Central Scotland In this Issue Summer days out Back to school Out and about Come and enjoy Win a family ticket to Falkirk’s new Blair Drummond Safari fantastic flavours! Park –see page 7 Glen Farm Glen Village Falkirk FK1 3AA for details Tel. 01324 630703 www.themilkbarn.co.uk Issue 47 July/August 2018 familiesonline.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk Families Central Scotland 1 W EXPLORE, LEARN, DISCOVER THE ENGINE SHED Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ Open Mon-Sat, 10:00am - 16:00pm Free admission Free workshops every weekend Join us at the Engine Shed throughout the summer holidays for fun, free workshops relating to traditional building skills and materials. Come and explore innovative technology and enjoy an immersive experience for all the family. 2 Families Central Scotland Familiesonline.co.uk Central Scotland contents In this Issue Summer days out Back to school Out and about News and views ...............................................pages 4-5 Welcome to the July/August issue of the Families Central Scotland magazine. The Summer is here and this issue is packed Come and enjoy Falkirk’s new Win a family ticket to Parent to parent ..................................................... page 6 fantastic flavours! Blair Drummond Safari Glen Farm Glen Village Falkirk FK1 3AA Park –see page 5 with lots of great things to do with the Tel. 01324 630703 www.themilkbarn.co.uk for details Issue 47 July/August 2018 Familiesonline.co.uk kids. We have our super Summer holiday Familiesfamiliesonline.co.uk Central Scotland 1 feature so you will never be stuck for an idea of Summer days out..........................................pages 8-11 what to do to keep the kids entertained and active. Our back to school feature has an article on how to prepare your child for starting school and has some top tips from local businesses Back to school feature ............................pages 12-15 on getting ready for the return to school. All this, and our regular news and views, parent to parent and a packed out and about. We hope you have a sunny and fun Summer! Out and about ............................................pages 16-18 Fiona & Louise the editors In this issue Circulation 12000 copies distributed directly to nurseries, playgroups, health WIN a family ticket to Blair Drummond Safari Park.........page 7 centres, libraries, leisure facilities as well as selected shops, cafes, and schools. Please contact us if you wish to receive our media pack detailing costs and sizes of adverts. contact us Design - Lamb Designs e: [email protected] Printers - J Thomson Colour Printers Cover Image - Deposit photos t: 079302 64979 If you are interested in advertising with us bookings are now Families Central Scotland is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise being taken for the September/October Clubs and Classes company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB issue – deadline for all adverts and editorial 1st August. 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 www.facebook.com/FamCS of this magazine, but Families Central Scotland; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing Find us on facebook and twitter cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. @FamiliesCentral where you will get regular updates. Visit our website www.familiesonline.co.uk for more articles and details of local events and listings for you and your family. Familiesonline.co.uk Families Central Scotland 3 Summer in the Alps The Alps may be an Babes in the Wood, Stirling obvious destination for We have recently opened in the unit the ski season, but how previously occupied by Good Green Fun about a summer visit? and our main aim is to support families Summer offers enough experiencing hardship. Recently we have been green (the mountains) affected by the Springkerse bridge closure. and blue (the sky) to set you up for the whole year We have experienced a marked decrease - and plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs. in our donations and customer footfall and With reasonably priced flights from London and this could prove problematic to the success Edinburgh airports to Geneva then a short drive of our services if it continues in the longer to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from term. We’re appealing to the wider community to spread the news that we are Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the very much OPEN FOR BUSINESS and a warm welcome awaits you and your main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next children when you visit. We are always in need of good quality toys, clothing and door, you can organise your own meals, or join the equipment for the birth to 16 years age group and will accept these at any time party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually during our opening hours of Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. Babes in the Wood, only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals Unit 32 Stirling Enterprise Park, Players Road, Stirling, FK7 7RP. for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace FTH Theatre and The Hippodrome this – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this Summer was home! For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder. Head along to FTH Theatre com and more about summer in Morzine visit for some Summer fun with http://en.morzine-avoriaz.com/activities/summer- ‘The Giant’s Loo Roll’ – 27th activities/ July 2pm. Watch out for some frightened sheep, lots of Annual Summerfest at Blairmains excited children and a fantastic amount of toilet paper in this Farm Shop & Coffee rip roaring new musical by Bothy –Saturday TaleGate Theatre Productions. The 7th & 8th August will see FTH Theatre welcome ‘Tiddler & Other Terrific 11th August Tales,’ where Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best-loved titles: Tiddler, We invite you to join us on Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in Town and A Squash and a Squeeze come Saturday 11th August for our annual to life. Funky moves, toe tapping tunes and giggles are guaranteed! If you’re Summerfest and speciality fine food fair. With over 30 of looking for a cosy cinema day out make sure you visit The Hippodrome in our suppliers showcasing Scotland’s well stocked larder of Bo’ness, not only is it Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema and described as - food and drink, it’s your ideal opportunity to sample their “If a cinema could give you a hug this is what it would feel like” ( Sight & Sound), tasty products – try before you buy! Demonstrations the cinema will be screening’The Incredibles 2’ and ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go of locally made bespoke accessories, wood carving as Again’ throughout the holidays. Pop along to either or both FTH Theatre and well as hand-made soaps and creams – with a range The Hippodrome for a summer treat! Make sure to grab your tickets now! of our Bothy made deli goodies as well as beer, gin and FTH Theatre 01324 506850 or online at www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org whisky sampling. Central FM will provide entertainment and music, with organised fun for the kids, a BBQ and Rugbytots Stirling and beer tent – something for everyone. Free prize draws, discounts and deals will be available throughout the day, Clackmannanshire this is an event not to be missed – leave time for a visit to Rugbytots has arrived in Stirling with classes in one of our coffee shops. For more information contact Cambusbarron, Bridge of Allan, Alloa, Callander us on [email protected] - Blairmains Farm Shop and Dunblane! This highly energetic play and Coffee Bothy, Blairlogie, Stirling, FK9 5QA www. programme for boys and girls aged 2-7 years blairmains.com has run in Scotland since 2008, with classes in Stirling since summer 2012. In April 2016 more classes were added, run by owner and former Scotland Rugby Internationalist, James Craig. Come along and join in the fun! Classes currently run in Cambusbarron, Dunblane, Alloa, Calendar and Bridge of Allan. All bookings can be made on our website at http://www.rugbytots.co.uk Can’t find a suitable class near you, no problem! We are looking to add more classes throughout the Stirling and Clackmannanshire area so please register your interest and we’ll get back to you when one comes available. If you have any questions, please e-mail [email protected] or call 0845 313 0424 4 Families Central Scotland Familiesonline.co.uk Healthy Ice Lollies to Make with Kids go Visit the Bo’ness your Kids free!* & Kinneil Railway Let the kids cool down Travel on our steam in style with healthy railway and enjoy Scotland’s homemade ice lollies. largest railway museum. There is no limit to the range, as you can use Open 24 March - 28 October any fruit you like – and www.bkrailway.co.uk even smuggle in some veggies! Registered charity SC002375 Union Street, Bo’ness. EH51 9AQ *one child free with a paying adult with this ad. Valid for one transaction Whipping up a batch of only, any day until end August 2018 except 28 & 29 July ref famCent homemade ice lollies makes for a quick and exciting summer project for kids and these are a breeze to make.