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Anniversary 10 YEARS • 60 ISSUES Central Scotland
IN THIS ISSUE
Win a family holiday to Santa’s Lapland Issue 60 September/October 2020 familiesonline.co.uk
y Come and enjo Falkirk’s newurs! fantastic flavo
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Supporting you to succeed Contact our Admissions Team today for information on joining our school and the Pioneering Pupils fee structure available for those who enrol this year. Check out our website and social media for further information. fairviewinternational.uk enquiries@fairviewinternational.uk 01786 231 952 @fairviewbofa
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CONTENTS
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We’re celebrating!
Anniversary 10 YEARS • 60 ISSUES Central Scotland
We are very excited to bring you our celebratory 10th anniversary edition of Families Central Scotland! The digital magazine is packed with news, views, advice and autumn inspiration. Check out our special Parent to Parent feature too, where we catch up with the magazine’s original editors. Our 60th issue also marks a transition as we say goodbye to our current editor… and make way for somebody new! Could you lead Families Central Scotland into their next decade? See page 20 for more information.
4 News & Views 6 Parent to Parent Special Edition 10 Great Autumn Crafts 12 Autumn Days Out in 2020 14 Spotlight on… Psychology Kindergarten 15 Spooky Snacks 16 Classes & Clubs 17 Wellbeing 18 Last words with the editor
We hope that all our readers and their families are keeping safe and well during this very unusual year. @FamCS
@FamiliesCentral
We would like to thank our readers, followers, advertisers, designers, printers, distributors, schools, nurseries & pick-up points across Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire & West Lothian (and beyond!) for their support over the past decade – it has been hugely appreciated. Cover image: Deposit Photos Design from: 45 Degrees
Bookings are now being taken for our November/December digital issue. The deadline for all advertising submissions is 3rd November 2020. Email editor@familiescentralscotland.co.uk for information and booking.
Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held response for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof. familiesonline.co.uk
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NEWS
Audiobooks Improve Literacy Audiobooks can benefit children’s reading skills, according to new research published by the charity, the National Literacy Trust. The report looks at the advantages of listening to a recording of a novel being read, and the impact on young readers. The research suggests that listening to a recorded story requires the same mental skills as reading in print, so audiobooks can help with understanding words and remembering information. They can also give children access to a broader range of texts and engage readers who might be reluctant, struggling or developing. Emily Best, from the National Literacy Trust, said: “Audiobooks can be the key to unlocking a child’s love of reading. They enable children of all reading abilities and interests to access and explore the incredible world of stories, which are brought to life by a range of exciting voices, different accents and sound effects.” More info: www.literacytrust.org.uk 4
The Great British Beach Clean is back Become a Citizen Scientist during the annual Great British Beach Clean from 18 to 25 September. Register to adopt a 100m stretch of beach and organise your own beach clean, with your family, a group of friends or ‘bubble’ in line with government guidance. The Great British Beach Clean is more than just litter picking people become citizen scientists and carry out a litter survey, recording what they find on the beaches to help show a national and international picture of the most common forms of litter. Even if you don’t live near the coast, you can still take part by joining the Source to Sea Litter Quest and spot (and pick up!) common beach litter items in your local area. Did you know that 80% of the litter on beaches around the UK has travelled there from our towns, parks and rivers? More info: www.mcsuk.org familiesonline.co.uk
NEWS
Park Smart! Irresponsible parking is a familiar problem for many schools. Parking on pavements and ‘School Keep Clear’ signs, blocking driveways and large volumes of cars can cause a great deal of frustration and safety risks for our school community. Park Smart encourages drivers to park responsibly when travelling to school. There are a number of things drivers can do to help make the streets around our schools a safer and more pleasant experience for everyone. Next time you are heading to the school, try leaving the car at home and walk, cycle or scoot. You could also park further away from the school and walk the last part of the journey (park and stride). If you have to drive to school, please don’t park on ‘School Keep Clear’ zig zag markings or in bus bays; and keep all pavements and driveways clear. Be considerate of pedestrians and other drivers, and always ‘Park Smart’. Take the Right Route: falkirk.gov.uk/ttrr familiesonline.co.uk
