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Issu Jan e 41 /F 201 eb 7

Let’s party

ALSO INCLUDING:

What’s on, reviews, news and updates

Plan a party the kids will love

Issue 6 Families Fife | 1 www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Welcome

appy New Year and welcome to the January / February 2017 issue of Families Fife, Perth & Kinross. With Christmas done and dusted, it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. If anyone is feeling a bit blue now that all the festivities are over, take a look at our article on page 5 with some great ideas to enjoy some family time. Also in this issue, check out our party guide etiquette of whether you should invite the entire class to your child’s party (a daunting thought I know)! There are also some great ideas of party

entertainment if you are looking to get someone in to help out for a stress free party. This February also sees the return of the fantastic Scottish Snowdrop Festival in Cambo Estate, Kingsbarn, Fife. There are lots of events happening that the children will love so check out when these are in our what’s on guide. We also get to know the lovely Helen Goldie, a hypnobirthing instructor and owner of Dreambirthing. She gives us a great run down of her favourite places

and classes. And if you’re expecting a child, see if hypnobirthing could help you. There is also the usual roundup of education with some great Kumon offers and how to get your child interested in maths. And if you are considering a new after school club or class, read about the benefits these can give children. The new stage school, Up In Lights, in Dunfermline looks great for developing new skills and gaining confidence. Happy New Year and lang may yer lum reek.  Louisa

A leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 5 - 18

The Sunday Times top performing independent school for Highers and Advanced Highers 2015

OPEN DAYS

Exceptional academic results

Saturday 4th February 2017

Bus network across Perthshire

Scholarship & Whole School Open Day

Excellent modern facilities Outstanding pastoral care

Open Doors Afternoon

Friday 17th March 2017, 2pm - 4pm Open Doors Afternoon

Friday 28th April 2017, 2pm - 4pm To find out more, request a prospectus, or arrange to come to see Kilgraston, please contact Admissions on admissions@kilgraston.com or 01738 812 257.

Comfortable boarding houses Over 50 extra-curricular activities Bursaries and scholarships available Bursa

KUMON MATHS AND ENGLISH STUDY CENTRES Contact your local Kumon Maths and English Study Centre to book your two-week Free Trial.

Dunfermline 01383 730 775 St Andrews 0131 618 2315

www.kilgraston.com

Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only. Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability.

2 | Families Fife Issue 41

admissions@kilgraston.com - 01738 812 257 Kilgraston School - Bridge of Earn - Perth - PH2 9BQ

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Contents

&K erth P , e F if

inross

WELCOME TO FAMILIES FIFE, PERTH & KINROSS

NEWS AND VIEWS

The latest local news

HEALTH

How to beat the January blues

EDUCATION

6-7

Teach children to love maths

PARTY TIME

8-9

Who to invite for the perfect party

PARENTING

Learn all about hypnobirthing and if it’s for you

PARENT TO PARENT

Meet Helen Goldie, Owner of Dreambirthing

CLUBS & CLASSES

12-13

How your child can benefit from after school clubs

OUT AND ABOUT

14-15

Round up of events over the coming months

Editor: Louisa McCormack editor@familiesfife.co.uk Tel: 07881 827 627 Design: Katie White www.whitecreativecompany.co.uk Circulation: 13,000 copies printed. Distributed free of charge throughout Fife, Perth and Kinross by kind permission of Fife Libraries, Fife Leisure Centres, antenatal clinics, health visitors, surgeries, community use schools, Theatres in Fife and Perth, places of historic interest, local attractions, selected shops and playgroups and play centres. Print: J Thomson. Due care was taken to source print and other services required to produce this magazine from within the local area.

NEXT ISSUE: March/April 2017 Booking deadline: 3rd February, Out: 1 March 2017

Families Fife is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Fife are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.’

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Remember your favourite play memories – the fun, the thrills, the skint knees, the everyday adventures – let’s give our children and young people these opportunities. Delivering the Child’s Right to Play in Scotland is everyone’s responsibility and child friendly policies can unlock the opportunities for children that will support them to develop into confident, healthy adults. FREE APP – Try out Boredom Busters, Play Scotland’s new app, for 8-12 year olds, designed to get children actively playing more and in a variety of different ways. Play Scotland Level 1, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ Tel: 0131 313 8859 Email: info@playscotland.org Web: www.playscotland.org

Company Number 017885 Scottish Charity No SC029167 Registered at the above address.

Issue 41 Families Fife | 3

News & Views Spectacular Snowdrops

he Scottish Snowdrop Festival at Cambo Estate in Kingsbarns, Fife, is happening 10 – 26 February 2017. With extensive winter gardens, walled garden, woodlands, wildlife and over 350 varieties of snowdrop, Cambo is the place for snowdrops and much more! Explore our creative family trails and herald the arrival of spring at our weekly craft activity drop in sessions. Explore and play together at our brand-new nature playground.

Our Wild Food Festival day on 17 February will incorporate cosy campfire cooking and stories and active foraging around the estate. To celebrate the development of Cambo Heritage Centre opening in summer 2017, join our Cambo Heritage Craft Festival on 26 February showcasing traditional skills and craft inspired by the natural environment. Finish with a visit to the snowdrop themed tearoom and plant shop bursting with hellebores, snowdrops and aconites.  To find out the times of events, see our what’s on guide on page 14 or visit www.familiesonline.co.uk

Fantastic meals out

n holiday, I struggle to find restaurants that cater for our family’s needs, from one of my children’s fussy habits to my medical dietary requirements, it can be very tricky! I recently visited Disneyland Paris with my family and I was unsure what to expect of the food. That was until I came across these two fantastic restaurants – Planet Hollywood and Earl of Sandwich. I really shouldn’t have worried. Not only were they both child friendly but they also had great service and amazing food to cater for us all. Planet Hollywood is located near the entrance to Disney Village and has iconic movie memorabilia on display over 2 floors of the restaurant. The menu has lots of choice for children and adults, from pizza and pasta to steak, chicken and burgers. They also have 4 pages of gluten free options – my idea of heaven! The burgers (with gluten free bun) were amazing. My family also made great choices with the stake, hot dog, pasta and fish goujons. The children’s meal also came with a great choice of desserts, a souvenir cup to take home and a Kinder egg! From the top quality food to the reasonable prices, it is definitely worth a visit. We also visited Earl of Sandwich during our stay. This restaurant has the best views of the village and great hot sandwiches too. The menu has lots of choice with wraps, soups, salads and a good choice for children. I had a fantastic salad which I have tried to recreate at home. The hot sandwiches were

amazing too and again, we had no trouble getting the young ones to eat all of their food which also included some fruit. Next time I am on my travels with the family, I will be looking out for these restaurants to enjoy again. 

