Families Central Scotland Magazine March-April 2019

Central Scotland

In this Issue Offers and competitions from top Central Scotland family attractions!

Easter Holiday Fun The Early Years

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

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

Issue 51 March/April 2019 Familiesonline.co.uk

B e st d a y o ut fo r U nd e r 5s S COT L AND Bo o k yo u r se ssio n , p a r t y o r spe c ia l eve nt a t:

w w w.kidzt ownrol epla y. co m

familiesonline.co.uk Families Central Scotland 1

FAMILY SHOWS @ Connect With Us:

MacrobertArtsCentre

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

@macrobert

Based on the book

by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt

For ages

2 to 7

Nonsense Room

YOU CHOOSE

PRIMARY & NURSERY OPEN MORNING

Thu 11 Apr, 2pm I Tickets: £9.50, £34 Wee Group Saver (any 4 people)

Friday 03 May 2019, 09.30 am For ages

2 to 10

FUNBOX: THE WILD WEST SHOW

Come to our Open Morning to learn more about our unique approach to learning, shortlisted for the Scottish Rural Award for Education 2018.

Register to attend at www.morrisonsacademy.org

Sat 27 Apr, 1pm & 3.30pm Tickets: £13.50 / £48 Family Saver (2 adults, 2 children)

01764 653885 www.morrisonsacademy.org Morrison’s Academy, Crieff, PH7 3AN

01786 466666 | macrobertartscentre.org

MORRISON’S ACADEMY

Central Scotland Editor Fiona Bunting e: editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk t: 079302 64979 Design Lamb Designs Printers J Thomson Colour Printers Cover Image Deposit Photos Circulation

12,000 copies distributed directly to schools, nurseries, playgroups, health centres, libraries and leisure facilities, as well as selected tourist attractions, cafes, supermarkets and shops throughout Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian, and also available to read online via www.familiescentralscotland.co.uk Please contact us if you wish to receive our media pack in relation to advertising. Bookings are now being taken for the May/June issue with special features on Clubs & Classes and Health & Wellbeing –deadline for all adverts and editorial is 1st April 2019.

Families Central Scotland 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 Central Scotland are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Central Scotland. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Central Scotland; 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.

In this Issue 4 6 10 11 12 14

Local news and views Ideas for Easter Holidays Parent to Parent Car Seat Safety Weaning your baby Out and About

keep up to date

facebook.com/FamCS

@FamiliesCentral

Competition Terms and Conditions: 1. Competitions are open to residents of the UK, aged 18 years or over. 2. Only one entry per household will be accepted. 3. No responsibility is accepted for ineligible or fraudulent entries. 4. Entries must be received by the closing date and proof of sending cannot be taken as proof of receipt. 5. One correct entry and winner (or as stipulated per competition) will be selected and notified by email as soon as reasonably practicable after the closing date of the competition unless otherwise advised. 6. All decisions of Families Central Scotland are final and no correspondence will be entered into. 7. If a winner does not confirm acceptance of a prize within 7 days from notification, he/she automatically foregoes the right to claim the prize. 8. No prize is exchangeable for any other prize. The prize is not transferable. 9. All competitions hosted by Families Central Scotland will close at midnight on the closing date stated. Any entries after this time and date will be void. 10. Automated/bulk entries and entries from third parties will be disqualified. 11. Families Central Scotland is not liable for any delay or failure by the prize provider to deliver any prize or for the quality of the prize or for any loss or damage arising in connection with the prize or competition. 12. The winner agrees to have his/her name publicised in the Families Central Scotland magazine, including the digital publication. 13. The winner agrees to have his/her name, address and email address passed on to the prize provider for the purposes of obtaining their prize. 14. By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to these terms and conditions. 15. The competition is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.

WIN a Family Ticket to Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling!

Visit one of Scotland’s top family attractions for an incredible day out.

Set in over 120-acres, near Stirling, Blair Drummond Safari Park has over 350 wild and exotic animals and offers a full day of fun for everyone to enjoy!

Top attractions include: Home to Scotland’s only giraffes Giant adventure play area

Drive-thru Safari Sea Lion presentations

It’s spring!

Don’t miss our amazing family event

A Family Ticket admits 2 adults and 2 children.

For more information visit: www.blairdrummond.com

Membership Visit as many times as you like. Annual memberships from £45pp.

TO ENTER

Simply email your name and address to editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk with Spring Safari in the subject box.

Full competition terms and conditions above.Closing date: 10th April 2019

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Families Central Scotland 3

Fresh air fun at Briarlands

Briarlands Farm re-opened on 8th February for another season of fun. For this year we’ve added the much requested swings and a couple of ‘springers’ for our young visitors – a strawberry and a tractor; plus some fancy new go-karts! Season passes are on sale and offer unlimited access and therefore great value, so don’t forget to pick up your one.

This year, Briarlands will be hosting the RHET run on 15th June; planning is in hand for our Tractor Weekend and Show Day, 7th and 8th September; some spooky nights around Halloween and, of course, our Big Bonfire at the beginning of November.

Briarlands is a fantastic venue for birthday parties, offering an all-encompassing package – fun, food and games, plus a tractor ride ... just bring the cake itself and party bags, if you wish, not forgetting the special birthday person!! Briarlands is also an excellent venue for functions with catering covered in-house – as well as for outside functions – contact Mary’s Kitchen on 01786 841309.

Our season runs to 5th January 2020 (closed Christmas and Boxing Day; 1st and 2nd January), so come along and have some ‘Family Fun in the Fresh Air’. www.briarlandsfarm.co.uk

Join All Stars Cricket Today!

All Stars Cricket is a programme aimed at children aged 5-8 years old to give them a great first experience in cricket.

Sessions are accredited by the England & Wales Cricket Board and delivered throughout the UK at over 2,000 centres. All Stars Cricket will help your child develop key skills in a fun and safe environment where parents can join in too and help create #BigMoments you’ll both treasure!

Following successful registration, All Stars Cricketers will receive a brand-new kit bag full of goodies to help them get their summer of cricket started and fully look the part when they attend their 8 weekly sessions. This year we have a brand-new Cricket World Cup themed activity book that is full of top tips and games – and is a great place to keep those weekly stickers to celebrate your All Stars achievements. Plus, it’s all delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how to get involved this summer, simply visit www.allstarscricket.co.uk and get your place booked as sessions begin in May 2019.

Lack of sleep damaging for children More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to research by the University of Leeds.

The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

The NHS recommendation is that children of that age should get 10 hours sleep per night but the study discovered that out of 1,100 children aged 6 to 11, 36% were getting eight hours sleep or less on a weekday night.

