Edinburgh Issue 57 1-17.pdf - Families Online

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Ages 6 months - 5 years 

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FREE 

ISSUE 57 

November/December 

2009 

www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Email - editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk Tel. 0131 622 0405 

® 

Cover Picture www.picturehousestudios.co.uk

2 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 57 

What’s 

Inside... 

Welcome! 

This issue brings you the 

best of Christmas in Edinburgh 

for you and your family - Santas, Pantos, 

Parties and Presents! 

Page 2 – 5 News and Views 

Page 6 Autism and Early Years 

By Ruth Glynne-Owen 

Page 7 – 9 Clubs and Classes News 

Page 10 – 11 Booking a Family Holiday 

Page 12 Homeopathy and Fertility 

By Elizabeth Biagi 

Page 13 Had a baby? How was it for you? 

By Mathilde Peace 

Page 13 Parent to Parent 

Page 14 – 15 Think Outside The Box 

By Joanna Moorhead 

Page 16 – 17 Book Reviews 

Page 18 A Guide to Avoiding the Christmas Hype! 

By Sarah-Ann Askew 

Page 19 Gingerbread Lantern Recipe 

Page 20 – 21 Get Christmas All Wrapped Up! 

Essential gift guide 

Page 22 – 25 Local Christmas Shopping and Events 

Page 26 Oh No It Isn’t – Oh Yes It Is! 

Panto guide 

Page 27 – 31 Out and About 

Our amazing cover this issue was taken by Louisa Macdonell of PictureHouse Studios. 

They have a great Christmas Special Offer: Save £200.00! Book a Luxury Prints Package 

and get our Huge Canvas Half Price. See www.picturehousestudios.co.uk for details. 

Louisa Macdonell, PictureHouse Studios, 2 Swanfield, (off Bonnington Road) 

Edinburgh, EH6 5RX, 0131 553 1177 

Contact Information: Sarah Adair Editor 

Families Edinburgh, PO Box 23802, Edinburgh EH7 4XL 

0131 622 0405 

editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk

news&views 

Now at Zanzero you can enjoy delicious, moist, fresh fruit filled homemade cupcakes! 

Does life get any better than this? 

Show up for a on the spot treat or feel free to call ahead and place an order. Their beautiful 

handmade Cup Cakes are made fresh every day using the very best ingredient. Cup Cakes 

are available in to order. All special occasions catered for office parties, weddings, baby 

showers, children's birthday parties. 

All come beautifully gift boxed complete with ribbon for that extra special touch! 

They donate 10 pence from the sale of each Cup Cake to one of their selected charities. 

Centotre's selected charity is 500 Miles who provide invaluable support to amputees and 

other disabled people in Malawi and Zambia in Africa. 

Zanzero's selected charity is Teenage Cancer Trust, who are making a diference to the lives 

of teenagers fighting cancer in Scotland. 

www.thecupcakecaffe.com Zanzero 14/16 North West Circus Place, Stockbridge 

Ravelston Park 

A disused and potholed tennis court in Ravelston Park has become a fantastic refurbished 

multi-use games court, thanks to campaigning by a group of local teenagers. 

The rejuvenated ball court has been resurfaced, with new goalposts and basketball hoops 

installed, following a plea made by the youngsters to the Craigleith/Blackhall Community 

Council nearly two years ago. 

Their prayers were answered earlier this year when the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace 

Trust was awarded £100k funding from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental), to deliver 

a suite of projects to improve opportunities for play and outdoor activities for young people, 

and Ravelston Park was one of the sites chosen to benefit. 

Mike Snell, general manager of external affairs at Waste Recycling Group, said: “We and 

our friends at WREN are committed to supporting projects that have a real impact on 

communities and we’re delighted that this funding award has benefited the young people 

living around Ravelston Park. Play facilities are such an important part of building 

community spirit and can really help families build connections and friendships in their 

neighbourhood.” www.elgt.org.uk www.wren.org.uk 

Pilates Place 

The Pilates Placehas certainly 

had a busy year! Having spent 

a successful year at their old 

premises in Jamaica Street, it 

became c lear th at t hey w ere 

fast out growing the studio and 

needed to find “pastures new.” 

And “ pastures n ew” w ere 

certainly found! Their new 

studio is set in a q uiet 

picturesque mews in the heart 

of Leith, and has a lovely airy 

feel. They are pleased to 

introduce the first, fully 

equipped Pilates and Matwork 

Studio to this area of the City. 

As an added bonus, Linda Dixon 

has been appointed by Body 

Control P ilates, t o b ecome 

Scotland’s first and only Student 

Support T eam Supervising 

Teacher. This i s a ma ssive 

breakthrough for future student teachers, bringing many more courses into Scotland. 

The Leith studio will certainly put Edinburgh on the Pilates map. 

The Pilates Place are delighted to offer a 10% discount for early booking of January matwork 

classes (commencing January 11th 2010). However, as these places are limited, classes 

must be booked before December 20th 2009. 

They will also be offering Edinburgh’s first Wunda Chair group class. The Wunda Chair will 

help you sculpt your legs, arms, buttocks and thighs while toning your abs with every move 

you make. Spring yourself into the New Year by contacting the studio for information about 

technique classes and term details. 

Contact: 0131 555 6423 Website: thepilatesplace.org.uk 

Terms and conditions apply; voucher must be redeemed within 3 months and must be produced upon 

booking the Matwork Course. 

3 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 57


news&views 

The "Sherlock" violin was created earlier 

this year by Edinburgh violin make r Steve 

Burnett ( www.burnettviolins.co.uk) to 

mark the 150th anniversar y of Sir Arthur 

Conan Doyle’s birth. The violin was made 

from an old sycamore tree (which Conan 

Doyle climbed as a boy) that stood until the 

beginning of 2009 in the garden of Conan 

Doyle’s Edinburgh childhood home, 

Liberton B ank H ouse, n ow D unedin 

School. The aim of the "Sherlock" violin is 

to s upport (t hrough c oncerts) l ocal a nd 

international children’s and environmental 

charities and organisations. "A CONCERT FOR THE SEA" Celebrating the 150th 

anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In support of the marine conservation society 

. 7.30pm Friday 27th November 2009. Greyfriars Kirk. Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) 

available from the Usher Hall: 228 1155 or www.usherhall.co.uk 

Childminders 

People from all walks of life decide to become childminders as it gives them the chance 

to run their own business to suit their family commitments. 

Perhaps you are a parent looking for a career to fit around your own children…or maybe 

you just love the idea of a career that focuses on giving children the best start in life. 

You don’t need to have a fancy house – just common sense and somewhere safe to care 

for children. Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) will support you and provide the 

necessary information, guidance and training to set you on your w ay to becoming a 

childminder. The next Childminding Information Session will be held at: Blackhall Library, 

Monday 9th November 2009. 10.15 am – 11.30 am. All welcome! 

For more information contact: Steff Kaye on 0131 667 9666 or Isobel Lindsay 

on 0131 312 6821 

Congratulations 

Congratulations to Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School student Olga Alapiki who achieved 

one of the highest marks in the UK for GCSE Chemistry. 

Olga scored full marks (400 out of a possible 400 marks) 

when she sat her Chemistry exam earlier this year. 

Blooming Vanilla Bloom 

Vanilla Bloom, William S treet’s o ne-stop-shop a nd 

boutique shopping experience for maternity, children and 

baby clothing, accessories and gifts, is under new 

management. 

Working mums and young entrepreneurs Clare Marshall 

and Etta Dunsmure, have taken over the thriving business 

and have plans to branch out with new online gifting and 

unveil a nursery interiors service later in the year. 

For more infor mation on the gorgeous brands 

available for parents, parents-to-be and children up 

to age four visit www.vanillabloom.com 

We now offer additional specialist treatment in: 

• Women's health physiotherapy 

• Ante natal & post natal issues 

• Weak bladders • Bladder and bowel incontinence 

• Pelvic floor rehabilitation 

• Post operative urological surgery 

• Men's health issues • Chronic pelvic pain syndrome. 

Opening hours Monday Friday 6am - 8pm, Saturday 8 am - 12am. 