New App for Play Scotland

lay Scotland is the National organisation for Play, committed to ensuring that all children have a wide range of opportunities to Play. Boredom Busters is a brand new, fun app for 8-12 year olds, designed to get children actively playing more in a variety of different ways. The app is packed full of inspirational ideas for ways to play in and around the home and allows children to share their play ideas with others. The app helps parents promote healthy, active play via an intuitive online environment. The fully moderated online space created by the app is designed to empower parents to encourage their children to use the app with confidence.  Boredom Busters is absolutely free and has no in-app purchases! www.playscotland.org

Your Local Families Team is Recruiting!

ith the launch of the fantastic new website this summer, we have a number of highly flexible, home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites. As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set up costs involved, you will be trained by industry experts and you will develop valuable new skills in the digital, print and social media marketing industry.

4 | Families Fife Issue 41

You Should Be:

ownership and pride in your work

ÊEnthusiastic Ê and knowledgeable about what’s on locally for families ÊInterested Ê in working flexibly from home at times that suit you ÊOnline Ê savvy and a regular user of Facebook and Twitter ÊAble Ê to write great articles which capture the imagination of local families ÊHave Ê good networking and communication skills, and confidence when speaking to customers/the public ÊA Êmotivated self-starter who takes

Responsibilities

ÊPosting Ê daily online and on social media with great ideas for your readers ÊPopulating Ê and updating your site with useful and timely local content for families ÊMarketing Ê and selling your site to local businesses and families ÊBuilding Ê relationships with your clients and users and helping them get the most from your site 

To register your interest, please email editor@familiesfife.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Health

How to beat the JANUARY BLUES O

nce the excitement of Christmas is over and gone, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year. However, there are so many opportunities for you to do things together as a family - both indoors and out - that you’ll soon banish the January blues!

butter all over the outside of an empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an instant feeder that the kids can hang near the kitchen or living room window. Add a bird book and they can pass a few hours identifying and logging the birds that come to visit. Just make sure they wrap up warm!

A family read-in

When it’s blowing a gale outside, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon than snuggled up with a good book. For younger children you can encourage them to act out the story and show off your full range of funny faces and voices. For older children, take the opportunity to discuss what they’re reading in some depth - talk about plot and characters and why they enjoy a particular type of book. Who knows, you may even inspire them to try writing their own story!

Outdoor crafts are a wonderful way to liven up the garden for pennies, using materials you can find outdoors or simply lying around the house. It’s amazing how ice, berries and watercolours or food colourings can transform tap water into beautiful ice baubles to decorate the garden when set in interesting moulds. Or spread peanut

Find a talking stick

Look to the heavens

On a clear night, there’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and heading outside to stargaze. Download an app and see how many constellations you can find and identify. Younger children will enjoy spotting stars and older ones can test their astronomical knowledge.

Family Bake-Off

Get creative in the garden

The best way to blow away the cobwebs during January is to take the family for a long winter walk. It’s great exercise, but it’s even more fun if you make your walk an excuse to collect items for some winter crafting.

Another interesting find on your walk might be a stick that transforms, with the help of some beads, feather, paint and markers into a wish stick for younger children or a talking stick for the older members of your tribe. Talking sticks have a long history in tribal cultures as a way of allowing everyone to have their say - you can only talk when holding the stick - so, for larger families, this could be an ideal way for your kids to create something that will ensure they’re heard.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind…

Who doesn’t love the Great British Bake Off? Those grey January days offer the perfect opportunity to get into the kitchen and bake up a storm. Let younger children indulge in some messy play with their own bowl of cake mix or a piece of pastry - don’t get stressed about the mess but enjoy a real opportunity to spend some creative time together in the kitchen. For older children, encourage some healthy competition by going ‘full Bake off’ and seeing who can produce the best cookies or cupcakes.

Create rock pets

Have a tech-free day

Fun in the snow

Of course, snow in January isn’t guaranteed, but if it does snow you have the ideal excuse to wrap up warm and organise snowman building contests and a monster snowball fight. Kids of all ages love playing in the snow, but have you ever played tug of war? Or tried snowball dodgeball? Once that snowman is built, try frisbeeing a hat onto his head or play a game of pin the nose on the snowman using a carrot. And everyone can join in a simple game of tag, made a little more interesting if you’re only allowed to use the footprints of the other players!

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Be brave and ban iPads, smartphones and games consoles for the day. Instead put out a pile of blank paper, pens and craft materials and see what your children can create. Boredom can be the best motivator for creativity.

Revive the art of den building

For younger children, provide blankets, boxes and furniture indoors while encourage older children to get outdoors and get den building in the garden or the woods. Find out who’s the Bear Grylls of the family and who can create the best fantasy castle/spaceship/ dragon’s belly. Den building is for everyone, so get involved!  For more ideas on keeping the kids active visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/activities

Issue 41 Families Fife | 5

Education

Make maths fun for kids

aths is one of the fundamental skills that all children need to acquire, and there are plenty of ways you can make maths fun through the use of games and maths activities at home. Numeracy targets are fundamental to the National Curriculum and to primary school testing and that can seem as intimidating to you as to your child. But there are some simple strategies you can put in place that can make maths fun for your kids and reinforce how important those life skills are. The way maths is taught in schools has changed fundamentally over the past few years so, who knows? You may end up learning something new, too.

