Families Glasgow Jan- Feb 2015

Glasgow’s really useful magazine for families with children aged 0-12

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Issue 49 Jan/Feb 2015

Clubs & Classes Birthday Party Guide Nurseries & Childcare S OT R T NS FO TE E TO

AWARD-WINNING DANCE AND CHEERLEADING PARTIES FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY KIDS stepitupdance.co.uk/parties /StepItUpDance

07428 110 135

@StepItUpDanceUK

OCTOBERADFORFAMILIES55mm70mm.indd 1

drama for the early years

07736298013 www.monkeydrama.co.uk ALANA@MONKEYDRAMA.CO.UK

26/11/2014 11:38

Award winning music classes for babies & young children BEARSDEN,MILNGAVIE,LENZIE,BISHOPBRIGGS T: 0141 5737299 E: bearsden.lenzie@monkeymusic.co.uk

Places available from Birth-5 years

www.somersetnursery.com

6 Fitzroy Place Glasgow G3 7RH

News & Views

In this issue…

2-3

News and Views

4-6

Nurseries Special Feature

8-9

Birthday Party Bonanza

10-12 Clubs and Classes 13

New Year New You

14-16 What’s on

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 - March/April 2015. Special features: Baby and Mum, Family Breaks, Easter Activities and Camps.

Copy deadline: 6 February.

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.

Families Glasgow copies are FREE and available through a selected network of distribution outlets through Glasgow.

Front page photo: M & Co - www.mandco.com Copyright: Families Glasgow Magazine June 2013.

Disclaimer: Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owners risk and, whilst every care is taken, neither Families Glasgow nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families Glasgow is part of the Families group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre Year Round Children & Families Programme Shows, Workshops, Birthday Parties

PUPPETS & MAGIC FOR ALL Magipup Festival 11-19 Oct 2014

info@maskandpuppet.co.uk www.maskandpuppet.co.uk Tel: 0141 339 6185

8-10 Balcarres Ave, Kelvindale Glasgow G12 0QF

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Step It Up Dance in Glasgow Now! Since their launch three years ago, Urban Dance experts Step It Up Dance have injected new exciting energy into Edinburgh’s dance scene with their Breakdance, Street Dance, Hip Hop and Cheerleading classes and parties for healthy, happy kids from tots to teens. Step It Up Dance is now proud to announce that they are available for class and party bookings in Glasgow!

Current winners of the Netmums Best Party Supplier in Scotland award, they pride themselves on hosting highly active, imaginative and fun parties in Creative Dance (for age 3 – 5) and Urban Dance & Cheer (for age 5+). It is important to them to inspire, encourage and motivate children in a happy environment.

They also offer a variety of classes within educational settings, working within nurseries and schools to provide Curriculum Dance classes in all styles. As well as this, they also deliver after-school classes and holiday workshops for all ages.

Want more information for you, your child’s school or nursery? Please contact hello@stepitupdance.co.uk or call Niki on 07428 110 135 for class and party information. Check out their website www.stepitupdance.co.uk for testimonials and more!

Riverside Playgroup Set To Celebrate in 2015 Established in 1985, Riverside Playgroup is celebrating its 30th anniversary in October 2015.

To mark this great achievement the playgroup has plans to develop an outside garden play area . The area will be designed with the young children in mind, with some fantastic opportunities for them to explore the outdoor world. They will learn how to grow plants, explore the fascinating world of insects with a ‘bug hotel’ and interact with a ‘sensory garden’. In addition to providing lots of fun for the children the outside area will help develop and promote various life skills including building confidence, encouraging team work and promoting self motivation.

In 2015 the group has plans to continue to grow its French Ducks Sessions which provide an afternoon Playgroup session in the French language. This has proven to be an exciting way to stimulate the linguistic imaginations of the group’s 3-5 year olds.

Plans are also in place to launch a website in January. Exciting times!

See our new revamped website

www.familiesglasgow.co.uk

Open 7.30am - 6.00pm Mon to Fri

Inc. Bank Holidays (except Christmas & New Year)

Forest Kindergarten Programme Term time places also available For teachers, students & others working in an educational setting.

Places available for 0 – 5 years Easy parking/drop off ‘Provides a caring & nurturing environment’ (Care inspection report December 2013)

Telephone 0141 631 5235 nursery@cassiltoun.org.uk www.cassiltounstablesnursery.co.uk

Castlemilk Stables, 59 Machrie Road, Castlemilk, G45 0AZ Company Registration No SC423689

New interactive What’s on calendar to search events and things to do locally.

From clubs and classes to parenting advice and tips, party ideas, local news and activities for children of all ages.

Riverside Playgroup Nurturing play sessions from 2 till school age Contact: Playleaders Jackie on

07979 876695 or Assia on 07956 091487

Newlands South Church, 37 Riverside Road, Glasgow, G43 2EG. Registered Charity No. SC014672

independent News schools & Views 2013

Is it cow's milk allergy?

Is your baby crying excessively in its first few months? Are you concerned that something might be wrong? New research shows that persistent and unexplained crying can be a sign of cow’s milk allergy, an intolerance that is notoriously difficult to diagnose. A new campaign called Is it Cow’s Milk Allergy? provides expert advice to help parents spot and understand the symptoms of CMA, which occurs when the immune system identifies a protein within the cow’s milk as harmful, and triggers an allergic reaction.

Visit www.isitCowsMilkAllergy.co.uk for more information and to download a fact sheet, symptom diary and detailed questionnaire which you can complete and then discuss with your GP. The Allergy UK helpline is on 01322 619898.

Steiner education returns to Glasgow!

Fantastic modern Family Cafe Opens in Uddingston A brand new trendy cafe with cute traditional play areas, a sensory room and party room has opened in Uddingston. Gail Gillon, who formerly ran Gymboree Glasgow South is bringing her passion of children learning through play and added a really nice environment for adults too. The cafe area is separated from the play areas so even those without children can feel happy to drop in for a lovely lunch in what must be one of the most stylish cafes in Lanarkshire. The central chandelier sets off the gorgeous ceiling and comfy sofas and chairs add to the relaxed ambience.

The cafe appeals to a wide age range from babies through to senior citizens. Grandparents can enjoy a scone and coffee in the knowledge that they won’t have to scale a height to retrieve children as in the usual Soft Plays. Children get an opportunity to develop a range of social skills within the Castle walls from the Fire station to Cookies Cottage and even a miniature Tunnocks bakery.