10 Comely Bank Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 1EL 0131 332 8698 

The “Sherlock” violin Maddie & Mark’s Shoes 

Ever wondered what you could do with your old worn 

shoes? No matter how well used they are, Maddie and 

Mark's Shoes at Bruntsfield and Blackhall collect all worn 

shoes - childrens and adults. By recycling your unwanted 

shoes you are reducing landfill and supporting families in Africa, Eastern 

Europe and other third world countries where people of all ages cannot afford new shoes. 

Maddie and Mark's Shoes work with two Scottish based charities. 500 miles sends shoes 

out to children who have artificial limbs and need wider fitting shoes to accommodate their 

prosthetics. Nathans Wastesavers sends shoes all over the world to families and individuals 

who are unable to buy shoes. Don't worry if you think your shoes are too worn, Nathans 

Wastesavers will strip the shoes that can't be sent and will recycle the materials. They 

may even be turned into wiper cloths! The team at Maddie and Mark's will sort out the 

shoes for you so please bring all sorts - Grannies, Aunties, Daddies, anyone - they all count! 

To find our more information then please pop in to a Maddie and Mark's Shoes 

shop at 205 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh or 1 Craigcrook Place, Edinburgh. For 

more information on the charities, please log on to 

www.nathanswastesavers.co.uk and www.500miles.co.uk. 

Women to get paid for their thoughts 

A new website has just launched - www.powderroomgraffiti.com - that actually pays 

women, even those who don’t regard themselves as professional writers, for their articles. 

Women can submit their articles and views to the site and see them published providing 

they get through the rigorous editorial process. The aim is to offer readers a different 

experience, moving away from celebrity chat, weight issues and armchair psychology. 

PowderRoomGraffiti will cover more sensitive and quirky issues - embarrassing moments 

in a yoga class, for example, cycling to work or arranging a funeral for someone you 

didn’t get on with when they were alive and well. Clare Taylor, a ‘Graffiti Artist’, is very 

happy to have been given a chance “to express myself outside the world of 'Mummydom' 

and to experience writing to someone else's guidelines. Plus, I get paid to do so, 

which is always motivating for a writer! As a blogger I have plenty of opportunity to write, 

but since mine is a parenting blog, it's 'all about the kids'. PowderRoomGraffiti allows 

me to write editorially on all sorts of things that interest or concern me.” 

FREE Career Development Workshop - 

‘How to get Ahead’ 

Identifying Transferable Skills, Self-marketing and Networking 

Saturday 14th November, 10am – 3.30pm, Lunch included. 

GradSpace, Student Association Building, Glasgow Caledonian University 

Trainer: Sam Pringle, BeeLeaf Consulting 

**Travel costs and childcare reimbursed but you must have receipts! ** 

EVENT PROGRAMME 

What am I good at? What motivates me? What work environments do I thrive in? 

What transferable skills can I add to my CV and explain at interviews? 

Marketing yourself on paper and at interview (practise STAR technique to give 

evidence of your skills and practise selling those skills) 

Job seeking strategies and Identifying job leads 

Learn to network : useful tips followed by an interactive session 

If you have any queries about the event please contact Catherine Gauld, Events 

Assistant at src@napier.ac.uk or 0131 455 5137

news&views 

Doodles 10th Birthday Bash Sunday 20th Dec..... 

Every thing a Tenner Day!! 

That’s right all pottery items £10 whatever the size while stock lasts. There will also be 

cake, mince pies and mulled wine all day. Also from 4pm onwards resident 

singer/songwriter and Doodles staff member extraordinaire Andi Neat will provide 

fantastic music while you paint! (Her newest album will also be a great stocking filler!!) 

Please call 0131 229 1399 to book your place. 

Playgroups 

St. Fillan’s Playgroup is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 

9.15am – 11.45am. Places are available for children from 2 to 5 years old and can 

be booked from your child’s first birthday. St. Fillan’s offers a safe, happy and friendly 

environment f or children to l earn through free play and social interaction. 

For all enquiries or to book your child’s place contact: 07790 067927 during 

playgroup hours or email st.fillansplaygroup@hotmail.com 

St. Fillan’s Playgroup, 8 Buckstone Drive, Edinburgh, EH10 6PD 

Juniper Green Nursery Playgroup runs every morning during term time between 

9.15am and 12.00 noon at Juniper Green Village Hall, Juniper Park Road. If you are 

interested in your child attending please contact us on 0131 453 4427 to arrange a 

visit. We are holding a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday 28th November from 3pm to 

5pm with lots to do for all ages, including the raffle, tombola, home baking, second 

hand stall, win it or bin it, lucky dip, Christmas shopping and much, much more. Entry 

is £2.50 for children including a visit to Sa nta's Grotto and £1 for adults, including 

refreshments. 

Based at Marchmont St Giles Church on Kilgraston Road, Marchmont 

Playgroup is great fun for any 2 1/4 - 4 year old! It’s open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays 

and Thursdays from 9.30 am - 12 midday, providing your child with a safe, friendly 

and vibrant environment in which to develop. The playgroup offers a wide variety of 

things for your child to do such as arts and crafts, story telling, outdoor activities plus 

it encourages both independent and structured play. 

If you are interested in more information, then please e-mail the playgroup at 

marchmontplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk or alternatively pop in to the playgroup 

and ask for Donna. 

PLAYGROUPS: If you run a loc al playgroup and w ould like to featur e in the 

January/February issue of Families Edinburgh please email a small paragraph 

to me at editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk . 

Chris Sutherland 

Chris Sutherland is an expe rienced, 

enthusiastic family portrait photographer 

who will capture your magical moments in 

a relaxed and fun manner. 

A combination of a genuine passion for 

photography and a love of working with 

children and families allow Chris to capture 

images that reflect the essence of each family he works with. From classic to 

contemporary, fun to formal, Chris offers a wide selection of styles to suit every taste. 

Chris is offering a 10% discount to families booking sessions before the 10th December 

2009. These sessions take place either in your own home or in a location of your choice. 

Book now to have photographs ready in time for a very special and personal Christmas 

present. To make an appointment please contact Chris on 07766 316651 

or email him at suthie@suthie.com 

NEXT ISSUE 

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 

The Great Big Party Guide 

If you offer children’s parties, make birthday 

cakes, entertain or even all three then this is the 

issue you need to be in! 

Bookings being taken now until 

Monday 7 December 

Call: 0131 622 0405 

Email: editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk 

Never miss an issue. Subscribe for £12 per year (6 

issues). Send your name and address with a cheque 

made payable to “Families Edinburgh” for £12. 

Desperately seeking…..franchisee in scotland! 

Musical Minis need to find franchisees throughout Scotland to meet the demand of 

parents, especially in Edinburgh & Glasgow. Enquiries are received on a daily basis by 

head office from families looking for local Musical Minis classes to take their babies and 

toddlers to. 

Musical Minis has been operating since 1990 in North West London. It was established 

so that pre-school children (from birth) could enjoy and participate in music at an early 

stage in their development. Its format was crea ted by Karen Sherr and Patricia Elson. 

Karen, who has an Honours Degree in Psychology, was a play specialist at Great Ormond 

Street Children's Hospital. Patricia is a nurser y school Head Teacher with over twenty 

years experience. 

Claire Clint is the Regional Manager for Scotland and will recruit and train new franchisees 

and will offer ongoing support to them as they develop their franchise area. Claire said 

“I started my Musical Minis franchise together with my mum in 2005 after looking for a 

music group to take my daughter to. I wanted to find a group with the right balance 

between child development and fun. As soon as I visited my first Musical Minis class in 

London I knew that I had found what I was looking for. My mum and I quickly decided 

to buy a franchise and bring Musical Minis to Scotland and we are so proud to be 

celebrating 5 years in business in 2010.” 

Musical Minis is looking for outgoing, lively people with good organisational skills, 

preferably, but not essentially, with experience of working with young children. Whilst it 

may help, you do not need to have a good singing voice nor do you have to be able to 

play a musical instrument. 

If you would be interested in becoming a fr anchisee for Musical Minis you can 

contact Claire Clint on 01563 520005 or email Scotland@musicalminis.co .uk 

alternatively contact Karen Sherr on 020 8868 0001. 