Do your homework

Before you can support your child’s maths learning at home, you’ll need to find out about the way they learn maths at school. Do some homework on modern maths methods like number lines and gridding, and find out whether your child’s school offers maths support classes for parents. If not, there are some excellent resources available online like the family maths toolkit from national numeracy or the ‘Maths for Mums and Dads’ books by Mike Askew and Rob Eastaway.

Maths by stealth

There are plenty of ways you can incorporate maths into everyday life, which is an excellent way of letting children know how

important numeracy skills are outside of the classroom. Next time you have a cake or a pizza, ask them to divide it into quarters or thirds or an even number of portions for the number of people eating it. Baking isn’t just a pleasurable activity to do with your kids, it’s one of the very best ways of embedding the importance of weights and measures. They’ll also need to keep an eye on the clock to know when their goodies are ready to come out of the oven. Meanwhile, every time you go to the shops, encourage them to add as they go and then make their best estimate of the final bill. From calculating the change they should receive when they buy an ice cream to keeping score in a friendly game of football, everyday maths really is everywhere!

Try gamification

Make tech and tables count

Make it more formal

There are numerous maths apps available for children of all ages, from simple counting games to more advanced calculations. Doodle Maths and Mr Thorne’s Maths Universe should get even committed young mathphobes practising their numeracy on their tablets and smartphones. Percy Parker Sing Your Times Tables and Squeebles Times Tables are both excellent apps for embedding times tables in young brains. Why not try singing along with Percy Parker on your next long car journey? For older children facing their end of primary school tests, ensure that they know not just the multipliers but the divisors too, up to 12 x 12.

In other words, get out some old fashioned board games. Children learn best when an activity is fun, and they’re usually unaware that they’re learning through playing games. Dominoes is an excellent game for practising basic maths concepts, as is Snakes and Ladders. They’ll be having too much fun to notice they’re adding and subtracting and recognising basic number patterns. For older children, Monopoly introduces more sophisticated numeracy skills and Scrabble is a brilliant way to practise both numeracy and literacy. Board games are also valuable for introducing related concepts like strategy, logic and reasoning skills into the mix.

As your children’s maths skills progress, you can begin to make their home learning more formalised. There are any number of online maths resources available and your school may encourage at-home use of a programme like Mathletics to challenge and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. These online resources usually feature progressive levels so you can easily track your child’s progress but do check before you sign up to a paid programme that it’s compatible with the National Curriculum. Although it’s easy to assume that children will prefer working on the computer, many also enjoy age-appropriate workbooks, with stickers to reward their progress.

Learn with and from your children

As the family maths toolkit points out, maths is not a can or cannot subject but something we can all improve, however old we are. When your children start to bring home maths homework, take the opportunity to learn about new maths concepts from them and show them real world examples of how to put those skills into practice - by checking your shopping or phone bill. Encourage them to contextualise a newly acquired skill by putting it into practice around the home, whether it’s telling you the time their favourite TV show comes on or estimating how long their bath takes to run. And always praise their effort rather than their talent, to reinforce the message that by working hard anyone can improve their maths skills.  To find out more about helping your child learn visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/ education

6 | Families Fife Issue 41

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

165 Robertson Road, Fife KY12 0BL 01383 741900 Take advantage of a Free Trial in February

our Local Kumon Centre is offering a two-week Free Trial for new students enrolling in February 2017. Kumon’s individualised, worksheetbased maths and English study programmes are tailored to the ability of each student. Established for over 50 years, our programmes enable children of all ages and abilities to develop strong study skills and confidently tackle advanced work. At Kumon, learning is always for the long run. Through daily study of the Kumon programmes, your child will progress at their own pace, developing the ability to learn for themselves thus ensuring they maximise their ability and begin to realise their unlimited potential. Why not find out what your child can achieve through the Kumon Maths and English Programmes? 

Start your child early with Kumon and help them reach their full potential

umon St Andrews Study Centre offers individualised maths and English study programmes for children of all ages and abilities. There is no minimum age requirement as the Kumon Method of Learning can help to develop children into confident, independent learners from a young age. The Kumon programmes are tailored to suit the needs of each individual child. Kumon students work through their study programmes at their own pace, which allows them to realise their full potential. 

Lathro, Kin Fife KY13 8 01577 3838

Learn with Lauriston

auriston Nursery is now operating in Dunfermline and Kinross. Both nurseries are purpose built with four playrooms, a secure garden and CCTV, both indoors and outdoors. Our qualified staff team work in partnership with parents to provide quality learning experiences based around the Pre-birth to three Curriculum, the Curriculum for Excellence and children’s interests and development. Parent involvement is extremely important to us and we strive to keep parents involved in the nursery

life. Our electronic learning journeys allow parents to be actively involved in their child’s nursery day which can be accessed using our secure online site or a smart phone app. Observations, photographs, meals, nappies, sleeps and any other relevant information can be recorded in each child’s file. No appointment needed for a look around so feel free to pop along for more information. 

www.letslearnyoung.com

KILGRASTON IS ON TOP FORM

ilgraston School is a leading boarding and day school for girls aged 5 – 18. In November 2016, Kilgraston was named ‘top performing independent school for Advanced Highers’ by best-schools.co.uk. This comes after Kilgraston girls achieved an outstanding set of results in August 2016. At Advanced Higher 90.5% of grades were A-B against a national average of 59.3%, 36% of girls are now studying a STEM undergraduate course and 100% of girls were accepted into their choice of university. Kilgraston has an exceptional reputation for girls gaining entry into top Scottish universities. In 2016, over 70% of girls went on to study at universities in Scotland, including, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Offering day and boarding education, Kilgraston has something to inspire every young woman. We are a school with traditional values but with a modern and forward-looking perspective on education.