The Sensory room is testament to the owner’s commitment that all children have a need to play in the wider community.

Already a magnet for families throughout Lanarkshire and further afield the addition of a ceramic workshop area which is planned will be particularly welcomed by school children in the neighbourhood.

Attention to detail has not been spared in this new venture and Gail has taken much care to provide a really pretty party room for children too. The party room and cafe can be exclusively booked on a Sunday for a range of events from Christenings to Anniversaries to Birthday Parties for the young and not so young.

Find out more on www.facebook.com/jollytotsandcookies

After the tragic fire in 2013 which destroyed the school, a group of families and teachers called the Glasgow Steiner Community have kept the dream of Waldorf education alive and are now running groups for children aged 0-6 and a Home Education group every week during term-time.

From the new base in Anniesland there is currently a Parent and Toddler group every Friday from for 0-3s and a Playgroup on Monday to Thursday mornings for 3-6 year olds, which will bloom into a full registered Kindergarten by August 2015. All groups aim to provide children with an environment in which they can feel secure and where their abilities to create, initiate and imagine are nurtured.

There is also a Home Education group for school age children which runs 5 days a week from 3 rooms in the Theosophical Society.

For more information please visit www.glasgowsteinercommunity.co.uk

Families Glasgow

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Nursery Feature

Choosing the right nursery

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or many parents, nurseries are the ideal choice for childcare. They offer working hours, with a lot of flexibility - you can choose hours to suit you, from a few half days to full working weeks. Nurseries give children the opportunity to socialise with groups of other children and adults. They can also give a reassuring continuity of care, with an assigned key worker. Your child may be at the same setting from babyhood, right until they start at school.

Finding the right nursery can be a difficult and stressful process.

The first time you hand over full-time care of your precious offspring to someone else is always going to be emotional, so you want to be absolutely sure that you have made the right choice for all of you.

Different types of nursery It’s important to research what’s available as early as possible to find the best fit. Your different options may include: Day Nurseries - great for working parents, as they are usually open from 8am-6pm Nursery Schools - for older toddlers (usually about 2 and 1/2 and up) these nurseries offer a more structured preparation for school Nursery classes in school - usually run for the year before reception, they have a similar structure to nursery schools, though often only run half-day sessions.

THE GLASGOW ACADEMY Kelvinbridge, Milngavie & Newlands

You want only the best for your growing family.

So do we.

That’s why so many parents trust our Nursery.

Pre-school funding available Our Nurseries at Kelvinbridge, Milngavie and Newlands take children from the age of 3.

For an information pack, call Suzanne on 0141 342 5494 or e-mail her at exrel@tga.org.uk

www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk 4

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Your first visit Make time to look around potential nurseries, well before you are going to need to use them. Read the Inspection Report www.hmie.gov.uk and make a list of your priorities before you go. See if you can find out any first hand information from friends (though bear in mind what’s good for one family might not work for another).

Things to consider:

Staff and ethos See what the turnover of staff is (always a good indicator of happiness) and check their qualifications. The presence of older staff members brings added life experience and suggests that the nursery values its staff enough to pay for this. Check out the routines, such as what food they offer and when it’s served, or when and where the children can nap.

Cost Be realistic in how much you can pay. A perfect work-life balance doesn’t mean working more hours to pay for a ‘better’ nursery!

Most nurseries have funded places for 3 to 5-year-olds, and your workplace may offer childcare vouchers, a tax-free way to pay. You may also be eligible for childcare tax credits, to find out more go to www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

The ‘feel’ of the place Going by gut instinct alone isn’t advisable, but if you don’t get a good feeling, it might not be the place for your child. Happy staff and children can make up for a lack of perfection in other areas.

Look out for children’s work on the walls, and staff who actually play with the kids rather than stand around chatting.

Your child’s personality Is your child quiet and shy, or loud and outgoing? Do they love playing outdoors, or prefer indoor games? It seems obvious, but try to match the nursery to your child’s interests.

Your own needs!

There might be a wonderful nursery half an hour drive away from you, but consider how will both of your tiredness levels be after this daily journey - would you be better to find somewhere closer that is a good fit? Equally the most convenient, say a work-place nursery, may not be the best for your child.

Commenting on visiting a prospective nursery, Debbie Simmers, Director, Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens says, “pay attention to how the staff interact with the other children. They should always show respect, compassion and understanding and most of all be happy in their role’.

For more Nursery and Childcare related articles and links to relevant sites visit www.familiesglasgow.co.uk

Nursery Feature

What to expect from your child’s nursery education

W

e’ve all heard about the importance of early years education. Apparently a child who has gone to pre-school has more chance of getting better exam results and ultimately earning higher wages, according to new research undertaken by academics at the Institute of Education.

So you send your child to nursery, in the hope that it will improve their education prospects. But what are they actually going to do there all day? They’re not going to tell you! Teenagers struggle enough to recall what’s happened a few hours before, so you can’t expect detailed information from a 3-year-old.

To give you some idea of what will happen, you can look at the legal requirements for nurseries in the UK. In Scotland this is the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ see www.educationscotland.gov.uk for more detail but essentially this sets out the welfare and developmental goals for children 5 years and under. It gives guidelines for safety and learning and development for all early years providers - all nurseries, child minders, playgroups, preschools and reception classes The activities they will do at nursery, to support their learning and development will be unique to your child’s needs. They will learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. There is a requirement for ‘continuous provision’, which in layman’s terms means that there needs to be high quality resources and activities available all of the time, so your child can learn through play in lots of different ways.

We can make the difference 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. Arrange a visit for more information on our extended opening times, wrap around care and excellent regulatory reports.

How will I know how my child is doing?

Your child will have a ‘key person’ at nursery, pre-school or reception class, who is responsible for putting together information on how they are developing. This person will be your main point of contact, and it’s important that you work together and communicate well. Any worries about your child should be discussed with their key worker, and they will be able to build on what your child is learning at home.

Awarded sector leading ‘Excellent’ grades across all inspection areas West End site opening 2015

Sandringham Avenue, Newton Mearns 0141 639 2922

0844 736 5865 www.belmontschool.co.uk

admin@woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.co.uk www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.com Families Glasgow

Jan/Feb 2015

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Nursery News

Nursery News

Here's some news from local nurseries across Glasgow for 2015 Woodland Outdoor Kindgartens gets Excellent rating from The Care Inspectorate Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens has been graded as Excellent, the highest rating, across all 8 inspection areas.