Nearly New Sale 

Saturday 7th November 2009. 2.00 - 3.00 pm 

The Corn Exchange, Haddington. Admission: £1 per adult 

For the sale of children's clothes, baby clothes, toys, books, videos, CDs, DVDs, 

videos, nursery equipment, maternity wear & prams 

For further details visit www.ncteastlothian.org.uk 

® 


AUTISM 

Facts 

• Children with Autism can display challenging behaviour from a young age due to a lack of effective 

tools of communication that a neurotypical child would develop naturally. It is essential then to intervene 

and give a child an effective means of communication in their ear ly years so that they can start to 

interact with their world, their peers and make their basic needs and wants known to those around 

them. 

• Children with Autism can also become fixed on one particular routine, object or interest. It is essential 

in the early years to give a child opportunities and support to widen their interests, routines and play 

skills to help them to be able to cope with change. 

• Children with Autism can find it difficult to understand the social world and will need support in order 

to begin to interact appropriately with adults a nd peers. This can be taught effectively through play 

based activities in small groups and 1 to 1 play sessions with plenty of opportunities for interac tion 

throughout the child’s routine.. 

Early Intervention 

One truth however that goes across the spectrum is that early intervention is both effective and necessary. 

It is not enough to focus on and accept what a child can’t do. Instead, it is fundamental to identify the 


AND EARLY YEARS: 

the Importance of Intervention 

What is Autism? 

Autism is a pe rvasive developmental disorder which has multiple causes and affects all aspects of an individual’s development. 

It can be most evident in communication delay or difficulties, social understanding and interaction skills and flexibility of routine and 

interests. It is a spectrum disorder and can present in numerous different ways dependant on the individual concerned. Autism is not 

a ‘one size fits a ll’ description of a person’s ability or disability and personality and individualit y is of great importanc e when looking 

at effective ways to support children on the spectrum. 

JM HOMECARE 

Do you require care or 

support within your own 

home or have a friend or 

family member who does? 

JM Homecare provides a fully registered Care at Home Service 

to help those who require independence at home. 

All our staff are included on a full training programme and 

are checked with the police and Social Service. 

•Personal Care •Domestic Chores •Shopping 

•Outings •Overnight Care •Companionship 

Let JM Homecare provide a flexible package to allow you or 

your loved ones remain at home and be treated with dignity 

and respect. 

Contact Sandra Pearson on 0131 660 2891. 

Current Climate and Future Plans 

There is currently very little on offer in the way of services to provide and 

support e arly inter vention for preschool children with Autism. Local 

authorities do provide some level of service, but this is often limited by time 

and staffing constraints. The Scottish Government does not c urrently 

recognise autism and early inter vention as a priority. We are hoping that 

will change. We are in the process of setting up an early year’s service and 

preschool provision for children with Autism in Edinburgh. It will be set up 

as a not for profit organisation and will cater for children aged between 2.5 

and 5 years old. It will provide an intensive early inter vention programme 

within a preschool setting for up to 6 children per session. Children will be 

supported 1:1 to access small group situations and work on individualised 

targets. The preschool will be run by myself, and a number of other key 

professionals experienced in Autism including speech and language 

therapists and a psychologist. We are also going to provide a post diagnosis 

information service to recently diagnosed families, and a home support 

service as an addition or an alternative to the preschool provision where 

needed. 

Within a ll of this we a re looking to lobby the government for policy 

development in this area and hope to ensure that early inter vention is 

regulated, quality assured, at least partially funded and most of all available 

to those that need it. 

For anyone interested in finding out more either about the 

campaign or the preschool please email me on 

earlyintervention@rocketmail.com 

issues for each child as early as possible, working to design and implement individualised interventions 

that will build on existing strengths and develop identified weaknesses. There are a range of approaches 

to intervention marketed for children with Autism, and it is difficult for parents to make an informed 

choice between all the various methods that claim to be the ‘best’. I always tell parents to go with their 

heart and never commit finance or time to something unless they are one hundred per cent sure it is 

right f or t heir c hild a nd t he f amily. H owever, w hether i ntervention i s i ntensive, t herapeutic o r 

communication based it has to be designed around the individual. A child should never be made to fit 

an approach; methods should be adapted, added to or edited to suit the personality of each child. 

Research 

About the author - Ruth Glynne-Owen. 

Although research claims to show the effectiveness of some interventions over others, in reality the small Having worked as a teacher for over 10 years in the fields of both 

scale of these studies does little to prove the overall benefits for the range of needs on the spectrum. mainstream and special education I set up my own independent 

Instead of using a ‘one size fits all approach’, intervention should be child led and child centred. Most of consultancy and support ser vice, specialising in Autism and Early 

all it should be designed to assist a child to lead as comfortable and happy a life as possible. Intervention in 2007. I now work with families across the UK, from 

As the majority of children with an autism diagnosis have some form of communication difficulty, the 

most effective early intervention must include a communication enabling approach. This will support 

the child to use one or more effective means of communication. It also needs to focus on developing 

interaction with adults and peers through play based and therapeutic approaches, using non verbal 

as well as verbal interaction and fun activities to develop joint attention and sharing. 

Southampton to Aberdeen. Having completed an MA in Autism and 

Education at Northumbria in 2006 I am now in the second year of my 

Doctorate in Education at Edinburgh University, and am planning to write 

my thesis on the impact of early intervention for young children with Autism; 

focussing on the experiences of children and families at our specialist 

nursery provision when it is set up next year. 

Autism 

Support Service 

Early Intervention advice and support; post diagnosis 

information; educational assessment; communication 

intervention; home intervention; 1:1 sessions.... 

Independent autism advice and consultancy service 

run by qualified early year’s teacher with MA in 

Autism and Education. 

Providing 1:1 play sessions, assessments and tailor 

made home intervention programmes. 

Experienced and qualified in a range of methods and 

approaches. 

www.autismsupportservice.co.uk 

email: ruthglynneowen@googlemail.com

clubs&classesnews 

LOOK WHO’S 

TALKING 

Talking Tots is a new pre-school activity group that helps 

children to communicate with confidence. The company 

was created by Tracey Park and Lisa Houghton, two 

experienced paediatric speech and language therapists. 

New research shows that almost half of all children arriving at primar y school 

don’t have the communication skills they need to learn effectively . Common 

problems include children who can’t speak clearly and audibly, or children who 

struggle to listen to instructions or take part in group conversations. The good 

news is that it’s possible to boost your child’s c ommunication skills and social 

confidence through the right combination of encouragement, play and practice. 

At Talking Tots, children take part in fun, interactive games and activities that 

build important communication skills such as telling stories, taking turns in a 

group and listening to instructions. The classes also help children to become 

more aware of sounds and words, which will help when your child learns to read. 

This programme lays the foundation for formal learning and in many instances intelligent children who just could not process 

information properly, develop and hone their sk ills to enable them to move forward significantly , in 

effect re-training their brain. Fast ForWord offers this opportunity in a systematic method structured 

to ensure progression and achievement for the learner. All results are remotely monitored. Having a 

wealth of experience in learning and teaching I can ensure my clients can be supported and guided to achieve the most from the programme. 

Fast ForWord helps lear ning difficulties that ar e language based: Dyslexia * Struggling Readers and Lear ners * Aspergers * Auditory 

processing disorders * Autistic spectrum disorder * Attention Deficit Disorder & ADHD 

Fast ForWord offers computer based educational software programmes that are curriculum aligned. These programmes are scientifically designed for those 

with learning difficulties. Based on over 30 years of research and used in over 40 countries. 

Many of the technologies incorporated into the family of software programmes are patented which makes it unique both in its delivery and its success. 

For more info or to register your interest in attending an information evening call Karen 07833930714 or email Karen@kb-insights.co.uk 

Artistic Director Julie Mitchell, LRAD, ARAD, AISTD 

Examiner of The Royal Academy of Dance 

EDINBURGH DANCE ACADEMY 

Branches throughout Edinburgh 

and East Lothian 

EDINBURGH DANCE ACADEMY 

Edinburgh's Premier Dance School 

* Ballet * Jazz * Modern * Tap * Drama * Singing 

A caring environment where pupils achieve their highest potential. 

