KIDS

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HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF

Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@ list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. Indicates Hitlist entry

GLASGOW

HEADLINE GOES HERE Activities & Fun Glasgow on Ice Until Sat 5 Jan (not Sun), times vary. £8–£10 (£6–£8; family £29–£33). George Square’s open air ice rink returns for another year, accompanied by non-stop music. There are special gentler sessions for under 7s. FREE Santa’s Coming to Silverburn! Until Sun 23 Dec (not Mon Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a & Tue), noon–6pm. Silverburn, Barrhead new kid on the east coast block. Road, 880 3200. Santa’s killing time at Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s Silverburn before he heads off around the bookish extravaganza might never world delivering gifts. quite reach the exalted status FREE Snow Ho Ho . . . And a Whole Lot More Sat 15, Sun 16 & Sat of the capital’s world-beating 22 Dec, then everyday Sun 23 Dec–Sun 6 literary fiesta but it’s making a very Jan, 11am–6pm. Xscape Braehead, Kings strong case for itself with a series Inch Road, Braehead, 885 7051. Special festive events and activities for kids during the Christmas hols. FREE Discover! at Kelvingrove Sat 15 & Sun 16 Dec, 1.30–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Join in activities and trails to learn all about the objects and paintings at Kelvingrove. Suitable for children aged 5–11 years. FREE Family Friendly Sunday Sun 16 Dec, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families inspired by Glasgow Museums’ collections, plus short, family-friendly tours at 1pm and 2pm. Ages 5+. FREE What Peter Did Next Sat 22 Dec & 19 Jan, 1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Imagine what other tales Peter Rabbit and pals could have gotten up to and act them out in this drama workshop. The Great Christmas Puppet Making Workshop Sat 22 Dec, 2pm. £5.50 per child. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Kids can create a festive puppet elf, reindeer, fairy or angel to give as a present or keep and enjoy themselves. Ages 3+. FREE Discover! Phenomenal Pharaohs Thu 27, Sat 29 & Sun 30 Dec, 1.30–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Get your hands on some real Egyptian artefacts. Ages 5–12. FREE The Twelve Days of Christmas Festive Tours Thu 27–Sun 30 Dec & Thu 3–Sun 6 Jan, 2.30–3.30pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Family tours of the collections. Ages 5+. FREE Daft Days! Tue 1 Jan, 2.15pm & 4pm. (ticketed). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Puppetry, jokes and a bit of mayhem at the centre. Ages 4+. FREE Wee Wednesdays Wed 2 Jan, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. An exciting

Too Many Penguins? Mr Polaro thinks that one penguin is more than enough, but Penguina wants someone to play with. Find out what happens in this show for 1–4 year olds from the wonderful Frozen Charlotte theatre company. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 22 Dec.

Fresh Faced Alternative Winter Fayre Tramway’s

regular event for young people, this time with a Christmas theme. Expect stalls, workshops, beatboxing, live music, open mic and more. Tramway, Glasgow, Sat 15 Dec.

RSNO Christmas Concert See preview, page

101. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 22 Dec; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 23 Dec.

Little Ulla Grinagog theatre company bring back

their popular 2011 show about a mountain goat that sees life a bit differently from the rest. Ideal for ages 3–6. Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, Thu 20–Sun 23 Dec.

The Snowman If ‘Walking in the Air’ doesn’t give you a festive lump in your throat, then the melted snowman will, in this charming, funny and poignant Christmas show. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, until Sun 30 Dec.

Edinburgh’s Dogmanay Nothing blows a Hogmanay

hangover away quite like watching a bunch of Huskies running like the wind, and seeing your wee charges look on in delight. Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Tue 1 Jan.

102 THE LIST 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013

workshop based on the museum displays. For under 5s and their parents/carers. Acting Up Drama Workshops Sat 5 Jan–Sat 16 Mar, times vary. £6 for a pay-as-you-go three week session, then £55–£65 for blocks of eight weeks. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Fun drama workshops leading towards a performance. Children with additional needs from 10.30am; ages 5–9 from 11am; ages 8–12 from 1pm and ages 13–16 from 2.30pm. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 6 Jan, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Up, Up and Away Thu 10 Jan & Sun 13 Jan, 10am–2pm. Included in admission. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Explore the huff and the puff of life and learn more about air, your lungs, bubbles and how things fly. Ages 3–5. ARThouse Sat 12 Jan–Sat 23 Mar, 10–11.15am & 11.30am–1pm. £75 for 12-week course. House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, 270 5142. Hands-on art-making including drawing, paintings, sculpture and fashion design. Ages 5–8 from 10am; ages 9–12 from 11.30am. Music for Early Ears: Winter Wonderland Sat 12 Jan, 2pm. £4.50 (adults and non-participating siblings

free). City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. Children are introduced to music using songs, rhymes, creative movement and live music. FREE Tracker Sun 20 Jan, 10am– noon. Hogganfield Loch, 1628 Cumbernauld Road, 276 0931. This time of year yields the perfect weather (snow/slush/mud) for animals to leave their tracks behind. Meet at the car park. FREE Animals of the Imagination Sun 20 Jan, 1–5pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. The Victorians’ idea of a great night in was to invent some new animals. Go along, check out their horned hare and see if you can better their efforts by making up some new animals of your own. Books & Storytelling FREE The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit Storytelling Fri 14 & 28 Dec & 11 Jan 1.30pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. A session of storytelling that brings Beatrix Potter’s fabulous animal characters to life. FREE Peter Rabbit’s Box of Secrets Sat 5 Jan, 1–5pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Dip into Peter Rabbit’s treasure box to find ideas that will inspire a story or comic strip of your own. Ages 5–12.

FUN FACTUAL COMPILATION BIG QUESTIONS FROM LITTLE PEOPLE Compiled by Gemma Elwin Harris (Faber) ●●●●●

As anyone who has ever read an academic textbook knows, finding the simplest, most straightforward explanation isn’t always at the top of the writer’s agenda. Yet who amongst us doesn’t appreciate an easily digestible answer to a complicated question? There is no shortage of tricky subject matters in Big Questions

from Little People, but every page is filled with clear, concise writing, delivered in a warm, friendly manner. Why? Because it’s directed at children. Happily, teenagers and adults can also benefit from this accessible Q&A, which delves into the corners of life where most of us have never ventured.

The book’s compiler, Gemma Elwin Harris, was walking home from nursery with her two-year-old son when the idea came to her. He looked up at the sky and asked his mother what the moon was. A simple question requiring a simple answer, but Harris knew this was just the start, and that more fiendish enquiries lay in wait.

So she set about gathering over 100 of the hugely valid questions children ask on a daily basis. ‘Why can’t we live forever?’, ‘Why do we go to the toilet?’, ‘What’s inside the world?’ and ‘Why can’t I tickle myself?’ are just some of the gems she procured from primary school children across the UK.

But it is what Harris did next that makes this book so special. She solicited answers not only from specialists in their field, but well- known names who add an extra layer of interest, wit and kudos to a set of responses that neither dumb down nor patronise.

Jacqueline Wilson, Miranda Hart, Derren Brown, David Attenborough and many more contribute to this book’s success, the profits of which go to the NSPCC. The only question left for you to answer, is where you’re going to buy it. (Kelly Apter)