Just under a third of children reported that worrying about school work was keeping them awake, whilst around one in six children reported that they found it difficult to sleep because of concerns about bullying or friendship.

The researchers identified that children who had access to technology in their bedroom were more likely to experience a shorter night’s sleep and recommended that parents consider removing technology from their children’s bedrooms.

More info: www.leeds.ac.uk

4 Families Central Scotland

Children targeted by adults on social media

Research released by the NSPCC has revealed that one in four young people have been contacted via social media by an adult they didn’t know, and a third of these were children under 13.

2,059 children and 2,049 parents were surveyed for Net Aware, the essential guide to 40 of the most popular social media sites, apps and games that young people use.

Children and parents were asked if they’d seen violent, bullying or adult content on the social networking sites and games they use – with Facebook and YouTube receiving high risk ratings across the board.

Other sites found to be risky included Twitter and Reddit, with both rated high for inappropriate content, as well as lesser known names such as Sarahah, Episode: Choose Your Story, Omegle, ROBLOX and Yubo (formerly called Yellow).

The NSPCC encourages parents to use Net Aware to learn about the various platforms their child may be using, together with the risk rating of each. More info at www.net-aware.org.uk

Community hub launched for Linlithgow

Linlithgow Community Development Trust (LCDT) has just launched an exciting new community website MyLinlithgow. com. The website is free to use, free to list on and operated by LCDT on a by-donation basis. Taking inspiration from other towns (particularly westcalder.org and pitlochry.org), LCDT set out to create an inclusive, modern platform for both locals and tourists alike.

The site includes; • Up to date local event and activity listings • Combined Community Group and Business directory • Tourism and heritage information • Volunteering Opportunity listings • Community venue and facility information • And a member of staff dedicated to ensuring it’s all kept up to date!

MyLinlithgow.com will give the whole community a way to connect and support community organisations and businesses. From a tourism perspective, the website will capitalise on the success of films such as Mary Queen of Scots and Outlaw King, and series such as Outlander.

MyLinlithgow.com provides the vehicle to showcase all Linlithgow has to offer.

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The National Wallace Monument to unveil new look during 150th year

Morrison’s Academy leads the way for a new generation of scientists Pupils in the Primary School are benefitting from a new programme that embeds STEM subjects into the curriculum from the earliest stages. The programme, which is unique to the school, brings together curricular and co-curricular Scientific, Technological, Engineering and Mathematical activities, delivered by a dedicated team of specialist teachers.

The National Wallace Monument has released new visuals that show how its exhibition galleries will be completely transformed as part of a £1m+ investment scheme now underway in the Scottish landmark’s 150th anniversary year.

The Monument’s new look interior, funded by Stirling District Tourism (the charity responsible for running the popular tourist attraction) at a cost of over £500,000, will feature fresh interactive activities, an immersive film and enhanced foreign language content set across its three galleries.

The state-of-the-art refurbishments, managed by Edinburgh-based design consultants Studioarc, have been designed to tell the story of Scotland’s national hero better than it has ever been told before, and to appeal to the diverse visitors that the Monument attracts from across the world.

The Hall of Heroes will be updated with the addition of two new busts depicting Scottish heroines Mary Slessor and Maggie Keswick Jencks. Other elements will be introduced specifically to engage children in history, including a superheroes quiz and a ‘making arms’ interactive shield design activity.

The National Wallace Monument shut on the 11th of February to accommodate the extensive interior refurbishment as well as the ongoing conservation work to the exterior of the building, reopening in spring 2019 with the promise of a brand new visitor experience.

In addition to Stirling District Tourism’s self-funded investment of over £500,000 for the interior refurbishments, Stirling Council is managing a £515,000 project covering important conservation work to the structure’s exterior. This work includes the £260,000 restoration of the giant bronze statue of William Wallace, which will be temporarily removed from its usual residence on a corbel in the south-west corner of the Monument for the first time since its installation 132 years ago.

To keep up-to-date with new activities at the Monument as well as the ongoing works and new evening lecture programme, visitors are advised to go to www.nationalwallacemonument.com.

Moving forward with Sprint Design Sprint Design has recently changed ownership and is now in the hands of long-serving former-manager Sandy Wood and wife Emily. We specialise in providing a wide range of school and nursery uniforms as well as gym bags, water bottles and other essentials which can be customised with your child’s name or school badge. We have a selection of clothing available to view and try at our premises in Stirling Enterprise Park, or we can simply add your desired logo to your own clothing if you prefer.

Visit us at Unit 46, Stirling Enterprise Park (open Mon – Thur 9am-5pm and Fri 9am-3.30pm). Alternatively, you can view our website at: www.sprintdesign.co.uk, phone us on 01786 447 707 or find us on Facebook.

The programme is the latest initiative under the leadership of Rector and science teacher Gareth Warren as part of the school’s ongoing investment in learning development. He said: “I am excited to be developing this unique programme: it’s a personal passion of mine to get children interested in STEM and associated subjects as early as possible.

Morrison’s has a long tradition of scientific education and a number of notable scientists within our former pupil community, so it’s wonderful to be designing a programme that will prepare our current young people for a future yet to be imagined.”

The pupils seem to agree and, indeed, Mrs Steven’s Primary science club is one of the most popular co-curricular activities in the school - so much so that she has had to double up on sessions to meet demand. In recent weeks, pupils have been seen making their own bath bombs, exploding vitamin C rockets and exploring what happens when Mentos are added to Diet Coke.

Still in its infancy, the STEM programme is designed to be responsive and evolve with scientific and technological advancements as they happen in the real world: pupils might be learning about the plastic currently in our oceans or coding for a future in artificial intelligence. In March, Morrison’s Academy is also partnering with the Strathearn Festival of Science to bring a programme of fun, engaging and educational talks and events to children and adults alike and spark a curiosity for science across the whole community. www.morrisonsacademy.org

Cycle Proficiency Training

Stirling Cycle Training are running on road cycling beginners’ courses during the summer holidays, for children aged 7 & 8 and 9 – 13. The courses are suitable for children who have done no previous cycle proficiency training or those who feel they need more practice to cycle safely on the road. The training starts in a traffic free area before moving on to quiet roads. The classes for children aged 9 – 13 are over 4 mornings, 10am – 12 noon, costing £45 per child. The classes for children aged 7 & 8 are shorter, 2.00pm – 3.30pm, costing £40 per child.

This will be similar to the 9-13 year olds’ class but we expect to spend more time on bike control exercises and we will not progress onto mini roundabouts.

Full information at www.stirlingcycletraining.com or phone 07966 201 519.

Easter Holidays

Read on for lots of great things to do with the kids locally this Easter and an AMAZING adventure play area.