See us in the Pantomime at The Kings Theatre. 

EXAM RESULTS 

100% PASS RATE 

Talking Tots top tips 

0131 337 3402 

www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk 

4-6 Coltbridge Ave, Edinburgh, EH12 6AH 

• Chatter matters! From an early age, tell your baby what you’re doing, whether 

it’s changing his nappy or making his supper. But don’t forget to leave room 

for him to answer you, even if it’s just with a gurgle for now. 

• Read as much as you can. Books and stories help build your child’s vocabulary 

and if Mum and Dad can join in with silly voices and sound effects, it will 

encourage your little one to try out new sounds too. 

• Be descriptive. If your child points to a tree, talk about how big it is, what colour 

it is, what sound its making. Help your child to learn how to describe the world 

around them. 

• Don’t correct children’s speech. Don’t tell your child when she gets something 

wrong, but don’t use baby talk yourself. Instead, use the co rrect words and 

gradually she will begin to copy you. 

• Play games. Simple games such as “I spy” will help your child become aware 

of sounds, which will help him later on, when he learns to read. 

Classes are open to children from 12 months to five years of age and will run on Wednesdays in Comely Bank, Thursdays in Fairmi lehead and Saturdays in Murrayfield. 

Classes t end t o f ill u p f ast, s o pa rents a re a dvised t o r eserve t heir p lace s oon t o a void m issing o ut! To do this contact Fiona on 07824 980943 or 

email fiona@talkingtots.info Further information on Talking Tots is also available at www.talkingtots.info 

FAST FORWORD 

Having worked in education for over 20 years I continue to encounter many children 

experiencing learning difficulties. In my own research into inter vention strategies 

I discovered Fast ForWord, based on leading edge neuroscience. 



Edinburgh/Lothians 0131 228 1144 Fife 01383 62 45 99 Central 0845 643 2823 

Edinburgh East - Jo - 01875 819966 

Classes 

Morningside, Marchmont, Haddington, Fairmilehead Monday to 

Edinburgh West - Julia - 0131 444 2444 

Saturday 

Trinity, Murrayfield, Linlithgow, Cramond, Ravelston, Corstorphine 


New 

Venues 

Silverknowes 

SwimEasy ha ve r ecently i ntroduced a f antastic b rand n ew fa cility a t S ilverknowes, 

Edinburgh, which boasts a 25 metre, four lane pool, providing excellent changing facilities 

and ample parking. Our Main Lessons Programme is currently available on Saturday 

mornings at Silverknowes from 09:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. From January 2010 onwards, 

we will be also be introducing additional classes at this venue on both Monday and 

Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Classes take place at 40 minute 

intervals. 

Currie Community High School 

We have also recently introduced our Main Programme Swimming Lessons at Currie 

Community High School on Wednesday afternoons from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and on 

Sunday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Classes take place at 40 minute intervals. 

Royal High School 

One-to-Two Lessons from January 2010 

One-to-two swimming lessons are always in great demand, especially when an individual 

has a particular fear of the water. For those who are already confident in the water , and 

are reasonably competent swimmers, one-to-two lessons will improve any weakness 

rapidly. Any technical correction or specific area of improvement will be dealt with much 

more easily. 

The confidence gained from individual attention significantly speeds up the learning 

process and develops better self -assurance. This allows the learner to discover for 

themselves just what can be achieved and the process of enjoying being in the water is 

greatly enhanced. 

SwimEasy operates in numerous locations across Edinburgh and Scotland, for 

more information on classes and venues please go to www .swimeasy.co.uk. 

To Book Call Us Now On 0131 466 0764 

Whizzkids, run by qualified primar y school 

teacher Gillian Brodie, has been offering fun 

and educational computer classes for 

children and adults of all ages for 11 years 

now. Whether you’re 8 years old or 80 

years young there’s a course for you! 

Whizzkids provides tuition in a broad range of computer skills 

such as t ouch-typing, w ord p rocessing a nd d esktop 

publishing to name but a few, all of which are essential in 

today’s hi-tech society. Gillian is also delighted to announce 

the launch of a new Whizzkids website! The new site can be 

found at www .whizzkids.uk.com where you will find 

details of current and u pcoming courses, information 

about term-time classes, photos, testimonials and 

samples of work. For further information contact Gillian on 

0131 447 5893 or e-mail gillian@whizzkids.uk.com. 

Kids NLP Scotland 

Supporting parents and children to manage their fears and anxieties, manage their 

emotions, cope with change, develop self resilience and confidence through our workshops 

and individual sessions. All families face challenges from time to time, and sometimes 

doing more of the same is no longer an option. 

Our parent workshops or introductor y talks, offer a safe, 

supportive and stimulating environment to learn and practice 

NLP based methods, share your experiences and find new 

ways of tackling your current challenges or give you fresh 

ideas. 

Due to several enquiries we are now extending this service to 

working in partnership with those in Early Years settings. We 

would welcome the opportunity to discuss what option would 

suit your setting. Our services enhance your work and most 

importantly helps support the children and families with whom 

you work. 

www.Kidsnlpscotland.co.uk Call Claire 07743897285 or Karen 07837930714


Sparkle Arts special one day 

performing arts workshop 

based on the musical Fame! on 

Tuesday 22nd December at 

Hearts Football Club. The day 

will involve Dance/Singing/Drama with a showing of our work for family and friends at the 

end of the day. £40 including free T –shirt. Suitable for Primar y age children 5 -12yrs. 

9.30am - 5pm at the Gorgie Suite at Hearts Football Club. 

Call 0771 7706 778 or email info@sparklearts.co.uk www.sparklearts.co.uk 

Captivate Youth 

Theatre 

Captivate Youth Theatreis a new 

venture based at the Performing 

Arts Centre, Stewart's Melville 

College. We meet on Saturday 

afternoons though hope to add 

more classes in 2010. 

Drama b uilds s elf co nfidence, 

encourages cooperation and 

collaboration, improves communication 

skills and concentration, 

frees the imagination and promotes 

self discipline and self control. But young people don't want to know all those benefits 

they want to have fun and perform. 

At Captivate we have great fun and are always working towards a performance. 

We are looking for new members to join in 2010 to work towards a summer production. 

If you'd like to find out more contact Sally Lyall (qualified drama teacher and 

experienced youth theatre director) on 07854273499 or email me at 

sjlyall@blueyonder.co.uk. 

Swimming Nature News 

Classes in Barnton - Broughton - Central - 

Corstophine -Morningside 

A Swimming Nature child is confident, happy , safe, 

co-ordinated, in control, brave and a winner both in and out 

of the water! 

Teachers at Swimming Nature show children how to swim 

the four strokes correctly and give them an energetic 

fun–packed lesson every week! 

Swimming Nature is the leading indepe ndent provider of 

swimming tuition and coaching in the UK. Our unique teaching method and approach 

is based on the fundamental principle that learning how to swim effortlessly is 

essential. Our class sizes are small and teachers work in the water correcting and 

improving stroke technique. 

The Swimming Nature teaching program provides a natural way to learn and improve 

swimming ability and technique. Call 08700 949597 today to book a 

complimentary swimming e xperience with us or to e nrol in our wee kly 

classes. www.swimmingnature.co.uk 

Dance Base 

Dance Base has the best dance classes for 

everyone aged 1+. Toddlers and preschoolers 

can drop in to Dance ‘n’ Play or Creative Dance. 

School age dancers can join courses and dropin 

classes in Street Dance and/or Breakdance. 

Classes start at £3 per session and bookings for 

the spring term open on Saturday 5 December 

when new dancers can also tr y a free taster 

class. www.dancebase.co.uk 

Kids NLP Scotland 

Consultation service for parents 

Individual sessions 

Workshops for parents & children 

Workshops for clubs 

Courses for professionals working 

with children 

www.Kidsnlpscotland.co.uk 

Call Claire 07743897285or Karen 0783 7930714 

email Karen@kidsnlpscotland.co.uk 


Family Holidays 

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that holidays are precious. 