Dunfermline 01383 730 775 and St Andrews 0131 618 2315

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL? Children love to learn and are naturally inquisitive; at Kumon we want to build on this enjoyment of learning and help them develop key skills as soon as they are able.

Education is not just about exam success; developing interest and talents, nurturing an understanding of different cultures, and emphasising our personal responsibility as global citizens are vital. As such, a Kilgraston girl benefits from a wealth of opportunities to extend and enrich her educational experience. We offer over 50 extracurricular activities, and enjoy modern, state of the art facilities including a Science Centre, Sixth Form Study Centre, excellent boarding accommodation, 25m swimming pool, all-weather astro-turf pitches and Scotland’s only school equestrian centre. Kilgraston’s first open day of 2017 is on Saturday 4th February between 11am and 2pm. Families are invited to join us, meet staff and pupils and tour our outstanding facilities.  To register or for further information contact Mrs Amanda Johnstone: admissions@kilgraston.com | 01738 815523

Lauriston Nursery Lauriston Nursery @Dunfermline 165 Robertson Road, Fife KY12 0BL 01383 741900

Lauriston Nursery @Kinross Lathro, Kinross Fife KY13 8SY 01577 383838

Throughout January 2017 we are offering a two-week Free Trial for Primary 1 age children and younger, to help them get the best start. Contact your local Kumon Maths and English Study Centre today. St Andrews 0131 618 2315

Throughout January 2017. Participating study centres only. Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Limited availability.

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

www.letslearnyoung.com Issue 41 Families Fife | 7

Party time!

PARTIES Should I invite the whole class? The tricky etiquette of parties for kids

hen you’re having a party for your child you may not want to leave anyone out. That’s a lovely thought – but is it practical to invite your child’s entire class? We discuss the pros and cons. ÊAge Ê matters The best rule for kids up to five or six years old is that you should invite the same number of children as their age, plus themselves. This works well for a few reasons; parties for young children tend to involve family members such as aunts and uncles, grandparents and others. Add too many kids and your child will just be overwhelmed. It can be difficult to keep a lot of very young children entertained and also, many will come with a parent in tow, which means catering for them, too! So keep it small and manageable and make it clear to parents what expectations are; state the arrival and leaving times, say if you are happy for adults to stay and make sure you have plenty of help. ÊProblem Ê child When they’re a bit older, the pressure’s suddenly on to have bigger parties. Apart from the expense and the work of catering for all those children, there may be other issues at play. Your child may have problems with one or more fellow pupils. If this is the case, it is very difficult to invite the whole class but leave out one or two children. There are ways to avoid this, however. If you have a boy who doesn’t mix much with girls, or has clashed with one person, you might consider a single-sex party. It’s also perfectly acceptable to continue to give your child a number of friends they

8 | Families Fife Issue 41

ÊBudget Ê One of the main things to consider is how much you can afford. If you want to take your child to a theme park, a restaurant or a similar event, it’s going to cost a lot more than sandwiches and cake at home, so this will naturally cut down on the number of children you invite. Work out first what’s affordable and then discuss who your child would like to invite.

in your home. And remember, if you invite the class, it’s unthinkable to leave out just two or three children, even if they and your child do not get on. Not only would your child be hurt if their entire class was going to a party and they were not invited (which will surely happen if you start this ball rolling) but things have a way of working out for themselves. If the invited child doesn’t like yours either, they may say to their parent that they don’t want to go and the problem is solved. Whatever you decide, it’s important to make a plan and explain it carefully to your child and then stick to it. If you say their numbers are limited, don’t be emotionally blackmailed into adding more to the guest list, and if the whole class is invited make sure that’s what happens – the whole class! 

ÊWhen Ê the whole class is invited For some birthdays, you may decide that you do indeed want the whole class to come. This works best if you are able to have the party in a hall or park, even your garden, rather than

By Sally J. Hall Sally is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).

can invite. If you suggest ten, for example, they can invite their special friends and this will keep the party manageable. Ask your child to keep the party low key to avoid hurting the feelings of others and explain that if asked, your child can say that they were only allowed a certain number.

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Activity Delivered are the party experts

Share Your Birthday With Jo Jingles

n the last year we have delivered over 400 parties to Scotland and are excited to introduce a whole new party!! Along with our hugely popular Nerf Wars Parties and Outdoor Tipi Cinema packages we can now bring you our brand new, INDOOR Tipi Cinema experience! We bring a tipi into your front living room with all the same blankets, pillows and cushions and our incredible 70’ HD projected screen and show a movie in the comfort of your own warm indoor space - The Ultimate indoor DEN!! Or, let us bring our Xbox One with us and have a 2 hour gaming experience instead!! Thanks for trusting us to bring the best parties to young people in Edinburgh! We are excited for 2017! 

“Make a plan and explain it carefully to your child”

o Jingles are available for birthday parties and sessions at nurseries, playgroups and toddler groups too. Whatever the occasion, we are delighted to run your party entertainment for you, ensuring that your child and their friends have a wonderful time.  See our website for details www.jojingles.com/Fife Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all our latest news www.Facebook.com/jojinglesfife Email jojinglesfife@hotmail.co.uk Call Julie on 07713 147614

SUPER SLOTH PLAY PARTY AT FIFE ZOO!

new super soft play has opened in Ladybank near Cupar. We offer great birthday parties to take the stress out of parites. It includes 2 hours play, party food and a dedicated party room. To make it even easier, we can provide the invitations and Cake. For more information, visit www.fifezoo.co.uk or contact us on 01337 258214 

To advertise here call Louisa on 07881 827 627 www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Issue 41 Families Fife | 9