Open from 23rd March 2019 for the new season. Online tickets are free for infants, £13.50 for children and £16.50 for adults.

Seasonal membership starts at £45. www.blairdrummond.com

The Albert Halls, Stirling Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy! Join Sooty for his brand new Laugh Out Loud Magic Show! Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep and Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell will amaze you with impossible tricks and sidesplitting jokes! Be astounded at Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn and Sweep’s levitating sausage! With special guests circus star Michael Jordan and the ultraviolet specialties of Fantasie de la Nuit.

A spectacular treat for the whole family – including a chance to meet Richard and Sooty after the show! Book now! The Sooty Show; Thu 11 Apr, 11am / 2.30pm; £12, £10 Family £38 culturestirling.org / 01786 473544

Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park was opened to the public in 1970 and was, at the time, one of Britain’s first safari parks. Today, this popular attraction is one of Central Scotland’s top destinations.

You’ll come face-to-face with lions, rhinos and monkeys in the drive-thru reserves, take a boat ride to Chimp Island, watch the bird of prey display and the sea lion presentation, meet Scotland’s only giraffes, and learn about the safari park’s role in the conservation of endangered species at keeper talks.

Suitable for visitors of all ages, this is a fullday out. Facilities include restaurant, BBQ and picnic areas, indoor viewing areas

6 Families Central Scotland

Falkirk Community Trust can be relied upon to provide plenty of fun to keep kids busy over the Easter break.

From Multi Sports Camps to One to One Swimming or why not try Canoeing or Blokarting? We’ve Easter Bunny Hops and Badger Watching plus movies and theatre, and scrummy Easter Afternoon Teas. Our popular Emergency Services Day at the Helix returns, and our Libraries have a packed schedule of activities.

Visit www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org or call 01324 506850.

Spring is in the air at Briarlands Spring is just round the corner at Briarlands Farm, and there’ll be eggs to hatch, lambs to feed, calves to count and piglets squealing; plus our ever popular animal handling sessions, where you can meet the new guinea pigs who’ve joined the gang.

Jump on a tractor ride to see the animals up at the farm; hear about the farming activities and see if the strawberries are ready to pick – PYO available June and July time, weather depending – please call if making a special visit for strawberry picking, to check availability.

The addition of our Play Fort, part of the film set for the Netflix ‘The Outlaw King’ has proved great fun, with the addition of whizzy slides and scramble net to keep all your budding warriors busy; along with a Connect 4 game and wibbly wobbly mirrors. Briarlands is home to our Farmer’s Den Tearoom serving snacks and light lunches, all cooked to order. Along with delicious home baking, it even has free soft play for the wee ones!

We can accommodate school visits and offer an educational experience mixed with a great day out. We also offer evening visits for a minimum group of 25 children, so bring along your Brownie pack, Beaver group or Club for your summer outing with exclusive use from 6-8pm. Don’t forget our football golf course for an alternative works’ night out! www.briarlandsfarm.co.uk

Easter Extravaganza at The Howgate Centre, Falkirk Join our Easter Extravaganza in aid of Strathcarron Hospice in the Howgate Shopping Centre on Saturday 20th April from 11am-3pm. Simply register next to the Howgate Help Desk before 2pm to purchase a wristband, then enjoy a range of activities including a treasure hunt, face painting, crafts and chocolate workshop.

The £5 registration fee is donated to Strathcarron Hospice and under 2s go free.

Find a full list of activities at www.howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk

Easter Band Camp at Stirling Rock School A week of learning new instruments, performing as a band, songwriting, recording in the studio, musical and creative workshops, music games and activities – all delivered by professional musicians.

No experience is needed to join this fun packed week of music and creative learning this Easter! All you have to bring is yourselves and a lunch, as the studio is full of amazing instruments and recording facilities. Spaces limited.

1st – 5th April; Monday to Friday; 9.30am – 3.30pm; £129 per week; ages 8+ Call 01786 448 417 or book online: stirlingrockschool.co.uk

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1 April – 12 April 2019

Easter Activities Programme

A packed programme for all ages!

Come along and join in the fun with our full programme of sports, activities, snowsports, shows and more.

Check our website out for further details...

www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Easter Holidays Easter Holidays at Macrobert Arts Centre There’s lots to see and do at Macrobert Arts Centre this Easter including the chance to learn some Circus Skills (Fri 5 Apr, 11am to 3pm). Inspired by a brand new show called Kid_X where hand balancing, urban dance and music collide, this workshop includes a free ticket to see the show at 2pm. There’s also a week-long intensive with a focus on drama skills for ages 12 to 18 (Mon 8 to Sat 15 Apr) and, for little ones, there’s the chance to experience a live performance of the children’s favourite book You Choose by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart (Thu 11 Apr, 2pm).

For more details of all events at Macrobert Arts Centre check out the website – www.macrobertartscentre.org – call 01786 467163 or look for a Live Guide in a venue near you.

Come and join in the Easter fun at Kidz Town Stirling This Easter there will be something for everyone at KIDZ TOWN. Follow the clues placed within some of the 14 different role-play locations to find out where Kidzy Bear has hidden the GOLDEN EGG in his award winning town and win your own Easter goody bag (available in specific play sessions throughout the Easter holidays)!

“Rooftops” with its fabulous Playhouse and views over the Town, will be the setting for our Easter Events. Our sensory room is our peaceful haven for babies or any of our young town residents requiring a bit of “quiet time” during their session. Enjoy a slice of our award winning Chef Becky’s delicious rainbow sponge, unique unicorn slice or choose something tasty from our excellent menu in Kidzy’s Kitchen. Follow us on Facebook to find out more about our Easter Promotional schedule including special seasonal Craft Sessions.

Spring Break Fun at McLaren Leisure!

This April holiday we will be running our ever popular kids’ camp. Children from primary 1 to primary 7 can enjoy a variety of activities Monday to Friday each week such as swimming, climbing, games, sports, races and crafts. Activities will follow two exciting new themes, adding to the fun.

Full day and half day bookings are available; spaces are limited and booking is advised.

Other family-friendly activities at McLaren Leisure include our newly refurbished climbing wall “Uamh Bheag”, Woodland Kingdom soft play which now features new sensory equipment or a splash in the pool! For more information on any of our activities, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, visit www. mclarenleisure.co.uk or give us a call on 01877 330000

Visit www.kidztownroleplay.com for full details and to book your fun Easter roleplay session, but please be quick as holiday sessions fill up very quickly in KIDZ TOWN.