For me a holiday is hugely anticipated and the effort of actually 

getting everyone out of the house complete with suitcases, endless 

supply of snacks for the journey, bag of tricks for entertaining, emergency change of clothes in case someone vomits or tips 

juice bottle down themselves, locking up the house, then un-locking to re-check that the gas/lights/TV are all off, finally 

getting to the car to find that we’ve left favourite toy inside… unlock house etc 

etc means that I want the final destination to be fantastic! 

Stunning 4 star luxury 

Victorian home from home. 

Minutes walk from Alnmouth's beautiful beach. 

Walk to 2 golf courses. 

Perfect for families/groups sharing a break. 

Fabulous contemporary design with all mod cons. 

Very child/baby friendly. 

Welcome well behaved dog. 

Tel: 07919 460226 

Email: info@stayinalnmouth.co.uk 

Web: www.stayinalnmouth.co.uk 


Early on in our family life my husband was banned from booking holidays – it was after two weeks driving aimlessly 

around France with nowhere booked (not by us anyway, there seemed to be loads of lovely places that had been booked 

by other people) with a 3 year old and a 3 month old baby in the back of the car. It wasn’t even a big car. And now I 

come to re-live the horror I seem to remember that he booked us onto a freight ferr y rather than a passenger one! 

Anyway, I think my ban is fair and since then we’ve always had lovely holidays. 

This doesn’t just happen though; I put a lot of work into finding the right place. A ridiculous amount of time truth be told. 

Website after website, review after review – and my most important rule to booking a holiday – photos of the interiors. 

This rule came into play the year before my husband was bfb (banned from booking) when a beautiful rose covered gite 

in France (booked by him) turned out to be a dank cave inside. 

chillypowder 

One holiday company that has families flocking back year on year, thanks to its winning 

combination of luxury catered chalets, on-site nannies and a spectacular ‘ski to the 

door’ location is Chilly Powder (www.chillypowder.com) 

If you’re skiing with small children, finding a resort that delivers in-chalet childcare, easy access to the slopes and plenty 

of on and off-piste entertainment for the parents can prove to be a challenge. But Francesca and Paul Eyre, who run 

Chilly Powder, founded it on the principle that a family skiing holiday shouldn’t mean sacrificing fabulous facilities and 

perfect powder. Morzine is regarded as one of the top ski resorts in the Alps, and nowadays a natural choice if you’ve 

travelling with a tiny brood. Over the past 14 years, Chilly Powder have played a major part in developing the popularity 

of Morzine for families, and now have a deserved reputation for raising the bar when it comes to in-resort childcare. 

A team of fully-qualified nannies run a crèche equipped with all the baby essentials - from toys, bibs and buggies to 

potties and bottle sterilizing equipment – so that parents don’t have to pack up the house to come on holiday . The crèche 

can stick to the baby’s home routine when it comes to feeding, playtime and napping, and parents are allocated a key 

nanny for the week for complete peace of mind. 

For older children finding their ski legs but not up to staying on the slopes all day, Chilly Powder will collect them from 

the nursery slopes and entertain them at its afternoon kid’s club. Children can play in the sheltered snow garden, go 

tobogganing or retreat indoors to the playroom for a game of pool, table football or Playstation. 

But it’s not all about the kids: after a day on the slopes, parents can come back to a sauna and massage before drinks 

in the bar or the outdoor jacuzzi. Foodies will be spoiled with the fine dining on offer - every evening the chalet chef 

cooks a delicious four-course dinner complete with canapés, coffee and chocolate, and not a cheese fondue in sight! 

And Chilly Powder’s location is perfect: skiing starts at the cable car opposite the chalets, and finishes with blue, red or 

black pistes, straight into the garden. The Portes du Soleil ski are a covers 13 ski resorts in F rance and Switzerland 

(including Avoriaz, Chatel, and Champery) and offers 650km of pistes catering for all levels of skier, with beautiful runs 

both through the trees and well above the tree line. Snow cannons ensure that the runs to the resort are open throughout 

the season. 

Chilly Powder operates two chalets with a total of 24 en-suite bedrooms. Prices start at 555 Euros per person, per week 

for half board accommodation, with discounts available for children, groups or people sharing a family room. 

Francesca adds: “With three children of our own, we appreciate the importance of making families feel both welcome 

and well catered for.” 

Email: info@chillypowder.com www.chillypowder.com

Family Holidays 

So, if you’re looking for some help finding a family holiday then why not try 

www.recommendedfamilyholidays.com. 

The idea for RecommendedFamilyHolidays.com was conceived by Lucilla Paull after 

many aimless trawls through websites looking for self catering holidays for her young 

family. The aim is to provide a “one-stop” shop to find suitable self-catering 

accommodation that welcomes families and helps mums and dad to actually enjoy 

their holidays rather than worry about the kids, the packing, the facilities on holiday, 

the hassle etc. 

So to make it easier to find suitable holiday accommodation, 

at RecommendedFamilyHolidays.com offers: 

• A one-stop shop for self-catering family holiday accommodation in UK, 

Ireland and France covering any season of the year. 

• Recommendations by like-minded mums and dads. 

• Search for properties by a summary table of the facilities available at the 

property to include recommendations, size, pool and other family-friendly criteria. 

• Search for properties by interactive map by region. 

Lindores in Alnmouth 

If you’re looking for a break a bit closer to home 

then why not try Lindores in Alnmouth. This 

stunning 4 s tar l uxury Victorian h ouse i s a 

holiday home from home just minutes from 

Alnmouth's beautiful beach. With 5 bedrooms 

this house can sleep up to 10 so is perfect for 

a family get-together. The house is very child 

friendly and also welcomes a well behaved dog. 

'Brilliant facilities for our 2, 3 and 6 year olds. 

Found it sweet that the kids quickly referred to 

the house as 'home!' Want to stay 2 weeks 

next time!' Guest book comment. 

“Through experience I found that the best holidays that we had been on as a family were 

those recommended by other families. I believe a “t ried and tested” holiday has greater 

chance o f b eing a s uccessful h oliday a nd t herefore I c aptured t his id ea in 

RecommendedFamilyHolidays.com. Users of the website provide direct feedback to us on 

the properties that are advertised on the site – the more recommendations a property has, 

the more prominent it appears on the site. We even have a “top 10” recommended 

properties page so users can see, at a glance, the most recommended family holiday 

destinations.” 

La Garenne, is just one of the 100+ properties in France. At La Garenne, there are a group 

of 6 gites set in a rural area near St Jean D’Angely in Poitou-Charentes – one of the sunniest 

regions in France. Dorte & Richard, the owners offer great family-friendly services including 

kids club, catering, babysitting, play equipment, kid’s bikes and all the baby equipment you 

might ever need on your family holiday. 

Chalet Lac de Vonnes in Chatelis one of their many ski chalets in France. It is a 4 bedroom 

catered chalet with a hot tub, games room including a Wii, sledging out the back of the chalet 

for the kids and all the facilities for kids you need - including pushchairs, high chairs and 

cots as well as making all necessary arrangements for ski lessons and child care in resort. 

So if you want to find that perfect family holiday then visit 

www.RecommendedFamilyHolidays.com today. 

Alnmouth is a real jewel in the Northumberland Coast crown. It is only 5 minutes from the 

Alnmouth train station which connects to Kings Cross, York, Edinburgh and most East Coast 

mainline stations. The village is steeped in history and has a thriving local community. There’s 

never a quiet weekend in the village with festivities year round. From the Alnmouth Raft Race 

in August to the Volcano Night on the beach and then Santa Claus visiting on his sleigh each 

December, there is always something going on. 

It's very close to Alnwick which is renowned for the Castle and scenes from Harry Potter, the 

fabulous Gardens which will eventually encompass an ice skating rink, and has a huge array 

of fine eateries and local shopping. (we went to the Alnwick Gardens earlier this year and 

had lunch in the amazing treehouse café. A huge treehouse with loads of fair ylights! 