Most children sleep with mobile phone Children are getting mobile phones at an earlier age, with most now having their own phone by age seven, according to an annual survey by Childwise, a leading specialist in children and young people research. The survey, based on interviews with 2,200 children in the UK aged 5 - 16, shows significant changes in the role of mobiles in young lives. Mobile phone ownership is up. It is now the top device for children accessing online content - and the average time spent on mobiles by children aged 7 - 16 is three hours and twenty minutes per day. Notably, 57% of children always have their phone beside their bed and 44% feel “uncomfortable” if they are without a phone signal. 42% say they keep their phone on them at all times and never turn it off. More info: childwise.co.uk 5
PARENT TO PARENT
Parent to Parent Interview
10th Anniversary Special Edition As Families Central Scotland celebrates ten years of publication, we are absolutely delighted to speak to one of its fabulous creators‌ Hello, my name is Louise Boyle and alongside my friend and neighbour, Fiona Logan, we launched Families Central Scotland Magazine in November 2010. Families magazines are part of a nationwide group with around 40 titles in different areas across Scotland, England and Wales. The idea was to create a really useful resource for local families with children aged 0-12, providing lots of information about what is on for their kids, from clubs and classes and nurseries to birthday entertainers, local shops and days out for all the family. I think the best part of running the magazine was the people we met and the local connections we made over the years. We distributed the magazine ourselves, so every two months we would cover the length and breadth of central Scotland and 6
we were able to meet so many lovely people in every setting imaginable. The other advantage of running the magazine was that we could fit the job around our child caring commitments. We were lucky to be able to work from home so we could be there for the drop off and pick up at school and not have to worry about childcare over the holidays. As our kids grew older, the need for this lessened - and we decided the time had come to pass the magazine on. Why do you like living where you do? How child friendly is it? We both live in the centre of Stirling, Fiona is from Clacks and I worked for many years in the Falkirk area, so we both felt we had a good understanding of the area the magazine covered. It is a great place to bring up children; we are lucky to have so many family friendly resources on our doorstep from a good mix of amenities (shops, cinemas, familiesonline.co.uk
PARENT TO PARENT
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cafes etc), but also loads of great outdoor places to explore. Favourite things to do with the children when the sun is shining? There are so many fantastic places to explore in the central belt, from the old and historic parts of Stirling (The Castle, Smith Gallery and The Wallace Monument) to exploring Callendar Park, The Falkirk Wheel and the amazing Kelpies at The Helix, and the beautiful glens in the Hillfoots. We have spent many a happy day out at Briarlands and the Safari Park, exploring the Bo’ness Railway Museum and walking round the loch at Linlithgow Palace. A visit to The Milk Barn is good for a great café but also for some lovely local walks. Best day out on a budget? Pack a picnic and head for the many wandering parks we have – Kings Park or Causewayhead Park in Stirling, or Zetland Park in Grangemouth - great for a day out, and we also loved taking the scooter to The Helix. Depending on the age of your wee one, walking up Alva Glen or Dollar Glen is good. There are some great family friendly cycle paths, including along the canals in Falkirk and the fantastic trails in Callendar Estates in Falkirk.
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Anniversary 10 YEARS • 60 ISSUES Central Scotland
Best place to be when it’s pouring with rain? When my wee one was younger, he loved the soft play areas, Kidz World in Alloa and Wonder World in Falkirk. We also now have the fantastic Kidz Town Role Play in Stirling and indoor trampolining, Jump ‘n’ Joy, in Alloa. For a free option, we used to love going to the Smith Gallery for a wander and then playing with the dressing up in the kids’ corner (followed by cake in the café!). The cafés at Briarlands and The Milk Barn are good for a wet day as they have small indoor play areas for kids. Cinema can also be a good choice and the Saturday family films at The Bo’ness Hippodrome and Macrobert were always a good and affordable option.