The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway & Museum of Scottish Railways – fun for the kids Make the most of your visit to Central Scotland’s family friendly steam railway and museum when our 2019 season starts on 23 March. Come travel on our steam railway and enjoy Scotland’s largest railway museum.You can show your old fashioned ticket to the Guard; he may even let you help him clip it on the journey!

Watch the engine being coupled up to the carriages … is it really magnets that hold them together? Be Harry Potter in a compartment carriage with its own sliding door. Then enjoy some fun with our brass rubbings on the Visitor Trail to the Museum.

In the museum, get hands on and discover railway history through fun interactive displays, and have fun sorting letters in the Travelling Post Office! Come along and have a great day out! Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, Union Street, Bo’ness EH51 OAQ www.bkrailway.co.uk

8 Families Central Scotland

Kidzy Bear is in Rooftops Playhouse Party Room with his Easter friends, but did you know that KIDZ TOWN has two themed Party Rooms? To find out the name of the other Party Room, please visit www.kidztownroleplay.com and email your answer to editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk with Kidz Town in the subject box.

The lucky winner will be announced in the next magazine and will receive two Play n Dine passes to visit and play in KIDZ TOWN followed by a meal in Kidzy’s Kitchen cooked by our own award winning chef, Becky! Full competition terms and conditions on page 3. Closing date: 10th April 2019.

The Milk Barn Come and enjoy a delicious homemade ice cream at The Milk Barn. Made from our own pedigree herd of Holstein Friesian cows, we have 36 different flavours on display every day. We also have a soya ice cream for diabetics, dairy free sorbets and frozen fresh fruit yoghurt. The Milk Barn is situated on a working dairy farm and is very child friendly, with indoor and outdoor play areas. Enjoy a fun, delicious day out for all the family and have a try at milking the fibreglass milking cow, Glenda. We also serve paninis, sandwiches, baked potatoes, home baking etc. Our milkshakes are made using our ice-cream and are absolutely amazing! Ask our staff for any dietary guidelines. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm every day. Glen Farm, Glen Village, Falkirk, FK1 3AA - contact 01324 630 703 or visit www.themilkbarn.co.uk

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March sees the publication of a brand new book, Days Out Underground: 50 subterranean adventures beneath Britain by Peter Naldrett (Paperback RRP: £16.99). Described as “a quirky and original treasure trove of inexpensive ideas for anyone looking for something different to do on a weekend”, the book is divided into six sections and covers the whole of Scotland, England and Wales. The unique guide explores 50 underground attractions, from caves to nuclear bunkers, abandoned mines to secret railways, labyrinthine tunnels to ancient crypts. There are loads of suggestions for exploring the secret world beneath our feet: perfect for families seeking adventure - whatever the weather.

Thanks to Bloomsbury, we have a copy of Days Out Underground: 50 subterranean adventures beneath Britain to give away to one lucky reader! To enter our free prize draw, simply email your name and address to editor@ familiescentralscotland.co.uk with Days Out Underground in the subject box. Closing date: 10th April 2019. Full competition terms and conditions can be found on page 3.

Kids in the kitchen? The holidays are a good time to try…

RAINBOW FUDGE Fudge can take quite a while to make, but it is worth the time! Why not get some crayons and draw the most colourful picture you can while you wait for it to set?

Makes 36 small squares Ingredients unsalted butter or vegetable oil, for the cake tin 450g milk chocolate, chopped 397g tin of condensed milk 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 50g rainbow sprinkles Method • Lightly butter or oil a 20cm square cake tin and line it with baking paper.

• Put the chocolate into a large saucepan with the condensed milk and vanilla bean paste.

• Over a low heat, mix it together until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and one colour.

• Leave to simmer for about 3 minutes over a low heat, stirring occasionally.

• Pour into the tin and, using a palette knife, spread the fudge evenly to the edges. Then add the sprinkles evenly on top.

• Allow to cool, then pop into the fridge for at least 2 hours until set.

• Only cut into squares when the fudge is really firm.

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Celebration Story (with illustrations by Clair Rossiter) is out now in hardback from Hodder Children’s Books, priced £14.99

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m Ter es* w e a N p c w S e N *

S T I R L I N G

ROCK SCHOOL

Founded by one of Scotlands Premier Rock Musicians Runrig’s Brian Hurren

our k y Boo

E FRE AL I TR

Classes | One to One | Recording | Birthday Parties

01786 448 417

Families Central Scotland 9

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by boat (leaves Heysham Lancaster at 2.30 p.m. every day and takes around 3 hours - or the plane takes 50 minutes). There are great things to do: I would recommend checking out the Isle of Man website.

ello, my name is Joyce Differ and I am a qualified Early Years Practitioner with 34 years’ experience in the profession. My good friend and former colleague, Rosie Glynn, is in partnership with me at Mrs Differ’s Daycare, operating from my family home in Bridge of Allan from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday to Friday during term time. I have been married for 27 years to Jim and have two boys, Jordan and Jason, and a girl, Jodie. Rosie has been in childcare for over 13 years and lives in Stirling, and she is a very proud auntie to nine nieces and nephews. We worked together for five years at a local school and nursery and, after its unexpected closure, we decided that we would like to open our own establishment.

Favourite shops: We have some lovely, unique shops for everyone. Capture Boutique, Mini’s children’s clothing shop, Ruby Tuesday shoe shop, and Elemental - the shop that sells everything from jewellery to very good gifts for special occasions. Allan Water Newsagents is a friendly family-run shop that I would highly recommend.

Mrs Differ’s Daycare staff have a combined experience of over 40 years in Early Years Education. What is the most rewarding aspect of the job for you?

The most rewarding aspect of our job is seeing children happy, having fun and proudly sharing their experiences and learning.

Favourite night out without kids: For a night out without the children, I would recommend Riverside in Dunblane.

Biggest waste of money: In my opinion, this would be a very expensive wigwam! I believe the fun and excitement is in building your own.

Best planet saving tip: Recycling is very important and we educate the children about this. The children are very good at washing recyclable items and putting them in the relevant recycling box - or reusing them for junk modelling or making bird feeders etc. The children are also learning about saving energy and sustainability. They turn off the lights, watch how much water we use and always turn off the taps!

We have only been open since the end of October and are very privileged to have some lovely children and families. We are open term time but do offer a holiday club provision over the summer (please contact us for more details as spaces are limited). We love our job and are very passionate about quality childcare so please contact us if you wish your child to come along and join in the fun and learning at Mrs Differ’s Daycare!

Funniest comment you’ve heard from a child: Last year, a little girl was sitting on my knee and said: “Mrs Differ, your eyes are blue like the sky, your hair is red like Elsa from Frozen (!)… you’re beautiful.” I was feeling great! Then another child came along and said “Mrs Differ, what are they lines on your face? Does that mean you’re getting old?”… very quickly it went from one extreme to the other and still makes me laugh!