Definitely worth a visit – Ed) 

Prices are £795-£1850 depending on season. I take short breaks too 

they are £650 (Fri-Sun or Mon) Tel: 07919 460226 

Email: info@stayinalnmouth.co.uk Web: www.stayinalnmouth.co.uk 


All I want forChristmas… 

Are you making a Christmas wish for another 

baby? Hoping that by next year you'll be 

hanging up a second stocking on Christmas Eve? 

Secondary infertility can be an issue for couples 

even where there seemed to be no problem first 

time around. For some couples getting pregnant 

with baby number one took longer than expected 

and the thought of another long anxious wait is 

stressful and daunting. Natural fertility can be 

enhanced with homeopathic medicines. The 

Homeopathic Fertility Programme has a success 

rate of 85% for women who have tried to conceive 

for 2 years before starting the treatment. 

In the UK we are leaving parenthood later than our parents with the average age of a 

first time mother up by almost three years to 29 years. For couples trying for a second 

baby this means that the majority will be in their thirties or forties, making age a 

significant contributory factor to secondary infertility. We've worked through our most 

fertile years securing a career and home for ourselves and our future family. While 

your fertility may not be that of your 20 year old self on an emotional level you are 

more likely to be in a loving partnership where you are both ready for another child. 

Embrace the positive aspects of your situation and work on how to maximise your 

fertility. You certainly cannot change your age but you can increase your fertility by 

using natural fertility awareness methods, optimising your nutritional intake and getting 

homeopathic support to help swing the balance back in your favour. 

Even couples considering using IVF can integrate this natural approach into their pre 

conception health plan. Some couples will be returning to IVF to have a frozen embryo 

replacement and wish additional support to succeed a second time. With an average 

success rates are around 21.6% and only 10% at 40-42 boosting your natural fertility 

prior to a course of IVF is a wise move. 

It’s surprising that although homeopathy has been around for over 200 years and has 

two homeopathic hospitals in London and Glasgow both run by NHS that it's profile 

on fertility remains low. 

Research on homeopathy for fertility appears in the NICE Evid ence Tables with 

encouraging results with 9 births where homeopathy only has been used for women 

who would have used conventional fertility treatments - IVF and fertility drugs due to 

infertility. Male fertility was found to improve by using h omeopathic medicines over 

one year - 196% increase in the density of sperm with good motility - within a German 

research trial which saw improvements in sperm quality as early as three months from 

the start of treatment. 

Est. 1977 

Free Estimates, 

Technical Advice 

and Colour 

Advisory 

Members of 

the Scottish 

Decorators 

Federation 


For Fast, Friendly and Efficient Service 

Call John Petrie on 

07769 684 449 or 

0131 228 6237 

Quote “Families” to receive 10% discount 

William Swanson & Son Ltd 

3 St Peters Buildings, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh 

Tel/Fax: 0131 228 6237 

william.swanson@btconnect.com 

Homeopathic treatment naturally starts before conception in preparation for a healthy 

baby; treatment is alongside Foresight Association’s Pre Conception Health Plan - 

success rate of 75%. A constitutional homeopathic medicine is prescribed to boost 

your general health and alleviate the symptoms any health issues such as fibroids, 

polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. The long term side effects of the pill 

can e ffect t he f ertile c ycle, The H omeopathic F ertility P rogramme i ncludes 

individualised homeopathic prescriptions with therapeutically indicated ones is used 

to rebalance hormonal levels and regulate the cycle, stimulate ovulation and improve 

the quality of vaginal mucus. 

Where the issue is not conception but holding a pregnancy homeopathy can help. 

One or several miscarriages are heartbreaking for couples, homeopathy can support 

for you both through your emotions and to get physically ready before trying for another 

baby. Homeopathy is a gentle medicine with no nasty side effects; you can continue 

using homeopathic medicine during pregnancy, at childbirth and for your new baby. 

In my practice, I specialise in treating clients with fertility issues, during pregnancy, 

childbirth, early parenting and throughout childhood. Homeopathic treatment is an 

individualised course of treatment, not classifying people into types or by conditions. 

Simply by finding their individuality a homeopath tailors a course of treatment for 

fertility to help a woman to become healthier and increase her fertility. For more 

information on Homeopathy for Fertility visit www.edinburghhomeopath.co.uk 

or to make an appointment call 0131 664 98822 

Elizabeth B iagi R SHom i s a r egistered H omeopath, d oula a nd F oresight 

Practitioner (accreditation in December). She has weekly clinics at Napier’s, 

Stockbridge and Boroughloch Medical Practice, Marchmont.

Had a baby? How was it for you? 

Mathilde Peace explains how new mums help health professionals develop 

NHS Lothian maternity services 

There are not many places where a new mother can sit alongside health service managers, 

midwives and hospital doctors and be given an equal voice but this is what happens at NHS 

Lothian’s Maternity Services Liaison Committee. 

The MSLC brings together those who are expecting or 

have just had a baby , members of voluntar y 

organisations such as the National Childbirth Trust or the 

Birth Resource Centre, midwives, obstetricians, GPs and 

managers of NHS Lothian women and children services. 

The strength of the committee lies in its members - their 

dedication and the honest and open relationship they 

have with each other. All aspects of maternity services 

are discussed every two months. 

For the coming year the committee has chosen to focus 

on three priorities: parenthood education, one-to-one 

care in labour and support for breastfeeding mothers. 

Parenthood education 

The MSLC would like parenting classes to take place at 

times convenient for future parents in comfortable 

venues and to prepare not only for the birth but also for 

looking after a new-born baby . This is gradually 

happening, with the introduction of new workshops and 

special classes for dads to be or young mums. 

Sam Pringle is an MSLC lay 

member and that also runs 

Beeleaf Consulting supporting 

mums returning to work. 

www.beeleafconsulting.co.uk 

One-to-one care in labour 

It is a national requirement that every woman in labour 

should re ceive i ndividual ca re a nd s upport f rom a 

qualified midwife. The MSLC has been working hard to 

help women get the personal attention they deserve. The 

committee monitors caesarean sections and 

interventions rates and regularly reviews clinical audits. 

In a recent development, Lothian Health Board has 

announced that a Birthing Centre would be built at the 

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and that the maternity unit 

at St John’s Hospital would be refurbished. The MSLC 

will be closely involved in these two projects and will 

ensure that the board consults widely with the local 

population during their development. 

Support for breastfeeding mothers 

The third priority for this year is to ensure that mothers 

who have chosen to breastfeed get the support they 

need. There are some excellent support schemes in 

Parent 2 Parent 

Favourite shop: Vanilla Bloom William St. Catherine who 

managers the shops is fabulous with my kids so I can shop 

in peace. They also have great sales which keeps my 

husband happy! 

Favourite park: Colinton park down by the canal. We use 

to cycle along the canal there before kids and now we are 

looking forward to them being able to cycle with us. 

Favourite children’s club/class: Baby signing. I enjoy it 

as it keeps me on my toes remembering the signs. 

Favourite child friendly restaurant: Butterflies Café at 

Marchmont St Giles church. Everything is homemade and 

the cook is amazing. It’s the cheapest café I know. Theres 

room for buggies and toddlers to play safely. 

Proudest eco-friendly moment:using reuseable nappies 

on my second baby. 

Best planet saving tip: drying washing on a pully. Even 

during an Edinburgh summer it works! 

No parent should be without: a sense of humour and a 

shoulder to cry on 

Parenting pet hates: wiping high chairs. There are too 

many crevices ….. 

place in some areas and the committee are 

campaigning for them to be extended to the whole of 

Lothian. 

We would like more mothers – and fathers – to know 

about our work, so please spread the work and if you 

have comments or suggestions about maternity services 

in Lothian, tell us. 

It is easy to contact the MSLC administrator by 

phone or email or you can go online 

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/ourservices/mslc 

where you will find a feedback page. 

Joyce Clearie - MSLC Administrator 

joyce.clearie@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk 

Tel : 0131 536 9022 

Mathilde Peace is the committe chair and is a lay 

member. 

Most embarrassing moment: chatting to my neighbour 

outside my house and then realising I hadn’t pulled down 

my top after feeding! I wondered why he didn’t hang about 

long to talk! 

Favourite family holiday spot: Crieff Hydro. We got a 

baby sitter for the room so we could have dinner together 

without children – a luxur y. The kids club was amazing 

and we got to go horse riding. A perfect weekend 

especially as it was a deal with hotel connections. 

