Spring 2014

R

Find out what Sid Sloaneof CBeebies is up to now.

Meet the group thatbake cakes for

children for free.

Win a family ticket tosee CBeebies live!

The Big Band.

Kids Direct Liverpool For Parents Spring 2014

2 www.kidsdirectliverpool.com

Kids Direct Liverpool Editors Note Spring 2014

3To advertise in Kids Direct Liverpool email: [email protected]

We are recruiting!We are looking for anAdvertising Sales Person towork from home on a part time

basis each school term. Previousexperience preferred. Ideal for someonelooking for part time work to fit aroundtheir family commitments and wanting toenjoy the school holidays off. Access to acomputer and phone essential. Pleaseemail your CV and cover letter [email protected]

Kids Direct is owned by Megan Kneale. Registered trademark no. 1468409. Kids Direct Liverpool is a franchise owned, operated & publishedunder licence by Anna Taylor. We believe all information to be correct but do not endorse any products or services. The views expressedin Kids Direct are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any breach of copyright arising fromartwork supplied by its contributors and clients. Reproduction, in whole or in part, of any of the text, illustrations or photography withoutthe express permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Competitions: Prize winners will be drawn at random, no cash alternativeswill be offered. Personal information will not be shared with organisations external to Kids Direct unless a third party is issuing the prize.

Anna x

FREECAKESFOR KIDS UK

Read about this greatcommunity service whomake cakes for childrenthat may not otherwise

get one ( page 4).

Yummy Hot CrossCookies to make

(page 24).

Kids Direct Liverpool Feature Spring 2014


Free Cakes for Kids UK is a community service for families and organisations who findit difficult to provide a celebration cake for their child and they have been baking forthe children of Liverpool for the last 18 months.Kelly Hyde, decided to set up the service for the city of Liverpoolafter reading about the national scheme Free Cakes for Kids UKon the Internet which started in Oxford in 2008 and now standsat around 78 groups across the UK.This community service receives no funding and relies entirelyon volunteers, who pay for the ingredients and bake thepersonalised birthday cake in their own time to help make achild’s birthday that bit more special.Kelly says, ‘I read about Free Cakes for Kids UK after moving toLiverpool with my partner and little boy. I had started to bakeafter having more time on my hands but wanted to put my baking to some use. I thinkit’s a service that’s needed in the area. Families often struggle to provide birthdaycakes for all sorts of reasons, and at the moment its especially difficult for families whosimply can’t afford it. Currently, we have around 17 volunteer bakers and a deliverydriver to help us ensure the cakes reach the child in time for their special day’.Free Cakes for Kids Liverpool works via a referral system. Interested families are askedto submit an application via local groups such as Foodbanks, Children’s Centres,schools, churches, debt advisory clinics or similar.‘We are always looking for referral partners throughout Liverpool to refer children tous’, explains Kelly. ‘We need to ensure we reach the correct children, the children whowill really benefit from our service. Some of the children are from very difficult

backgrounds, with health problems, financial orsocial issues. When they receive a birthday cakethey have an experience to talk about and sharewith others. They feel they are worthy ofsomeone’s time.’If you would like more information on Free Cakesfor Kids or to offer your support to the Liverpoolgroup, go to www.freecakesforkids.org.uk or youcan follow Free Cakes for Kids Liverpool onFacebook and Twitter @FCFKLiverpool.

FREECAKESFOR KIDS UK

Kids Direct Liverpool Music, Drama & Dance Spring 2014


Little Actors Theatre Company offersperforming arts activities for childrenaged 2½-11. Now with Charitable Statusthey are developing their access for allpolicy. A grant from the John ThawFoundation enables discounts for lowincome families. LATC offers DramaTotsfor pre-school children (singing, danceand drama), plus Theatre Club for ages5-11 has two hours of drama and musicaltheatre. All facilitators are professionallytrained & experienced actors.Participating in the performing artsimproves health and wellbeing and alsobuilds children's communication skills,confidence and self-esteem. For 2014 thechildren will work on a WW1 themedcommunity theatre project. ContactSamantha Giblin on 0151 336 4302, oremail: [email protected]