Parenting

Happy births with Hypnobirthing

ypnobirthing has been hitting the headlines recently with Paula Lane, former Coronation Street star, thrilled to share her fabulous birth experience of her second child thanks to hypnobirthing. She is not the first celebrity to embrace this increasingly popular birth technique, with Suzanne Shaw, Fearne Cotton and even Hollywood celebs like Jessica Alba bubbling over with praise and embracing hypnobirthing. The great news is that it’s accessible for everyone! Hypnobirthing is not just for those wanting a natural labour. Women who have planned caesarian sections also come to hypnobirthing for the great sense of confidence it gives them to trust their body and the wonderful healing power of relaxation. Women of all ages and in all stages of pregnancy can start hypnobirthing but the real key to great success is practice, practice, practice. Hypnobirthing is designed as a complete antenatal program and is taught in a small group setting, or in private sessions. The classes focus on giving you all the tools to have a calm, confident and empowering birth experience by releasing fear and anxiety associated with childbirth. The course begins by talking parents through the physiology of birth; how our muscles work together during labour and the roles that our hormones play. We also discuss different circumstances and decisions you may be faced with, and give you practical tools to help you achieve the birth

you want; breathing techniques, visualisations, massage techniques, deep relaxation exercises, and methods to release any fears and tensions you have as you approach the birth. Hypnobirthing will give you the positive frame of mind going into birth and help you work with your body to achieve a more efficient and comfortable labour. Hypnobirthing is a win for the whole family - it empowers mum to achieve the

birth that she wants, gives dad a role and leaves baby relaxed and alert. There are many benefits of hypnobirthing including a more accomplished birth, which often means labour is shorter and less painful, mum’s recover faster and babies are generally more relaxed, sleep better and feed better! As the mother to three amazing children; Jacob, Eve and Arthur, I discovered hypnobirthing whilst pregnant with Eve

“Hypnobirthing is a win for the whole family”

FOSTER FOR FIFE COUNCIL HELP A CHILD BELONG

sense of belonging is like food and shelterit is vital for all children. Belonging creates a sense of security and enables the development of a positive sense of self-worth. Families provide the first and most important experience of belonging and foster families play a vital role when children can’t live with their birth family. The Fife Council Foster for Fife Choir has been performing the wonderful ‘Help a Child Belong’ song to remind people of the urgent need for homes for vulnerable children in Fife. Singing at events throughout Fife, the Choir was formed to sing the song written and composed by local composer and lyricist Ian Hammond Brown. The words and music totally capture and express the longing children have to belong in a family. Val Brown, foster carer and member

10 | Families Fife Issue 41

of the Foster for Fife Choir said: “I was delighted to join the choir – it’s such an emotional song and touches my heart every time I sing it. I encourage everyone to listen to it on www.fifedirect.org.uk/ fosterforfife and I guarantee you will be moved by what it says.” We need people who can offer homes to children in Fife and help sibling groups stay together and provide permanent homes. Gender, marital status, or sexuality will not influence your application. What’s important is that you can offer a child the security and stability of a loving home. If you could offer a child a place in your home, please contact us and help a child belong. In short, if you want to foster then we want to hear from you.  To find out more call 01383 602235 or go to fifedirect.org.uk/fosterforfife

and the experience changed my life. All the anxiety, fear and pain I had experienced whilst in labour with Jacob were completely reversed, and I had a calm, controlled birth with no need for pain-relief, thanks to hypnobirthing. As a result, she was born a calm, alert baby who slept and fed brilliantly. I became passionate about sharing what I had learnt with others, and as a result became a KG Hypnobirthing Instructor and established my company, Dreambirthing. Most recently we have welcomed the newest member, Arthur, into our family who is another hypnobaby born this time in the birthing pool. Another beautifully calm, relaxed and empowering hypnobirth experience. Hypnobirthing isn’t just about natural childbirth or home birth. It is about preparing the mind and body for birth, wherever and whatever place and path that may take. I love what I do and I’m excited that hypnobirthing is becoming more mainstream and accessible to women everywhere. So, don’t hope for a great birth, plan for it!  By Helen Goldie, Hypnobirthing, Instructor, Dreambirthing

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Parent to Parent I’m Helen Goldie (36 yrs) from Dalgety Bay, Hypnobirthing Instructor and owner of Dreambirthing. I am mother to three amazing little people; Jacob age 5, Eve age 3 and Arthur age 1. After a less than ideal birth with Jacob I wanted to try something to take control back when I fell pregnant with Eve, and hypnobirthing certainly did that and so much more! I wanted to share what I had learnt with other expectant mums that I decided to train to be a hypnobirthing instructor. I am extremely passionate about what I do and feel it is a privilege to work with mums at this very special time. WHY YOU LIKE LIVING WHERE YOU DO? We have recently moved to Dalgety Bay in the last year and absolutely love it! Being right on the coast we get to explore the outdoors constantly and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. However, with a young family life needs to also be practical and Dalgety Bay certainly ticks all the boxes – lots of local amenities, shops, leisure centre, great children’s library and even fun mum and baby groups provided for free by Dalgety Bay Primary School. FAVOURITE SHOP: Charity shops! They’re great for an afternoon of good quality, second-hand shopping on a budget. I’ve found that the best ones are Barnardo’s Childrens Store in Dalgety Bay and CHAS in Duloch. FAVOURITE PARK: Limekilns. Fantastic adventure playground equipment for all ages from pre-school to primary school, secure, clean and blissfully uncrowded! Once you’ve worn your little ones out at the park take a stroll through the picturesque village to the pebble beach where you’ll find a treasure-trove of sea shells, sea weed and sea glass to explore! FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S CLUB: Mini Kickers football coaching at Dalgety Bay sports centre. Sessions cost £4.10 per week and last 45 minutes. Children learn a variety of fun ball skills and games to improve balance, confidence, gross motor skills and fitness. No kit is required and sessions are run in all weathers on the AstroTurf pitch or in the indoor sports hall. FAVOURITE DAY OUT: For something a bit different and more of a challenge we love a visit to the Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena. Clip and Climb is super fun and for the really little ones there’s an excellent soft play area. FAVOURITE CHILD FRIENDLY RESTAURANT: Pizza Express for a chain and locally The

Ceramic Cafe. Both these places provide great value food and a family friendly atmosphere. PROUDEST ECO-FRIENDLY MOMENT: Walking to school and back everyday (and to nursery too!!) Not always an easy task with three little ones but not driving saves money on fuel and reduces our family carbon footprint – and means that the kids (and I!) get plenty of fresh air and exercise. BEST PLANET SAVING TIP: Cheeky wipes! Little square flannels that come with handy clean and dirty tubs. To use simply soak in water and essential oils. No nappy rash guaranteed! Empty the dirty wipes straight into your washing machine and reuse time and time again. www. cheekywipes.com NO PARENT SHOULD BE WITHOUT: Snacks and sling. I’ve found that www. connectababycarrier.com supply the best in baby and toddler slings that are super comfy for mum and baby and very stylish too!