Best children’s DVD or video: Singing kettle on video 

including 1980’s hair do’s for my entertainment. We went 

to see them in August which was another hit. 

Most played with toys: any cardboard box for my 2 year 

old and 8 month old. 

Most successful recipe/food: Avocado-both of my kids 

have eaten it nearly e very day. You don’t have to coo k it, 

there is lots of good fat and it’s a well disguised vegetable 

(only 4 more to go!) 

Why you like living where you do: my husband gets to 

work on George St in 20mins so he can help me with 

breakfast and he gets home to read the kids a book. 


Beano 

the Clown 

Magic, Balloons, 

Songs & Games 

-5s & +5s, 1hr & 2 hr, 

Tel: 07948-070 569 

Web: Beano.theclown.free.fr 

Puppet Theatre 

for children 

Puppet show, sing-a-long songs. 

Parties, nurseries, early years, 

festive occasions. Comes to you. 

Stephanie May Dance Centre 

Principal Miss Stephanie May 

Dance Classes For children aged 2½ 

onwards. ISTD, RAD and BATD Syllabuses 

Branches in Bonnyrigg, Musselburgh, Portseton, 

Oxgangs, Loanhead. 

Stephaniemay150@aol.com 

Tel: 0131 672 2588 Mobile: 07790 481 064 


Think outside 

the box 

The amount of TV kids watch today is 

mad, bad and dangerous – but what 

can parents do about it? Joanna 

Moorhead has some ideas. 

We joke about it, we make excuses for it, we feel we couldn’t possibly live without 

it – but deep down inside, most of us worry about the amount of time our kids 

are slumped in front of a screen. According to recent studies, nine in ten undertwos 

now watch two hours of telly a day , and some spend as much as 40% of 

their day in front of the box. For older kids the figures are equally shocking: a survey earlier this year found that 

the average time spent in front of a screen for 5-16-year-olds is six hours a day. 

The uncomfortable truth is that putting our kids in front of the TV, or not minding them being there, can be incredibly 

convenient: it’s the time when we can ‘get on with things’, cook the tea, phone the plumber or do a bit of work. 

Watching telly is far less messy than most of the activities kids indulge in: it also keeps them quiet (TV noise 

notwithstanding), and we know where they are and that they’re safe. 

But the problem is that these ‘benefits’ are a quick-fix solution to the immediate problem (a need for a bit of adult 

space and time) and, as researchers are finding out more and more, they undermine the very thing we most want 

to get right, which is our parenting and our kids’ healthy development. Because what studies are finding is truly 

alarming stuff: one academic who reviewed over 75 studies on telly-watching carried out over the last quarter 

century found that too much TV when kids are small delays language and may reduce a child’s attention span, 

reading and memory skills in later school life. 

Another study found that a young child who spends more than two hours a day in front of the telly has double the 

risk of developing asthma (it’s because of the associated sedentary living rather than the TV-viewing itself, experts 

say); and pre-schoolers are fatter according to how much time they spend in front of the box – an extra hour a day 

makes the average kid one kilo fatter than his same-age playmate who watches less. Blood pressure rises too in 

line with TV time: another study this summer found a link between more time watching TV and higher blood pressure 

in three to eight year olds. 

It’s enough to have set the alarm bells ringing - and the bottom line is that, while governments and experts do 

what they can to flag up the problems (France, for example, has banned the making of TV programmes aimed 

directly at under-threes), it comes down to individual parents and individual families to make the changes necessary 

to keep our children safe from long-term harm. 

Learn to cut down 

Most of us parents would like to cut down on our kids’ screen time…the problem is, we don’t know how. But the 

good news is that you don’t have to go telly cold turkey: TV, after all, has huge benefits to offer families, as well as 

mega pitfalls. The trick is to learn to cut down where cutting down can come easily: because the benefits of slightly 

less TV can be enormous. 

So be ambitious: aim to make real reductions in your kids’ viewing time, but look for the small changes that can 

make a big difference. Christmas is a real opportunity to try to switch off the telly: one trick that’s always worked 

well in my house is to keep a large box with card-making equipment (ready folded cards, stencils, glitter, glue, bits 

of coloured felt, Father Christmas stickers and so on) in the kitchen. Card-making is hugely popular with small 

children, and you really do have to start in early November if you’re doing it little and often, which is by far the best 

way. Have a card-making session once or twice a week when you’d usually plonk them in front of the TV, and 

you’ll be well on the way to reaching your ‘less telly’ target. 

It’s rarely a good idea to decide on the spur of the moment to switch off the telly: far better to plan ahead and to 

have some exciting scheme up your sleeve for tomorrow’s TV slot, rather than shouting at them right now , this 

very minute, to turn the box off and tidy their room. No kid wants to tidy his or her bedroom, but lots of them might 

like the idea of making an indoor den, doing a treasure hunt or making a slide with an old cot mattress propped 

against the sofa – the trick is to have an idea, and make sure it’s got the potential for excitement. 

Which brings us to another point: cutting down on the telly will undoubtedly make your house messier , and 

that’s something you just have to accept from the start. But the thing is, if you’d REALLY wanted a tidy house you 

wouldn’t have had kids, would you? A messy house, as every sensible parent knows, is often a testament to hours 

spent having fun, stretching the imagination and extending learning: who wants their cushions to stay on the sofa, 

or no flicks of paint on the kitchen floor, if those are the by-products of having kids who grow up happier, smarter, 

leaner, healthier and more communicative?

How to cut down 

Top priority: remove TV sets from kids’ bedrooms: they cause the most harm there. 

Have a TV-free night once or twice a week (on the night when there’s nothing much on anyway). 

Don’t have the telly on during mealtimes. 

Plan ahead. There’s lots of good stuff on TV – it’s the mindless channel-flicking that’s least edifying. 

Be a lot pickier about what you watch, and organise your viewing ahead of time rather than just seeing what’s on. 

Have a ‘before tea or after tea’ TV rule. My kids are allowed to watch telly either before their tea, 

or after it – but not both. 

Five quick half-hour fillers 

• Who can write their name the smallest? Dish out paper and pens and let them find out 

(it’s surprisingly absorbing). 

• Get them to write down boys’ names/girls’ names for every letter of the alphabet. 

• Get older kids (seven-plus) to find the most interesting story in today’s paper. 

Tell them to read it and tell you about it while you’re making tea/doing the ironing. 

• Who can pair socks the quickest? The race is on (or if you’ve only got one child, 

you might need to employ a small reward per socks paired). 

• Dot-to-dots: amazingly popular. “Mum!” said my seven-year-old the other day. 

“I can’t have tea now, I HAVE to finish my dot-to-dot…” 

Ideas for filling more time 

Encourage your kids to learn poems by heart. Littlies can do nursery rhymes (get a new book from the library 

to extend your repertoire); older kids can delve into William Blake, Rudyard Kipling and Lewis Carroll. Have family 

sessions where everyone recites a few lines or even a whole poem. One lovely idea I read about is to encourage 

children to ‘give’ poems as pre sents: they choose a poem they think the recipient will enjoy , learn the verse and 

recite it as a Christmas or birthday gift. 

Make an indoor den. Under tables or on bunk beds are the best for quick dens; torches make a huge difference 

to the fun. For a special treat, allow snacks and drinks. 

Put on a show: kids love this. Get them to have a big long practice first; and let them pop up from behind the sofa 

or from behind the curtains onto an area you’ve designated the ‘stage’. Puppet shows are often popular , too. 

Always encourage rehearsals first, and don’t heap th e praise on too much if more preparation would have been 

good. 

Encourage collections. In the past children were avid collectors – of coins, of stamps, of matchboxes, of seashells, 

of beads, of buttons. It really doesn’t matter what the collection consists of, providing the collector is passionate 

about it and enjoys building the collection up and organising it. 

Helpful links 

www.crafts4kids.co.uk has plenty of easy ideas for things to make and do 

www.craftykids.co.uk for a huge range of puppet-making kits (so that’s two lots of fun – making them, 

and then putting on shows) 

www.jesters.com/acatalog/childrens_boxed_games.html is a one-stop shop for board games 

www.playgroundfun.org.uk/ has lots of ideas for playground fun but they can easily be adapted for home use! 