Kids Direct Liverpool Parties Spring 2014


Would you like a FUN packed memorableparty? The Creepy Crawly Show isenjoyable for all ages and great for homeparties, children's birthdays, christenings,holy communions and other familycelebrations. Everyone can join in fromtoddlers to teens and the adults areentertained too. From party games, musicto ‘Get Me Out of Here’ style challengesand don’t forget the animals, with snakes,tarantula, scorpion, lizards, giant Africansnails, hissing cockroaches, turtles andmany more. Their parties offer greatphoto opportunities and are presented bytheir comical ‘Explorer’ style entertainerwho’ll ensure your occasion is a fun andmemorable one. Available throughoutMerseyside, Wirral & Cheshire.

Book your adventure now: 01244 646045www.thecreepycrawlyshow.co.uk

Happy Hippo’s bring the perfect tea partyto your location of choice!The party prince or princess is seated atthe head of the table on their own thronewith friends dressed up all around themon their own gorgeous chairs. Togetherwith pristine china and tiered cake standsthis is truly a party with panache!Happy Hippo’s offer a whole range ofthemes and boys themes are alsoavailable such as pirate parties.Parties include fancy dress, games, food,entertainment, prizes and there are lotsof extras available too such as facepainting and party bags. Sharon, the headfairy, is now hiring costumes from homeso she can spend more time with theHappy Hippos! Do give her a call toarrange your child’s dream party on 0800074 8651 www.happyhippos.co.uk.

Kids Direct Liverpool Parties Spring 2014


Hours of Fun parties are fun, exciting andactivity packed. They work hard to ensurethe moment you walk through the dooryou are submerged into the theme of theparty, whether it be superheroes, fairies orjungle animals you will definitely know thebirthday fun has begun.Choose to do cupcake decorating whereyou will decorate 4 cupcakes, learning howto roll out icing and to do a frosting swirlwith a piping bag or take on the craftactivities, making some pieces for yourparty outfit and accessories and having alot of fun with glue and stickers.Hours of Fun make the birthday boy or girlfeel extra special and make sure everyoneheads home with lots of fantastic goodies.Currently 10% off bookings made before31�� March. Contact Rachel for your child'sperfect party on 07549 430879 or [email protected]

Take the stress and hassle out of yourBirthday Party arrangements and enjoya party to be proud of at Bubbles’ Worldof Play. Choose from their Underwater,Jungle or African Savannah themedparty booths, each of which creates afantastic party atmosphere where thechildren eat together and sing HappyBirthday.Their parties last 2 hours and include 80minutes of play and 40 minutes in theirdedicated party area with a choice of hotand cold buffet or toddler lunch boxes.Also, choose from a range of party extrasavailable including party bags or a visitfrom Bubbles the Panda. All partiesinclude invites and a party host to ensureyou too have a great time on your child’smagical day. 0151 691 6030



demands of having a TVpersonality for a father.“He went through aphase when it wasn’tcool having a dad onCBeebies because hebecame too old for itall,” explains Sid, of hisson’s growing pains. “Itdidn’t last too longbecause all his matesreally liked CBeebies.They all come up to meand say, ‘are you Josh’sdad, Sid fromCBeebies?’ “And I thinkthey’re winding me upbecause they’re

teenage boys and they’re nearly the samesize as me. Then they run off and comeback with a piece of paper saying ‘Can yousign this for me?”Sid has also said “being on CBeebies hascompletely changed me and the strongsense of responsibility I feel towards ourchildren and more importantly those I’min direct communication with. Every childmatters. I believe the innocence andwonderment and possibilities that theyshow to us is totally amazing.”So, we haven’t seen the last of him! “I willbe influencing children for a long time tocome with lots of plans to enlighten,enliven and inspire through my love oftheatre and performance.Sid's Show is now touring the UK and isaimed at families with children aged 3+and has been wowing audiences allaround the UK since opening in October2012 and it is coming to Merseyside onSaturday 26�� April at The Floral Pavilion,

