MADE (Mums and Dads Edinburgh) May/June 2015

TENNIS | FOOTBALL | RUGBY | HOCKEY | COMPUTERXPLORERS | ART & MORE.. .C H I L D C A R E V O U C H E R S A C C E P T E D | B O O K O N L I N E N O W !

SUMMER CAMPS FOR 2015 July 6th-August 14th... see website for full details: www.excel-sports.co.uk

mums and dads edinburghmade

TENNIS | FOOTBALL | RUGBY | HOCKEY | COMPUTERXPLORERS | ART & MORE.. .C H I L D C A R E V O U C H E R S A C C E P T E D | B O O K O N L I N E N O W !

SUMMER CAMPS FOR 2015 July 6th-August 14th... see website for full details: www.excel-sports.co.uk

Ways to Shout Less & Laugh More

Craig Gordonon football, fatherhood & Frozen

AROUND THE WORLD FOR HEALTHY WAYS

Stacey Solomon on music & motherhood

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This May/June edition has been a favourite of mine to put together. New businesses are popping up all over the place and I love telling you about them! Greenshoots, MadSurf and fatframe are a few of the newbies we predict bright futures for. Another is new Edinburgh website Tums, Mums & Babies; a collection of maternity and baby services and classes, all brought together in one snazzy place. Go to tumsmumsand babies.com to find out more and rest assured each of these businesses has the ‘handpicked’ seal of approval. You can find out read more about Tums Mums & Babies on pages 51-54.

It was also a pleasure interviewing Craig Gordon and Stacey Solomon! Thanks especially go to Craig for featuring in this edition to coincide with Father’s Day; and to his lovely wife, Jennifer, who looked after baby Jack throughout the interview! Thanks so much guys.

We asked our contributors if they could choose to be on any reality

TV show which one would it be?

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. While every care has been taken in compiling MADE magazine to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press. MADE (Mums And Dads Edinburgh) assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

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MADE, PO BOX 28825, Edinburgh, EH14 9BA T: 07738 068022 • E: [email protected]

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made

Editor & Publisher Louise WilsonSales Executive Caroline McCleanOnline Events Lesley KeanyWriters Heidi Scrimgeour,

Dawn Geddes Columnists Gavin Oattes, Kirsty Nicholls Agony Aunt Jojo Sutherland Designer MAMi DesignsCover ©Vladimirs Poplavskis - Fotolia.com

Printer Stephens & George

welcome

Heidi Scrimgeour (pages 16-18)

Do they make one where mums get sent to Hawaii for a month of uninterrupted Mojito time?

Dawn Geddes(pages 26-28)

It would have to be The Great British Sewing Bee because I have a bit of a thing for pretty fabric and the very handsome Patrick Grant!

Gavin Oattes (page 31)

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! I love Australia, I love Ant & Dec and I’d happily eat all the weird stuff!

Contributors

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www.mademagazine.co.uk

6 News

15 Competitions

16 5 ways to shout less & laugh more

For a happier family life

21 Interview: Craig Gordon

Footballer turned father

26 Healthy Eating Inspired by the world

31 An apple a day… By Gavin Oattes

32 Dates for your diary May & June

37 Summer Camps To keep the kids busy

43 Mum’s New World Oversharing

44 Cherish Childhood UK Sponsored by Gymboree

47 Fathers Experience Postnatal Depression

51 Tums, Mums & Babies The new Edinburgh collective

56 Shopping Father’s Day gift guide

58 Health Another day in my autistic world

60 Sport 5 swimming myths busted!

62 Interview: Stacey Solomon Shy girl

64 Out & About

66 Trust Jojo! If you need advice…

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Nairn’s Scottish oatcakes and Mark Greenaway, award-winning Edinburgh based chef, have joined forces to show there’s endless culinary creativity to be had when armed with a selection of naturally energising oatcakes.

The partnership, which began after Mark and Nairn’s discovered their shared passion for Scottish-grown produce, will see Mark featured on all new packs of Nairn’s Rough Oatcakes. nairns-oatcakes.com

The Riparian Rooms is inviting pupils aged 8-18 to create their own dish to appear on the restaurant menu in the build up to the Edinburgh International Festival.

Gary Cromie, Head Chef at the newly opened restaurant located on Broughton Street, said: ‘We want to encourage young people to think about their ingredients and so have created this opportunity for one budding chef to work with me here in the Restaurant kitchen and to see their dish on our menu.’ The closing date for entries is Fri 15th May. www.theriparianrooms.co.uk

Calling Young Chefs!

Nairn’s and Mark Greenaway join forces

Kids Cook Up New Rule Book

Bella Italia, the family-friendly Italian restaurant, has placed the future of its kids menu in the hands of children aged from 3 to 11. The Bella Kids Panel tasted hundreds of ingredients and finished dishes, advised on timings and service standards and enjoyed putting adult experts through their paces. Bella Italia Director of Marketing and Food Development, Hilary Ansell, said, “We can’t wait to see how the new kids menu goes down with the general public now it’s no longer our best-kept secret!”

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If you have a little monkey between 12 weeks and 4 years, and are looking for a fun filled, high energy class full of singing, dancing and instrument playing, then join Monkey Music for some fun in the sun – including Monkey’s very own beach party week! Monkey Music Edinburgh South offer great fun classes in Balerno, Colinton, Fairmilehead, Marchmont, Morningside and Newington 6 days a week. To celebrate summer, Monkey is delighted to offer all readers of MADE Magazine a 10% DISCOUNT off the summer term in Edinburgh South! Email [email protected] and quote ‘MADE’.

Children’s Afternoon Tea

This spring sees the launch of a children’s afternoon tea offering at Café Modern Two in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Café Portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The special tower of tasty treats, perfect for little tummies, includes mini scotch pancakes with jam and cream, crudites, sandwiches, mini empire biscuits, flavoured marshmallows and smoothies. £8 per child, available every day from 2:30 - 4:30pm, reservations essential.

Fun in the Sun with Monkey Music Dance & Play

Dance & Play morning at StudioD, Chesser is a friendly parent and toddler group with a twist! Make the most of the adventure studio with soft mats, ball pool, tunnels, crayons and much more whilst your fully qualified dance instructor will take your little one on dance challenges. Dance & Play runs Wed mornings, 10.30am - 12pm. £5 entry for parent and 1 child (additional children with same parent £3) Includes free tea, coffee, biscuit and juice. www.dndance.co.uk



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Creator and Edinburgh mum of two, Alison Nicolson witnessed the benefits of tablet technology with her children but after two damaged screens and expensive replacements, Alison decided to create her own bouncy iPad case. And so fatframe was born; a light, robust stand which bounces if dropped. She has also launched - fatframe attach, which is ideal for safe and secure hands-free viewing. You attach your iPad and its fatframe to your car, at home, in nursery or school, making your iPad a versatile entertainment system. For more products and info go to www.fatframe.co.uk

fatframe

The first days of your baby’s life are so precious, so create a family heirloom and don’t let them fade away. PhotoMad run by Kate Gren, professional photographer and mum of 9 month old Rose, is offering a range of new packages for expecting parents. Book a Pregnancy Photo Shoot and get a Newborn Session free with one of their Digital & Wall Art packages. Additionally, MADE readers receive 10% discount on all packages. Just quote ‘MADE special’ when booking your session to receive this offer. For more info call 07742733028 or go to www.photomadstudio.com

Mad about Photos

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Happy Ears classes offer a unique, fully interactive and completely live music experience for 0-3s with their parents and carers. Run by dad, Oliver, Happy Ears provides lots of quality instruments, colourful hand crafted hats and props, comfy cushions and original songs (as well as some classics). Definitely no pre-recorded music or backing tracks!

Simon, dad of Annabel says, ‘The majority of the music, composed by Oliver, is both informative and humorous’ and Kelly, mum of Summer and Jessica said, ‘Happy Ears is our favourite baby/toddler music class’.

The Dad & Male Carer Group for 0-3s (mums and carers welcome) runs on Saturdays at the Calton Centre, Montgomery Street from 10am – 10.50am. £5 per family, no need to book. For more info and other classes go to happyearsscotland.wordpress.com

Happy Ears



The Royal Highland Show returns to Ingliston from 18-21 June. In its 175th year, the event is a vibrant celebration of the very best of farming, food and rural life. New for this year is Scotland’s Larder Live! – Scotland’s biggest food exhibition featuring over 100 Scottish producers selling everything from artisan cheese to botanical gin along with cookery demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to have a wee taste! Children 15 or younger GO FREE and there’s so much to do including a visit to the Children’s Discovery Centre with lots exciting hands on activities including cooking, making flour and milking a ‘cow’! www.royalhighlandshow.org

Royal Highland Show

Gardening ScotlandFamilies will love Gardening Scotland, with a dedicated Big Back Garden featuring birds of prey, bees, play equipment, face painting, story tent and a host of other activities to keep children entertained and parents inspired with garden play ideas. This year the event is all about embracing outside space whatever your gardening knowledge. If barbeques and outdoor dining are your thing, you will love the Food Fayre and Albert Bartlett Cookery Theatre. And

with Champagne and Pimms bars, local produce, picnicking, healthy eating and so much more, there really is something for everyone. Gardening Scotland is on 29th-31st May and children under 16 go free. Go to www.gardeningscotland.com to find out more about afternoon tea and lunch packages.

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South Hill Designs let people tell their own story by creating their own unique locket. Started by Brian and Joe two years ago in Arizona they expanded to the UK with their official launch in October 2014. South Hill Artists host socials where friends can mingle and enjoy being creative with lockets, charms and accessories. Alternatively the jewellery can be bought online and shipped direct. They are currently expanding into Scotland and are looking for people looking to have their own business who are passionate, entrepreneurial, motivated and like to have fun! www.southhilldesigns.com/evanji

South Hill expands to Scotland

JunoJuno Perinatal Mental Health Support was founded by a group of Edinburgh mums who have personal experience of perinatal mental health difficulties. They help mums through weekly peer support groups across the city where they offer advice, information, one-to-one befriending and access to a subsidised counselling service. www.juno.uk.com

Running from Friday 15 to Monday 25 May, the Scottish Seabird Centre’s Puffin Fest will feature a family-friendly programme of activities; inspiring locals and visitors to learn more about their much-loved puffins, and highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting seabirds for future generations.

The programme features puffin spotting cruises, guided walks, Puffin Parties with Forth 1, creative sessions with artists, Mandy Thomson and the Edinburgh Sketcher, a Puffins in Print art exhibition; plus, of course, live puffin action via interactive cameras. It is also the Seabird Centre’s 15th birthday in May, which will mean extra celebrations! www.seabird.org

Puffin Fest

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Jan Hunter is a qualified Nursery Nurse specialising in child sleep management. With over 21 years of experience she has developed a particular focus on the challenges relating to sleep patterns of babies and young children. She believes if a child develops good sleeping habits the whole family will benefit immensely, and that children who sleep soundly are calm and contented.

Jan provides a tailored solution to any sleeping issues your baby or child may be having, via a home visit, follow-up calls and ongoing support. For a good night’s sleep and more info call Jan on 07875 038723 or go to thechildsleepadvisor.co.uk

Better Sleep

Edinburgh artist Lisa Pettersson keeps delighting parents and grandparents with striking and unique paintings of their children. Lisa works from photos the customer sends, and recreates the picture in paint on coloured paper, in her unique pop art style.

