list.co.uk/kids Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.

GLASGOW Activities & Fun FREE Indepen-dance Thursdays 24 May until 2 Jun, 10.15–10.45am. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Playful mums-and-tots dance class. FREE Local Nature Reserve Celebration: C in the Park Sat 26 May, 12–3pm. Robroyston Park, Robroyston, 276 0931. Informative and fun conservation activities. FREE Crazy Creatures Sat 26 May, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Learn about history’s oddest creatures, then make a sculpture inspired by what you’ve seen. Ages 5–12. Back to School with Miss Baxter Sat 26 May, 2–3pm. £2 (under 16s £1.50). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Actress- led historical re-enactment of school- rooms past. Ages 5+. Move It Sat 2–Tue 5 Jun, 10am–5pm. Included in centre admission (children £7.95). Glasgow Science Centre, 50

Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Interactive dance activities and challenges. FREE Dotty Designs Sat 2 Jun, 1–2pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. An arty session for ages 2–5. FREE Life in the Deep Sat 2 Jun, 1–3pm. Robroyston Park, Robroyston, 276 0931. Discover weird and wonderful creatures that call the murky pond home. FREE Hands-On Sunday Sun 3 Jun, 1–3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Games, art and interactive fun. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 3 Jun, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans. Ages 5-12. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Part of the West End Festival (hereafter WEF). FREE Down at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea Mon 4 & Thu 7 Jun, 3.30pm. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Underwater exploring for ages 3–8. WEF. FREE Highland Hop Wed 6 Jun, 1.30–3.30pm. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road, 276 0924. Learn about the life of the park’s Highland cattle. FREE Hillhead Tropicana Sat 9 Jun, 10am. The Tryst, Hillhead Baptist Church, Cresswell Street, 339 1588. A fun beach party with crafts and games. Ages 3–10; all children must be

DANCE FUN SCOTTISH BALLET: FAMILY CHALLENGE DAY Scottish Ballet, Glasgow, Sat 16 Jun

‘When you’re a parent, quite often you’ll do things with your child that you wouldn’t do on your own,’ says Catherine Cassidy, associate director of education at Scottish Ballet. How very true. Or at least that’s what Scottish Ballet is banking on, when they invite people into their Family Challenge Day.

Having borrowed eight measuring machines from the Glasgow

Science Centre, Cassidy and her colleagues will be testing how high participants can jump, how flexible and responsive they are and, let’s be honest how willing they are to engage in something a little bit different. ‘We want people to come along and be really open-minded,’ says Cassidy. ‘Because it’s not about getting it right, it’s about giving it a go and knowing that you won’t be judged, but you’ll have fun with other people.’

As well as indulging in a little ‘healthy competition’, as Cassidy puts it, families will be taught a dance inspired by Olympics sports. ‘It will be really simple,’ assures Cassidy. ‘We’re just looking at the physicality of dance, with basic skills like jumping, turning, stretching. Hopefully people will see what a fun way to get fit and be healthy dance is but that you can also express yourself.’ (Kelly Apter)