Kids Direct readers willrecognise CBeebiespresenter Sid Sloane,as one of the most wellknown faces on TV,whether they’ve nowgrown up a bit andgraduated to CBBC or ifthey are parents whoremember watchingSid as part of theoriginal CBeebies lineup of familiar and funfaces.Sid, a.k.a. Gary Gibsongave up a successfulcareer in sales to train asan actor and got his firstbig role starring in a theatre adaptation ofRoald Dahl’s The Twits. Sid then went onto become the last member of the originalCBeebies line up to leave the safety andpopularity of his job as one of the faces ofthe channel after 11 years at the helm. Sidjokes “If I didn’t leave I was afraid theexec’s might forget to ask me to!”During his time as a presenter forCBeebies Sid had some incredibleexperiences “I traveled on Safari in Africa(twice), had picnics in wild animal parks,learnt circus skills, swam with RebeccaAdlington, sang with Noddy Holder,played keepy uppy’s with John Barnes andeven met the Queen. There have been somany weird, wonderful and ultimatelyfantastic experiences and all in the nameof children’s entertainment. ”Sid, who grew up in South London withthree brothers and one sister, now lives inBrighton. He has a 16 year old son –someone who has had to cope with the



New Brighton (Box Office 0151 666 0001).CBeebies viewers know what to expectwith Sid and he does not disappoint. Sidtransfers naturally from television to stageas a performer bringing alive an alreadycolourful set with music, songs,imaginative play and lots of audienceinteraction, all equally vital elements toenthrall his audiences of all ages.Fans of CBeebies will be pleased to hearthat in April Sid goes into recording withRebecca Keatley for a new series of “Let'sPlay“ and then after an expected run up atthe Edinburgh fringe, Sid's Show II will gointo rehearsals before taking to the roadthis autumn, just about leaving enoughtime for a quick panto run in...(sshh wecan’t say yet) before returning to his tourfor 2015.Sid’s other new venture is Oscar StardustLtd, which aims to bring theatre tochildren of all ages with the idea that theearlier children are engaged creatively, themore rounded confident little learnersthey will help to create.Lots of parents mentioned to Sid that hisshow was their child’s first experience oftheatre, and with that in mind, it gave himthe idea to launch a short workshop,“Introduction to theatre for nurserychildren”, showing and telling what goes

on behind the face of the stage andhelping to enrich their experience whenthey see the live performance.Nurseries can now book a personal visitfrom Sid for the introduction to theatreworkshop though places are limited. Youwill need to make a group booking to seethe show first if you would like a visit, findout more [email protected]’s company have also embarked on thelaunch of a curriculum focusedempowerment programme aimed atraising self-esteem and confidence at keystage 2 level, with the aim of facilitatingchildren to produce a theatre show fromscratch! This is a community led project fordisadvantaged children with the focus onpersonal development through workshops.The final project will be a theatreperformance with opportunities forlearning in all aspects of a show’sproduction e.g. sound and lighting, setdesign etc. since not everyone wants to bein front of the audience.The aim is to launch in summer 2014 androll it out throughout the UK. If you thinkyour school would benefit from thisscheme please look on Sid’s websitesidsloane.org for more information.(Photo’s: Leanne Edwards, copyright to OscarStardust Ltd.)

Kids Direct Liverpool Book Review Spring 2014


0-4 YearsThis Moose Belongs To Me by Oliver JeffersA charming and brilliantly silly story about Wilfred who owns aMoose. He hasn't always owned it but one day someone else claimsthe Moose as their own and thus starts a discussion on who reallyowns him. A witty and thought provoking story about whether any ofus really own anything from award winning author of The Way BackHome and Lost and Found.

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies.Noi and his father live by the sea and one day Noi finds a babywhale stranded on the beach and so he decides to take himhome to care for him. Eventually Noi knows he has to returnthe Whale to the sea but the arrival of the Whale has changedhis life forever. A lovely story beautifully written andbeautifully illustrated, perfect for a bedtime read.5-8 Years

Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman.A wonderfully funny and charming tale about one Father's trip to thecorner store and the wacky adventure he ends up on. A laugh out loudbook that both adults and children alike will love and you'll want to readagain and again.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.A dark and enchanting fantasy adventure perfect for girls who prefertheir fairytales with a twist. Every four years two children are stolenaway and taken to the school of good and evil never to return. Anepic page turner that will keep you reading late into the night.

