliver a high energy show and replicate the energy, stage presence and vocal abilities of the original group with stunning stage outfits to match. The band power through all of Little Mixes biggest hits with identical choreography and vocal finesse proving that “Girl Power” is back on the agenda.

12 Feb Soundplay Dome 10.30 & 13.30 I£8.50I £5/£4 0-12yrs Platform, Glasgow G34 9JW

0141 276 9696 www.platform-online.co.uk A magical sensory space where children of all ages can explore sound and light. Creating a soothing musical landscape from objects and tactile materials, the dome works as a digital instrument that can be played in accessible and surprising ways.

12th Feb There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly 14.30 I £11/£9 I 2+ yrs Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock G46 6UG

0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk From the creators of Don't Dribble On The Dragon, this magical

show has been written especially for grown-ups to enjoy with their children, so come and relive the delights of this most charming of tales complete with a feast of sing along songs, colourful animal characters and heart-warming family fun.

13 Feb Little Gift 10.30 & 13.30 I £8.50/£5/£4 3+ yrs Platform, Glasgow G34 9JW

0141 276 9696 www.platform-online.co.uk A friendship waiting to grow. An old soul lives alone. He likes it that way.

It’s quieter and safer. One day, a surprise visitor plants a little seed of hope and turns this lonely life upside down. Told with exquisite puppetry, original music and a whole lot of heart, Little Gift is a new story from multi award-winners M6 Theatre and Andy Manley.

16-17 Feb Room on the Broom 10.30 + 13.30 I £11.50 I 3+yrs The Town House Theatre, Hamilton

01698 452299 The witch and her cat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night. With the help of a daft dog, a beautiful bird and a friendly frog, her belongings are retrieved.

But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK! - it snaps in two!

When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

22-24 Feb Model Rail Scotland 10.30-17.00 I £5/£12 SEC, Glasgow G3 8YW

www.modelrail-scotland.co.uk Model Rail Scotland is the biggest model railway show held in Scotland.

A must for the model railway enthusiast and a great day out for kids and grown-ups.

23 Feb Strathbungo Winter Wanderland 18.00-21.30 I FREE Glasgow South Side

www.windowwanderland.com Simply create a window display in the front windows of your flat, house, business or shop. Please don't feel intimidated! A 'display' could be as simple as a candle, book, fairy lights or image in a window. Or you could go all out and stage a performance in your front room! Simple or spectacular... it's completely up to you. Strathbungo Window Wanderland is organised entirely by volunteers in their spare time.

24 Feb Funbox Presents the Wild West Show 12.00 + 15.30 I from £14.75 SEC, Glasgow G3 8YW www.funbox.co.uk Yeee haaaa! Saddle up partners as FUNBOX head out on the prairie for their brand-new spectacular for 2019. Get your cowboy or cowgirl boots and spurs on and join us for a rootin’ tootin’ hoedown with Anya, Kevin, Gary and Bonzo (formerly of The Singing Kettle). Who’s the quickest draw in town? Who will wear the Sheriff’s silver star? Can you eat too many baked beans?

And will they find their missing keys

by High Noon? Jam packed with singalong favourites like ‘Skip To Ma Lou’, ‘Oh My Darling Clementine’, as well as brand new songs, THE WILD WEST SHOW is a rightrollicking rodeo ride for all the family.

Remember to come dressed for the wild west - big people too!

28 Feb The X Factor Live Tour 18.30 I from £26.65 SEC, Glasgow G3 8YW

www.ticketmaster.co.uk The X Factor Tour has thrilled over three million people since it began 14 years ago, making it one of the UK’s most successful annual arena tours.

X Factor Digital Presenter, Becca Dudley, will be return as host.

March 1-3 Mar European Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2019 Emirates Arena, Glasgow G40 3HY

www.glasgow2019athletics.com We take great pleasure in welcoming the 35th European Athletics Indoor Championships to Glasgow, and we can’t wait to open our doors for Europe’s best. Witness six sessions of action-packed sport over three days of intense competition in the intimate Emirates Arena as some of the best athletes in the world compete for prestigious European titles. Glasgow will see over 600 athletes from 50 nations take to the tracks. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this thrilling event and get closer to the action.

2-3 Mar Running, Cycling and Outdoor Pursuits Show 10.00-17.00 I TBC (under 10s free) SEC, Glasgow G3 8YW

Over two fun-packed days, the show will have a host of interactive attractions for the whole family, including a mini veldodrome, mountain bike track, indoor running track and Segway and Triathlon challenges to name but a few.

With big cycle and running brands coming along with their ranges for you to test and try, plus great offers from retailers, you’re guaranteed to have a great day out.

14-31 Mar Glasgow International Comedy Festival Various venues www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com Another fabulous line-up from the Comedy Festival guarantees that the beginning of spring is never dull.

Includes the return of popular James Campbell, and one of our party entertainer tips: Gary Dunn. Check out his style at his show Mar23/24 if you’re not sure about booking him!

16th Mar The Music of Harry Potter 15.00 & 19.30 I from £19 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

G2 3NY, 0141 353 8000 Over the course of eight blockbuster movies, four composing wizards put quill to parchment to create magical soundtracks to accompany the wondrous world of Harry Potter. We invite muggles, squibs and magic folk alike to join us as Hollywood Conductor Richard Kaufman waves his wand to bring this magical music…

Families Glasgow 19

© Disney, © Disney/Pixar.

11th – 14th April 2019 thessehydro.com

Families Glasgow

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