Contact us by phone on 07796 104 074 (Mrs Differ) or 07464 374 936 (Miss Glynn), by email to mrsdifferdaycare@outlook.com or find us on Facebook

What do you think makes a good childcare provider?

We feel a good childcare provider should be passionate about working with children, be nurturing and caring, and be enthusiastic in providing high quality learning and support for each individual child’s development.

Why do you like living where you do? How child friendly is it?

I love living in the beautiful village of Bridge of Allan: the scenery is stunning and since it’s only my second move (coming from a farm near Kilsyth) it has given me the best of both worlds - not too busy but with lots of amenities close to hand. It is also so child friendly, with fabulous walks right on your doorstep - whether you’re going around Minewoods or the loch at Stirling University, to being more adventurous and walking up Dumyat (a walk that gives me achy legs the day after!).

Favourite park: We love to go to the local parks, especially Causewayhead Park - with lots of great equipment, a beautiful view of the Wallace Monument, toilet facilities and close to Corrieri’s for ice-creams!

Favourite day out: Our favourite day out is a trip to Briarlands, or we love taking our bikes a little further and going cycling around Plean Country Park.

Favourite child friendly restaurant or café: The child friendly restaurant that I would highly recommend is the Westerton. I have been going there since my children were as young as 2, 3 and 5 as it has great food at great prices, with exceptionally friendly staff.

Most loved children’s book: Most loved books are written by the amazing author Julia Donaldson - Monkey Puzzle and Sharing a Shell, among loads of other lovely children’s stories.

Best children’s DVD, programme or app: Best programmes would be Numberjacks and Come Outside: always very popular and educational - plus all the adventures are amazing!

Most played with toy: This has to be the Brio train set. It is very popular and encourages co-operative, imaginative play, great problem-solving skills, and counting and language development, as the children make up lovely scenarios and negotiate who is having which train and how many!

Favourite family holiday spot: My favourite family hotspot, believe it or not, is in the U.K. and is the Isle of Man. My mum and sister now live there and I have been going every July since my kids were very little. I travel

Classes Across Central Scotland

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

lynsey@hartbeeps.com 07914 023 928 OPEN FEBRUARY TO JANUARY

Winter Hours 10.00 – 4.30pm

10 Families Central Scotland

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Car Seat Safety

by Claire Winter

We offer childcare and education for children aged 0-5yrs, an out of school club for children aged 5-12yrs and a holiday club during school holidays.

Car seat safety is vital to ensure that your child does not get injured if you have a car accident or collision. Car seat manufacturer Joie UK shares some tips with Families magazine.

When do I need to use a car seat?

All children must use a child car seat by law until they are at least 12 years old or 135cm Families Central tall, whichever comes first. There are Scotland suggest… exceptions to this in particular limited though it may be circumstances: for example, in the case tempting, avoid of children over 3 years, when it is an second hand car emergency or an unexpected, necessary seats for safety journey over a short distance. In these reasons. circumstances, a child must still sit in the back of the car with an adult seatbelt.

However, it is always much better to err on the safe side and use a car seat to avoid serious injury and fines. A car seat that fits properly can be life-saving in the event of a collision. The driver is responsible if a proper car seat is not fitted and can receive a fixed £100 penalty fine (or up to £500 if the case goes to court).

What type of car seat?

With so many car seats on the market, it can be Safety experts difficult to decide on the best one for your child. recommend Ultimately, as long as you’re choosing one that is using child car suitable for the height and weight of your child seats for all and with good safety credentials, you shouldn’t go children up to wrong - after that it comes down to preference.

150cm.

It’s important to consider how you’re going to be using the car seat. For instance, if you know you’re going to be frequently lifting your baby in and out of the car, it may be better to go for a lightweight infant carrier with a base that stays in place.

Should I choose a car seat based on weight or height?

This can be confusing as there are currently two sets of regulations running parallel. The newer regulation, known as R129, or iSize, states that car seats should be fitted by height. Any new ISOFIX car seats introduced to the market after 2018 will be fitted this way. The older regulation, R44, fits car seats by weight. Belted seats are still only available in R44 form.

Existing car seats that met the first regulation are still safe and legal to use, so both are feasible. For ease, if you’re a new parent, go with height as this will become standard. It sounds obvious but do remember to read the manual when fitting car Children up to seats - and follow the instructions to the letter, 15 months old preferably alongside your car’s manual. If you are should be in still unsure, the majority of car seat stockists will rearward-facing have a designated person on hand to fit the seat car seats. for you.

Visit the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

o Kids g !* e e fr

Travel on our steam railway and enjoy Scotland’s largest railway museum.

Open 23 March - 27 October www.bkrailway.co.uk Registered charity SC002375

A child-centred approach to experiencial learning in a warm, caring and stimulating environment.

Please contact Carolyn Riddle at 4 McNabb Street Dollar 01259 742571 Email : info@dollarnursery.co.uk Website : www.dollarnursery.co.uk

Opening times: 7.30am-6pm Mon - Fri To request a brochure please contact the office on 01259 742571

Offering 1140 funded hours for eligible 3 & 4 year olds from August 2019

Arnhall Nursery is a private day nursery that provides high quality childcare from 3 months to school age.

• Graded Very Good in all areas by the Care Inspectorate 2018 • Set in beautiful surroundings near Dunblane with ample parking • Access to daily Forest Schools • Open all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm • All meals included - home cooked by our in-house chef • Fully qualifed & trained staff For further details or to arrange a visit please contact the Nursery direct

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

Union Street, Bo’ness. EH51 9AQ

*one child free with a paying adult with this ad.Valid for one transaction only, any day until end April 2019 ref famCent

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Families Central Scotland 11

Blending, storing, mashing and messy highchairs are all part of the exciting journey of weaning!

From around 6 months, a baby’s regular milk will no longer provide them with all the nutrients they need – in particular, essential fatty acids and iron – and their stores of these start to deplete. So now is the time to begin weaning, as missing nutrients need to be provided by food.

Getting Started

Every baby develops at their own pace but here are few key signs that your baby is ready for weaning. Your baby: • can hold their head steady and sit up with minimal supervision; • has developed sufficient hand-to-eye coordination to look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth; • is showing an interest in what you are eating; • has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (automatically pushing solids out of her mouth with her tongue) and is able to swallow food

Best First Foods

First foods should be simple, easy to digest, and unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction.

I would recommend starting with a single ingredient, ideally a fruit or vegetable. Root vegetables like carrots, sweet potato and butternut squash are very popular; they have a naturally sweet flavour (similar to breastmilk) and can easily be puréed to a smooth texture.