The Care Inspectorate visited the kindergarten recently for an unannounced two day inspection, choosing possibly the two wettest and coldest days in November to join them in the woods!

Following the visit the Inspector’s decision was to officially grade Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens with the top Grade of 6/Excellent across all 8 inspection focus areas. It is a sector leading result with less than 1% of nurseries nationally achieving this accolade, many of those being local authority nurseries. Indeed currently no nurseries, either private or local authority run, in East Renfrewshire have received this grading and only five nurseries across the whole of Glasgow City Council area have achieved this grading.

The Inspectors, Patricia Fox and Wilma Lundie, said that they were very impressed with what they observed commenting particularly that ‘Children’s voices were at the heart of everything that happened within the service. Children were confident, happy and active in their environment. Staff’s calm, reflective and inclusive approach is exceptional. The manager shares her wealth of experience and knowledge with others. Her approach is inspiring, with complete commitment to the work she and her team do’. ‘WOK provides an exceptional environment that is caring, nurturing, included, challenging and unique and in which children were encouraged and inspired to be creative, learn and grow’

Other News - WOK goes West!

Look out for Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens opening in the West End of the City in summer 2015. Further details will follow soon. www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.com

If you go down to the woods today…

At Cassiltoun Stables Nursery the children have the exciting opportunity to use their local Commonwealth woodland as an outdoor classroom, play area and creative space. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to play, explore and learn. The children benefit from having a warm and stimulating indoor environment as well as access to the fantastic woodland.

Over the past 10 weeks children from our Caterpillar Room have been taking part in our second programme of Forest Kindergarten. The children participated in a range of activities, including exploring for bugs and beasties, building dens and natural arts and crafts all the time using what was around them. Our graduation ceremony took place on Wednesday 10th December.

Research has shown that outdoor learning leads to a range of benefits for children’s development, including better concentration, better communication skills, greater stamina, improved balance and coordination, increased confidence and appreciation and understanding of the outdoors.

For more information on Cassiltoun Stables Nursery please contact us or visit our website: Tel: 0141 6315234 nursery@cassiltoun.org.uk, www.cassiltounstablesnursery.org,uk 6

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Glasgow Academy Nursery and Kindergarten in the words of our biggest supporters - our parents: “We would like to thank the staff of Glasgow Academy for the exceptional year that our son has had at the Nursery. He has grown hugely in confidence and has been happy in a stimulating environment. We have been delighted with the care given to him by all the staff.”

“Amazing! my child has been so happy in Kindergarten.

His learning has come on leaps and bounds. All the teachers are fantastic and he talks about them all individually. Very impressive!”””

We offer a flexible service to parents of children from age 3.

Nursery is open 8 am - 6 pm, 50 weeks of the year with the option of year-round or term-time sessions.

For more information or to arrange a visit call 0141 342 5494.

Beginning Education at Belmont Nursery School With a roll of fewer than 300 pupils from age 3-18 years, and with an aim to nurture well-rounded, happy children, Belmont School is a school with a vision to send balanced young men and women into the world, equipped with the self-confidence and educational attainment they need to lead successful, productive and fulfilling lives.

The School offers a very wide range of academic subjects and extra-curricular opportunities from Nursery through to Senior 6; every pupil matters and is strongly encouraged to both reach and surpass their academic potential while participating in the varied, wider life of the School. The School’s most recent inspection report praised the School’s “positive and inclusive ethos”, its “very good ethos of hard work and achievement” and a “consistently high standard of attainment in recent years.”

The School’s Nursery has partnership status with East Renfrewshire Council and is an exciting place to start education.

Located in a spacious, vibrant building at the heart of the School, the Nursery provides 3-5 year olds with a wide range of educational experiences, cultivating solid foundations where confidence is developed, enquiry encouraged and a love of learning is established. There is a stimulating active learning curriculum, building strong links for a seamless transition into Junior 1. An extensive Nursery Garden and outdoor learning space is available in addition to access to the facilities and expertise of the School as a whole, including the Junior School teaching staff and the excellent resources in the Music, IT, Modern Languages and Physical Education departments. www.belmontschool.co.uk

Somerset Nursery celebrates the end of 2014 In November the children and families of Somerset Nursery held their annual ceilidh to celebrate St Andrews day. The parents were delighted to watch their children perform a Scottish reel and the Gay Gordons accompanied by the bag pipes and to top it all off the children sang Oh Flower of Scotland to their amazed audience.

The boys and girls had a wonderful Christmas party and got a huge surprise when Santa and his reindeer flew in to visit the children and their families in the nursery gardens. This was a truly magical occasion. Some children were prepared with their Christmas lists while others were happy to watch in awe as this special jolly visitor gave out gifts and joined them in a Christmas sing-song. It was great fun petting and feeding the reindeer.

We are all looking forward to another busy year ahead and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year from all the boys, girls and staff at Somerset Nursery. www.somersetnursery.com

Bonjour ! th Classes start from Friday 6 February

•FRENCH morning and evening classes •Adults and children •Suitable for all levels

OPEN DAYS

31st Jan: 1.30-3.30pm 3rd & 4th Feb: 5-7pm

Alliance Française de Glasgow

Enrolling 3 Park Circus, GLASGOW G3 6AX now!

Tel: 0141 331 4080 / admin@afglasgow.org.uk Free assessment www.afglasgow.org.uk

• Jolly Tots & Cookies Birthday Fun • Exclusive Party Bookings on Sundays • Themed party packages available contact details

Telephone: 01698 811337

Jolly Tots & Cookies, 71 Old Mill Road, Uddingston, G71 7PF

HAVE YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH US. EASY. 0141 420 5000 glasgowsciencecentre.org Families Glasgow

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Parties

Pick of the Parties 2015 You may think party season is over following Christmas but it might be that you’ve got a little one whose birthday is in the early months of 2015 and if so, we’ve put together our pick of some of the best children’s party packages around. Don’t forget to visit our massive online Party Directory throughout the year for more party information, ideas and suppliers for the perfect party for your birthday boy or girl.

See www.familiesglasgow.co.uk for even more!!!