“My kids love bubbles and homemade froth, a pots and pans band, dried pasta or rice sensory play” PARENTING PET HATES: People without kids with them using parent and child parking spaces. It’s tricky enough juggling children and shopping without those less encumbered taking our spaces! FUNNIEST COMMENT YOUR KIDS HAVE EVER MADE: Jacob “there are no cages! I am NOT going there!” about Blair Drummond safari park FAVOURITE FAMILY HOLIDAY SPOT: Ballater in the Cairngorns. It’s a beautifully remote part of the Scottish Highlands

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that have been visited by our family for generations. MOST LOVED CHILDREN’S BOOK: Goodnight Digger by Michelle Robinson MOST PLAYED WITH TOYS: Any sensory toys! My kids love bubbles and homemade froth (tiny bit of water and a big squirt of washing up liquid), a pots and pans band, dried pasta or rice sensory play. But for the ultimate sensory play experience add some Gelli Baff to a shallow tub of water and watch the powder become a slimy, gloopy, squishy experience for little hands to explore! Gelli Baff is available from most online toy retailers. BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY: Expensive toys versus making your own fun! Build a cardboard box den, make a dinosaur world in your garden or turn old socks into hand puppets! Much cheaper and great fun to make. MOST SUCCESSFUL RECIPE/FOOD: My kids love fruit and homemade smoothies are one of their favourite treats. Chop or slice almost any soft fruit into bite-sized chunks then whiz up in a blender with milk, yoghurt and a dash of honey. Delicious and the kids can help too!  For more information about hypnobirthing, contact Helen on 07714 237105, helen@dreambirthing.co.uk, www.dreambirthing.co.uk, www.facebook.com/dreambirthing

Issue 41 Families Fife | 11

Clubs & Classes

ACTION

GLEN

Outdoor fun for everyone!

hen looking for things to do with the children in the February half term, it can be quite a daunting task to find somewhere that has something for everyone. That was until I found Action Glen at Crieff Hydro. My family and I have tried several activities here and they all got the thumbs up for excitement and adventure. My oldest tried the Aloft! tree top adventure. This involves moving between trees across rope bridges, avoiding tricky obstacles wearing a harness for safety. There are 3 adventure challenges with a zip line to finish. It was great being so high up in the trees and my daughter loved the long zip line. We also tried archery. I wasn't sure how much the children would enjoy this, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The instructor was great at giving advice and coached everyone into hitting the targets. We then played a game where the adults have to hit the same colour on the target as the children did – quite challenging for me! It was great fun and involved everyone. My youngest got to ride Polly the Shetland Pony. As she is only 2, she wasn't very sure of the pony. However, the staff members reassured her and encouraged her to stroke the pony, giving her the much needed confidence to get on Polly. An activity they could all enjoy together was the Quad Pods. A big quad bike pulls little pods along bumpy and muddy woodland tracks, much to the delight of the children. We also tried the treasure hunt which took us exploring all over Crieff Hydro. It's

To advertise here call Louisa on 07881 827 627 12 | Families Fife Issue 41

great to get the kids running outside and enjoying the fresh air, while hunting for the next clue.  There are lots more activities on offer at Action Glen including woodland combat and Segways so if you are looking for something fun to do, take a look at www.actionglen.com

UP IN LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT

ew Up In Lights Stage School in Dunfermline is enrolling now for January 2017! Learn Singing, Acting and Dance all in one evening! Classes are taught by exciting and dynamic professional teachers! For ages 7-13 on Tuesday evenings in Dunfermline with new classes for older age groups coming soon! This is an innovative and creative way to learn new skills, meet friends for life and gain confidence to make that all important transition to high school! Learn Musical Theatre, Vocal Techniques, All Aspects of Dance and Shakespeare for kids! All under one roof! Taster sessions are available in January. Secure your place now by emailing upinlightsfife@gmail.com We can’t wait to meet you! 

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

The benefits of after school clubs and classes W

hile finances may not permit your little ones being involved in different activities every night of the week, there’s no doubt that a couple of well-chosen clubs can be great for giving your child an insight into areas that the school curriculum doesn’t cover. From ballet to basketball and art to archery, there’s an after school activity out there for every child. And the best thing about them is they’re brilliant for all sorts of reasons – not just learning a new skill.

Whether or not you think you may be raising the next Picasso or David Beckham, there’s no doubting the pluses of after school clubs. So, why are clubs so important?

Team sports like football, rugby, and netball are not only brilliant for keeping kids active but also helping them learn team work where

you could consider Brownies and Scouts – kids love them! Meanwhile, learning a musical instrument is ideal for discovering the art of practice, patience and persistence. Drama clubs are perfect for shy kids who learn to find their voice singing and acting alongside others, while ballet and dance is suited for kids to learn discipline and self-expression.

Don’t forget the fun factor!