accompanied by an adult. WEF. FREE Me and the World Around Me Sat 9 Jun, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Learn about the Earth’s rotation. Ages 7+. FREE Monster Madness Mon 11–Thu 14 Jun (not Wed), 3.30pm. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Games, stories and activities. Ages 3–8. WEF. FREE Alphabet Babies Thu 14 Jun, 2.15pm. Hughenden Sports Club, 32 Hughenden Road, 357 6437. Educational fun for babies and toddlers. WEF. FREE A Pirate’s Life for Me Fri 15 Jun, 10.15am & 11am. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Dramatic play and a pirate storytelling session. Ages 18 months–2.5 years from 10.15am; ages 2.5–5 from 11am. Email lisa@pyjamadrama to book. WEF. FREE Tiny Trekkers Sat 16 Jun, 11am–1pm. Cathkin Braes Country Park, Cathkin Road, 287 8118. An intro to hiking for pre-schoolers. Bring a snack and sturdy footwear. FREE RSPB Weekend: Wildlife Explorers Sat 16 & Sun 17 Jun, 11am– 1pm & 2–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn about the world’s animals. Part of Glasgow Science Festival (hereafter GSF). FREE The Great Govan Science Reshuffle Sat 16 Jun, 11am–5pm. Pearce Institute, 840 Govan Road, 445 6007. Family science activities. Part of GSF. Time Travellers: School Days Sat 16 Jun, 2–3.30pm. £2 (under 16s £1.50). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Relive schooldays from the 60s, WWII and Victorian times. Ages 5+. FREE A Bouldering Adventure Sun 17 Jun, 9am–5pm. Gibson Street, westendfestival.co.uk. Rock-climbing games and activities. WEF. FREE Science Festival Week Sun 17 Jun, 1–4pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. An afternoon of activities exploring health throughout history. GSF. FREE Sciensational Sun 17 Jun, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Exciting scientific experiments. Ages 7+. FREE Puppet Workshop Sun 17 Jun, 1–4pm. Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane, 0845 166 6028. Puppet making, face painting and fancy dress. WEF. Storytelling FREE The Utterly Otterleys Sat 9 Jun, 11.30am. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Mairi Hedderwick spins the tale of a family of otters. Suitable for under-5s. WEF. FREE Katie Morag & the Dancing Class Sat 9 Jun, 2.30pm. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Another Katie Morag adventure. Ages 5+. WEF. FREE Tales for Tots Mon 11 Jun & Wed 13 Jun, 2pm. Anniesland College, 19 Hatfield Drive, westendfestival.co.uk. Stories and creative play. Ages 2–5. WEF. FREE Fairytale Fun Mon 18 Jun–Wed 20 Jun, 3.30pm. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Magical crafts, stories and games. WEF.

Music RSNO’s More Monster Music Thu 24 May, 1.45–2.30pm. £8 adult + child; £10 adult + 2 children; £5 additional tickets. Henry Wood Hall, 73 Claremont Street, 225 3588. Introduction to the orchestra for ages 3–5.

✽✽ Children’s Classic Concerts with Owen and Olly Sat 2 Jun,

2pm & 4pm. £9 on the door, £7 in advance (under 16s £6/£5). Cottiers Theatre, 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 4000. Chamber music for ages 4–14. Part of Cottier Chamber Project. The Wiggles Tue 5 Jun, 1pm & 4.30pm. £17.50. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. The Wiggles perform their greatest hits. FREE Glasgow Fiddle Workshop Juniors Concert Sat 9 Jun, 2.30pm.

Kids

HITLIST Hillhead Library,

THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF

Scottish Opera: SensoryO A tactile set, live vocal music and percussion, and even smells come together in this relaxed, fun show from Scottish Opera, created especially for wee ones aged 18–36 months. Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh, Sat 26 & Sun 27 May; Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sat 2 & Sun 3 Jun.

Children’s Classic Concerts with Owen and Olly The boisterous and fun duo bring their unique brand of percussive entertainment to Cottiers Chamber Project, in this fun show for 4–14-year-olds. Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 2 Jun.

Scottish Ballet’s Family Dance Challenge Test your agility and strength with a little gentle competition, at this fun day for families with children aged 5+. No dance experience necessary! Scottish Ballet, Tramway, Glasgow, Sat 16 Jun.

Parents Like Us festival This lovely, lively festival catering for under 6s and their families is back for another year. Expect more activities than you can shake a stick at, lots of lovely, healthy food and nobody selling you something you don’t want to buy. See preview. Leith Links, Edinburgh, Fri 1 Jun–Sun 3 Jun.

Lapin Wants Ice Cream The cute French rabbit makes his way to the West End Festival, to talk in simple French about his love of ice cream. A great introduction to French for tinies. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, Glasgow, Sun 10 Jun.

The Sick Kids Foundation Teddy Toddle and Summer Fair Nina from Nina and the Neurons is joined by other CBeebies stars to get the Toddle off and toddling. Followed by fun fair rides, stalls, face painting and more. Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 16 Jun.

348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Young trad performers. WEF. Theatre & Dance Punch & Judy Seaside Special Sat 9 Jun, 10.30–11.10am & 2–2.50pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A fun show with marionettes. WEF.

24 May–21 Jun 2012 THE LIST 97