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PARENT TO PARENT
Favourite shop? It is so important for our local economy to shop local where possible, so take time to explore if you can, as there are some lovely independent shops in our towns with friendly and personalised service. Favourite park? We love any park where there is the option for buying an ice cream or a coffee (toilets are also very useful!), so probably Causewayhead Park where you can get ice cream from Corrieri’s, or The Helix which has a lovely cafe. The Milk Barn have amazing ice cream plus a lovely outdoor play area. If you head to Greenfield Park in Alloa, Orlandi’s is just opposite (the best ice cream in Alloa!). Favourite children’s club? We are lucky to have so many talented people who run a great variety of clubs and classes in the Falkirk, Stirling and Alloa areas, from music for little ones to martial arts for all the family, dancing, drama, and fitness, classes for mums and babies and every sport from football, rugby, tennis and cycling to multi sports for the younger ones. Both my wee one and Fiona’s girls have taken part in so many over the years. Taking part in a club or a class has been great for their 8
social skills, confidence and self esteem as well as making new friends. Favourite child-friendly restaurant or café? I think, for children, anywhere that serves pizza or pasta is a winner – we loved Corrieri’s for its child friendliness. There are some great cafés about and, after a run about in the park with friends, it is always lovely to find a café for a well-deserved coffee for the parents… and cake for everyone! Favourite night out without kids? We love Gabe’s Diner in Stirling for a grown up treat. Having a night out at the cinema or theatre is always a treat too check out the Macrobert, Bo’ness Hippodrome and FTH Theatre for some great events. Best planet saving tip? My child loved Bob the Builder, so the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a good place to start. We have a number of good recycling initiatives in the local area: Weigh Ahead in Dunblane can reduce packaging, Recyke-abike in Stirling is great for passing on second hand bikes, and both Baby Steps in Falkirk and Babes in the Wood in Stirling are ideal for recycling good quality baby items.
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PARENT TO PARENT
Parenting pet hates? Never compare your child to others. Something I remember from the many baby classes we attended were the many conversations about whose child was doing what. Children develop at different rates, so just enjoy being with your children and celebrating their achievements and try not to compare them with your friend’s kids.
to life, and for the time, effort and commitment they put in to establishing a valuable resource for local families. We are thrilled that the magazine has published six issues a year and is still going strong a decade later (albeit digitally, for the time being)!
Most loved children’s book? My child loved anything from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. I remember taking him to an exhibition at Callendar House, many years ago, of drawings and sketches by Axel Scheffler. We met Julia Donaldson which was very exciting. We used to go to the live shows at the Macrobert with Julia Donaldson bringing the stories to life (accompanied by her husband playing the guitar). My wee one loved them and, alongside other children, even got up on stage once for the story ‘Tiddler’!
10 years ago…
No parent should be without…? A huge amount of patience and a good sense of humour. The current Families team would like to say a huge thank you to Louise Boyle & Fiona Logan for bringing Families Central Scotland familiesonline.co.uk
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ACTIVITIES
Great Autumn Crafts Join our friends at MyBaba and get crafty with the kids!
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Autumn Leaf Pictures
3D Autumn Tree Craft
Autumn Leaf Sun Catchers
Autumn Play Dough
Painted Leaves
Leaf Rubbing Busy Bag
Animal Seed Collage
Leaf Chromatography
Autumn Sensory Tray familiesonline.co.uk
ACTIVITIES
SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR
Win a magical break to Santa's Lapland in 2021 Enjoy a Reindeer sleigh ride, sledging with huskies, exploring a real igloo and much more, including a once in a lifetime private visit with Santa himself! Click here to enter
Entries close at midnight on 30th October 2020. Terms & conditions apply, see website for details. familiesonline.co.uk
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AUTUMN DAYS OUT
Autumn Days Out All activities are subject to change in line with Co-VID 19 guidelines. Please always check with the venue for up to date information prior to setting out.