The list is endless. There are clubs for almost anything you can imagine. Archery, chess, horse riding, computer clubs, film making and even circus skills are all proving popular alongside the more traditional arts and crafts, swimming, tennis and Kung Fu. However, new skills, team work and confidence building aside, the most important thing to think about when deciding which club to choose is the fun factor.  For a start, after school clubs give kids the chance to let off steam outside of the classroom. When you consider that in many countries around the world, kids don’t even start school until 6 or 7 years old, a full day in the classroom for youngsters can be a big ask. That’s why an alternative to textbook learning can be hugely rewarding.

they can begin to appreciate what’s good for the whole team, rather than just thinking of themselves. Competitive sports are also great for learning difficult life lessons like being a gracious winner - and loser. However, if you’re on the lookout for team building clubs with a less competitive edge,

START MUSIC YOUNG

o Jingles classes return for a new term of musical fun on Monday 9th January. If you are looking for a fun interactive activity for you and your little one why don’t you come along and join us? Our classes include music, singing, percussion instruments, action songs, dancing and fun props too. We run classes 6 days a week in Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay, Rosyth, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes.

We have classes suitable for babies from 3 months to children age 5. Babies under 6 months pay no class fees for their first FOUR weeks.  See our website for class details www.jojingles.com/Fife Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all our latest news www.Facebook.com/jojinglesfife Email jojinglesfife@hotmail.co.uk Call Julie on 07713 147614

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF CAMBO Woodland • Gardens • Seashore JOIN US THIS WINTER FOR ...

Saturday snow drop ins • Weekly welly walks • Designing the modern wintergarden: One day course with elliot forsyth • Wild food festival: snowdrop sausage sizzle • Cambo heritage craft festival • Hard hat heritage centre tours

CAMBO SNOWDROP FESTIVAL 2017 Family trails: new nature playground • Woodland walk to the sea: wintergardens: • Walled garden • 350 Varieties of snowdrop! • Tearoom: gift shop: plant sales: pigs and more!...

CAMBO ESTATE: KINGSBARNS: KY16 8QD ON THE BUS 95 LEVEN / ST ANDREWS events@camboheritagetrust.org.uk Follow us @cambostable

Issue 41 Families Fife | 13

Out and About 10 December 2016 – 7 January 2017 Cinderella The spectacular scenery, breathtaking costumes, fabulous songs and hilarious knock-about comedy make this one of the best traditional family pantomimes around. A fabulous night at your local Fife theatre awaits! Adam Smith Theatre, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1YQ

www.onfife.com 7 January St Andrews Farmers Market, 9am-1pm St Andrews is a busy market with up to 30 stallholders attending each month, there is a wide choice of produce on show. Argyle Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9BX

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk 8 January Out of the Box Magical Masks, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new Out of the Box challenge each month. Would you like to be a kind king, a beautiful bride or a clueless clown? Find out how Korean people used masks to tell stories and drive away evil spirits, then design your own funny or scary mask to take home. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/ 11 January Nature tots: Footprints, 10am-12pm Come along with your budding wildlife adventurers for a journey through the seasons. Booking essential; RSPB members £3, non members £6 (per family). RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX

14 January Dunfermline Farmers Market, 9am-1pm In a beautiful setting the Dunfermline market is ideally situated and makes a great place before entering the park to stop off and browse through the stalls. Glen Gates, Bridge Street, Dunfermline, KY12 8AQ www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk

15 January Out of the Box Magical Masks, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Free, drop in, no booking required. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660. www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 19 January Bell Pettigrew Tour, 2-2.30pm Explore the animal kingdom at the Bell Pettigrew Museum on our new series of short tours led by museum staff and volunteers. Free, but advance booking advised. Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History, Bute Medical Buildings, School of Biology, Queen's Terrace, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TS, 01334 461660

21 January Cupar Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Cupar is by tradition a market town and the farmers market sits well in the town centre setting. Crossgate, Cupar, KY15 5HH

http://www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk/cuparfarmers-market.html Apple Wassail, 1.30-3.30pm It’s time for our annual celebration of a bumper apple harvest in 2016. Help us perform a traditional wassail which will include storytelling, singing, poems, and noise to welcome the new growing year and say thanks for a fruitful harvest. You can sample traditional wassail drinks and food made from apples, so come and join us for some winter amusement to keep away the cold and gloom. Please dress warmly with appropriate footwear for January days. The ground is uneven in our orchard too. There is no need to book, just come along. Ravenscraig Park, East Lodge, Dysart Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 2TA, 03451 555 555

22 January Out of the Box Magical Masks, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Free, drop in, no booking required. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 28 January Loch Leven’s Big Garden Birdwatch, 10am-3pm The RSPB’ s annual count of garden birds and wildlife is coming up, and we really need your help! Come along any time to find out how to attract birds and other wildlife to your garden, what to feed them once they are there, and how to identify them. 10am-12pm: Bird ringers from the Tayside ringing group show us how scientists tag birds for conservation and give you an opportunity to see wild garden birds up close. 1pm-3pm: Build a wooden nest box to take away, £8 a box. No need to book, just drop in.

Get free publicity for your events

ood news! The families website, which enjoyed a complete rebranding and re-launch in July, now offers hyper local pages. Make sure you join your local area to hear about local events and things to do. Your local sites are Dunfermline, East Fife, Perth & Kinross and Angus. You can now post your own events, fetes, fairs, table top sales and other events, for free! Go to www.familiesonline.co.uk and go to Whatson. You can also get a FREE listing for your business. It is super easy and straight forward to do. Go to www.familiesonline.co.uk then go to the category of your choice in the local menu. 