Monkey Drama Parties Excellent themed drama adventures to give your wee ones a party to remember. Lots of different packages are available. All Monkey Drama parties are full of imaginative fun which will entertain and involve all the children! We will come to any venue across Glasgow even your house! Parties are 1 hour long adventures.

For more details contact alana@monkeydrama.co.uk Tel: 07736298013

Step It Up Dance Parties Add originality and style to your child’s special day with an awardwinning Step It Up Dance party! With overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and kids, you can rest assured your dance party will be a huge hit! Parties can be tailor-made just for you, accommodating any theme and will include original dancethemed party games, teaching of dance moves and routines, creative storytelling (for younger children), performance of dance routines in front of parents & carers and a fun award ceremony with personalised certificates and a medal for the birthday child.

Please see www.stepitupdance.co.uk for more details and keep an eye on the facebook page www.facebook.com/ stepitupdance

BUSHCRAFT BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Come and have some fun in the woods for a different Birthday Party! Choose from a range of activities: Make a Bow & Arrow; Campfire Cooking; Treasure Hunt & Den Building.

Have the Birthday Cake around a campfire!

Near Loch Lomond & the Trossachs’s National Park FAMILY BUSHCRAFT EXPERIENCES Spend time together as a family learning bushcraft skills!

WIDE RANGE OF WOODLAND CRAFTS AVAILABLE TO ALL! GROUP BOOKINGS WELCOME! www.greenaspirationscotland.co.uk Company No. 442821 info@greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk 0141 342 4188 8

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Baby Loves Disco We love a birthday party at Baby Loves Disco – after all, we’ve been partying for 10 years! We now have two different events, Baby Loves Disco; the original family dance party, which offers a unique opportunity to celebrate early years birthdays in a stylish nightclub environment with family and friends, and Pop Lock-in, where primary school age children take over the coolest nightspot in town.

Baby Loves Disco is as much fun for parents as it is for little ones and with facepainting, healthy snacks and juiceboxes, crafts, dancefloor games and giveaways, bubbles, balloons, dress-up, play tents and inflatables and more all included in the entry price, this in itself is an ideal birthday party for any groovy kid.

A party at Pop Lock-in will make your child the envy of the whole school – and win you major cool-parent points! All the activities from open mic karaoke, street dance instruction and wii gaming to photo booth, nail bar and glitter tattoos are included in the entry price and all junior clubbers receive a mocktail and cupcake too.

The ultimate birthday party is topped off with a reserved booth, birthday shout-out from the DJ and party tea in a private room. www.babylovesdisco.co.uk

Gambado Glasgow is where Birthday memories are made!

Sit back and relax whilst we organise a perfect party memory!

We offer a host of parties to suit all children, choose from one of our special packages below…….

Tiger Tots Birthday Party- perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Available Monday- Friday before 2pm, term-time only and for up to 4 years.

Tiger Birthday Party- our most popular party for 1-12 years. 2 hours of play, buffet and celebration. Available Monday-Sunday.

Make A Bear Birthday Party- combine building one of our plush teddy bears with play, buffet and celebration. Suitable for 3 years plus and available Monday-Sunday.

Foam Dart Frenzy Birthday Party- Perfect for children who love NERF! A safe & fun 2 hours of battle, play, buffet and celebration.

Available to book after school and weekend early evenings.

Suitable for 5 years plus.

Princess Birthday Party- The perfect package for your little princess! 2 hours of our magical princess workshop (includes Frozen on request), play, buffet and celebration. Available Monday- Sunday.

Plus…. We offer party themes, character visits, adult catering and clear up all the mess for you!

For all our party information or to book please visit our website http://www.gambado.com/clubs/glasgow/partiesprivate-hire or call our friendly booking team on 01372 233098

Parties

Book a Rugbytots Party Now Looking for a high energy party. Give Rugbytots a try! Our parties are focused on games and having fun and are not skill specific so can be enjoyed by everyone, boys and girls from age 4 -7. Our coaches are enthusiastic and well trained to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience.

Feedback from a recent party - ‘“Thanks for a great party on Sunday. The whole family enjoyed it!! The games were fantastic and kept all the children very well entertained, I think you will have a few new Rugbytots!”

For further details contact sandra@rugbytots.co.uk or 0845 313 3252

Strike Gold with a Science Centre party

Have a Monkey Music Party with your little monkey Whatever the occasion Monkey Music offer fabulous parties for your little one and their friends and you’ll be assured of 45 minutes of fun and laughter.

Parties are planned individually for the age of your child and the ages and numbers of children attending. There will be lots of singing, dancing, musical games and playing percussion instruments, with a wide variety of wonderful props and toys – including parachutes and bubbles! Favourite songs and themes can be included such as Down on the Farm/ In the Jungle/ Transport/ Pirates and Princesses. Parties can be held at home or at a venue of your choice.

Each party includes party invitations, balloons, birthday card and a present from Monkey for the birthday boy or girl.

Your Monkey Music party leader and of course Monkey - will make sure that everyone has a really special day to remember!

For more information please contact Fiona on 0141 573 7299 or email bearsden.lenzie@monkeymusic.co.uk

Your birthday party can strike gold, dig deep into the past or journey through the galaxies at the Science Centre. You’ll get the run of the place, with plenty of time to play in the 3 floors of awesome interactive exhibits as well as a fab party feast with a choice of popular party food in one of the Centre’s private rooms.

Then gather round and let’s see what we can find! Explore for fossils in our ‘Dino Dig’, where you’ll search for the remains of long dead dinosaurs using all the skills of the fossil-hunter! You might get to cast a fossil taking a mould from a real one and making a replica to take home.

Or go on a gold-rush – your task, with your friends, is to put together a radio controlled car from the kit we provide, then use it to gather gold from around a tricky obstacle course and bring your loot back to home-base. Exciting? You bet!

Perhaps wide open space is more the thing. The magic of our planetarium lets you and your pals travel back in time and deep in space, to explore galaxies and planets in amazing detail. And the further away you go from planet earth the older the things you see – even our nearest galaxy is about 160,000 light years away and some are more than 300 million lightyears distant.

Mums and Dads aren’t forgotten either, with special rates for admission.