Lisa explains, “Commissioning is really easy and there is no obligation to buy the finished piece, though my customers have been very happy so far.”Prices start from £90 (including a white mount) for an A4 image. If you get in touch Lisa will be very happy to send you examples of previous commissions and give you more information on how to proceed. Email [email protected] www.lisapettersson.com

Personal Pictures

To mark the end of their 21st birthday celebrations, Monkey Music is hosting a free concert on Sat 30th May, 2.30pm-3.30pm at the LifeCare Centre, Cheyne St with Recital for Wrigglers and Friends. The concert (for children aged 3 – 5) will be a magical journey in to the world of Peter and the Wolf and the Carnival of Animals.

Places will be reserved on a first come first served basis. The concert is in-aid-of Nordoff Robbins, the UK’s leading music therapy charity and there will be a collection at the end of the concert. Email Rachel at [email protected] to book tickets and for more info.

Monkey Music Concert


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Madsurf, an exciting new online kids clothing and accessories company promoting sport and activity, has recently launched in Scotland. They offer an awesome range of T-shirts and hoodies/zoodies which you can personalise, alongside kit-bags, Hi-Vis vests and button badges.

The Madsurf team are passionate about supporting kids develop an “Active + Awesome” mind-set via their kids ambassador program, blog, e-newsletter, online kids zone, club reinvestment program, and “pop-up” activity tent. www.madsurf.co.uk

Madsurf for Active & Awesome Kids

Labelling clothes is such a chore and so time consuming. But not anymore! Snappy Tag TM is the one-click way to label clothing and other items quickly and securely. No more sewing in labels or taking time ironing on adhesive tags that come off in the wash. Snappy Tags is similar to a small button and is very simple to use. The tags come laser-etched with the name you need and will stay securely fastened. So you always know that your child’s clothing will be kept safe – just like your little one. For more information and to buy Snappy Tags visit www.snappytags.co.uk

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Edinburgh Montessori Arts School has special sessions running this July. Their Parent and Child Group (for under 3s) runs Mon–Thurs 9.30am-11.30am, so you can get a taste of the beautiful Montessori environment and find out more about their philosophy. For 3-6 year olds, there’s Everybody Dance Now! Fun dance sessions with a professional dance teacher. Parents can stay and observe, join in or drop of and collect. There’s also Nature Explorers - outdoor fun for 3-6 year olds, where children can explore the garden, paddocks and hillsides discovering an exciting array of wildlife. Activities include den building, nature art, mud kitchen creations and imaginative play. www.emaschool.co.uk

A Montessori Summer



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Parent KindThe Parent Kind ® course, developed by local mother and counsellor, Sarah Wheatley, has been awarded the Can Parent Quality Mark; one of the first parenting courses in Scotland to be awarded this accreditation. It’s great that parents in Edinburgh can access this course, knowing that it meets robust criteria and has been shown to really help new mothers feel more confident. The next courses start on 14th May - for more details, please contact Sarah at [email protected]

This family friendly event is back on the Edinburgh events calendar and will take place on Sunday 21st June in Holyrood Park. Terry Crossley, originator and founder, is ensuring 100% of all charity money raised is donated directly to the walker’s chosen charities.

The start time is 11am and walkers have a choice of walking 10k or 20k . Other events include The Great Scottish Summer Run, The Golden Mile Walks and the very popular Great Scottish Toddle for under 6s. June 21st is Father’s Day so the team are asking people who have lost a loved one to display ‘Doing it for Dad’ when they take part. www.greatscottishevents.org.uk

Step It Up Dance is Edinburgh’s only urban dance school, offering classes, workshops and award-winning parties for tots to teens across Edinburgh and beyond.

Due to demand, the Step It Up Dance crew are on the hunt for the perfect Part-Time Admin & Sales Officer to join them. This role would suit a highly organised, dedicated individual and would fit well around family commitments. Contact hello@stepitup dance.co.uk for more details.

Step It Up Dance is recruiting!

The Great Scottish Walk is back!


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Relove & Buggy Repair Center in Stockbridge has been buying and selling quality baby items for over four years, and have customers from all over central belt Scotland use their buggy valeting and repairing services. They have now also added Lego and Duplo to their shop, which is proving to be a big hit with kids and adults! Open Tues – Sat, 10am-5pm call in to see their shop on St Stephen Street, Stockbridge. www.buggyrepaircentre.co.uk

Mothers Meet Up

Hair by JFK is delighted to announce its first Mothers Meet Up on Wed May 20th, 10am-12pm. Join them at Bruntsfield Place to network with other mums, enjoy tea, coffee and goodie bags, and get pampered by the team as they talk you through hair trends and give hair style and colour consultations. They’ll also demonstrate HD Brows to show what they can do to improve face shape. Receive £5 off hair or HD brow services when an appointment is booked during Mothers Meet Up! For more info contact [email protected]

After an 18 month renovation process, Greenshoots is finally ready to showcase its beautiful collection of homewares, jewellery, illustrations and craft. Director, Lynn Gatherer is proud to champion young and new designers and has assisted three young Edinburgh students in the journey from final year show to a collection suitable for the commercial market.

Greenshoots café serves some of the finest artisan coffee alongside their delicious, seasonal menu; and hosting regular evening events, Greenshoots will provide a unique shopping experience - the first of its kind in the local area. www.greenshootsedinburgh.com

Relove Stockbridge

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The Royal Highland Show (18-21 June) is one of Europe’s largest agricultural shows, showcasing the best of farming, food and rural life. Attractions include the biggest and brightest tractors in the world and over 5000 cows, sheep, hens, goats and horses. With Scotland’s Larder Live! showcasing the best in Scottish food, along with birds of prey, working dog displays and a host of hands on activities - it really is a great family day out. Kids under 15 get in free!

To win one of two pairs of tickets just answer this question: What anniversary is the Royal Highland Show

celebrating in 2015?

For more information go to www.royalhighlandshow.org

To win A, B or C simply email your name, address, phone number and answer to [email protected] or enter via www.mademagazine.co.uk before June 5th. Please mark your entry Competition A, B, or C as the subject.

‘Pirates and Princesses’ is the brand new show from Anya, Kevin and Gary (formerly of the Singing Kettle). Together they are FUNBOX. Their magical FUNBOX contains everything you need to sing a song and have an adventure, but it won’t open until you can find the special keys to open it up. Using an old treasure map can they find all the keys and still be home in time for tea? Anya, Gary and Kevin are joined on this escapade by their furry friend, Bonzo the Dog, as well as a host of new characters.

To win a family ticket (4 seats) to see FUNBOX at the King’s Theatre on Sun 14 June at 4pm just answer this question:

What is the name of the dog in the show?

For more information go to www.edtheatres.com/funbox

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Pippin is an independent gift boutique in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh. Supporting British design, they stock a wide range of original cards and gifts for every occasion, including babywear, jewellery, home accessories and stationery. We have a fantastic Pippin goody bag, perfect for a new mum and baby, worth £40 up for grabs. This includes a Comfortchew teething comforter, a Jellycat rattle toy, a luxury bath melt, Yummy Mummy pocket mirror, and a bar of raw chocolate - perfect for a bit of pampering!

For your chance to win the Pippin goody bag just answer this question:

Which area of Edinburgh is Pippin situated in?

For more information go to www.pippingifts.com

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WRITTEN BY Heidi Scrimgeour

What’s the one thing most parents wish they did less of?Inadvertently stepping on Lego in bare feet would probably feature in the top three things we wish we did less of, but I’m going to wager that being

ratty and impatient with the kids takes top spot.

Even if you’re blessed with a peaceable disposition which means you’re not prone to over-extending your vocal chords, I bet you’d still agree that you could do with more laughter and less conflict in the course of everyday family life.

Who wouldn’t want to shout less and laugh more?

So, instead of beating yourself up for being a yeller, try these tips for toning down the fishwife act and cranking up the cracking up…

5WAYS TO SHOUT LESS AND

Laugh More

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LAUGH MORE

Pick your battlesIf I had to choose a single mantra for whenever the parenting path seems all uphill, this is it.

I can’t remember who first shared this pearl of parental wisdom with me, but it has profoundly affected my whole approach to family life ever since.

It simply means there are some areas of family life which are inevitably going to be a battle-ground, but I don’t have to don full military armour and wade in all-guns-blazing every single time I encounter one of them.

So I no longer waste energy arguing with the children about every tiny thing that we might disagree on. If I did, I’d have no time or energy left for anything else.

Here’s an example; every time my ten year old tries to skip the tooth-brushing part of his daily routine, I feel justified in reading him the riot act. Tidying his room, on the other hand, doesn’t have an impact on his health (not yet, anyway) and isn’t significantly inconveniencing other members of the family. So it’s one battle I’ve stopped fighting.

We’ve reached a compromise whereby I don’t nag him about his room every day, and he gives it a decent once-over every few weeks just to ensure that he isn’t inadvertently harbouring the 21st century’s answer to penicillin.

Consequently - and here’s proof that picking your battles can make family life more harmonious - his room is actually tidier now than it ever was when I used to yell about it several times a week, and we don’t have humdingers over it anymore.

I suspect he feels more respected as a result, and when we hunker down for a bedtime chat we invariably end up enjoying a precious moment of connectedness, instead of another row about his bedroom.

Minimise distractionsI’m talking about the things that distract you - not the things that occupy your child’s attention.

There’s no denying that I shout more when I’m distracted. It makes little difference whether

I’m inwardly panicking about work whilst supervising homework, or scrolling through Facebook while the kids are playing - whenever I’m in the company of my kids but have my mind elsewhere, I am always tetchier, less patient and more prone to snapping. So for me, minimising distractions when I’m in mum-mode is a sure-fire way to minimise conflict and up the fun-factor.

You only have to watch a child whose parent is distracted to see that kids know when they’re not the centre of attention, and seem hard-wired to rectify the situation - by any means necessary.

I’m not saying that every waking moment you spend with your child requires you to make them the sole focus of your attention.

That’s neither practical nor beneficial, but many of us live such perpetually distracted lives that it can be difficult to recognise or admit that our kids aren’t getting the attention they need from us.

So for a set period of time per day, try ensuring that you’re available to your child with no distractions. I can practically guarantee that

even a short space of time together in your day during which your child doesn’t have to compete with anything else for your attention, will significantly extend your patience.

Say sorry when you get it wrongThe feeling I hate most in the world is the one that descends after I lose my patience with my kids and end up barking at them.

Nothing leaves you feeling quite so racked with guilt or consumed with remorse as that moment when the kids have gone to school or fallen asleep, leaving you to ruminate on where the school run or bedtime routine went wrong, and what you should have said or done differently.

But I’ve had enough moments like that over the past ten years to know that the best response is to apologise.

Be quick to say sorry when you end up in a bout of bad-tempered shouting, and your kids will likely admit to their own shortcomings more quickly in future, too.

Humour has the capacity to diffuse almost

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And while I dread to think how many times I’ve ended up hollering at my kids, I’m marginally cheered up to think that they’ve also experienced, more times than I can count, the power of a heart-felt apology and the comfort that can be found in making amends.

Resource yourself for family lifeThe aeroplane oxygen mask analogy is a well-worn cliché of parenthood which you’ve no doubt heard countless times. In the event of an emergency, passengers on an aircraft are advised to apply their own oxygen masks before attending to those of their children, on the basis that you can’t help your child if you’re unconscious, and the same theory applies to parenthood.

Self-care is the number one thing that improves my parenting skills. Try it: make time every single day for something that energises you. Whether it’s yoga, a run or a candle-lit soak in the bath; resourcing yourself properly for the demands of family life extends your capacity for all that it demands of you.