Try mixing them with a little breast/formula milk to ease the transition.

From 6 months, your baby will need more than just fruit and vegetables and you will need to make sure you start to introduce iron rich foods like meat, lentils, eggs and iron-enriched cereals as well as foods rich in Essential Fatty Acids from oily fish like salmon.

The transition to solids is more about introducing food than giving a full meal. Your baby will still need at least 600ml of breast milk or formula each day until they are at least 12 months old when their diet is varied enough to offer the correct balance of nutrients.

Please don’t worry about picky eaters we’ve all been there! Your baby may need to try a new food 10 to 15 times before they are willing to eat it.

Reflux and Allergies

Around 50% of all babies experience some reflux during their first 3 months, but it will prove to be a problem for only very few, and they will usually outgrow it. Gastrooesophageal reflux can sometimes be a sign of cow’s milk protein allergy so look out for the signs and symptoms and seek advice from your doctor if you are concerned.

Childhood food allergies are increasing but the actual incidence of food allergy in babies is very small - about 5 to 6%. Babies and children also tend to grow out of allergies like cow’s milk or egg allergy by ages 2 or 3.

If your baby is at high risk e.g. has bad eczema, then it’s sensible to get allergy testing done just before weaning to help guide safe introduction of common allergenic foods such as milk, egg and peanut.

If your baby’s diet is restricted for any reason, it’s important to seek professional advice to ensure that they are still getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need. Iron, Fats, Protein, Essential Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, Zinc and Vitamin D are all essential to include in their diet from 6 months.

Tackling Texture

From around 6 to 9 months, babies are developing quite rapidly, so introduce as many different nutritious foods, flavours and textures as possible during this time.

To help them tackle texture, try finely dicing and softening small cubes of carrot or apple so their gums can squash them when they try to chew.

Be careful of surprise chunks as these can really startle your baby and put them off. Making your own baby food will allow you to control the size of the lumps and, in turn, gradually increase their size.

12 Families Central Scotland

With my son Nicholas, I soon realised that if I added baby pasta shapes to his favourite puree then he was more receptive because it was a flavour he was familiar with.

Give rice or couscous a go too.

Baby-led or Spoon-led?

Whilst a high percentage of parents start out with spoon-led purees, baby-led weaning (BLW) is fast growing in popularity.

The BLW philosophy is to let your baby feed herself from 6 months, missing out on purees and spoon feeding altogether. Babies can explore a variety of different tastes and textures from the beginning, helping them to eat a wide range of foods and develop good eating habits.

As well as soft finger foods, you can offer a mini portion of a family meal (without the salt).

Cottage pie, risotto or chicken curry are all ideal (and tasty) options.

Don’t worry about how much or how little your baby eats at the beginning: as long as they are experiencing a variety of tastes/textures and eating lots of different nutritious foods then you’re on the right track!

Remember that no ‘one-size-fits-all’ with weaning. Some people decide to go with one method or the other, but I’ve always believed that you don’t have to choose. At around 6 months, you have the freedom to combine an element of baby-led weaning alongside spoon feeding if you feel that’s right for you and your baby.

Annabel Karmel is a leading children’s cookery author and feeding expert. Her book, Weaning (DK £12.99) includes everything you need to know about traditional and baby-led weaning, advice on when to start, critical nutrients, how to cater for allergies and intolerances, and more than 60 healthy and delicious recipes. Available from all good bookstores.

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The Early Years in Central Scotland Pinboard After a very successful first Forth Valley Baby and Toddler Fair last year, the event returns to Alloa on 24th March and looks set to be another fun and informative afternoon. The Fair is designed to let local businesses exhibit what they have to offer to expectant parents and parents with young children. There are so many amazing local businesses and suppliers on our door step which cater to babies, toddlers and parents - but they can often go unnoticed due to the traffic on social media. This event gives all parties the opportunity to network first hand.

As parenting can sometimes be a lonely place, particular ly for those who are first time parents or who don’t have a lot of support around them, the event hopes to offer parents the opportunity, not only to find businesses relevant to them and gain a lot of useful information – but also to meet other parents.

At the event you can expect; • key note speakers offering valuable advice and help to parents/carers & grandparents • a coffee and cake area! This is for parents to have some space to catch up and maybe even meet new ‘play date’ friends • a room full of fantastic suppliers and services catering to families with wee ones • a fun and happy environment • discounts & free goodies • some Preloved stalls.

The event is held in Alloa Town Hall on Sunday 24th March 1pm-4pm (please note that there are some stairs at the venue if you are planning on bringing a pram). Check out Forth Valley Baby & Toddler Fair on Facebook.

Our brand new Baby Central studio has opened in Stirling, providing a nurturing one-stop gnant women and new community hub for pre y of unique and friendl ge ran a r mums. We offe s, PiYo sse cla y Bab and g classes from Birthin r yoga) specific to you (fusion of pilates and ding support group fee ast bre a ds, nee postnatal courses. and Paediatric first aid kly classes with Sarah Our Daisy Birthing wee nt, prepare for a confide to n me wo p hel Sangster ah is a qualified Sar h. birt e itiv pos informed and ching rs’ experience of tea midwife with seven yea ich wh , ling Stir s in our active birth classe a cation with gentle yog combine antenatal edu relaxation and ing ath bre , ent based movem techniques. le kly classes are suitab Our Daisy Baby wee y massage bab ng chi tea , old from 6 weeks ent to aid calming, techniques and movem ore tion with your baby bef nec con and g thin soo (5/6 months) for a ers ggl Wri into ng progressi has ss. Nicola Beveridge more stimulating cla six years for s sse cla y Bab been teaching our mummies to join us! and encourages all new

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ning nu established for 29 year rsery, s in the be forest surro autiful undings of Keir Estate Dunblane. , Graded ‘Ver y Good’ by Care Inspec th to early learni rate, we offer high qu e ng and child al care from 3 ity months to school age.