All the information is available on our website at www. glasgowsciencecentre.org/birthday-parties/play-for-the-dayparty.html

See our online party guide for more party ideas including Jellytots Family Cafe at Uddingston with it’s own party room and exclusive use packages on Sundays.

www.familiesglasgow.co.uk Families Glasgow

Jan/Feb 2015

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Clubs & Classes in 2015

Local Clubs & Classes in 2015 Looking for some new ideas for clubs, classes and activities your children can get involved in this year. Here are some we’ve heard about that are sure to keep them busy, active and interested!

New owners at Razzamataz Glasgow North Friends for over 4 years and now work partners Louise and Lynsey have taken over Razzamataz Theatre School in Newton Mearns quickly followed by the Bearsden school too from previous owner and Principal Natalie James.

Commenting on their new venture, the girls said, “We are so grateful to Natalie for allowing us to seize this opportunity and we’re excited to be part of a professional and reputable brand and network of support”. Having taken over two months ago, Lyndsey is busy juggling family life with her husband and 2 children, along with a nursing job at a GP, meanwhile Louise is running a busy dance school in Busby with over 300 children.

Both come from dancing backgrounds, and they are well experienced and equipped to run the theatre school and are keen to learn more and grow along the way. Along with their strong teaching team, they aim to work tirelessly at making both schools a success and are very passionate and excited about doing so.

For more information on the school visit www.razzamataz.co.uk

Jo Jingles Classes!

Come and meet Jo Jingles – the happy little fellow all dressed in red and yellow! Jo Jingles is the UK’s largest provider of fun and interactive music, singing and movement classes for babies and pre-school age children. It has been a huge success in and around Glasgow for over 10 years. Babies from 3 months up to school age along with their parents or carers enjoy action songs encouraging physical development and co-ordination skills, and activities such as instrument playing and interactive games that encourage listening and concentration skills.

Dr Miriam Stoppard believes that “A child is more confident, usually speaks early and gains an early grasp of the rules of communication if started early in clapping games, group activities and musical games.”

For more information and to find out about our free trial classes in Glasgow South contact Gillian on 0141 616 3562 www.jojingles.com/glasgowsouth or Toni in Glasgow North on 07952 944317 www.jojingles.com/glasgownorth

Visit the Language hub for all sorts of sessions and book readings The Language Hub runs a children’s bookshop and language school for all in the west end of Glasgow. We stock pre-loved and new books in more than 30 languages (including English) and various educational toys. We offer language classes, tuition and bilingual support sessions for children and adults from 6 months onwards. Our services also cover drop in singing and reading sessions and regular themed activities and book readings.

For 2015, we will be adding English sessions for children and adults and interactive yoga adventures for children to our timetable. You can also book us and our space for small children’s/ family parties.

Details on all our classes, activities and online bookshop can be found on our website www.thelanguagehub.co.uk.

Alternatively, just pop into our shop, have a nosey or a coffee while browsing: 52 Keith Court, Glasgow G11 6QW (Partick), we are open seven days a week.

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

The Original Family Dance Party Monthly Sundays @ Hummingbird, Bath Street, Glasgow

www.babylovesdisco.co.uk 10 Jan/Feb 2015

Families Glasgow

Miss Claire info@ballet4babies.co.uk

0775 911 9965

Clubs & Classes in 2015

Rugbytots is in Glasgow Rugbytots is a highly energetic play programme for children aged 2-7 years. Rugbytots is run by Carl McWilliam, who was formerly part of the New Zealand 7s team and played in the Scottish Premier league for Watsonians.

Feedback from across our venues has been very positive. One mum recently commented ‘Many thanks for everything you have taught us over the last few years, Rugbytots has been by far the best activity that we have taken part in and worth every penny for the range of skills and the discipline you have given him.’

Classes currently run in Newton Mearns, West End and Bishopbriggs. Bearsden and Paisley are coming very soon.

To find out more or to book a class visit our website at www.rugbytots.co.uk. If you have any questions, please e-mail sandra@rugbytots.co.uk.

Get ready for back to school with Explore Learning!

Riverside Playgroup provides nurturing play sessions - 2 till school age

Learn French at Alliance Francaise de Glasgow

For nearly 30 years its’ original,educational and lively sessions have taken thousands of little people on big adventures. Riverside Playgroup has 4 groups.

Ducklings session: Tuesday from 09:40-11:10. For children aged 2 years and accompanied by parent. The focus in these sessions is on making friends and socialising with other little people whilst having the security of parents being there.

Ducks session: Monday and Wednesdays from 09:35-11:30.

For children aged 2.5 years and older without their parent. The emphasis in these sessions is on building self confidence, tackling separation anxieties, and developing positive attachments.

French Ducks session: Thursday from 13:00-14:30. For children between 3-5 years old without their parents.Teaching your children their first French words through play,song and interaction with our French Playleader.

Family Ducks session: Friday from 09:40-11:10. For children and families aged between 2-5 years accompanied by parents.

Contact our Playleaders Jackie on 07979 876695 or Assia on 07956 091487. Held at Newlands South Church, 37 Riverside Road, Glasgow, G43 2EG. Find them on Facebook: Riverside Playgroup and Ducklings Group.Riverside Playgroup is a SCIO and registered charity. Charity No SC014672.

Get the new school term off to a great start at Explore Learning.

Our tailored courses are designed to support your child to become a confident and engaged learner.

Explore Learning centres provide maths, English and 11+ tuition to 5-14 year olds of all abilities. Explore fits easily around family life; the centres are open 7 days a week, with children able to attend up to twice a week on a drop-in basis.

Call your local centre to book a free trial, or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk.

Established in 1982, the Alliance Française de Glasgow is the official French cultural centre and language school for Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Language Centre: We offer French courses for adults, teenagers and children of all levels. Our teachers are all native speakers and fully qualified to teach French as a foreign language.

Our classes are held throughout the week (morning, lunchtime and evening sessions are available) and cover levels from complete beginners to advanced.

Exam Centre: The AF Glasgow is an official examination centre where you can obtain the official French diplomas awarded by the French authorities and recognized internationally.

Cultural Centre: Our teaching activities are complemented by cultural and social events such as our ‘Cafés’, wine tastings, talks, exhibitions, etc. Our multimedia library provides our members with a wide selection of items (books, DVDs, learning materials, etc) suitable for all levels, as well as an exclusive access to Europresse, a website which offers more than 1500 titles online.

Let our qualified and experienced team lead you and your children into the words and world of “la Belle France”.

Contact details: 0141 331 4080

Have a bear making party!