It’s completely counter-intuitive, because taking time for ourselves feels selfish, but I’d go

so far as to say that it’s actually one of the very best things you can do for your children. (Which is why, as soon as I’ve finished this, I’ll be lazing on the sofa with a tub of ice cream instead of folding laundry. I’ve got my kids’ best interests at heart, see…)

The funny bone is your greatest weaponAbove all else, remember that no matter the age of your child or the cause of conflict between you, humour has the capacity to diffuse almost any confrontation.

It won’t magic away whatever’s making you feel like shouting, but if you can make your child laugh in the midst of a moment of family mayhem, you’re halfway towards a truce.

I’m no scientist but I am convinced that some kind of alchemy happens when we make our kids laugh in the very moment that they make us feel like crying.

So the next time you find your tone of voice rising along with your blood pressure, try getting a laugh out of your kid. As well as diffusing tension, I can give it to you on good authority that it’s practically impossible to stay cross with someone when they’re laughing uproariously.n

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King Lear?Leader of the opposition?Antiques dealer?

make learning fun.sparklearts.co.uk

At Sparkle Arts we encourage children aged 1-5 to develop and learn through a fun mix of music, dance and drama. Our classes bring subjects to life to accelerate learning, whilst building confidence and improving social skills. It’s a creative education that will make little minds sparkle and teach children skills that will last a lifetime.

Go online to find out more and book a class.

Kidscene43–45 Canaan Lane Edinburgh EH10 4SG0131 446 [email protected]

Kidscene is an after school and holiday club in the Morningside area of Edinburgh which welcomes children with and without additional support needs in an integrated environment. Our facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, sensory garden, enclosed indoor and outdoor play areas, soft play and multi-sensory plays rooms.

RoyalBlind.org/child-care

For children of all abilities

AFTER SCHOOL ANDHOLIDAY CLUB

After School ClubOpen during term time:Monday – Thursday 14.30 – 18.00Friday 11.30 – 18.00Summer Holiday ClubWe are open Monday 6 July – Friday 31 July8.30am – 5.30pm Full and half days available

Our holiday clubs also run during the Easter holidays and the October and February half terms.

Offer valid when purchasing a full price adult ticket only. Only one voucher per transaction. Offer ends 30/09/15. Terms and conditions apply.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

MADE M/J15

£1.50 OFF

an Adult Ticket

at

Find us at North Queensferry, Fife KY11 1JR. t. 01383 411880By the Forth Rail Bridge, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh

Drop In And Sea Us - Open Daily From 10am

Find us on

www.deepseaworld.com

Super Hero Weekend

1-4 May

Challenge Weekend

22-25 May

Turtle Week

25 May

Fathers Day

21 June

Family Fun

Puffin festivalNorth Berwick 15–25 May

www.seabird.org01620 890202

Image © Laurie Campbell Scottish Charity no SC025837

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Keep tabs on their clothes

We laser-etch your required name onto the tags - guaranteed not to come off!

www.snappytags.co.uk call (0844) 5611994

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A one-snap solution


Scottish goalkeeper, Craig Gordon returned to professional football after a two year break recovering from an injury. Currently signed with Celtic he is enjoying being back on the pitch and bringing up his two gorgeous girls. Craig talks to Louise Wilson about life as a doting dad and following in his father’s footsteps…

PHOTOGRAPHS: VAGELIS GEORGARIOU/ BIGLENS.CO.UK

FOOTBALL, FATHERHOOD

& FrozenFrozen


What was your first step into making football a career?I always wanted to play football; my dad was a goalkeeper as well so I followed in his footsteps. I got a bit further up the ladder than him though! He played in the lower leagues in Scotland, so he was a good coach for me growing up.

I started training with Hearts when I was about 12 and eventually I was taken on by Hearts full time just before I turned 17. At 19 I made my debut with Hearts and played there until 2007 when I was transferred to Sunderland where I played for 5 years. Then I was out injured for two years before being signed up with Celtic.

It’s every young boy’s dream to be a footballer. What advice would you give them? It’s obviously a very difficult career to get into. The competition for very few places is massive;

especially with players coming in from abroad. The percentage of people who go on to make it is very low. A lot of players I thought were fantastic in youth teams have never gone on and played professionally. It just shows how difficult it is. You need a great deal of luck as well. It’s not just about being the best player; you need the attitude and the mind set to go with it. There are a lot of pitfalls that can come in. When I was younger and computers and games consoles were just about becoming something people had at home; they were a distraction I could have got involved in. It was the time when rollerblades and skate boards had just come out too; some footballers were out playing with those. I just continued playing football – that was what I loved to do. Maybe those extra hours of practice might have had something to do with the fact I eventually managed to make a career out of it. I would definitely recommend having a fall-back

CRAIG GORDON

2015 Scottish League Cup Final Dundee United v Celtic


CRAIG GORDON

and doing well at school to get the best possible grades because it’s not an easy path.

So, if football hadn’t have been an option for you, what sort of career would you have fancied?I did okay at school, I wasn’t terrible – probably my best grades were in Geography, so maybe something weather related?

What do you think of woman’s football?I think it’s brilliant! I’ve watched a few of the higher profile games when it gets to the later stages of the World Cup, and there are some really good players. And recently a woman got down to the final three of Goal of the Year. So I think the players, even the coaching and financing, are coming into the woman’s teams and steadily pushing it in the right direction. I’ve quite enjoyed watching a few games, the standard is certainly improving.

Would you be happy with your daughters playing football then?I wouldn’t have a problem with either of my girls playing football. They had their football strips on this morning, although to be honest they were more interested in doing a fashion show than actually kicking the ball around!

But what if they wanted to play rugby! Would that be a problem? No, not at all! I used to play rugby as well; I’ve played a lot of different sports, sometimes the skillsets intermingle. I’ve played badminton which was good for reactions – not that I knew that at the time. I played tennis too and I was fairly good. It was that kind of family; we were very sport orientated and we were encouraged to play as much sport as we could. I was lucky enough to have a table-tennis table in my garage growing up, which is obviously a reaction sport; so when you add all these things up its maybe not a chance thing that I made it professionally. I spent

more time practicing than most people my age. I’ll actively encourage my girls to play as many different sports as they want, in the hope they’ll find something they enjoy and want to do. I won’t push it on them but if they choose to go down that road I’ll give them the help they need.

What’s your favourite thing about living in Edinburgh? I like that it’s a fairly small city compared to some. It’s compact and it’s easy to get to different things. And there’s plenty of sporting activities available too. The climbing centre at Ratho is excellent, for example. Freya is going to do a course there soon. She tried it on holiday in Centre Parcs and has really taken to it. Edinburgh has such a lot of different things in such a small space, so it’s manageable to get to them.

What about the girls? What do they like?They love the soft play centres. I think they’ve been to pretty much every single one of them! They love to chuck themselves around, they just attack them, they just have no fear!

It’s not just about being the best player; you need the attitude

and the mind set to go with it

“

”2015 Scottish Cup Quarter Final Replay Celtic vs Dundee United


How many times have you watch Frozen?Oh a lot! We’ve got the CD in the car, the dolls that sing, the dresses; we’ve got a lot of Frozen stuff! Thankfully it’s not the worst movie in the world – it’s watchable. Even after watching it lots of times. And the songs are quite good, and yes, I sing along. Freya and Emma are brilliant. Sitting in the back of the car, they pretty much know all the words. It’s amazing how they remember them.

Balancing career and parenthood is tricky. Jennifer must be a very supportive wife!When I finished with Sunderland I had two years off and that was around the time Emma was born, so I had a good chunk of time off when they were both quite young, which wasn’t a bad thing. It wasn’t how we’d planned things to work out, but in terms of being there for them while they were young it was quite nice. Now I’m back to work it’s a little bit more difficult. Although the days aren’t long, there are normally two games each week and if there’s travelling involved sometimes there can be three or four days a week I don’t see them. It isn’t ideal and puts more pressure on Jennifer.

But we manage it well, we’re a good team and we try and do things together when possible – even like feeding times when they were younger, we both got up to make sure everything was okay. We’ve always stuck together and try to do as much as possible together as a family. I’m always involved with zoo trips or whatever, it’s always good fun. I’m the biggest kid of the lot so I want to do these trips! I want to see all the animals at the zoo, I want to go to the top of the softplay so it’s no problem for me.

How will you get spoiled on Father’s Day?The girls like to come downstairs and bring us a cup of tea in bed at the weekend if we’re all here. So Jennifer or I will go and make the tea and bring it along, and the four of us sit in bed and have tea and biscuits. Something like that will be my special treat.

What’s your favourite thing about being a parent? I love the silly things they say to make you laugh; and their dancing around. Things you wouldn’t normally find funny you suddenly laugh at because they are laughing too.

Lastly, something we ask everyone…what is your ‘sanity saver’? What helps you get through the trickiest of days? Making the most of the kids’ nap time to recover. A cup of coffee and some cake or a chocolate biscuit always does the trick. n

CRAIG GORDON

2015 International Friendly Scotland v Northern Ireland

MATT LOCKWOODFOOTBALL ACADEMY

Matt Lockwood is bringing his Football Academy to Edinburgh.

Matt who is a fully qualifi ed coach is looking for boys and girls aged 4-16 to attend his Academy.

Learn to play football the professional way by the professional!

For more informationEmail: [email protected] call 07813 393573 for details

www.mattlockwood.com

Giving into our children’s demands for sweet treats and junk food is a parenting trap that many of us fall into. But with Scotland’s obesity rates spiralling out of control, what is the best way to improve our children’s appetite for healthy food? We look to some of the healthiest countries around the world for inspiration…

Japanese go BentoThe Japanese have one of the lowest obesity rates in the world, so what’s their secret? Well for one thing, they provide their kids with the most exciting pack lunches on the planet! Bento is a packed lunch box filled with lots of mini portions of healthy food such as fish, rice, fruit and veggies. The small sizes are perfect for inspiring little people to try something new, but it’s the appearance of the food that really gets children’s taste buds tingling.

From transforming carrots into love hearts and cucumbers into stars to creating Miffy and Hello Kitty out of rice, the Japanese really make their kid’s packed lunches into a work of art. A far cry from our lunch time offerings of a soggy ham sandwich!

What we can learn The brilliant thing about bento is the portion sizes. By offering children little nibbles of different food, it encourages them to try something new and to slowing down their eating. While some of the more complicated Japanese lunches look like they’d be somewhat tricky to master, going bento doesn’t have to be stressful. And it doesn’t have to be all fish and rice either. Just try to provide a healthy balance incorporating the five food groups.

For inspiration take a look at foodie blogs such as www.eatsamazing.co.uk - it’s amazing

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what you do with a bit of imagination and some cookie cutters! If you fancy going the whole hog, you can even buy cute Japanese food picks and moulds that transform plain old boiled eggs into shapes such as cars, animals or even a football! Your child will never come back with a half-eaten lunch box again.

Korean children don’t snackIn Korea, eating is something that is shared and enjoyed as a family. Even at school, kids don’t just bring in lunch for themselves, they bring in food to share with the other children. Because families eat together, children and adults often wait long periods to dine, but there is no sneaky snacking between meals to keep them going. And once dinner is served everyone eats the same – there isn’t a fish finger or sausage roll in sight.

What we can learn While giving up snacking altogether may seem like a step too far, it is worth looking at just how much you allow your children to eat between meals. Why not try to implement set snack times each day to keep an eye on the quantities your child is consuming? Avoiding snacks near meal times is a good idea too.

In Korea, meals are all about sharing and taking time to get together as a family. Try to think of ways in which you can enjoy meal times

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better and make sure you ask your children for suggestions too. Maybe they would enjoy playing a game like eye spy while they eat or listening to some of their favourite music while they dine.