Winners o Nur sery o fN f th Learning En e Year 2017, NMT O DNA ut vironment 2018 and N door Training an d Developm ur ent 2018, an sery top 10 mo st d 2018. Also recommended nurser achieving Pl y atinum Inve in People, ra sto nk homemade ed 4th in UK. Nutritio rs m in-house ch eals are provided by nal ef o recognising with our SOIL Silver ur award food quality . Open all ye round betw ee ar children ha n 7.30am and 6.30pm ve access to , gardens/out our fabulous door classr o woodland walks and da om, enjoy We are an ily Forest Sc Ea ho funded pro rly Learning and Child ols. vider in co njunction w care Stir ling Co ith un funded hour cil and can now offer 1,14 s for eligible from Augus 3 and 4 ye 0 t ar olds For furthe 2019. r in www.arnha formation please visi lln t 01786 8223 ursery.co.uk or pho ne 91. Now ta 2019/2020. king booki ngs for

Beat head li and nits with the Bug Bustce er Kit

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by The RoS tion of Accidents en v re P e e th th s of for e awarenes op to help rais gs you can do to st t in en th id le cc p a im an “s becoming your child statistic.” ides free resources v p RoSPA pro to help families kee e s ic It v . d es a d om h an fe in their children sa Kids Safe packs g free Keepin schools, nurseries, tres le b a also en dren’s cen s and chil ssions for p u ro g y la p se ild safety to hold ch a.com parents. : www.rosp More info

Date for the Diary – One to remember this Spring is Sunday 31st March: the clocks spring forward by an hour and it’s Mothers’ Day.

orld Book Day

Don’t forget –h W March! on Thursday 7t

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If yo ur ch ildren have head lice before, then had may have been put o yo u ff using expe nsive neuro -t pesticides on their he oxic ad s.

Bug Bustin g is a head detection lo use and erad ic ation metho d, w hich works by co mbin ing designed be specially vel-edge d co mbs w ith yo ur own family shampo o an d cond itio The Bug Bu n sting metho er. detects & clears lice d co mpletely w itho ut sp ec treatments . It remo ve ial s lice systematic ally, break ing the life-cycle in spaced o ve fo ur sessions r two week s and elimin at eggshells co es unsig htly mfortably.

The Bug Bu st appro ve d an er Kit is NHS babies, chil d safe for dren, preg nan wo men, nur sing mothe t and those rs w ith allerg ie costs £6.4 0 plus P&P s. It but is reusable – on required pe ly one kit is r family.

To order a kit or information an for further d Community H advice, visit ygiene Conce rn (CHC) at ww w.c 01908 561928 hc.org or call .

Families Central Scotland 13

Out and About On now until Sunday 24th March

Brick City at Blackness Castle is a celebration of iconic buildings from cities around the world, carefully recreated in LEGO® bricks by artist Warren Elsmore and his team.

Saturday 2nd March Howie’s Kids Club at Howgate Shopping Centre, Falkirk Fun and entertainment with Bricks4Kids Lego workshop. Suitable for ages11 and under. www. howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk Wildlife Weekend at Jupiter Wildlife Centre To celebrate World Wildlife Day, a local conservation charity will be joining us to tell us about their work and how we can all get involved.

Suitable for ages 5 to 12. www. scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/events Saturday 2nd and Saturday 30th March Mini Bricks at The Engine Shed Come along to this workshop and learn about different brick bonds used to construct traditional buildings, using Teifoc mini bricks and mortar. Pick up your miniature trowels and build a wall. www.engineshed.scot Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th March The Off the Page smallprint Children’s Book Festival Run by Stirling Libraries, this festival will feature bestselling authors and will include a free open programme of events and a schools’ programme of events to invited audiences.

Saturday 9th March Sand Card Making Workshop at The Engine Shed. Free drop in workshop. 1-3.30pm. www.engineshed.scot Sunday 10th March Four Go Wild in Wellies at Macrobert Arts Centre A playful look at how friendships are built, broken and mended – a whimsical adventure featuring tents that have a life of their own, bobble hats and of course, lots of fun in wellies! A show for audiences aged three to five years. www.macrobertartscentre.org

14 Families Central Scotland

Whilst every care has been taken to compile the Out & About section, please remember that venues may make changes and it is worth checking dates and times before setting out.

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March

Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse Bo’ness Hippodrome, various times.

Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March The Lego Movie 2 Bo’ness Hippodrome, various times.

Sunday 17th and Monday 18th March Elmer The Patchwork Elephant at FTH Theatre Elmer The Patchwork Elephant Show tells the tale of an elephant that stands out – both with his patchworkcoloured skin and his sense of humour – but ultimately realising that his friends have always valued his unique characteristics. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

open for the new season. Come face-to-face with lions, rhinos, monkeys, giraffes and sea lions.

With drive-thru reserves, boat trips, animal presentations and adventure play. www.blairdrummond.com Sunday 24th March Forth Valley Baby and Toddler Fair at Alloa Town Hall Featuring a range of fantastic local services and suppliers as well as local speakers and tea/coffee. 1-4 Friday 29th March Wear a Hat Day The UK’s funfilled, premier annual brain tumour awareness event helping support long-term research and saving lives. www.braintumourresearch. org/wearahatday

Saturday 23rd March Soap Carving Workshop and 3d Pens Workshop at The Engine Shed www.engineshed.scot Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th March ANiMALCOLM - The Musical at FTH Theatre, Falkirk A vibrant, energetic and gloriously funny musical from the awardwinning Story Pocket Theatre.

ANiMALCOLM combines physical theatre, puppetry and the company’s outstanding storytelling style to bring David Baddiel’s magical and wonderfully comic story to the stage. www. falkirkcommunitytrust.org Opening Weekend at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park Scotland’s #1 Safari Park is

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March Captain Marvel Bo’ness Hippodrome, various times.

Saturday 30th March to Sunday 14th April “It’s spring!” Event at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park School holiday adventures with 3D cinema, magician, puppet shows, egg trails and all the usual fun and excitement of the safari park. Included in the standard price of admission. www.blairdrummond.com Sunday 31st March Aerial Dance Workshop at FTH Theatre, Falkirk Come and learn the basics in aerial skills and find out more about our upcoming show, Heroes, which combines theatre, dance, aerial and circus skills. Suitable for children in p4-p7. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th March Hippodrome Silent Film Festival at the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness. Book early for Saturday morning’s Jeely Jar screening of The Freshman (1925) - which offers 2-for-1 entry if you bring a clean jam jar and lid. Plus, don’t miss the return of HippFest’s annual Laurel & Hardy triple bill on Sunday 24 March, which includes one of the pair’s bestloved shorts You’re Darn Tootin’ when Stan and Ollie try working as street musicians and matters quickly descend into magnificent anarchy. The full 2019 HippFest programme is online at www. hippfest.co.uk

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Bo’ness Hippodrome

The Freshman (1925) is a hilariously funny feature film starring one of cinema’s greatest comedy talents - Harold Lloyd - as a new student on campus who is eager to win friends and the heart of sweet-natured Peggy… what could possibly go wrong? HippFest are offering two family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) to the Jeely Jar Screening of The Freshman on the morning of Saturday 23rd March. To enter, simply tell us the name of the girl Harold Lloyd falls in love with. Email your answer, name and address to editor@ familiescentralscotland.co.uk – putting ‘Freshman’ in the subject box. Competition closes on 14th March 2019.