Halloween’s coming… pick your own pumpkin at Arnprior Farm! https://arnpriorfarm.com/arnpriorpumpkins/ Alpaca Trekking offers something different for the family to try… ! https://www.facebook.com/ flandersmossalpacas/ Cinema’s back! Check out the Macrobert Arts Centre for cosy film options when the weather’s not so good. https://macrobertartscentre.org/ Family fun in the fresh air at Briarlands Farm! Always loads to see, do, eat and drink! https://briarlandsfarm.co.uk/ Grab the bikes or a picnic and head out to one of Central Scotland’s parks for lots of space and autumn air. Kinneil Estate, Callendar Park, Muiravonside, Beecraigs, King’s Park and The Helix all offer good options. https://helix. falkirkcommunitytrust.org/
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AUTUMN DAYS OUT
Amazing animals, Halloween fun, World of Dinosaurs, marshmallow toasting & more at Blair Drummond! https://www.blairdrummond. com/ Treat the family to some icecream or a milkshake, start the day with a good breakfast, or warm up with a hot drink and some baking at The Milk Barn! Lots of walking trails in the area too. https://themilkbarn.co.uk/ Adventure and play – and some spooky happenings – at Almond Valley, Livingston. http://www.almondvalley.co.uk/ Have you ever been on The Falkirk Wheel? Give it a try, then go for a stroll & pick up a tasty takeaway lunch while you’re there! https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/ falkirk-wheel/ Explore your local area with a Treasure Trail! https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/ As more places re-open this autumn, stay up to date on our social media pages: @FamCS
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EARLY YEARS
Spotlight on… The Psychology Kindergarten, University of Stirling The Psychology Kindergarten is unique in the UK because it serves the dual purpose of providing rich, challenging and meaningful learning experiences for children, whilst also offering an opportunity for staff and students at the University of Stirling to study aspects of child development. It has been graded ‘excellent’ for quality of care and support and ‘very good’ for the quality of leadership and management, staffing and environment. The Psychology Kindergarten welcomes children from two years and nine months up to five years old from the public, as well as children of students and staff of the University. It works in partnership with Stirling Council to offer the 1140 hours entitlement for a maximum of 6 hours per day over 37.6 weeks per year. Current opening times are from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. Their ethos strives to develop a shared vision between parents and children on what values should shape the practice, thus encouraging a sense of belonging. They aim to extend the children’s individual interests and elicit their ideas to support critical thinking and problem-solving. Loose parts play is used to enable children to experiment without a pre-determined outcome, fostering imagination and encouraging creativity. Spending time in the outdoors promotes emotional wellbeing and resilience and so the Kindergarten has access to the University’s beautiful campus. This offers the perfect setting for the children to investigate nature 14
and hold forest schoolinspired activities throughout the year. The campus grounds also offer a wide range of natural elements to allow exploration of early mathematical and literacy concepts. Pumpkins, peas and carrots grow in the allotment, and children have also designed and created a mini sensory garden at the back of the Macrobert Arts Centre. The Kindergarten offers mindfulness, yoga and classical music sessions, and the team also worked in collaboration with the Irish Murdoch Dementia Centre and Town Break Stirling in spring last year, running an inter-generational project. The sessions revolved around gardening, music and art. The pilot study aimed to bring the children from the Kindergarten and people living with dementia together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities. To find out more about the Psychology Kindergarten, contact: Sarah Thorburn, Acting Manager or Federica Caruso, Manager 01786 467662 or Email: psychologykindergarten@stir.ac.uk Psychology Kindergarten, University of Stirling, Cottrell Building 3w8, Stirling, FK9 4LA Website: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/naturalsciences/business/psychology-kindergarten/
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SPOOKY SNACKS
9 Best Halloween Recipes Creative Halloween party snacks for all the family to enjoy making and eating.
Sticky Toffee Apples
Spider Pizzas
Frozen Banana Ghosts
Scary Halloween Jelly
Sausage Mummy Dippers
Halloween Cupcakes
Spooky Pumpkin Soup
Eerie Eyeball Pops
Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats
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CLUBS & CLASSES
Face-to-Face and Virtual Classes and Clubs
Garry Shaw Martial Arts
Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Face to face drama classes for 5-17yrs.
Face to face and online music toddler groups for 0-5s.
Daisy First Aid Stirling
Music Bugs
Jump Around Stirling
Fun, fitness & martial arts skills for different age groups.
Practical first aid classes for anyone who looks after babies or children.
Rugbytots
Face to face rugby play programme for 2-7 yrs.
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Online sensory music classes for babies and toddlers.
Little Gym
Teddies Music Club
Lots of active fun for wee ones!