CLASSES IN BALLET, TAP AND JAZZ for boys and girls, aged 2 1/2 onwards

Sundays: in the Dance Studio, Williamwood High School

For more information please contact: Gail Ashley (M.B.A.T.D) 01475 531 336

www.gailashleyschoolofdance.co.uk contact@gailashleyschoolofdance.co.uk

Huggy Bears NO SEW cuddly bear and animal kits.

Find out more at:

www.huggybears.co.uk Tel: 0844 884 4842 Families Glasgow

Jan/Feb 2015 11

Clubs & Classes in 2015

Step It Up Dance Step It Up Dance is an urban dance company, specialising in highly active, educational and fun dance classes and award-winning parties for healthy, happy tots to teens. Step It Up Dance launched three years ago in Edinburgh and has now launched their unique brand of classes and parties in Glasgow!

The new term begins on Monday 26th January and classes can be viewed and booked easily online so why not join the fun?

Between their urban dance classes (age 18m+) to Curriculum Dance within schools and hugely popular nursery classes, Step It Up Dance get over a thousand children dancing every week!

Trial a class or book your party today and watch your child’s selfesteem grow before your very eyes!

For more information please see www.stepitupdance.co.uk or contact hello@stepitupdance.co.uk

Come and enjoy a free Monkey Music class!

If you’re looking for a fun and stimulating activity for your baby or pre-school child, you’ve come to the right place. At Monkey Music Glasgow we offer classes individually tailored for each age group.

By singing songs, using actions and engaging with colourful props and instruments, children build confidence, improve their vocabulary and co-ordination and develop vital life skills. Our classes are also designed to encourage positive communication between parent and child, as well as nurture a life time of music.

So why not come along to a FREE class and share in the fun.

Sign up for classes in January and receive our Little Monkey Club membership for a £1.00!

To book a class please contact Fiona on 0141 573 7299 or email bearsden.lenzie@monkeymusic.co.uk

Dance UK Mini Movers teaches little girls from 2-5yrs to learn to dance.

The Gail Ashley School of Dance The Gail Ashley School of Dance is an established dance school offering classes at two locations. On Saturday’s at the Cargill Centre in Kilmacolm and on Sunday afternoons at the purpose built dance studio within Williamwood High School, near Clarkston. The school is run by Gail Ashley, a teacher qualified to Member level of The British Association of Teachers of Dance.

The school runs classes in Ballet, Tap and Jazz for children aged 2 ½ years onwards. The classes are run in a fun, friendly and welcoming environment and are structured to encourage confidence, poise and flexibility. It is also an excellent opportunity for the children to make some new friends. The discipline of the traditional dance school remains but structured to make the classes more relaxed.

For more information on the classes, please visit the website www.gailashleyschoolofdance.co.uk or contact Gail on 01475 531336. The school is fully Disclosure (Scotland) certified and operates a child protection policy in line with East Renfrewshire Council requirements.

Language Within! French, German, Italian and Spanish classes for kids Using games, puzzles, stories and songs to introduce foreign sounds, words and phrases, your wee ones will be taken on an adventure of linguistic discovery in each 45 minute class.

Classes are after school or on Saturdays, limited to 12 students per group. Teachers are native speakers and PVG certified. All materials are provided.

Sign up today! hello@languagewithin.com or call 0778 629 6229 / 0141 433 9447

There are 2 stages: 2-3 yrs and 3-5 yrs. Parents are welcome to remain in the class until little ones are settled. Children learn beginner ballet, gentle exercise, songs and funky pop dance moves with the addition of Tap dancing lessons in stage 2. Principal, Jacqui Wilson and her Expert Teachers promise a fantastic blend of first class tuition and the latest moves. She explained, ‘It’s important get off to the right start on their dancing journey so we offer structured lessons, caring teachers and good fun every week.’

We have Schools at Baillieston, Bellahouston, Bishopbriggs, Maryhill and Wishaw and are enrolling through January. For class times, locations and bookings go to www.danceuk.co.uk.

FREE TASTER CLASS FOR NEW CHILDREN STARTING IN JANUARY. Dance UK. Excellence and Fun Guaranteed!

Monkey Drama... taking little imaginations on big adventures!

Monkey Drama classes are a fantastic way for children aged 2-5 to explore their imaginations.

Our classes, nursery sessions and parties run across Glasgow and Edinburgh and each week the children go on a different themed adventure. At Monkey Drama you can be a Pirate looking for treasure, an explorer on Safari, a Busy Bee making honey, an Astronaut, a Frog, a Superhero…with Monkey Drama the possibilities are endless! Each class is full of music, movement, characters, role play, improvisation, problem solving and fun with lots of props and imaginative play.

Book a FREE trial now. Classes run at Broomhill Community Church every Friday at either 9.45am or 11am and last for 45 minutes. Contact alana@monkeydrama.co.uk to book, visit www.monkeydrama.co.uk or call 07736298013.

Classes cost £19 for a block of 4 or £36 for a block of 8.

Booking is essential.

For more clubs and classes across Glasgow this year visit our online guide at www.familiesglasgow.co.uk 12 Jan/Feb 2015

Families Glasgow

New Year, New You

New Year New You

M

any of us wake up on January 1st feeling exhausted from Christmas, a little worse for wear from the night before and desperate for the kids to go back to school. But we also find ourselves scribbling lists of New Year’s resolutions – to get fit, lose weight, get stuck in to that pile of paperwork on the kitchen table and, often, to give our working lives a shake up too.

The New Year is not just about detox-ing our bodies – it can also be a time to detox our lives. In fact, January is a fantastic time for those of us with children in nursery or full time education for the first time to go back to work, start a new venture, set up our own business or to re-train in something that will get us leaping out of bed every morning!

From a new job or a whole new career, the world is your oyster as a working mum. If your hours are limited by the school run, setting up your own business or taking up a franchise can offer you the opportunity to do something you love while working flexible hours, and the options are limitless. You can choose anything from running a yoga franchise to teaching little ones dance or drama, from teaching Spanish to starting your own Families magazine!

Take a course, start a marketing business, design websites, set up a blog, open a café – it’s up to you. There are plenty of websites out there to help you get started and find a new job, retrain, choose the right business, give you ideas, advise you on tax and even help you design your logo, so there’s no excuse not to get stuck in this New Year.