14 | Families Fife Issue 41

RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX, Kirkcaldy Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Kirkcaldy market has grown over the year with many new stallholders and loyal customers regularly attend. Town Square, Wemyssfield, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 1XW

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk Storytelling, 2-3pm Join seasoned storyteller Douglas Mackay for an afternoon of stories, sounds and songs from around the world. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 29 January Out of the Box Magical Masks, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660. www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa Wildlife Explorers: Big Garden Birdwatch, 1-3pm Loch Leven Wildlife Explorers group is open to children aged 5 to 12 years and takes place on the last Sunday of each month between August and June. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. To register for the group please contact the group leader Margaret.herriot@ rspb.org.uk The annual fee is £15 or £10 for RSPB members. RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX

3 February Baby MUSA Bugs and Beasties, 10.15-11.15am Held every month, Baby MUSA Time allows your little one to discover some of the fantastic things found in museums through stories, songs, art and messy play. This drop-in activity is for babies, pre-school children and whoever looks after them. The MUSA Learning Loft provides a place to relax, park your buggy and enjoy time with your children. Free, drop in, no booking required. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 4 February St Andrews Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Argyle Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9BX www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk African drumming, 2-3pm The djembe drum, from West Africa, is one of the most versatile percussion instruments on the planet, producing a wide range of sounds. Come and try it for yourself in this fun and friendly workshop with 'Infectious Grooves'. Suitable for all ages and abilities but booking essential. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660 www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

www.familiesonline.co.uk 5 February

17 February

Out of the Box Chinese New Year, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new Out of the Box challenge each month. Did you know 2017 is the year of the rooster in the Chinese zodiac? Celebrate Chinese New Year with some traditional crafts, discover which animal you are and what that means! Free, drop in, no booking required. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

Glorious Glass Paintings, 1.30-2.15pm (3-6s), 2.30-3.30pm (7-12s) Check out the Indian glass paintings in MUSA and design a brightly coloured painting to catch the light in your bedroom window. Free but booking essential. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 18 February

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 7 February Stargazing, 7-9pm Turn your sights to the skies over Loch Leven for an unmissable space discovery evening. RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross, KY13 9LX

7-14 February Show the Love 2017 Join us while we Show the Love for the places, wildlife and people that we want to protect from climate change. Just drop in. RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX

8 February Nature tots: Ducks, 10am-12pm Come along with your budding wildlife adventurers for a journey through the seasons. RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX

10 February Big Ears, Little Ears , 10.30-11am & 11.45am12.15pm Join musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to hear live performances up-close in a relaxed, tut-free, child-friendly atmosphere. Suitable for 0-3 years with accompanying adult. Free, but booking essential as places are limited. Contact www.sco.org.uk or 01334 462228 Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660.

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 10-26 February Scottish Snowdrop Festival See panel above

11 February Dunfermline Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Glen Gates, Bridge Street, Dunfermline, KY12 8AQ

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk 12 February Saxophone Quartet, 2.30-3.15pm Immerse yourself in music at MUSA with the talented musicians of the University of St Andrews scholarship ensembles. The students work to create these unique concerts inspired by the objects on display at the museum. Performances are held at MUSA and are suitable for all ages. Free, no need to book. Museum of

Scottish Snowdrop Festival With extensive winter gardens, walled garden, woodlands, wildlife and over 350 varieties of snowdrop, Cambo is the place for snowdrops and much more! Activities are:

11, 18, 25 February Saturday Snow drop ins: Free craft activities for families, 10.30-12.30pm

12, 19, 26 February Weekly welly walks, 10.30am

12 February Designing the modern wintergarden: One day course with Elliot forsyth, booking info 01333 451040

17 February Wild food festival: snowdrop sausage sizzle, 12-4pm

26 February Cambo heritage craft festival, 12-4pm 10, 17, 24 Feb Hard hat heritage centre tours, 2pm Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 8QD the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660.

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa 15-17 February Children’s Woodland Club, NE Fife, 10am4pm, 6-12yrs. A chance to build a den, light a fire, use tools, play games, watch wildlife and more. Come and have fun. Booking essential. Contact:chris.childe_education@yahoo.co.uk Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 8QD

Cupar Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Crossgate, Cupar, KY15 5HH

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk 19 February Out of the Box Chinese New Year, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660. www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa

25-26 February Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom Join Ben and Holly, and friends on this exciting musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter on an enchanting journey through the Magical Kingdom. Tickets: £16.00, U16’s £14.00, Family £56.00 +booking fees. Alhambra Theatre, 33 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7NX, 01383 740384

www.alhambradunfermline.com 25 February Kirkcaldy Farmers Market, 9am-1pm Town Square, Wemyssfield, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 1XW

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk 26 February Out of the Box Chinese New Year, 1-3pm Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660. www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa Wildlife Explorers: Up the hill, 1-3pm Loch Leven Wildlife Explorers group is open to children aged 5 to 12 years and takes place on the last Sunday of each month between August and June. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. To register for the group please contact the group leader Margaret.herriot@ rspb.org.uk RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm Nature Centre, Perth & Kinross , KY13 9LX. 

16 February Wonderful Weaving, 1.30-2.15pm (3-6s), 2.30-3.30pm (7-12s). Over, under, over, under… Weave your own colourful creations inspired by our One World exhibition using wool, fabric or scraps of paper. Free but booking essential. Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA), 7A The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR, 01334 461660.

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa

www.familiesonline.co.uk • editor@familiesfife.co.uk • 07881 827 627

Keep up to date with what’s on locally facebook/familiesfife Whilst every care has been taken to compile the Out and About section with accuracy, please remember to check with the venue before making plans to avoid any disappointment as Families magazine is put together weeks in advance of actual publication.

Issue 41 Families Fife | 15

Registered charity numbers 1153487 (England and Wales) SC046840 (Scotland)

#Hattastic

Looking for something to do this weekend? Families Fife is packed full of ideas and local news! You can slso visit us online at www.familiesonline. co.uk/local/fife

Want to advertise with us? You can now advertise online as well as in our paper magazine. Simply ring for details and prices. Next issue March/April out 1st March 2017. Tel: 07881 827 627 or email: editor @familiesfife.co.uk

Help a child BELONG A sense of belonging is like food and shelterit is vital for all children. Belonging creates a sense of security and enables the development of a positive sense of selfworth. Families provide the first and most important experience of belonging and foster families play a vital role when children canâ€™t live with their birth family - listen to the amazing â€˜Help a Child Belongâ€™ song at www.fifedirect.org. uk/fosterforfife. We need people who can offer homes to children in Fife and help sibling groups stay together and provide permanent homes.

To find out more call 01383 602235 or go to www.fifedirect.org.uk/fosterforfife