Norwegian kids know the food chainLife in Norway can be pretty chilly, but instead of hibernating indoors, children learn to embrace the weather from a young age. Small children attend outdoor kindergartens where they learn about the food chain through planting and tending crops, fishing, hunting birds and cooking on the camp fire. In some kindergartens, children even work on farms helping to care for livestock, but always with the view that today’s cute chicken might just be tomorrow’s tasty lunch.

What we can learn Not only does spent time outdoors increase the appetite, living off the land helps children to understand exactly what is going into their bodies. Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a brilliant way to get children excited about eating healthily. After all nothing tastes better than something you’ve made yourself!

Try setting out a dedicated planting area in your back garden, or if you’re short of space try planting seeds in plastic containers. Encourage children to look after their crops and when it’s time to pick them, use them to create meals together.

French children get two hours for lunch It’s fair to say that the French have a more sophisticated palette than us Scots, and their children are no different. From blue cheese and beet salad to foie gras and roasted guinea fowl, there is no such thing as a fussy eater in France, where children eat the same foods as their parents. So how do French parents convince their children to eat so well?

In France, food is viewed as something to be savoured and enjoyed. School canteens are very different to ours, meals are cooked by Cordon Bleu chefs and overseen by nutritionists, so it’s little wonder that children are more inclined to

eat their lunch. And with a whooping two hour lunch break, they have plenty of time to eat up and enjoy.

What we can learn In the UK, food is often viewed as something to feel guilty about consuming, but in France the focus is always on pleasure and that passion and enthusiasm for food rubs off on even the smallest of children. Instead of lecturing our children on what kind of food they should be eating, try to focus on the textures, tastes and smells of the food instead. Allow children to take their time eating and to enjoy it, instead of rushing them through lunch so that you can get on with the next thing.

Whether you look to the Japanese or the French for inspiration, there is one piece of healthy eating advice that is global – us parents need to show our children the way. So enjoy your food and eat your greens - your children are sure to follow. n

the Japanese make their kid’s packed lunches

into a work of art

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May 29th - 31st 2015

scotland's

gardening festival

www.craftycooks.co.ukPHOTO BY MARASCHINO PHOTOGRAPHY

Weekly Classes and Summer Holiday Club

[email protected]

Offering a beautiful collection of homewares, jewellery, illustrations and craft.

Delicious, seasonal menu.

Artisan coffee from an independent moorland micro roaster

Greenshoots6-8 Alexander Place

Edinburgh EH11 2RH

Creativ

ity

Science

OutdoorsMovem

ent

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Music

Drama

Greenhill Montessori Nursery

3 Greenhill Park, Morningside, Edinburgh EH10 4DW

Tel: 01316290787info@greenhillmontessori.co.ukwww.greenhillmontessori.co.uk

Let your child’s adventure begin!

Our ValuesHere at Greenhill Montessori Nursery we are committed to providing a safe, loving and nurturing environment for each child who joins us. We engage your child socially, emotionally and educationally to ensure their success in the future. Their happiness, security and self confidence are our main goals.

P Children from 18 months to Primary AgeP Hours from 9.00 to 16.00 (Care 8.15 to 17.30)P Billingual, with Native speaking teachers in both English and Spanish P Online progress tracking system for each childP We accept Childcare VouchersP In Partnership with Edinburgh CouncilP Follows the Curriculum for Excellence

MAYBURN WALK, LOANHEAD • 0131 440 2541

Children can run wild in Amazone - a 3-tiered jungle themed soft play - and everyone can enjoy food, drinks and home baking from the Honeypot Café.

The Kabin also boasts a charity shop, laundry & ironing services, dance studio, cinema, digital arts, meeting rooms, sensory/therapy room, plus our fantastic community garden.

We host parties every weekend!

Celebrate your own special day with a choice of Amazone soft play, Cinema, Disco or Recording Parties.

SOFT PLAY SESSIONS

ONLY £2.50 per hour!

11.00am - 12.45pmTea For Two - senior citizen activity/lunch

up to £6.50 - including pick-up/drop-off service

6.30pm- 8.30pmCraft n Chat

Adults evening class (£2.50 per week

includes refreshments)at the Kabin (Drone)

Weekly group activities include: • PARENTS & TOTS• BABY MASSAGE

• BABY PEEP • BALLET • GARDENING • MUSIC

• ARTS & CRAFTS • BINGO• DISCO DANCING

OPEN MON – SAT, 9AM-5PM • SUN 10AM-5PM

www.thekabin.org.uk

Fun weekly drop-in classes for babies, toddlers, pre-schools and teens. Prices from £4.50.dancebase.co.uk/kids-classes | 0131 225 552514-16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU

Charity: SCO22512

I’M utterly convinced that we should be inviting young kids into our workplaces to ask them how we should run things. Their outlook on life and the way they embrace challenges is just incred-ible. They spot opportunities in a way most adults have forgotten how to.

Kids can take even the most stressful situa-tions, the most difficult times and turn them into something quite beautiful. It’s often the kids that put things into perspective for us adults. And they do it so naturally, without even thinking about it. They can take even the saddest moments and flip them upside down giving them a big shot of fun, colour, humour and imagination. It’s really quite extraordinary.

As I write this I am two days away from the three year anniversary of my dad’s death. For anyone reading this who has lost someone you will know what I mean when I write, ‘it just hurts’. It hurts so much. But my kids had this natural ability to make me smile and feel better.

My daughter, Ellis was only three months old but she knew how to pull a face that cheered me up. I’ve asked her about this recently; she claims to have no idea what I’m talking about.

My son, Kian was four days away from his fourth birthday and he knew exactly what to say to me to make me feel happier. I bet we’ve all worked with adults who wouldn’t know what to say in these situations!

Anyway this takes me on to Christmas 2012,

my first Christmas since losing Dad. That was a strange day for me. It felt odd. No one really wanted to celebrate too much knowing it might upset people, we didn’t want to discuss Dad too much, again it might upset people. But not Kian. Kian stood up, placed his finger on the table and exclaimed, “I’m sad as well you know!!” The grown-ups had no idea what to say. I sat there thinking that Kian was doing the right thing. So I joined in. “I’m sad as well, Kian. What are you sad about?” “I just miss Grampa” he replied. I thought I would dig deeper, “me too Kian, what do you miss about him most?” to which Kian re-plied “never mind that Dad, do you want to see me draw an apple?”

Now, I can assure you this was not the sen-tence I was expecting out of Kian’s mouth, but it changed things. Yes it’s a very random sentence but we all just burst out laughing. Mum left the table to get some paper; Kian disappeared under the table and reappeared seconds later with a big tub of chunky crayons. That Christmas as we ate our Christmas dinner we drew the best apples you’ve ever seen in your life. Next time you feel sad, angry, stressed, worried etc. draw an apple. You will be amazed at the smile it puts back on your face. And do you know who I learned this from? A four year child. My four year old child. Don’t you just love being a parent? It’s the tough-est job in the world and yet I wouldn’t change it for anything. Kian for Prime Minister? n

...hand drawn of course

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Dates for your diary

12pm-2pm Portobello Expectant & New Parent Event @ Portobello Library (Community Room). A fun event to let new parents/parents-to-be know more about local support. Goody bags for the first 50 people.

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk

2pm (1hr 30) A Braw Time wi’ the Bairns @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Enjoy songs, traditional stories and a fun pantomime! This is a family event, especially suitable for ages 5 -12, but all welcome. £7 (£5)

The Imaginate Festival starts. A week of world class shows for children and young people with 14 national and international productions to choose from. Until 17th. www.imaginate.org.uk

Start of Bookbug Week 2015. Hundreds of free story, song & rhyme events held across the country. This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story. scottishbooktrust.com/ bookbugweek

10am & 11.30am (40mins) Tiny Tales: Peek-a-Boo! Where are you? @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join Anne Pitcher with Baby Jay and his magic Peek-a-Boo blanket. Non-stop fun ages 1-3. £5 per child.

6.30pm – 8pm Fit for Motherhood @ Sweaty Betty. An opportunity to ask experts about any aspect of becom-ing a parent. To register go to fitformotherhoodmay2015.eventbrite.co.uk

10am – 12pm Mothers Meet Up @ Hair by JFK, Bruntsfield. Meet other mums, enjoy teas, coffee, goody bags & pampering! www.hairby jfk.com

10am – 11am Dads Rock Playgroup @ Royston/Wardieburn. FREE playgroup for dads & kids (ages 0-5). Every Thursday. www.dadsrock.org.uk

Start of Puffin Fest @ The Scottish Seabird Centre. A family friendly programme of puffin related activities. (Until May 25th) www.seabird.org

10.30am & 1.30pm Starcatchers: HUP @ The Brunton Theatre. An enchanting classical music experience for 0–2s. On Sat 23rd too.

3pm Meet local author Sarah Forbes @ Waterstone’s, Princes Street to celebrate launch of new Elspeth Hart series for 7-9 year olds. Illustrator James Brown will also be there. No need to book!

Jupiter Artland reopens for 2015

Day Out With Thomas @ Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. www.bkrailway.co.uk

9.30am – 5.30pm Scotland’s BIG Nature Festival @ Levenhall Links, Musselburgh. A festival of nature, artisan food and drink, education and discovery! On Sun 24th too. www.bignaturefestival.org.uk

1pm-3pm Jumble Tots @ Dalkeith Miners Club. A pop-up children and baby market with play area, entertainment, face painting and cake. Entry £1.50, children free.

10.30am-1pm Jack & Jill Market @ Meadowbank Stadium

10am – 11am Dads Rock Playgroup @ Whale Arts Centre. FREE playgroup for dads & kids (ages 0-5). Every Monday. www.dadsrock.org.uk

Gardening Scotland @ The Royal Highland Centre. Inspirational Show Gardens, workshops and demos. Until 31st. Kids go free!

1pm & 3.30pm Scottish Dance Theatre: Innocence @ Brunton Theatre. A magical theatrical journey led by Scottish Dance Theatre’s captivating dancers, by Paul Bradley. For ages 3-7.

11am – 2pm. Cherish Childhood event @ Gymboree, Edinburgh. Arts & crafts, cake decorating and play sessions in the gym. Booking essential. £5 per child.

Keep up to date with all the latest events by logging onto

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday12pm-2pm Portobello Expectant & New Parent Event @ Portobello Library (Community Room). A fun event to let new parents/parents-to-be know more about local support. Goody bags for the first 50 people.

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk

2pm (1hr 30) A Braw Time wi’ the Bairns @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Enjoy songs, traditional stories and a fun pantomime! This is a family event, especially suitable for ages 5 -12, but all welcome. £7 (£5)

The Imaginate Festival starts. A week of world class shows for children and young people with 14 national and international productions to choose from. Until 17th. www.imaginate.org.uk

Start of Bookbug Week 2015. Hundreds of free story, song & rhyme events held across the country. This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story. scottishbooktrust.com/ bookbugweek

10am & 11.30am (40mins) Tiny Tales: Peek-a-Boo! Where are you? @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join Anne Pitcher with Baby Jay and his magic Peek-a-Boo blanket. Non-stop fun ages 1-3. £5 per child.

6.30pm – 8pm Fit for Motherhood @ Sweaty Betty. An opportunity to ask experts about any aspect of becom-ing a parent. To register go to fitformotherhoodmay2015.eventbrite.co.uk

10am – 12pm Mothers Meet Up @ Hair by JFK, Bruntsfield. Meet other mums, enjoy teas, coffee, goody bags & pampering! www.hairby jfk.com


Start of Puffin Fest @ The Scottish Seabird Centre. A family friendly programme of puffin related activities. (Until May 25th) www.seabird.org

10.30am & 1.30pm Starcatchers: HUP @ The Brunton Theatre. An enchanting classical music experience for 0–2s. On Sat 23rd too.