Take a look at www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business, www.workingmums.co.uk, www.mumandcareer.co.uk, www.mumandworking.co.uk and www.mumpreneuruk.com.

You can do it!

For a new approach this new year try out Yoga with Lucie Yoga, breathwork, meditation and mindfulness in tune with the changing seasons.

It’s ok not to touch your toes and still practise yoga! Stretch and strengthen your body, improve tone, circulation, flexibility and experience the joy of inner calm. Lucie is an experienced yoga teacher (extending accreditation to 500 hours RYT in 2015) in seasonal flow, with elements of ashtanga and iyengar yoga, chi gung and feldenkrais. Her teaching boosts our natural energy flow in tune with the seasons, building core strength and flexibility, deepening the breath, enabling us to destress and relax in the present moment.

‘Thank you for pressing my reset button’, Dorothy O. I leave Lucie’s retreats revitalised, with inner calm and peace restored, David B. Southside classes and workshops, beginners/improvers, new mums, men’s yoga, restorative mini retreats.

Find out more at www.luciepotteryoga.co.uk or contact Lucie on 07727 015703 or luciepotter@hotmail.com

Vitality capsules from Pharmaton We all know what it’s like to feel physically and mentally exhausted from a busy day at work or with the kids and coping with everything can be an everyday battle.

Did you know that taking Pharmaton Vitality capsules helps reduce temporary tiredness and restore vitality when taken daily, and can be taken for a period of twelve weeks?

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are packed with vitamins, minerals and the unique Ginseng G115 that’s clinically proven to relieve fatigue and also aid mental and physical wellbeing.

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are also supported by over 30 clinical trials and studies. Try Pharmaton Vitality Capsules, to feel the positive difference. (Licensed medicine) For the relief of fatigue. Always read the label.

Article supplied by the makers of Pharmaton Vitality.

Families Glasgow

Jan/Feb 2015 13

What’s On 3 January

10 January

Ranger Walk Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Come and learn what our Rangers do. 1pm-3pm 3 January Saturday Art Club A Head Full of Activity Gallery Of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, G1 3AH 0141 287 3050 www.glasgowlife.org In furls of hair, invent worlds of hustle and bustle and create ‘a head full’ of activity in ringlets, spikes or a crew-cut. 10.30am - 12pm 4 January Junior Assault Course Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Assault course with prizes available.

1pm-3pm 5 January Rainforest Explorers Backpack Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org Pick up a backpack to complete our activity trail!

6 January RSPB: Tweeting Toddlers Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org An exciting group for toddlers and carers, with animal-themed songs and more. 11.30am-12pm / ¬£3 Every Tue from 6 to 14 Jan Whitelee Stroller Striders at Calderglen Country Park Calderglen Country Park, Strathaven Road, East Kilbride, G75 0QZ 01355 236644 www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk The Whitelee Stroller Striders is a regular parent and baby walking group that meets every Tuesday morning. 11 am 8 January - 18 January Circus Berlin on Ice Intu Braehead, King’s Insch Road, Glasgow, G51 4BN 0141 885 1440 www.intu.co.uk/braehead Continental Circus on Ice combines amazing feats of ice artistry with Jaw dropping Circus skills, Illusions & hilarious comedy are bound to make this new show a huge hit for the festive season. / From ¬£7 10 January

ARThouse 5.-8 years House For An Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW 0141 353 4770 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk This course will inspire, entertain and educate children aged 5-8 years, developing their creativity, skills and interests in a variety of art, design and architecture themed projects every Saturday morning. 9.30am / £85 Every other Sun from 11 Jan Winter Woodland Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finalystone.co.uk Use natural materials to create art.

1pm-3pm 13 January ARThouse 9-12 years House For An Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW 0141 353 4770 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk This course will inspire, entertain and educate children aged 9-12 years, developing their creativity, skills and interests in a variety of art, design and architecture themed projects every Saturday afternoon. / £85 15 January Pollok Crafty Kids Club The Village Storytelling Centre, 183 Meiklerig Crescent, Glasgow, G53 5NA 0141 8823025 www.glasgow.gov.uk Come to Pollok Community Centre and get crafty. 4pm 17 January Looking For Nessie Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk Do you believe in the Loch Ness Monster? Laughter and fun from Talking Head Puppets. 2pm 17 January Raspberry Pi Day University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ 0141 276 1614 www.strath.ac.uk Learn about computer programming 10am - 4pm / Adult £2.50 children free 17 January Robert Burns Family Fun Activities Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org An afternoon of songs, rhymes and craft activities for all the family.

Family Film Frozen Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk Animated smash hit Frozen. 10am / £2 14 Jan/Feb 2015

Families Glasgow

Every Sat from 17 January The Saturday Song and Story Circle Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org Join in with songs and stories inspired by the works of Robert Burns, to celebrate the approach of Burns Night. 11am-11.45am 17 January Wee Pirates Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Make pirate hats, eye patches, gold coins, grappling hooks and a boat, in this swashbuckling story-tour adventure. 11am & 2pm 17 January Book reading at The Language hub bookshop 52 Keith Court, Glasgow G11 6QW Local children’s author Dörte Diestel will be reading from her PIXI book “Luis und Lara verreisen mit dem Flugzeug”.

The famous German book series PIXI was established in 1954 and is published by Carlsen Verlag in Hamburg. This is a free event and will be in German and English to suit all. It is aimed at children aged 3+ and we have free copies of the books to give away!

2.30 - 3.30pm. Call 0141 258 2700 to reserve your place.

23 January The Electric Gardens Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0UE 0141 276 1614 www.glasgowbotanicgardens. com A walking tour through the darkened upper Botanic Gardens with dramatic lighting, sound effects and music. 5.30pm - 8.30pm / ¬£8 - ¬£30 24 January The Big Garden Birdwatch Rspb Baron Haugh’s Nature Reserve, Manse Road, Motherwell, ML1 2PZ 01413310993 www.rspb.org.uk Get ready for the big count. 10.30am / ¬£1-¬£2 24 January to 25 January Medieval Madness Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Knights and castles, swords and armour and a little bit of jousting too! 1pm-3pm 24 January Mucklemouth Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk Great Scottish tale by Poppies Puppets 2pm

18 January Fossil Fun Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Make your own fossil! How are different fossils made? What can they tell us about animals, plants and the world around us? 1pm-3pm 18 January Horrible Heidie Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org Come and take part in this interactive, character-led tour.