8-11 Years

Book review by Ashley Armstrong, Waterstones Liverpool One

The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star by Jill Murphy.The Worst Witch is back and in an exciting new adventure. When Mildredsee's a shooting star she decides to make a wish never imagining that itcould possibly come true. When Mildred ends up with a small dog thatshe has to keep secret it causes more trouble and mayhem then everbefore. Mildred is one of the best friends you could ever ask for.

The World of Norm: May be Contangious by Jonathan Meres.For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and David Walliams. Following his first 4unfair adventures Norm knows its never going to be his day and before heknows it, he has hurt his wrist, been banned from riding his bike and beenditched by his best friend. If you are new to this series than start at MayContain Nuts.

Kids Direct Liverpool Education & Childcare Spring 2014


HOMES NEEDED FOR FRENCH CHILDRENA group of French children aged between 14- 17 yrs are coming to South Liverpool in Julyfor a 13 day visit to learn English. We havegroups arriving July 3rd – 16th and July 17th– 3oth.We are desperately looking for friendlyfamilies to welcome a young French girl orboy into their home as we still have studentswithout homes. Have you a spare bed orbeds in your home?Some students come over and want to bethe only student in the home but many comeand want to be hosted with a friend.The students have all been learning Englishfor several years and are able tocommunicate effectively. The whole aim ofthe holiday is to improve their speaking ofEnglish and to allow them to experienceEnglish Culture.

The students are out at organised activitiesall day Mon – Sat and are expected to join infamily activities during the evenings and oneday of the weekend.All students have travel passes and will beable to get to and from teaching locationsafter a little initial help. The majority ofstudents will be having their lessons at theLiverpool John Moores University,I.M.Marsh campus, Barkhill Rd, AigburthThis contact with a French teenager can givethem and your family help with speaking aforeign language but can also lead to lastingfriendships.Each family will receive £186 hospitality feefor the 13 nights for one student and £352for hosting 2 students.Anyone who would like to help by hosting aFrench student should contact JennyRowland Tel.No. 0151 336 1694.

Kids Direct Liverpool Great Days Out Spring 2014


Single and 3 day schools available for Easter:Thurs 24, Fri 25 and Sat 26 April.



SPRING AT SPEKE HALL

Speke Hall, set in its own gardens andestate, is a stunning 16�� century Tudorhouse with Victorian interiors nestling onthe banks of the River Mersey.This historic gem on the outskirts ofLiverpool offers a great family day out: Trytheir Victorian maze climbing bridges andtowers with views across the river, or thenew children’s playground where kids canburn off energy. Bring a picnic or eat theirlocally sourced home cooked food in theirHome Farm restaurant.

Get into the sporting spirit with a game offamily ping pong or head out for a bracingwalk along their new coastal trailbordering the Mersey Estuary.There’s a new woodland trail openingsoon and acres of space to simply run

around in. They also have some greatevents this spring: try their Alice inWonderland week, bonnet making andEaster trails supported by Cadbury. TakeMum to Speke on Mothering Sunday andenjoy a walk around the garden followedby afternoon tea in the Stable Tea Room(booking is essential) – or join them incelebrating a Tudor May Day bank holiday.

For more information on what’shappening at Speke Hall this spring go towww.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall orcall 0151 427 7231.Speke Hall is free to enter for all NationalTrust members. There is an admissioncharge for non-members to the house andgrounds.Speke Hall, The Walk, Liverpool, L24 1XD.



The National Football Museum inManchester is the perfect day out forfootball fans young and old. It’s theplace to rediscover what made you fallin love with the beautiful game, or toshare stories with the next generationof supporters. The museum has familyfriendly interactive games and displays,a Discovery Zone for under 5’s and funFootball Plus+ experiences including aPenalty Shoot Out to encourage thosecompetitive grown-ups to show theyoungsters how it’s done! Open daily inManchester city centre, admission isfree and the café and shop have plentyof pocket-friendly deals. For openingtimes and lots more details, visitwww.nationalfootballmuseum.com

15

March 2014

Sat 22nd Mar 2014, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.Morse code challenge. Join theMerseyside Maritime Museum, AlbertDock, to test your skills at sendingmessages without the use of a mobilephone! Free, drop-in event.Tel: 0151 478 4499

Sat 29�� Mar 11am-4pm, Florrie Artsand Craft Market at the Florrie. Free.www.theflorrie.org.