3pm Meet local author Sarah Forbes @ Waterstone’s, Princes Street to celebrate launch of new Elspeth Hart series for 7-9 year olds. Illustrator James Brown will also be there. No need to book!

Jupiter Artland reopens for 2015

Day Out With Thomas @ Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. www.bkrailway.co.uk

9.30am – 5.30pm Scotland’s BIG Nature Festival @ Levenhall Links, Musselburgh. A festival of nature, artisan food and drink, education and discovery! On Sun 24th too. www.bignaturefestival.org.uk

1pm-3pm Jumble Tots @ Dalkeith Miners Club. A pop-up children and baby market with play area, entertainment, face painting and cake. Entry £1.50, children free.

10.30am-1pm Jack & Jill Market @ Meadowbank Stadium


Gardening Scotland @ The Royal Highland Centre. Inspirational Show Gardens, workshops and demos. Until 31st. Kids go free!

1pm & 3.30pm Scottish Dance Theatre: Innocence @ Brunton Theatre. A magical theatrical journey led by Scottish Dance Theatre’s captivating dancers, by Paul Bradley. For ages 3-7.

11am – 2pm. Cherish Childhood event @ Gymboree, Edinburgh. Arts & crafts, cake decorating and play sessions in the gym. Booking essential. £5 per child.

www.mademagazine.co.uk/whats-on.html

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Scotland’s BIG Nature FestivalLevenhall Links, Musselburgh May 23rd & 24th 9.30am-5.30pmAlready home to fantastic wildlife and wading birds, the venue will transform into a wonderful festival of nature, artisan food and drink, education and discovery! Your little nature explorers will have fun learning about nature by going for magical woodland walks, pond dipping, learning bush crafts with expert field teachers, or attending wildlife photography workshops. Organised by RSPB Scotland, with support from East Lothian Council and EventScotland, the event has loads of fantastic free activities for a really wild day out! Free shuttle bus between Wallyford station and the site. Adults £12 (con £10). Children £2 Under 5s FREE www.bignature festival.org.uk

May 2015

Spotlight on...




Dates for your diary

10am & 11.30am (40mins) Tiny Tales: Awesome Africa @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join storyteller Daniel Allison for a journey into Africa. Book in advance. For ages 1-3. £5 per child.


The Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival @ Harmony Garden, Melrose. Tickets £5 - £14, with some free events in the Family Book Festival.www.bordersbookfestival.org (Until 14th)

10am Me, Myskelf & I – FREE session at the SKELF Bike Park (Crags Sports Centre). Fun times for all the family. Part of Edinburgh Festival of Cycling www.edfoc.org.uk

10am-11.30am Dads Rock Playgroup @ Whale Arts & The Prentice Centre. FREE playgroup for dads & kids (ages 0-5) Every Sat. www.dadsrock.org.uk

11am-2pm Jumble Tots @ Holy Cross Church, Davidsons Mains. A pop-up children and baby market. Entry £1.50, children free.

10.30am – 3pm Open Farm Sunday @ Gorgie City Farm. An opportunity to get hands on with tours and workshops around the farm

1.30pm & 4.30pm FUNBOX: Pirates and Princesses @ King’s Theatre. ‘Pirates and Princesses’ from Anya, Kevin and Gary (formerly the Singing Kettle). www.edtheatres.com/funbox


10am – 12.30pm Start of Summer Holiday Farmers Helpers @ Gorgie City Farm. Open to all 8-12 year olds. Booking essential. (weekdays until Aug 7th)

Start of Royal Highland Show @ Ingliston (until 21st)

Start of Hopetoun House Horse Trials (until 28th)

11am-2pm Dads’ Day @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join storytellers and musicians in the Storytelling Bothy for a positive celebration of fatherhood on the day before Father’s Day. For all ages. FREE

Father’s Day! Great Scottish Walk & Run Festival

Keep up to date with all the latest events by logging onto

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10am & 11.30am (40mins) Tiny Tales: Awesome Africa @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join storyteller Daniel Allison for a journey into Africa. Book in advance. For ages 1-3. £5 per child.


The Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival @ Harmony Garden, Melrose. Tickets £5 - £14, with some free events in the Family Book Festival.www.bordersbookfestival.org (Until 14th)

10am Me, Myskelf & I – FREE session at the SKELF Bike Park (Crags Sports Centre). Fun times for all the family. Part of Edinburgh Festival of Cycling www.edfoc.org.uk

10am-11.30am Dads Rock Playgroup @ Whale Arts & The Prentice Centre. FREE playgroup for dads & kids (ages 0-5) Every Sat. www.dadsrock.org.uk

11am-2pm Jumble Tots @ Holy Cross Church, Davidsons Mains. A pop-up children and baby market. Entry £1.50, children free.

10.30am – 3pm Open Farm Sunday @ Gorgie City Farm. An opportunity to get hands on with tours and workshops around the farm

1.30pm & 4.30pm FUNBOX: Pirates and Princesses @ King’s Theatre. ‘Pirates and Princesses’ from Anya, Kevin and Gary (formerly the Singing Kettle). www.edtheatres.com/funbox


10am – 12.30pm Start of Summer Holiday Farmers Helpers @ Gorgie City Farm. Open to all 8-12 year olds. Booking essential. (weekdays until Aug 7th)

Start of Royal Highland Show @ Ingliston (until 21st)

Start of Hopetoun House Horse Trials (until 28th)

11am-2pm Dads’ Day @ The Scottish Storytelling Centre. Join storytellers and musicians in the Storytelling Bothy for a positive celebration of fatherhood on the day before Father’s Day. For all ages. FREE

Father’s Day! Great Scottish Walk & Run Festival

www.mademagazine.co.uk/whats-on.html

The Royal Highland Show Royal Highland Centre, InglistonJune 18-21stroyalhighlandshow.org

In its 175th year, the event is a vibrant celebration of the very best of farming, food and rural life. Children 15 or younger go free and there’s so much to do including a visit to the Children’s Discovery Centre with lots exciting hands on activities including cooking, making flour and milking a ‘cow’!

June 2015

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/StepItUpDance @StepItUpDanceUK

Find out more and book your place at stepitupdance.co.uk

THE CREATIVE CREW

Two Fun Filled Camps For Active Kids Aged 3+ Full day £30, Half day £15, Full Week £125.

SUMMER CAMPS

2015

THE GAMES GANG

Made-Ad-Summer.indd 1 30/03/2015 11:20

Voted best UK activity 5-12 year olds by What’s on 4 Little Ones 2010, 2012 & 2013



SUMMER CAMP 2015SAUGHTON SCOUT HALL,

54 SAUGHTON CRESCENT, EH12 5SP9AM – 1PM

• MON 20TH – FRI 24TH JULY • MON 27TH – FRI 31ST JULY• MON 3RD – FRI 7TH AUGUST • MON 10TH – FRI 14TH AUGUSTWould you like 4 hours to yourself during the summer holidays? Enjoy-a-Ball Summer Camp is just the place for your children to

have fun, play games & sports and do arts & crafts, while you relax!

For everyone aged 4 – 9 (whether you attend Enjoy-a-Ball classes or not)

£16.00 per child per day • £70.00 per child per week Mid-morning snack & drink provided

07791 047 173 [email protected]

Includes a fun fi lled week: Dance, singing, drama, dance show, Cinema, Day trips, Swimming,

Arts & crafts, Games & activities

SummerCampSummerCampCampCamp2015

@ Planet Camp

13-17 July 2015Mon to Fri, 9.00am - 3.30pm

• Cost includes breakfast, snack and lunch• Qualifi ed child carers, Fully disclosed staff• For ages 4 years plus+

Limited places only so BOOK NOW!Discounts available for siblings

PER CHILD

PER DAY

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Closed Sun (available for parties)

39 Baileyfi eld Road, Edinburgh EH15 1NA • 0131 669 1231

www.planetcafeedin.co.uk

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Illustrations: Designed by Freepik


making and silly events leading to a prize giving where parents are invited to see kids’ progress throughout the week and talk to staff at the Friday end of week show. Excel-Sports is full each year so early booking is recommended. Childcare vouchers accepted.

Saughton Scout Hall www.enjoy-a-ball.com20th - 24th July, 9am -1pm27th - 31st July, 9am – 1pm3rd - 7th Aug, 9am – 1pm10th -14th Aug, 9am – 1pmEnjoy-a-Ball is an award winning multi-sports

Excel Sports- Multi-Sports & Activities

St George’s School for Girls, Murrayfieldwww.excel-sports.co.uk6th July – 14th August, 8am-9pm (for ages 5-15)Excel-Sports is looking forward to another fun packed summer at the fab facilities of St George’s School For Girls, Murrayfield. Open to everyone from 5-15yrs they have the largest selection of activities. New this year is Basketball Camp and pro-footballer, Matt Lockwood Football Academy. From 8am-9pm you can either select a specialist camp or their multi sports camp. Everyone works as part of a team with lots of tournaments, film

SummerCamps

EXCEL SPORTS

Enjoy-a-Ball- Multi-Sports & Activities

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coaching programme. During the summer holidays their camps include loads of fun games, sports, arts & crafts, board games and puzzles. Kids get to run around, make lots of noise, laugh a lot and generally have a really fun time! So if you fancy 4 hours to yourself during the summer holidays then the summer camp is just the place to drop off your children. Contact Paul on 07791047173 to book your place.

14-16 Grassmarketwww.dancebase.co.uk6th July – 10th July, 10am – 5pm (for ages 7-12)£125 (£100 for additional children from the same family)Dance Base has teamed up with Circus Alba and Jim Stirk of Animation Jam to bring you a summer school like no other. Over the week groups will work with dance teachers and circus specialists, enjoying Acrobalance, hula hooping, juggling and poi. They’ll round it all off by creating and starring in a short film. A brilliant memento of an unforgettable week.

www.stepitupdance.co.ukKids booked into ‘The Creative Crew’ will create their own Edinburgh Festival Dance Show learning various urban dance styles! Imaginations will run wild as characters are created, scenes are set and the script is written for a show performed at the end of the camp. Artistic skills will also be honed making costumes, tickets and posters to advertise their performance. Book early to avoid disappointment.

www.stepitupdance.co.uk‘The Games Gang’ is a camp filled with unique challenges and puzzles (remember the Crystal Maze?) as well a whole variety of sports to try. Children will work closely in teams, solving tricky puzzles and challenges with plenty of motivational rewards to keep them happy. Book before the end of June for an Early Bird discount

DANCE BASE

Dance BaseDance, Circus & Animation

Step It Up Dance: The Creative Crew - Dance

Step It Up Dance: The Games Gang - Games


finish with a fabulous show on the morning of Saturday 1st August. The Summer School is open to anyone from age 5yrs with lots or no experience of dance.

StudioD, Hutchison Terracewww.dndance.co.uk6th - 10th July, 10am – 4pmThis week is all about exploring the very best of musicals, learning songs and dances from the most popular musicals and mashing it all into a show for the parents at the end of the week.

StudioD, Hutchison Terracewww.dndance.co.uk 3rd - 7th Aug, 10am – 4pmWith Charlie and the Chocolate Factory coming to London’s West End this is a theme for this year’s Summer School! Kids will learn songs and dances from the new West End show and put on a mini-show for the parents at the end of the week.

39 Baileyfield Roadwww.planetcafeedin.co.uk13th – 17th July (for ages 4+) £25 per day (discounts for siblings)Planet Cafe is excited to announce their fun-filled week of activities will include arts & crafts, dance, drama, singing, day trips to local parks, beaches, museums and the cinema! The week concludes with a dance show which parents are more than welcome to attend. Fully disclosed and qualified staff will ensure your little ones remain occupied. Breakfast, snack and lunch included. Limited places available so book now to avoid disappointment.