1pm-3pm 18 January Junior Ranger Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Come and learn what our Rangers do.

18 January Technicolour Dinosaurs Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org How do we know what dinosaurs looked like or even what colour they were? Discover how palaeontologists work and transform into a dinosaur yourself!

24 January RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org Come and join us in our biggest event, to learn more about the birds you might see, and join our watch!

1pm-4pm / ¬£1 donation 24 January Timorous Beastie Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org Design your own tartan, create some word art and learn about Scotland‚Äôs most famous poet Rabbie Burns! 10am & 2pm 24 January Tiny Tales Tron Theatre Ltd, 63 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HB 0141 572 4267 www.tron.co.uk Tiny tales are fun-filled storytelling sessions. 10.30am/£5

What’s On 25 January Yoga adventures at the Language Hub’s children’s bookshop 52 Keith Court, Glasgow G11 6QW (Partick) Contact Jenny Clark via www.jennyclarkyoga.com or book via us: info@thelanguagehub.co.uk.

From January 2015, children and their parents/carers will be able to attend monthly Yoga adventures at the hub run by Firefly yoga for youth. On the last Sunday of each month families will be able to relax and enjoy yoga in a fun and interactive way.

25 January Burrell Family Films - Autism Friendly Screening Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0141 287 2550 www.glasgowlife.org See this Disney favourite, featuring a beautiful princess who sleeps for 100 years. Lights will be brighter and volume lower during this screening.

2pm 25 January Mugdock Nature Club Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Nr Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 8EL 0141 956 6100 www.mugdock-country-park. org.uk Ranger led activities for 8-12 year olds. 1.45pm - 4pm / £1 30 January The Polar Bears Go Wild Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, Hamilton, ML3 6HH www.slleisureandculture.co.uk With music, comedy and quite a lot of cheekiness, The Polar Bears Go Wild is the perfect treat for young audiences. Remember to keep hold of your ice cream - Polar Bears are always hungry! 10.30am & 1.30pm / £5 31 January Communication Station Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS 0141 287 2720 www.glasgowlife.org Discover the many different ways to send messages across the world, in this hands-on workshop. 1pm3.30pm 31 January to 1 February The Enchanted Wintergarden Cottiers, 93-95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5PU 0141 357 5825 www.cottiers.com A spectacular NEW family show that weaves music & magic, daring feats, wild wolves & sparkling unicorns into a fantastical winter fairytale. This show brings real performing horses and dogs into theatre venues to thrill and entertain audiences of all ages 1pm & 3.30pm / £10

31 January Environmental Explorers Day Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org The Open Air Laboratories is visiting GMRC with some drop in workshops.

How can you be a scientist in your own back garden? Take a tour of our Natural History collection. 11am & 12pm 31 January to 28 February The Paper Bag Princess Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk Based on the book the Paper Bag Princes performance by Pavla’s Puppets 2pm Sat from 31 January Sing-a-long-Frozen Kings Theatre, 297-335 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JN 01355 258669 www.atgtickets.com A full screening of Disney‚Äôs Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along during the film. / ¬£16.90¬£32.90 7 February The Beatroot & Lace Bazaar GSA Student Union (the Vic), 20 Scott Street, Glasgow, G3 6PE www.beatrootandlacebazaar. co.uk Vintage Fair with Artisans, Art & Music at The Art School¬† returns for the next installment. Join us each month for stalls packed with vintage delights, handmade goods, art exhibits, buskers performing around the venue and Bazaar goings on!

FREE ENTRY TO ALL!!

7 February to 8 February How the Leopard got it’s Spots Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sherriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF 0141 552 3988 www.scottishyouththeatre.org Laugh, play, jump and shout - that’s what Family Storytime is all about!

10.30am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm 7 February to 9 February Mini Mascots People’s Palace And Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, Glasgow, G40 1AT 0141 276 0788 www.glasgowlife.org Clyde was a big hit during the Commonwealth Games, now you can design and make your very own mascot. 1pm-3pm Every Sat from 7 February The Tale Behind the Mask Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org Join us for a half hour storytelling session to create a mystical mask and hear Scottish tales from days gone by. 10am & 2pm

7 February

21 February to 22 February

Tots & Toys Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Come and find out about the toys and games boys and girls played with long ago. 11am & 2pm 8 February Toy Stories Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Come to GMRC to explore toys and games from the past and from around the world. 1pm-3pm 14 February to 15 February Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Celebrate Chinese New Year at GMRC! Explore our collections from China and learn about traditional New Year ceremonies and rituals.

Try calligraphy and make Chinese lanterns. 1pm-3pm 14 February

Oscar and the Quest for the Underground Princess Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk Oscar and Martin’s adventure by Mousetale Puppets. 2pm 21 February Promoting Glasgow People’s Palace And Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, Glasgow, G40 1AT 0141 276 0788 www.glasgowlife.org With the XX Commonwealth Games behind us, what you would like to tell the world about Glasgow? Create a poster with your own Glasgow message. 1pm-3pm 28 February Jurassic Advenutres Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, Hamilton, ML3 6HH www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Jurassic Adventures, is a brand new production, set on a magical island, where anything might happen. 1pm and 5pm / ¬£14 - ¬£50 28 February

The Love of Magic Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk A great magic & entertainment show for all the family with chocolate treats‚Ķumm / 2pm 21 February How the Camel got its Hump Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sherriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF 0141 552 3988 www.scottishyouththeatre.org Laugh, play, jump and shout - that’s what Family Storytime is all about!

10.30am and 12.30pm

Rumble in the Jungle Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN 0141 276 9300 www.glasgowlife.org Explore the Amazonian rainforest and learn about the animals and people living there. 1pm-3pm 28 February The Three Bears Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10 Balcarras Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF 0141 339 6185 www.maskandpuppettheatre. co.uk

Planning an event in Glasgow in 2014?

If want it included in our What’s On listings please email us at editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk with the details and we can include it in the magazine and our hugely popular online what’s on listings.

Families Glasgow

Jan/Feb 2015 15

What’s On Registered charity number 1153487 (England and Wales) Company limited by guarantee number 08570737 (England and Wales)

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...TO ALL THE MARVELLOUS CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS WHO SUPPORTED THIS YEAR’S WEAR A HAT DAY

27

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2015

FRIDA Y

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Let’s connect

08/07/2014 12:44

Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities • Courses mapped to the Curriculum for Excellence.

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Families Glasgow