Full competition Terms & Conditions on page 3.

Saturday 30th March Celebrate Mothers’ day at The Howgate Shopping Centre Free pamper treats and a professional photo opportunity for mum, with crafts for kids to make at a Mothers’ Day workshop. www. howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk

Mothers’ Day Afternoon Tea at Callendar House Tearoom Tuck into freshly prepared sandwiches, warm scones with lashings of Chantilly cream and preserves, plus an assortment of tempting cakes in the stylish surroundings of the Drawing Room. Choose from 12noon or 2.30pm sitting. Call 01324 506850 to book.

Monday 1st to Friday 5th April Easter Band Camp at Stirling Rock School A fun packed week of music and creativity, followed by a performance. Suitable for 8+.

Limited spaces. www.stirlingrockschool.co.uk Monday 1st to Friday 12th April Kids’ Camp at McLaren Leisure Fun and action packed weeks this April holiday at McLaren Leisure – suitable for all primary school aged children. www.mclarenleisure.co.uk or 01877 330000 Monday 1st to Monday 22nd April Easter Bunny Hop at Muiravonside Country Park The park is full of animals from near and far who jump around just like

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the famous Easter Bunny. Buy your self-guided trail leaflet (£1) at the café to navigate around the site, tracking down our bouncy friends and finding out fun facts. There’s a little reward for everyone who has a go. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org Wednesday 3rd April Lost Bear at The Tolbooth, Stirling A lost bear finds himself in a world that is full of Lost things, lost toys, hats, socks and umbrellas.

When Lost Bear tries to find his way home, his journey takes him through lost worlds, the seaside, the jungle and a trip to the Moon. www.culturestirling.org Learn to play Taiko Drums at FTH Theatre, Falkirk Suitable for children aged 10-16. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org Brilliant bugs at Jupiter Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth Do you know the difference between a centipede and a millipede? Join us on a magical minibeast adventure and discover more about Jupiter’s tiny friends. Suitable for ages 5-12, booking essential. www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Emergency Services Day at The Helix Your local emergency services will be at the park with their vehicles and equipment, putting on some exciting displays.

FREE. www.thehelix.co.uk Friday 5th April Kid X at Macrobert Arts Centre Urban dance, circus skills and brand new music collide in this futuristic love story. The Circus Skills Workshop from 11-3 includes a free ticket to see the show at 2pm. www.macrobertartscentre.org Saturday 6th April Howie’s Kids Club at Howgate Shopping Centre Falkirk Fun and entertainment making Easter crafts with Creation Station.

Suitable for children aged 11 and under. www.howgateshoppingcentre.co.uk Egg-cellent Easter Treasure Hunt at RSPB Black Devon Wetlands The birds have been laying eggs across the reserve but we don’t know whose eggs are whose! Join us on our treasure hunt at Black Devon Wetlands, solve the clues and see if you can identify the mystery eggs.

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Monday 8th April Foxes and Crows: ‘Chaussette’ Puppet Workshop at The Tolbooth, Stirling Le Petit Monde brings you a new puppet-making workshop based on the famous Aesop’s fable The Fox & The Crow! www.culturestirling.org Wednesday 10th April Phenomenal pond life at Jupiter Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth The pond has woken up after winter and is now bursting with life! Have a go at dipping and see what you can catch. Suitable for ages 5-12, booking essential. www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Thursday 11th April The Sooty Show at The Albert Halls Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy! Join Sooty for his brand new Laugh Out Loud Magic Show! Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep and Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell will amaze you with impossible tricks and sidesplitting jokes! www.culturestirling.org You Choose at Macrobert Arts Centre Based on the brilliant children’s book this is a brand new interactive musical show for all the family. www.macrobertartscentre. org Saturday 13th April Whatever the weather at Jupiter Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth Did you know that trees can tell us all about the weather? Find out why, how to measure weather and how this affects wildlife. Suitable for ages 5-12. Booking essential. www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Sunday 14th April The Adventures of Isabel at FTH Theatre, Falkirk Isabel faces many challenges, confronts and overcomes her fears, and learns about her independence. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org Friday 19th and Saturday 20th April Craft Sessions at Muiravonside Country Park Enjoy eggstraordinary craft sessions with the park Rangers and get crafty using natural materials in the Visitor Hub opposite the Café.

Booking is essential, phone 01324 506850 for information.

Friday 19th April to Monday 22nd April

Tuesday 30th April and Wednesday 1st May

Easter Egg Specials at Bo’ness Steam Railway A free tasty Easter treat for every child. Wear your traditional Easter Bonnet for the chance to win a prize and have fun in the museum hunting the Easter Eggs! www.bkrailway.co.uk

The Twirlywoos Live at FTH Theatre Falkirk Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they share the delight of discovery. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

Easter Bank Holiday Event at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park A big day out with family activities, an egg hunt and all the usual fun and excitement of the safari park!

Included in the standard price of admission. www.blairdrummond.com

Morrison’s Academy: Primary & Nursery Open Morning 9.30am – call 01764 653885 or visit www.morrisonsacademy.org

Easter Eggsplorer Trails www.historicenvironment.scot

Friday 3rd May

Friday 3rd to Monday 6th May May Bank Holiday Weekend at Blair Drummond Safari Park Pack a picnic and plan a big day out with all the usual fun and excitement of the safari park www.blairdrummond.com

Saturday 20th April Easter Fun at The Howgate Shopping Centre Join the Easter Egg Hunt in aid of Strathcarron Hospice in the Howgate Shopping Centre and beyond! www. howgateshoppingcentre. co.uk Easter Egg Hunt at Linlithgow Burgh Halls The Easter bunny has been hiding his chocolates at the Burgh Halls! Free entry.

Follow the clues to find his hidden treasure. Take part in our Easter egg hunt and roll your eggs in the rose garden.

Saturday 27th April All or Nothing & Room 2 Manoeuvre present: Heroes at FTH Theatre, Falkirk Light hearted with something for all the family, Heroes mixes aerial skills with dance theatre and contemporary circus. www.falkirkcommunitytrust. org Funbox present The Wild West at Macrobert Arts Centre Get your cowboy or cowgirl boot and spurs on and join us for a rootin’ tootin’ hoedown with Anya, Kevin and Bonzo! www.macrobertartscentre. org

Our holiday courses for children aged 7 & 8 and 9-13 are suitable for those who have either done no cycle proficiency training or who feel they need more practice to cycle safely on the roads. We start in a traffic free area before moving onto quiet roads.

Courses available in the school holidays Courses available during the summer holidays

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