KIDS
KIDS list.co.uk/kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@ list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW
HEADLINE GOES HERE Activities & Fun FREE Kids Music Workshop Fri 14 Jun, 10am–noon. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Music session with the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra. FREE Toddler Time Fridays 14, 21 & 28 Jun, 11.30am–noon. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Songs, stories and fun. Suitable for Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a under fives. new kid on the east coast block. FREE Family Friendly Weekend Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s Sat 15 & Sun 16 Jun, 11am–3.30pm. bookish extravaganza might never Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, quite reach the exalted status 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Creative of the capital’s world-beating workshops for families. literary fiesta but it’s making a very Play Station Sat 15 & 22 Jun, 11am– strong case for itself with a series noon. £3. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Play session with a focus on making up stories and acting them out. Ages 5–7. FREE Woodland Wonders Sat 15 & Sun 16 Jun, 1–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn more about trees and why they are so important in housing creatures of the forest. Cargo Hold Comedy for Kids Sat 15 Jun, 1.30–2.30pm. £3 per child (adults £5). The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. No swearing, no dirty stuff, just good, clean laughs for ages 12+. Part of West End Festival. Tonic Tinies: Inspiring Musical Adventures! Wed 19 & 26 Jun, 3 & 10 Jul, 10.30–11am. £3 per session. Merry- Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 07983 588675. Imaginative play through music and movement. FREE Kids Music Workshop with Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra Sat 29 Jun, 10am. City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. FREE Janey Louise Jones: Princess Poppy Party Sat 29 Jun, 11.30am. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. The author of the Princess Poppy series reads some of her stories. West End Festival. FREE Farm Craft and Shearing Day Sat 29 Jun, noon–3.30pm. Tollcross Children’s Farm, Wellshot Road, 276 0931. A fun day out for all the family which includes sheep shearing demonstrations and traditional arts and crafts. FREE Bats, Beasties and Buried Treasure Sat 29 Jun, 12–4pm. Hamiltonhill Clay Pits, 214–248 Ellesmere Street, 237 9144. Everything from archaeological digs to bat walks for the whole family to enjoy. FREE Your Country Needs You Sat 29 Jun, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Learn what it was like for children growing up before, during and after WWI. Ages 7+.
✽ The Hidden Gardens: Day of Stories It’s ten years since this peaceful and creative haven was first created – celebrate the anniversary with an afternoon of food and entertainment. Tramway, Glasgow, Sat 22 Jun.
✽ Pirate fun on the Tall Ship A range of pirate-themed activities to get the summer hols off to a swashbuckling start, including making your own pirate hat and treasure map, storytelling, pirate puppets and a treasure hunt. The Tall Ship at Riverside, Glasgow, various dates and times (see listings for details).
✽ Little Howard and The Magic Pencil of Life
and Death Comedian Howard Read and his amusing cartoon alter ego, Little Howard get busy with a rather special pencil. See preview. The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 7 Jul.
✽ Dads’ Day A day of storytelling, crafts, live music
and fun celebrating that special relationship between father and child. See preview. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 15 Jun.
✽ The Sick Kids Foundation Teddy
Toddle A fun afternoon of fairground rides, crafts, music and dancing, storytelling and stalls, all for a great cause. Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 15 Jun.
✽ I Knew a Man Called Livingstone Edinburgh-
based African storytelling company, Toto Tales explore the fascinating life of David Livingstone. National Library of Scotland, Fri 14 Jun.
70 THE LIST 13 Jun–11 Jul 2013
✽FREE Pirate Hat Making Tue 2 & 9 Jul, noon–2pm. Thu 4, Sun 7 & Thu 11 Jul, 1–3pm. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. A swashbuckling craft session where kids create their own pirate hat. FREE Wild in the City Wed 3 Jul, 11am–3pm. Cranhill Park, Edinburgh Road, 276 0924. The rangers and their friends from Play Services have plenty of games and activities for all the family. Under 8s must be accompanied.
✽Pirate Storytelling and Treasure Map Making Wed 3,
Sat 6 & Wed 10 Jul, 11.30am—12.15pm, 12.45–1.30pm & 1.45–2.30pm. £3. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Scary Mary tells the stories, then, inspired by tales of plundering and looting, you create a map to where the treasure is buried. Ages 4+.
✽Pirates Ahoy Treasure Hunt Thu 4, Sun 7 & Thu 11 Jul, 11–
11.45am. £5. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Scary Mary has hidden the treasure somewhere – use your best pirate skills to find out where. Suitable for ages 4+. Children must be accompanied. Baby Loves Disco Sun 7 Jul, 2–5pm. £8. Mansion House, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 08444 999990. Dance, chill out, play games or just drink you juice and watch the crowd at this lovely event for kids aged 6 months–7 years (and their parents).
Books & Storytelling Family Storytime Sat 15 & Sun 16 Jun, Sat 19 & Sun 30 Jun, 10.30– 11.30am & 12.30–1.30pm. £5 (family of four £15; under 2s free). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Interactive storytelling sessions.
✽FREE The Hidden Gardens: Day of Stories Sat 22 Jun,
noon–4pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Celebrate ten years of the Hidden Gardens at this day of celebration featuring food, music and entertainment. Tiny Tales Wed 10 Jul, 10am. £6. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Different tales every time, followed by a creative play session. Ages 6 months to 2 years.
Festival Glasgow Science Festival Until Sun 16 Jun, times and prices vary. Various venues: Glasgow, 330 5370. This year’s theme is ‘Glasgow, Naturally’ and a packed programme of workshops, shows, films, discussions, exhibitions and art collaborations. Theatre & Dance Dance Your Socks Off Thu 13, 20 & 27 Jun, 10–10.45am. £3.50 per family. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Interactive musical fun for under 5s. No shoes or socks allowed
DAD’S DAY Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 15 Jun
As we know, a dad is for all year-round, not just for Father’s Day. But since the gift card industry has foisted the occasion upon us, why not use it to positive effect and celebrate the unique qualities of a good father/child relationship? Storyteller Tim Porteus has been doing that for the past three years, with his annual Dad’s Day event at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Incorporating stories, live music, card- making, face painting and games, this free day (to which mums are also very welcome) features a ‘storydad’ advice session to help fathers make the most of their storytelling talents. ‘Dads are pretty good at telling stories to kids; it’s one of the things that dads tend to do, so it’s happening already,’ says Porteus. ‘But for a lot of guys, telling a story is connected to reading a book at bedtime, and what we mean by storytelling is taking those moments when you’re with your children to craft tales. That could be when you’re stuck in traffic, going for a walk, at meals: anytime.’
But Porteus is keen to point out that it’s not him who is the expert in crafting tales for your child, it’s you. ‘It’s not about me telling dads how to tell stories to their children,’ he says. ‘It’s about harnessing the understanding each father has about his own child; what they like and enjoy, what they find exciting or interesting, then connecting with their child’s creativity and making stories.’
When it comes to subject matters, the possibilities are endless and, as Porteus says, sometimes the best tales come from close to home. ‘There’s nothing a child likes better than to hear stories about what dad did when he was a wee boy, and the things he got up to.’ (Kelly Apter)