4-6 Coltbridge Avenuewww.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk27th July – 1st Aug, 9.30am – 2pm (for ages 5+)This is the fourth year for this summer school. There will be workshops in Ballet, Commercial Jazz, and Musical Theatre, with three fantastic state of the art studios running at the same time each day and the groups (split by age) will go between them all on rotation. The week will

Planet Cafe- Activities & Day Trips

Edinburgh Dance Academy- Dance

PLANET CAFE

Dynam-nic Dance: Musical Mash-Up - Song & Dance

Dynam-nic Dance: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory - Dance


FREESUMMERMUSICSCHOOLSFOR P7sMake music & new friends this summer!

S1

Be in a Band – write, rehearse, record and perform! Spend a week

of your holidays in professional rehearsal and recording studios, making music and new friends!Open to P7 pupils in East Lothian schools.

No music experience necessary.

Apply by Friday 22nd May 2015, 7pm at www.lamphousemusic.co.uk/movingonup

Lamp House Music, The Lamp House, Station Yard, Hospital Road, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 3PP

www.lamphousemusic.co.uk / 01620 825630

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LampHouseMusicPRACTICE • LEARN • PLAY

Lamp House Music, Haddingtonwww.lamphousemusic.co.uk/movingonup27th – 31st July3rd – 7th August 10th – 14th August Lamp House Music in Haddington is delighted to announce project ‘Moving on Up’ which offers free places to all pupils making the move from primary into secondary school in East Lothian in August. It aims to support this social adjustment by helping develop new friendships in order to ease the transition.

Participants will spend a week in the professional studios where they will form a band, write, rehearse and record their own original

song which, at the end of the week, they will perform in a live music venue. Each participant will also take home a copy of their song on CD and hear it played on East Coast FM.

Each week Lamp House Music will accommodate 20 pupils (10 in the morning & 10 in the afternoon) from Mon-Thurs, bringing together all pupils for a full day on the Friday. As well as the free week-long music school, participants will also be reimbursed for their travel expenses. No music experience is required to take part in ‘Moving on Up’ but an enthusiasm for music is hoped for. The deadline date for all applications is Friday 22nd May 2015, 7.00pm.

LAMP HOUSE MUSIC

Lamp House Music: Moving on Up - Music

FOR OTHER SUMMER CAMPS CHECK OUT:

A-Star Sports www.a-starsports.co.uk

Edinburgh Leisure www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Jupiter Artland www.jupiterartland.org

Potter Around www.potteraround.co.uk

Royal Blind Kidscene www.royalblind.org/ child-care

Sparkle Arts www.sparklearts.co.uk

Summer Camps

FREESUMMERMUSICSCHOOLSFOR P7sMake music & new friends this summer!

S1

Be in a Band – write, rehearse, record and perform! Spend a week

of your holidays in professional rehearsal and recording studios, making music and new friends!Open to P7 pupils in East Lothian schools.

No music experience necessary.

Apply by Friday 22nd May 2015, 7pm at www.lamphousemusic.co.uk/movingonup

Lamp House Music, The Lamp House, Station Yard, Hospital Road, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 3PP

www.lamphousemusic.co.uk / 01620 825630

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LampHouseMusicPRACTICE • LEARN • PLAY

Jan HunterChild Sleep Advisor

Do you want your child to sleep at night?

I offer a tailored approach in child sleep management, from birth to five years.

When a child develops good sleeping habits the whole family benefits immensely. Children who sleep soundly are calm, contented and happy.

07875 [email protected]

www.thechildsleepadvisor.co.uk

with Water Babies, the UK’s leading baby swim school

Fully qualified, world class instructors, teaching you to teach your baby to swim

WEEKLYLOCALCLASSES

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classes held...in Edinburgh city centre, Newington, Hermiston Gate, Oxgangs, Crewe Toll, Dalmahoy, Dalkeith and more!

waterbabies.co.uk

To join in the fun call

0131 554 6682


MY Facebook page has been suffering an identity crisis since 17th December 2014. It looks like a web-edition of “My First Photo Album”, with photograph after photograph of a little boy called Jack. This week, my husband gently suggested that I should start posting about something other than our new son. Although our interest in him is all-consuming, apparently my Facebook friends and acquaintances may not feel quite as enthusiastic.

In 2014 the word ‘overshare’ was chosen by Chambers Dictionary to be word of the year. It defines an ‘oversharer’ as being, ‘unacceptably forthcoming with information about one’s personal life’. As a new mum, I know I’m treading a fine line. Dare I say it, I’m positively teetering on the precipice of a full Facebook fail.

Social media isn’t the only medium for a ‘TMI’ (‘too much information’) outburst. Last week I met some mummy friends at a café. Our fellow patrons tolerated the greeting babies and creeping spread of car seats. But then I announced loudly that – in complete contrast from the magical Christmas we’d hoped for – my husband had departed the present-opening in quite a hurry to pick me up some constipation sachets. Eyebrows raised over coffee cup rims. It was only as I was driving home that I realised that my oversharing had reached fever pitch.

There are definite benefits to oversharing though, be that with an experienced and/or willing audience (note to self). How else would you get prior warning about the hazards of changing a baby boy’s nappy, or the side effects of those post C-section painkillers. Actually, I didn’t know about those. If I had, there would have been no need for my husband to embark on a Christmas Day Fybogel hunt. I’ve come to realise that it’s vital to make use of all support networks when you become a parent and online chit chat can be a saving grace too. Just after Jack was born, I ended up back in hospital. Late at night, sat on the dark ward with Jack sleeping

Mum’s New World

next to me, feeling unwell and lonely, I told my Facebook friends I was bloomin’ well down in the dumps. The response was extraordinary and I woke up feeling loved, positively buoyed and so much better.

So I’m going to enjoy these precious years of wanting to overshare, because I have something I feel really passionate about: being a parent. I want to talk about it. Heck, I want to shout about it from the top of Salisbury Crags. That’s why I’m so excited to be the new Editor of Edinburgh for Under Fives (www.efuf.co.uk) and a columnist for MADE magazine. Together we can discover and share the very best places for parents and children to visit, and the services that can offer help and support when it’s needed.

I’ll keep you updated on our little family’s adventures. And I promise not to discuss my son’s bowel movements. Or mine. n

WRITTEN BY Kirsty Nicholls EDITOR OF EDINBURGH FOR UNDER FIVES

I’m positively teetering on the

precipice of a full Facebook fail

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Cherish Childhood UKBy Gymboree, Proud sponsors of childhood

LIFE can sometimes feel like a treadmill the moment you take that massive decision that you want a baby. How long will it take to get pregnant? And when you are trying to get pregnant, all you see is pregnant people around you and babies in buggies everywhere. Each month that ticks past is another month lost, and the anxiety of it is all consuming.

It’s typical of most mums to be desperate for their baby to reach the next milestone. You yearn for your baby to make their first smile and then question; was it a real smile or was it wind? You are desperate for them to sit unaided because you feel this will free you ever so slightly from the demands of your new born baby. As the months go by you look enviously at those babies who can crawl, while your baby is frustrated by only being able to sit up. Some of you question how many years it will be until you get an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Then your baby crawls and you want him to walk. Your toddler starts to toddle and you want him to be able to run. You want your toddler’s speech to develop so you can understand what’s wrong when he cries and so you can just understand him better.

Then the pre-school years beckon and if you have been at home all this time with your child, you are desperate for a few hours each day to yourself. Then you realise that these three precious hours vanish quickly and you long for

the school years so that you get double the time to yourself. Suddenly your baby is dressed in their school uniform and you are kissing them good bye at the classroom door and that’s when it will strike you just how quickly your baby has grown.

My job is to help babies develop into strong, confident, happy little people and this means watching them grow up very quickly every single day. I see so many changes in babies from one week to the next that sometimes I have to double check that I haven’t just somehow skipped an entire week. That’s why it is so important to make a conscious decision to stop focusing on the next milestone and to enjoy the right here, right now. If you look away for too long your baby will be all grown up and you won’t know how you got there.

At Gymboree Edinburgh we have made it our job this year to help cherish as many childhoods as possible and so I am asking you to stop for a moment today, while you’re feeding, or changing, or bathing, or attempting to get your baby to sleep, and just enjoy the wonder of your child

Tell your children every day, ‘don’t hurry to grow up’ and tell yourself to enjoy every single minute of their precious lives. Let’s hold onto childhood, at least for today. n

By Nicole Syme, Gymboree Edinburgh

Gymboree [email protected] 07910 188 713

gymboree-uk.com

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The GreaT ScoTTiSh Summer run

5k & 10k

10k & 20k

The GreaT ScoTTiSh Walk

100% OF MONEY YouRAISE GOES TO YOUR

CHOSEN CHARITY

The GreaT ScoTTiSh ToddleThe Golden mile WalkS

hotline: (0131) 208 2500www.greatscottishevents.org.uk

The Great Scottish Summer Run is open to all seasoned runners and beginners. Special prizes for 1st, 2nd or 3rd female and male runners, with times and positions of all runners recorded. All participants will receive a medal and a goody bag.

If running’s not your thing take part in The Great Scottish Walk. Cups and special medals are there to be won in our competitive 20k walk. If you wish a shorter route, we have the 10k walk without the competitiveness. Every walker in both walks receive a medal and a goody bag.

The Great Scottish Toddle is for children 6 yearsold or younger. Infants and buggies welcome.There will be lots of entertainment, medals,goody bags and completion certificate for alltoddlers.

9.30

am

11.0

0am

11.3

0am

1.00

pmWalk, stroll 1,2 or 3 miles you choose the distance. Not wanting to or feel like walking the longer distances! Take part in an event that will be fun and also a bit of a challenge.

SundAy 21ST JuNE 2015 - HolyRood PARk EdinbuRGH

oRGANISEd BY

PND

FOR many years postnatal depression was viewed as ‘a woman’s problem’ and largely attributed to hormones. More up-to-date psychology and research reveals that 1 in 6 mothers¹ and 1 in 10 fathers² experience postnatal depression after the birth of a baby, and that although men and women are affected by hormones, hormonal causes are not at the root of postnatal depression³.

Becoming a parent has been described as the most wonderful and the most traumatic event in a person’s life. Nothing can prepare a mother or a father for the reality of becoming a parent. It is a life-changing event, and as such there are losses as well as gains. People mostly focus on the gains when a pregnancy is announced or a baby is born. This makes it difficult for a parent to give voice to the losses, far less find the opportunity to process them.

Becoming a parent for the first or fifth time, is a time of transition. All transitions involve change. All change incurs loss, and all loss needs grieving or at least acknowledging. With the focus on the health of the mother and baby, and the often overwhelming tasks involved with a newborn, there is little or no space to consider the losses. Most parents just get on with it, silently wondering how other parents cope, and perhaps afraid to admit how they are feeling. Somehow an admission of the difficulties and losses might put them in danger of being judged as ‘a failing parent’ or someone who doesn’t love their child. You can love and want your child and still experience the loss and grief involved.

For fathers, they can often feel put to one side. The changes during pregnancy are happening within the mother’s body. Fathers can find themselves standing by somewhat helplessly,

WRITTEN BY Tessa Haring, POSTNATAL DEPRESSION SERVICES, LOTHIAN

FATHERSEXPERIENCE POSTNATAL DEPRESSION


The GreaT ScoTTiSh Summer run

5k & 10k

10k & 20k

The GreaT ScoTTiSh Walk

100% OF MONEY YouRAISE GOES TO YOUR

CHOSEN CHARITY

The GreaT ScoTTiSh ToddleThe Golden mile WalkS

hotline: (0131) 208 2500www.greatscottishevents.org.uk

The Great Scottish Summer Run is open to all seasoned runners and beginners. Special prizes for 1st, 2nd or 3rd female and male runners, with times and positions of all runners recorded. All participants will receive a medal and a goody bag.