Enjoy-a-Ball Falkirk
Face to face and online gymnastics activities Fun multi-sport for 4mths-12yrs. coaching for children in Falkirk. familiesonline.co.uk
WELLBEING
You are not alone Mental health is every bit as important as physical health and one can significantly impact the other. If you’re worried, or looking for support for children or adults, speak to your G.P. or check out these resources as a starting point:
Mental health for new parents
General mental health and wellbeing support
Talking to children about emotions
Mental health support in schools
Breathing Space
Downloadable guide for parents and carers Helping children deal with change
Managing anxiety in primary school Spotting the signs of mental health issues in your child Childline
Children with OCD: Recognising the Signs
Children worry. Feeling anxious, having doubts, or being worried is normal at any age. However, those who are experiencing OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), may feel unable to stop focusing on those feelings – no matter how much they want to. This can compel them to behave in particular ways. READ MORE familiesonline.co.uk
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LAST WORDS WITH EDITOR
Families Central: Last words with the editor… This special anniversary edition of Families Central Scotland also marks our current editor’s last issue. Before she handed on the baton, we caught up with Fiona Bunting for a quick chat on all things “Families”. The best bit about being the editor was…. easily, all the great people I encountered along the way – from the supportive network of Families editors across the U.K. to the lovely advertisers, design team, printers, distributors, family friendly venues, and, of course, the readers. I’ve also loved the great competitions I’ve been able to run during my two years as editor. My little daughter has drawn out the winners and it’s been lovely to give people happy news. I just wish every entrant could win a prize! Hopes for the magazine going forward… I loved the magazine as a parent, long before I became the editor. I liked the “local” aspect, the relevant content and the family-friendly ideas. I also appreciated that it was free! I hope that these things keep going and and I hope it gets back into print again soon. This has been a really challenging time for so many sectors, including this one, but we’ve had some very good support. I am looking forward to reading future issues during my train commute! A family story… My kids love to read by themselves (Danny Scott, David 18
Dribble bibs were an essential buy for baby 2!
Baddiel and Enid Blyton are current favourites!) – but they also love to hear a book being read to them. One of my favourite things is to snuggle up together with a good story, particularly with the nights drawing in. During lockdown, we really liked the daily chapters of J.K. Rowling’s ‘Ickabog’ as they were released. On car journeys, we’ve enjoyed the American ‘Box Car Children’ story CDs – mystery stories with no “scary bits”! I would happily keep my children off social media forever if I could! I understand that there’s a place for it but also know it can be very harmful. I’m so grateful to have had a childhood before the arrival of digital images, internet chat, online computer game linking and social media platforms, but I do worry for children growing up just now. Even as adults, it’s hard to switch off from something that’s always there. Fischy Music makes me smile. The kids know it from school so we sometimes listen to it in the house. familiesonline.co.uk
LAST WORDS WITH EDITOR
They lyrics are so strong and positive – and not just for children! Best buy over the years… the plastic, wipeable IKEA high-chair. Hard to beat. I’m thankful every day that my son is with us. He had life saving surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, and I will always be grateful to the team there. Being outside is amazing for the mind and body. We don’t always get the weather here in Central Scotland but, when we do, it’s lovely to get out and about. Even as toddlers, the kids would instantly calm down if we put them outside. Now they’re getting older, they have Fitbits to incentivise them to walk for steps! When we’re out crunching through bright autumn leaves, it’s not just about walking. Conversations we wouldn’t normally have in the house can happen outdoors- and that’s important. A lot of people feel more comfortable opening up when they’re not sitting face to face, so driving or walking together can be useful. In general, we focus a huge amount on exercise and diet – and we often ignore the colossal importance of sleep for both adults and children. The Sleep Council have some staggering statistics – see We resorted to fence painting over Lockdown…
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https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/ - but also useful advice and support. The 2020 Sleep Manifesto from The Sleep Council and The Sleep Charity makes for really interesting reading: https:// sleepcouncil.org. uk/wp-content/uploads/Manifesto.pdf
Can’t beat a family day out to Adventure Golf Island
Parents feel so guilty, so often, about so much. I’ve worked full time, part time and not at all while having kids – and have felt equally “guilty” at each stage. I know a lot of friends who say the same, or who have felt guilty about other aspects of parenting such as feeding or routines. The only people who can let go of this guilt are those who are feeling it - nobody else can let go of it for them. One of my very favourite quotations is from Jacob Nordby - and I think it really captures the importance of distancing from what others are thinking (or what we think they’re thinking!) and being the driver of your own life: “What an interesting little prison we build from the invisible bricks of other people’s opinions.” I think this year has reminded us that things can change very quickly, and that life is very short. My only advice would be to step away from digital devices (I know myself that that’s easier said than done!) and enjoy quality time with family & friends as much as possible. Make a ‘bucket list’, be kind – and seize the moment whenever you can. 19
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