Sat 29th Mar, 1pm-4pm, Carnival Craftsat the International Slavery Museum,Albert Dock. Learn more about carnivaland make your own colourful headdressto take home. Free, drop-in event. 0151478 4499.

Sat 29th Mar, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm, Polarthe Titanic Bear at the MerseysideMaritime Museum, Albert Dock. Visitand listen to the adventures of Polar theTitanic bear, based on a story originallywritten by Titanic survivor Daisy CorningStone Spedden for her son Douglas.0151 478 4499.

Sat 29�� - Sun 30�� March, 1-4pm,Magical world of science at WorldMuseum, William Brown Street. Lots ofhands on activities for an interactiveevent looking at the magic of chemistryand physics. Free, booking not required.0151 478 4393.

Sun 30�� Mar from 12pm, MotheringSunday High Tea, Speke Hall. Join theirHead Gardener for a walk around theirbeautiful spring gardens followed by adelicious high tea. £15, Booking essential0151 427 7231. Usual entry fee applies.

April 2014

Sat 5�� Apr, Southport Pleasureland isopen! Lots of fun and excitement. Freeentry. www.southportpleasureland.com

Sat 5�� and Sun 6�� Apr, 10am - 4pm,Boat show, Martin Mere. Lots and lotsof model boats on display indoors andoutdoors. Have fun with boat themedcrafts and see how wooden boats areconstructed. Admission prices apply.01704 895181. wwt.org.uk/martinmere

Tue 8th Apr, 2pm Start, Family BikeRide with Pedal Away, NationalWildflower Centre. Meet in their maincourtyard by the Cornflower Cafe. JoinPedal Away for a ride around the parkand enjoy the great outdoors.For more information call 0151 738 1913or email [email protected].

Wed 9�� to Sun 13�� Apr, 11.30pm -4pm, Alice in Wonderland, Speke Hall.Celebrate the opening of their newWonderland Trail by joining them for aweek of Alice in Wonderland themedevents. Usual entry fee applies.Tel: 0151 427 7321.

Sat 12�� Apr all day from 10 am.National Learn to Play Day. Free tasterlessons available on musical instrumentsat Dawsons Liverpool on WilliamsonStreet (see page 5 for more details and achance to win a guitar).

Sat 12�� Apr, 1pm-3pm and 4pm-6pm,Funky Roller Disco, Knowsley Leisureand Culture Park. Limited spaces sobooking essential. Tickets £6, includingroller skates, or £20 per family ticket (2

Spring Calendar

adults/2 children). Tickets available atKnowsley Leisure and Culture Park or bycalling 0151 443 2200. For further detailscall 0151 443 5749.

Sat 12�� Apr, 11.30am and 2.30pm,Yummm, Unity Theatre. A highlyimaginative celebration of food usingdance, live music, quirky design andamusing eating utensils for children aged4 to 8 years and their families. Adults £8,Children £6. Box office 0844 873 2888.

Wed 16�� - Fri 18�� Apr, 12pm-4pm,Easter Bonnet Making, Speke Hall.Create your Easter Bonnets and enterthe parade at 4pm. Prizes awarded forthe most creative bonnets. Usual entryfees apply. 0151 427 7231.

Thurs 17�� Apr, CBeebies Live! The BigBand at the Echo Arena Liverpool. GreatBig Band themed show full of all yourfavourite CBeebies characters.www.cbeebieslive.com (see page 14 forour competition).

Sun 20�� to Mon 21�� Apr, 11am-4pm,Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail, Speke Hall.Fun and games in the orchard. Completethe Easter trail and receive yourCadbury’s Eater Egg reward. Trail £2.Usual entry fee applies. 0151 427 7231

Sat 26�� Apr, Sid’s Show, Floral Pavilion,New Brighton. Children will love Sid’sShow performed by Sid Sloane as seenon Cbeebies (see page 9 for your chanceto win a family ticket to this show).