If running’s not your thing take part in The Great Scottish Walk. Cups and special medals are there to be won in our competitive 20k walk. If you wish a shorter route, we have the 10k walk without the competitiveness. Every walker in both walks receive a medal and a goody bag.

The Great Scottish Toddle is for children 6 yearsold or younger. Infants and buggies welcome.There will be lots of entertainment, medals,goody bags and completion certificate for alltoddlers.

9.30

am

11.0

0am

11.3

0am

1.00

pmWalk, stroll 1,2 or 3 miles you choose the distance. Not wanting to or feel like walking the longer distances! Take part in an event that will be fun and also a bit of a challenge.

SundAy 21ST JuNE 2015 - HolyRood PARk EdinbuRGH

oRGANISEd BY

PND

especially during the birthing process. On the one hand, modern day fathers are expected to be part of the process both ante and post-natally, whilst on the other hand there is still a sense that men should be ‘protectors and providers’ - they should be the strong ones, taking care of the mother and children; and that somehow mothers know instinctively what to do.

Expectations often lie beneath postnatal depression. We can have high expectations of ourselves as people in the world, as parents, as employees, as partners, etc., as well as having high expectations of others. We will have formed ideas about what it will be like to be a parent, as well as expectations of our child. Children bring much chaos, messiness, and unpredictability with them. With an increasing amount of people postponing parenthood whilst they develop themselves and a career, expectations increase. It is certainly much more difficult to adapt to the loss of control and unpredictability that children bring, when as adults we have had a child-free decade or two. The disappointment caused by these unrealistic expectations involves loss and the need to form a new perspective. This takes time to process, and at a time when little time seems available.

Some of the losses, as well as the immediate loss of freedom, control, personal space, intimacy with partner, etc., involve losses that might have been long buried and unprocessed. Having a baby can remind a parent of their own childhood, of which none of us emerge unscathed. Parents usually want to do the best for their children. The birth of a baby can stir up old memories and issues that have been long unresolved. Whether it is a boy or a girl, the difference is significant. In some ways you gaze into your own face when you hold your baby in your arms. This can be terrifying, as well as amazing. Parents generally want to pass on healthy patterns and values to their children.

The depression that arises after the birth of a baby can be an opportunity to explore some of

these patterns, values, ways of being and seeing the world. Depression is the body working well, indicating that something needs attention. Most people who come to CrossReach Postnatal Depression Services in Edinburgh say on leaving that they are glad that they experienced postnatal depression as it presented them with the opportunity to look deeply at themselves,

to explore unhelpful ways of being, and to discover their sense of meaning, identity and more life-giving ways to be in the world. Any major crisis in life can offer us this opportunity – the birth of a baby is one of them.

The Postnatal Depression Services in Edinburgh have seen an increase in the

number of fathers attending the service over the past decade. As it is becoming more widely recognised that men as well as women will be affected with depression at this life-stage, it is becoming more acceptable for fathers to reach out for the support that is on offer. Sometimes this involves seeing couples together, or individually. At times it might involve another significant family member or an older child. Seeing the family as a system is an approach that over the years is recognised as a healthy way forward. When one member of a family is affected by postnatal depression, the whole family will be affected. Changes in patterns of thoughts, behaviour, attitudes, etc. need to be embraced by the whole family. Sometimes although the depression might show up in one family member, they may be carrying and expressing an issue that is part of the whole family system.

We have a duty to the next generation to pass on the best that we can. Mothers and fathers who are willing to look deeply at themselves are offering their children a gift for the future.

1. SIGN Publication No. 60, Postnatal Depression and Puerperal Psychosis (June 2002)

2. Paulson & Bazemore, East Virginia Medical School. Prenatal and Postpartum Depression in Fathers and Its Association With Maternal Depression: A Meta-analysis. JAMA, 2010; 303 (19): (May 2010)

3. Green J.M. Postnatal depression or perinatal dysphoria? Findings from a longitudinal community based study using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 16, (1) (1998)

You can love and want your child

and still experience the loss and grief involved

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CR0084

[email protected] 657 2000

www.crossreach.org.uk

‘Hush little baby...’

Postnatal Depression affects 1 in 10 Fathers

CrossReach Can Help

Please text: PNDS22 £5 to 70070to donate £5 to CrossReach’s Postnatal Depression Services

Dad's and PND.indd 1 16/03/2015 12:21:05


What do you do in your spare time?Karina: I don’t have much spare time; most of my life revolves around the children or the business, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I like to see friends as much as I can, but with lots of small children between us it’s not always easy. Lisa: Catching up with friends, having family time and chilling at Pilates. I have also been found treading the boards in the past!Niki: I love to snowboard with my family, three generations on the slopes together is great fun! I also love the sun and my favourite holiday destination is Ibiza, so many hidden gems far from the typical tourist parts of the island. I would love to launch Step It Up Dance there in the future! Rachael: Sundays are precious to us, that’s the only day we are all off together, so we typically bake, watch movies, go for a walk and generally eat a lot! I am a bit of a book worm, and I’ve also

joined a craft group where I pretend I know how to use a sewing machine.

What’s the hardest thing about being a self-employed mum?

Charlotte: It’s really hard to make time to see your girlfriends for a glass of wine, or even just a natter on the phone. I miss my friends.Karina: The guilt of thinking about the business even when you’re trying hard on spending quality time with your children. It’s really hard to switch off sometimes.Kim: Whether you work or run your own business, there is no easy or quick way to success and juggling family life. Sometimes work gets in the way of family life and sometimes family life gets in the way of work. I love both and wouldn’t have it any other way.

TUMS, MUMS & BABIES

& BABIESTums, MumsTums Mums & Babies is the new Edinburgh business collective and website showcasing the best in handpicked maternity, baby and pre-school services and classes in Edinburgh. MADE gets to know some of the mums working hard behind the scenes.

I’m Charlotte Thompson, mummy to Finlay (3) and Teddy (18 months) and wife to my hard working husband and business partner, Chris. We run The Pantry in Stockbridge and have recently started wholesaling cakes with our talented baker, Rosanna (www.rosycheeksforthepantry.com). I have also just launched tumsmumsandbabies.com.

Tums Mums and Babies is a business collective to provide mums, dads and caregivers a one-stop website for finding the best handpicked services, products and classes for their little ones.

Charlotte


Lisa: You feel guilty when you’re in the office and would rather be playing with your little one. However, being a working mum allows you to provide fun experiences too, so it makes family time that little bit more special. Rachael: It’s really hard to switch off as there is a constantly growing to-do list that needs attending. I get emails, texts, phone calls and messages at all times of day, and trying to juggle workload with family commitments can be challenging.Niki: Sleep deprivation and feeling guilty about working all the time. I have found both of these to be far worse since becoming self-employed.

What piece of advice would you give to a parent thinking about starting their own business?Charlotte: Be prepared to work when everyone else isn’t. Be prepared to work when your friends are cosying down on the sofa for the evening, or when you want to be playing with your bambinos. Karina: Make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. I only have two ‘work-days’ when my daughter is in nursery, the rest of the time I work when they are asleep at night. If you don’t love what you’re doing then it would be difficult to maintain for very long. Kim: Do a full business plan and get advice from family, friends and professionals. We started planning a year before our shop doors opened and we are still planning our next steps. Lisa: Do your research and don’t underestimate the commitment involved. Running your own

TUMS, MUMS & BABIES

I’m Karina Reinhardt and I own Turtle Tots Edinburgh and East Lothian. I’m from Dublin originally but have lived in Edinburgh for 14 years with my husband Robert and our two children, Darragh (5) and Aila (3).

Turtle Tots provides baby and toddler swimming classes across Edinburgh and East Lothian and aims to teach potentially life-saving swimming and water-safety skills in a fun way.

Karina

I’m Kim Duncan and I own Treehouse Childrenswear in Stockbridge with my sister Sophie McAllister. We set up shop in May 2012 and are approaching our 3rd birthday already! I have a little girl Emmeline who is 9 months, and yes I love dressing her up.

Treehouse Childrenswear delivers a head-to-toe service for babies and children, stocking the best ranges of clothing, footwear, books, toys, gifts and a unique hairdressing service under the one roof.

Kim


business is a fantastic feeling however I really believe you only get out of it what you put in. You have to love your product as it becomes a huge part of your life. Niki: In the words of Nike, just do it!Rachael: Invest in training and build a network of people in similar positions for advice and support. I train several times a year and it’s given me the confidence and skills to enter and win several awards.

What is your secret weapon?Charlotte: My iPhone. I work on the run most of the time. It doesn’t matter that it’s sticky from little fingers or that the screen is cracked from when Teddy dropped it or that all the apps (apart

TUMS, MUMS & BABIES

from emails and Facebook) are Fireman Sam or Peppa related!Karina: Lists. Lots and lots of lists. I am also very lucky to have a wonderful team working with me now. If you can find people you completely trust and are as passionate about things as you are then it makes life a LOT easier.Lisa: My husband – we really are a team! It can be tricky to juggle everything at times and having the support of your family is a must. The ‘occasional’ glass of wine can also help.Niki: My amazing team of teachers, they are fab!Rachael: My husband Thomas. It was his encouragement that gave me the confidence to set up my business four years ago and I literally couldn’t do it without him.

Lisa I’m Lisa Fleming, Principal of Monkey Music in Edinburgh South. I also sit on the board of Dads Rock, a local Edinburgh based charity. I have my own little monkey Cameron (2) and we stay in Colinton with my husband Euan. I bought my business franchise when Cameron was only 5 months old so it’s been a manic couple of years!Monkey Music offers a musical adventure for babies and toddlers; from a stimulating sensory experience to high energy singing, dancing and instrument playing.

I’m Niki Hutchison and I founded Step It Up Dance in 2012. I am Edinburgh born and bred and live here with my husband John and two kids Ian (10) and Anna (4).

Step It Up Dance is Edinburgh’s only urban dance school and provides unique classes and award-winning parties for healthy, happy kids. Step It Up Dance Glasgow launched at the start of the year and we are expanding into more areas of Scotland later in 2015.

Niki


If you had a time machine what would you use it for: Charlotte: I don’t think I would. I don’t have any regrets, just mistakes that I learned from. Although I might go back to the day I thought it was a good idea to see if baby Finlay liked this ‘Peppa Pig’ cartoon everyone talks about…BIG MISTAKE!Karina: I’d really like my dad to have met my children. He died just a few weeks before my son was born. Kim: Nothing. Things happen at that time for a reason, and I truly believe this. I am grateful for so much in my life.Niki: I would love to sneak in another night out with my husband (before he was my husband) when we were young and carefree!Rachael: To go back and photograph Lewis as a newborn, as he was born two years before I started photographing babies. I’d so love to have those images of him for our family albums.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without.... Charlotte: My kids’ grandparents. They are free and enthusiastic childcare and without them Chris and I would be scuppered! Karina: An incredibly supportive husband. He accepts that I pretty much never speak to him once the children are in bed and my computer is on; and he has never doubted that leaving my full-time job to pursue my business dream would be anything other than successful. Kim: My business partner and sister, Sophie. She does all the buying for the shop, is the main merchandiser and overall manager. She has an amazing work ethic and delivers outstanding service. Niki: My family who are so encouraging, I have so much support around me I’m very lucky.Rachael: My secret weapon! n

TUMS, MUMS & BABIES

Rachael

Sign up to Win!