Now hosts regular workshops, classes and courses 

From their beautiful cottage in the 

East Lothian countryside 

Including Children’s workshops in :- 

- Colour and Creativity 

- Meditation, relaxation and visualization 

And adults - there are classes for you too! 

Find out more : www spiritualretreatscotland.co.uk 

Or call Jilly Greig on (01620) 829728 


Book Reviews 


Reviewed by Tina Hene 

The Christmas Toy Factory 

By Geronimo Stilton 

Published by Scholastic. RRP £4.99 Paperback 

ISBN 978-0-439841-18-4. Age range 5-10 

As children become independent readers it can be challenging to find 

books that they’re able to read themselves but are, at the same time, 

exciting enough to hold their attention. I hadn’t heard of the Geronimo 

Stilton series of books before, but they’re perfect for new young readers 

or for parents to read with reluctant readers. 

Geronimo the mouse is editor of The Rodent’s Gazette, as well as an 

adventurer. This book is the 27th in his series of tales and, as I discovered, 

there’s a whole world of New Mouse City to discover, as well as 

Geronimo’s friends and family. 

In this story, Geronimo has been working too hard and has forgotten 

the true meaning of Christmas – spending time with loved ones. When 

he gets an emergency call from Santa who needs help delivering toys 

on Christmas Eve, Geronimo comes to the rescue and realises the error of his ways. It’s a heart-warming, amusing 

tale with enough interesting characters, double entendres and jokes to amuse the target reader. It’s also packed full 

of pictures, entertaining asides (such as explaining all the reindeer names), different typography and lots of illustrations 

such as maps and letters. It’s a very engaging book, and the perfect story to read as Christmas approaches. 

Families rating: 5 out of 6 

Reviewed by Jan Deykin 

The Chess Piece Magician 

By Douglas Bruton 

Published by Floris Books. ISBN 978-086315-7011. 

RRP £5.99 Paperback. Age range 8-12 

Corrie is in Uig on the island of Lewis for his summer holiday . Again. 

His Dad loves it but there is nothing to do. The weather seems a little 

worse than normal and on the day he arrives Corrie finds two things; 

a puck shaped object deep in the sand and Kat, a girl also visiting. 

That night during a storm that takes out the power, the object breaks 

open and a carved figure, strangely warm, appears at the same time 

as a voice saying, “She will come”. Corrie and Kat are drawn into 

an old story about a sea serpent threatening the island that becomes 

mystically real, leading them into a dangerous adventure that needs 

all their intelligence, courage and instinct to survive. Starting a little 

slowly, the Chess Piece Magician builds into an epic adventure rooted 

in the mythical history of the island where the famous medieval Lewis 

chessmen were found in the 1830s. Although set in summer, this 

is a chapter book to curl up with on a winter’s day and be transported to a different place and time. Families rating: 

4 out of 6 

Quentin Blake’s The Seven 

Voyages of Sinbad 

Retold by John Yeoman 

Published by Pavilion Children’s Books 

ISBN 9781-84365-1291. RRP £12.99 Hardback 

Age range 7-12 

A lovely hardback book generously full of Quentin Blake’s 

watercolour illustrations (some black and white) that just 

cries out ‘Christmas present!’ As Blake says in the introduction, 

Sinbad is not a sailor but a merchant whose “special 

achievement is getting shipwrecked,” and the stories 

relate how he reverses his bad fortune on seven journeys 

to return home with increased wealth. We read how Sinbad 

escapes from, amongst other things, a gigantic bird 

that “feeds its young on elephants”, a dragon-like serpent, 

naked cannibals and his wife’s grave. Originally in the 

stories of The Arabian Nights, the tales are told traditionally 

with a slightly old fashioned language (such as “thereupon”). 

Together with the distressed cover, this gives the 

feel of an older book as if passed down from earlier generations 

and adds to the charm. Although a little disappointed 

that not all the wonderfully evocative illustrations 

are in colour, we enjoyed these stories and found them 

especially good for reading aloud or they could be read 

from about 8 years. Look out also for Michael Foreman’s 

Treasure Island, a similar edition from Pavilion. 

Families rating: 5 out of 6

Book Reviews 

Reviewed by Louise Turner 

Katie and the British Artists 

By James Mayhew 

Published by Orchard Books. ISBN 1846167361 

RRP£10.99 Hardback. Age 5+ 

James created his first 'Katie's Picture Show' book over twenty 

years ago as a way to share his enthusiasm for art with children. 

His story approach is original and provides an amazing way to 

introduce children to world famous artists and their paintings. In 

his ninth ‘Katie’ book he looks at four British artists – Constable, 

Gainsborough, Stubbs and Turner. 

Katie visits an art gallery with her Grandma hoping to get some 

ideas about what job to have when she grows up. While 

Grandma has a snooze, Katie decides to take a look at the paintings. First she sees ‘The Cornfield’ by Constable and 

thinks that the shepherd boy has a great job then to her surprise he talks to her and she steps into the picture which becomes 

a living place. Katie helps round up the sheep before moving on to the next painting, Turner’s ‘Rain, Steam and 

Speed’. She visits a Stubbs before climbing inside Gainsborough’s ‘The Painter’s Daughters Chasing a Butterfly’ to play 

with the girls. Finally, they visit ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ for a brief adventure on a ship before Katie returns to the gallery 

and thinks that an artist might be the perfect job after all! 

Even the illustrations are mini-masterpieces and bring the story to life beautifully. Katie is adorable – she is adventurous 

but not naughty. The book also provides a short summary of the artists at the back – perfect for parents! 


Making Fairy Tale Scenes 

By Sybille Adolphi 

Published by Floris Books. ISBN 0863157181 

RRP £12.99 Paperback. Age 7+ 

If you enjoy creative craftwork and love traditional fairy tales this 

is the perfect book for you and your child! The author provides 

step-by-step instructions and patterns for making a range of figures 

and scenes from Grimm’s fairy tales. These include Cinderella, 

Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty , Rumpelstiltskin, 

Rapunzel and Snow White, all made from easy-to-find natural 

materials such as wool, felt and cotton. The author also shows 

you how to prepare a transparency of a Rumpelstiltskin scene 

made from tissue paper and shows you how it looks when lit up 

from behind with a candle. 

The first chapter covers the basic patterns and techniques (wet 

felting and dry felting) required to make the scenes and characters. 

Then the subsequent chapters are organised into seasons so that story can be matched to an appropriate time of 

year. This allows your child to display their works of art as additional decorations at home. There are clear instructions 

with detailed photographs to help you through the creating process so you end up with the most adorable figures with 

cute, squishy felt faces, dressed in beautiful clothes for their respective settings. All in all, the author wants to help evoke 

that warm feeling about these wonderful tales through these delightful little figurines – I think she does a great job! 


Reviewed by Emilie Amos 

The Rabbit Problem 

By Emily Gravett 

Published by Macmillan. ISBN 978 0 230 70423 7 

RRP £12.99 Paperback. Age 4+ 

How I wish I had this book as a child. It is utterly delightful 

and I get as much enjoyment reading it to my children as 

they get from listening and looking at it. 

Hop along to Fibonacci's Field and follow Lonely and Chalk 

Rabbit throughout the yea r as they try to cope with their 

fast-expanding brood and handle a different seasonal challenge 

each month, from the cold of February to the wet of 

April and the heat of July. 

The book is set out as a calendar and each month is 

packed with gorgeous details and novelty elements: a party 

invitation to invite other rabbits to come and join the lone 

one in January; Bunnies’ first month record book for the 

baby bunnies born in March; a mini newspaper (complete 

with problem page and horoscopes) highlighting the month 

of July where the bunnies have very little to do, and a carrot 

cookery book in September which includes carrot lollies 

and carrot crunch! December ends with a whole multitude 

of rabbits shown on a quite tremendous pop-up. 

This witty and charmingly illustrated book would make a 

wonderful Christmas present for any child, and would no 

doubt appeal to a large age range.

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