Sat 26�� Apr 7.00pm & Sun 27�� April,1pm and 5.00pm, The Wizard of Oz,Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park.

Join Dorothy Gale as she befriends abrainless Scarecrow, a loveable Tin Manand the Cowardly Lion on their quest tothwart the evil powers of the WickedWitch of the West. Adult tickets £10,children/ concessions £8.

Sun 27th Apr, 11am. Gory Stories at theMuseum of Liverpool, Pier Head. Jointheir education team for this chillingtour and a cold look at the darker sideand hidden horrors of Liverpool. Bookingnot required. Free. 0151 478 4545.

Sun 27�� Apr, 10am -5pm, Great Hall inSt. George’s Hall. St George's Festival. Afun day for all the family in and aroundSt Georges Quarter! Including freeactivities for children and great offersand discounts from participatingbusinesses. Free admission. For moredetails visit www.stgeorgesquarter.org

May 2014

Sat 3�� May, 11.30am and 2.30pm,Rubbish, Unity Theatre. Imagine a worldthat celebrates its rubbish; where, at thetouch of a puppeteer's hand, thecontents of a bin bag can transformbefore your eyes. A visually stunningand playful production, exploring theunexpected value of discarded objects,for everyone over the age of 5. Adults£8, Children £6. For tickets call the boxoffice on 0844 873 2888.

Sun 4�� to Mon 5�� May, Tudor May DayFestival, Speke Hall. Celebrate spring inTudor style. An authentic May Dayfestival with music and entertainment.Usual entry fees apply. Donations forcrafts. 0151 427 7231.

Spring Calendar

16

Sun 4�� May, 11am-1.30pm, Art &Philosophy for Children at The Bluecoat.Family workshop to encourage childrento question what they see, makeimaginative connections between artand the world. Free event but booking isrequired. Suitable for ages 8-12; childrenmust be accompanied by an adult. Formore details or to book visitwww.thebluecoat.org.uk

Sat 10�� May, 11.30am and 2.30pm,Luna, Unity Theatre. An enchantingtheatre experience for 2 - 5 year oldsand their families. Luna is bored andlonely up in the sky by herself withnobody to play with, until she slidesdown from the sky and begins anadventure where she helps a boyovercome his fears of night-time. Adults£8, Children £6. Box office 0844 8732888.

Fri 16�� May, 4pm till late, Light Night,Venues all across Liverpool. Arts andCulture festival over one night forvisitors of all ages. For details visitwww.lightnightliverpool.co.uk. Mostevents are free.

31�� May to 1�� June 10.30am-5pm, TheMillenium Viewcon at the ViewFunction Suite, 73-75 Everton Road.Liverpool’s 1st sci-fi convention heldover 2 days with special guests, stallsselling various sci-fi memorabilia andcomics plus much more. This event isdesigned for all ages. 1 day ticket is £6for adults and £3 for children. Weekendpasses available at £10 for adults & £5for children. For more details or to bookvisit www.si-phi-entertainment.wix.com

June 2014

Sat 7th Jun, 10am-4pm, The LiverpoolVintage Fashion & Textiles Fair, StGeorge’s Hall, Lime Street. Lots offabulous stalls selling an eclectic mix ofall things vintage from the 1890’s-1980’s. Expect lots of original vintage &period fashions & accessories along withtraditional & antique, textiles, jewellery,hats & shoes . Admission £3.

Wed 25�� Jun. Liverpool RSPB’SBirdwatching and Nature DiscoveryCruise. Popular Wildlife Discovery &Heritage Cruises on the River Merseyand out into the bay. Perfect for all thefamily and for both experienced andnew watchers. Cruise with a runningcommentary and experts to answer yourquestions. Bring your own binoculars.The cruise departs Seacombe at 1.00pm,Pier Head at 1.10pm and Woodside at1.20pm. Cruise duration approx 2.5 – 3hours. Ticket prices are £14 for adultsand £7 for children (3-15yrs). Advancebooking is necessary: T: 0151 330 1444.www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Liverpool/events/

Spring Calendar

Please note: Whilst every effort hasbeen made to ensure accuracy, detailsmay change. Please phone the venueconcerned or visit their website tocheck dates, times, prices and if bookingis required before setting out.