I’m Rachael Lynch, owner and photographer at Beautiful Bairns photography. I have a gorgeous 6 year old son called Lewis with my husband Thomas.

Beautiful Bairns specialises in photographing newborn babies but I also photograph bumps, older babies, children and families. I’m known for my wiggly bottom dance to put little ones at ease and to tease genuine smiles and giggles out of them!

To celebrate the launch of Tums Mums & Babies there’s a £25 voucher to spend in Treehouse Childrenswear up for grabs! To be in with a chance of winning simply sign up to the website and you’ll go into the draw. www.tumsmumsandbabies.com

Award winning music classes for babies & young childrenEDINBURGH NORTHT: 0131 260 9667 E: [email protected]

EDINBURGH SOUTHT: 0131 441 4581 E: [email protected]

Group discounts for NCT members when 3+ people join together at the same time.

made MAY / JUNE 2015 57 www.mademagazine.co.uk56

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5. ‘CHEERS’ KEYRING - £3.50

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health

M um and dad give me my morning routine pictures so I don’t get confused. It’s happened a few times

before; I’ve gone outside in the rain without my clothes on because I don’t always remember how to do things in the right order. We all have breakfast. Mine is soggy and soft. That’s the way I like it. I don’t like brushing my teeth. I don’t understand what I am supposed to do. Dad is driving us to school today. He is shouting at me and my fingers are all wrinkly from playing with the water. I enjoy it so much that I forget about

the time. I’ve started biting my fingers. I don’t mean to be late or naughty.

My sister and I wait outside for dad to open the car. I whisper to myself, ‘Quiet, quiet.’ The cat, Bruno, three houses down the street, is meowing – it is too noisy for me. Nobody else seems to notice. I’m hitting my head. It’s so noisy. We are late for school. That’s good. It is quieter now the kids have stopped running and shouting.

School is fine when I have someone to help me. I need to know what tasks I am supposed to do, how much time I have, what I am doing after

ANOTHER DAY IN MY

Autistic World

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that. Maths and computers are my favourite. I need help with reading. I can’t see the letters properly, they jump and move; and my head is sore. I am shaking and rocking and whispering to myself. Everyone is looking at me.

Break time is the worst. I don’t know what to do. Other kids have friends, they laugh and play games. I want to do that too but I don’t know how to. Others think I am odd. I don’t understand their jokes. My teacher tried to explain but I don’t get it. It is too noisy at break time. I can’t focus on anything else.

Mum comes to pick us up. We are taking the bus home but it is late. I can’t cope with that. It should be on time, that’s

what is written on the timetable. I know the bus timetable cover to cover. The bus is too noisy and smelly. There are too many people I do not know. Someone is sitting on MY seat. A woman is saying something. I don’t understand a word she is saying because her voice is too squeaky. I

am getting all wound up again. I have started twitching. Mum is telling me that it is ok.

We are walking up the street. Bruno is meowing again three houses up the street. Nobody else can hear him. It has been a long day. I am losing myself. I head butted my sister, she is crying, mum is cuddling her. I don’t like cuddles.

How would you feel getting up every day knowing you can’t communicate your thoughts, express your feelings or ask for things to fulfil your needs? How would you feel if you knew your child was going through this; has sensory difficulties and self-harms? This could be an ordinary day for a child on the autism spectrum. Although every child is different and most of the issues can be resolved, it is a complex process that can take some time. It is mixture of putting strategies in place, having knowledge of different approaches, informing people, working with trained professionals and developing autism awareness. For help, support and expert childcare contact Nanny & Therapist, Suzie Repova of Zuni Autism. n

I am shaking and rocking and

whispering to myself. Everyone is looking at me

“

”

Autism Early Intervention|

Suzie RepovaNanny - Therapist

Tel: 0792 282 4758E: [email protected]/zuniautism

Pentland Grove HouseSea�eld Moor Road

RoslinMidlothian, EH25 9RQ

Enabling parents and children

Pentland Grove HouseSeafield Moor RoadRoslin, Midlothian

EH25 9RQ

Tel: 0792 282 4758E: suzie.repka @hotmail.com

Facebook/zuniautism

Autism Early Intervention

Suzie Repova

Nanny - Therapist

Enabling parents

and children


sport

W e all know how important swimming is, but unfortunately approximately 40% of children leaving primary

school still cannot swim. It doesn’t just save lives; when they’re little it gives parent and child some important bonding time. And according to recent studies it accelerates physical, intellectual and emotional development too. Confusingly there’s lots of swimming myths out there, so how do you know what’s best for you and your child? Here are the most common myths we hear.

1. You need to wait until your baby is inoculatedNHS guidelines have recently changed. You don’t need to wait until your child has had their first immunisations before taking them swimming. Pools abide by strict chlorine and PH levels ensuring they are very safe and should all be within national temperature guidelines of 29 – 32oC, as all Edinburgh Leisure pools are. Also babies are, quite literally, born to swim. In

the first six months of life they have primitive reflexes inherited in the womb which tells them instinctively how to move in the water. So it’s the ideal time to get them in the pool.

2. All teachers are qualified, otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to teachScarily this isn’t the case. Always ask your swim provider what qualifications their teachers have. Teachers need to be good with kids and passionate about swimming and also be Level 2 UKCC qualified. This is the standard nationally recognised qualification for sports teachers. A Level 2 swim teacher is trained to plan, deliver and evaluate a plan of lessons in a safe, effective and enjoyable environment. They should also continue to develop professionally through training. A Level 1 UKCC teacher should only assist a Level 2 teacher.

And to ensure safety, either the teachers should have a lifeguard or rescue qualification or there should be a lifeguard on poolside at all times.

By Debra Taylor & Louise Findlay, Swimming Education Co-ordinators, Edinburgh Leisure


5 Swimming Myths Busted


3. The swim school must be approved by someoneAgain, not the case. Ask if they have ‘SwiMark’ which means they are accredited by the national governing body, Scottish Swimming. SwiMark means they deliver quality lessons based on the Scottish Swimming Pathway run by fully qualified teachers that keep their knowledge and skills up to date in a safe and appropriate environment.

4. It’s better when the teacher’s in the waterNot necessarily. Governing bodies recommend a ratio of no more than 12 learners to a lesson, with the teacher usually running the lessons from the poolside. This is to ensure the teacher has a safe view of all children in the water and can clearly see their technique, and the child spends as much time as possible actually swimming.

5. They can stop when they know how to swimWell they can, but building water confidence is key for children’s safety, whatever their age. It doesn’t have to be lessons, there’s lots of fun things to do in the water from water polo to synchronised swimming, diving to just having fun with most pools running regular family fun sessions. Swimming is great exercise and great fun, whatever your age! n

By Debra Taylor & Louise Findlay, Swimming Education Co-ordinators, Edinburgh Leisure



Stacey Solomon’s long-awaited debut album ‘Shy’ was released in April, six years since she burst onto the scene on the 2009 X Factor. Since then she’s been bringing up her two boys, winning I’m A Celebrity in 2010, and recently competing in The Jump. She’s also been concentrating on getting her first album just right. Stacey talks to MADE about motherhood and music.

GIRLShy


Balancing career and motherhood is tricky. How do you manage it?

I’m just the same as any other mum; my kids are my priority. Nothing is more important to me than them. I’m lucky to be surrounded by a very supportive family network who help me with the kids when I need them, but I try to be there for them at every step along the way. What did you learn from X Factor?

I learned on the X Factor to enjoy each and every moment, and to seize every opportunity. I try to live by that principle every day. I’m excited to be finally releasing an album over which I’ve had a great deal of control. I’m thankful to the record label for that. I can’t wait for people to hear it. I’m so proud of it!

Which other singers do you admire?

Someone who has been amazing to me is Dannii Minogue. She has always looked out for me since we were on The X Factor. Anytime I do anything she drops me a text to show her support. She is so lovely!

Are you shy?

I am so shy! I may not seem it because I can be outspoken and outgoing, but that is just a front to cover my shyness. I have learnt to use it in my career rather than run from it, so I don’t think it has really affected my career.

INTERVIEW

Would you be happy if your boys wanted to be singers?

I would encourage my boys to do anything they want to do. I don’t care if they end up as a bus driver, accountant, doctor or performer. I just want them to be happy. They do love to sing; they sing along to everything, but they are currently tone deaf!

Have you ever been to Edinburgh? I have! It is an amazing city! I hope I can visit on my tour later in the year. MADE’s editor recently had her second son - any tips for her as a mum of two boys?

Make sure she makes time for each of her boys - quality time with kids is so important.

What is your ‘sanity saver’ when it comes to parenthood?Support from my family and friends. I lean on them always. n

Follow Stacey’s career and download Shy…www.staceyxsolomon.comwww.twitter.com/StaceySolomon www.facebook.com/StaceySolomon

Find out more..

Enjoy each and every moment, and seize every

opportunity

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Have you got great photos from an event you’d like

to share with MADE readers? If so, email them to us at

[email protected]

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1. Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution helping young people and their families seek help before it reaches crisis point through the national Stop Talk Listen campaign.

2. Little Harrison helping the Daisy Foundation Edinburgh East celebrate their first birthday.

3. SKFF mascot PJ Bear met with Edinburgh Capitals mascot Paws at a recent charity ice hockey match organised by Police Scotland.

4. BabyComm Signing- building good communication skills in your little one.

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7. Little Monkeys graduating up to the next class at Monkey Music Edinburgh South.

8. Nicole and Hilda from Gymboree Edinburgh enjoying a recent charity day

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5. Two little Madsurfers enjoying the kids’ activity zone at Madsurf pop-up event in East Lothian.

6. Young Alex Fyfe kindly collected over 500 Easter eggs to cheer up patients, families and staff over the Easter weekend.

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Jojo!Trust

AGONY AUNT

I’ve just taken 8 flights in 11 days, and I kid you not when I say that every single flight had a screaming child! Now I have had enough children to know that loud crying in any circumstance is unpleasant, but when confined in a long metal tube it is positively unbearable. My sympathy lies with the person having to deal with said child, and it never helps to have a stranger roll their eyes and tut furiously. So it was on flight number 8 I took rather drastic measures when a mother had paced the aisles for nearly 2 hours to no avail to soothe a hysterical child. A man across from me was trying to engage me in his fury of being distracted from his Times crossword. I offered to take the puce bundle of tears and let the mother have a break, which she quite surprisingly let me do. So I sat with a wriggly eel on my lap being stared at maniacally by Times-crossword man, and with a streak of naughtiness in my veins decided to engage him in a game of peek-a-boo. It was quite the sight, and one in which I think he is possibly still cursing me for now. The child stopped crying. That was until I handed her back to her mother; well you can’t choose your family.

Got a child related problem and need some advice? Look no further! Comedian, JoJo Sutherland, is on hand to help. Send your problems to [email protected]

@jojosutherlandwww.jojosutherland.co.uk

My daughter is getting picked on at nursery, should I say something to the parents?Lucy, Gorgie

Dear LucyI remember my youngest at nursery had trouble with a couple of bullies called Mel and Sam. When I went to discuss the various tales of woe that had been reported to me about stealing toys or not letting her play in the sandpit, it transpired that there was no Mel and Sam registered at the nursery. So my first bit of advice would be to check with the nursery teacher that they do actually exist, and if that is the case then let the nursery sort it out. Talking to other parents about the possible bad behaviours of their child is never advised unless you are looking for a fight of your own!

Jojo

Jojo!


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MADE (Mums and Dads Edinburgh) May/June 2015