Keep up to date:For lots more family friendlyevents, services, competitions

and of course oodles of fun, come alongand join us on our facebook page:www.facebook.com/kidsdirectlpl.

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Kids Direct Liverpool Just For Fun Spring 2014


R S J O M M O F V H V F F W QS M G W X I L Y A R W H E T LC P N G P D S C C I O L Y Y ZB B I B E T A T I L T N C L SX D R L M R I F I S N H D I HX G P Q U B W D F U Z E Z M UF L S R B T A C B O B Z R A NL U D A U Y O K A K D E C F TO P R C C H I C K S T I R X NW V T E K S A B G S R W L W TE U G J Z V E T A L O C O H CR C A N D Y B E L S B S K S MS Z Z G U J U S Q K I T D I KE I Y S U N D A Y L Z G G L EN O I T A R B E L E C E M R Z

BASKETBUNNYCANDY

CELEBRATIONCHICKS

CHOCOLATEDAFFODIL

EASTEREGGSFAITH

FAMILYFLOWERSHOLIDAY

HUNTRABBITSPRINGSUNDAYTULIPS

Q. What do you get if you pour hot water down a rabbit hole?A. Hot cross bunnies!

Q. What do you call a rabbit with fleas?A. Bugs Bunny!

Q. Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke?A. It might crack up!

Q. How did the soggy Easter Bunny dry himself?A. With a hare-dryer!

Q. How does the Easter Bunny stay fit?A. Eggs-ercise and hare-robics!

There are 12 more ofthese bees hiding in thismagazine. Can you findthem all?

How many Easter eggs can you see?





Bubbles' World of Play is the ultimateChildren's Entertainment Centre offeringa whole new concept of Play that is bothfun, educational and fitness enhancing.Housing one of the largest play frames inthe UK (if not the largest), children areencouraged to learn and explore over 30different countries and zones, from theSydney Harbour Bridge to their city roleplay area comprising of a police station,vets and shop to name a few. Withinteractive projectors, their very owntalking penguin maze, ball cannon zoneand numerous time challenge games;Bubbles' World of Play is the mostinnovative play centre around.Parents can relax in the comfortableseating areas enjoying quality food anddrink and free WIFI whilst knowing that

their children are safe and secure thanksto their extensive CCTV system, alarms onall exit doors and secure check in/checkout processes. Parents can also explorethe play frames with their children.Babies and toddlers are also well cateredfor with a large baby sensory area,separate secure baby feeding room withbottle making facilities and passcodeaccess, baby change facilities on bothfloors and plenty of high chairs. Toddlershave the benefit of their own Toddlerframe and a 'New York' themed play area.Located in Marine Point, New Brighton, ithas its very own 90 space car park and afurther 600 parking spaces within theMarine Point complex and just a 5 minutewalk from New Brighton train station.www.bubblesworldofplay.co.uk

Get out and about in the Lake District with help from these gorgeous characters:The Felltarn Friends. Children will fall in love with Robyn the Red Squirrel, Hatty theSheep, Bertie the Mouse and their friends throughout the 96 beautifully designedpages of the Felltarn Friends activity book. There's so much to learn about, from theCountryside Code to wild swimming, pond dipping and William Wordsworth. Gethands-on and creative with crafting pages and try out some new Cumbrian recipes.Decorate and colour in pictures and discover fun facts about new places to visit. Thisbook is truly full to the brim with everything you need to inspire your children to getenthusiastic about the Lake District. Kids Direct readers can purchase the book at anEaster special price of £8.99 by using code KDEGG. www.felltarn.co.uk





This time of year the daysare slowly getting longerand the temperature isgradually getting warmer(we hope), so let’s getoutside with our kids!

Benefits of getting outsideWe’ve all heard that getting outside is goodfor you, well it’s true - and it’s good for yourkids too.This time of year we don’t get enoughsunlight, which can leave many of us feelinga little bit down. However, getting out in theday time, even when it’s often cloudy, willgive you a lot more sunlight than sittinginside, and studies have shown how gettingmore daylight can improve our spirits andmake us more alert. Of course, we may allbe carrying a little extra after Christmas(…and I suspect not many of us have kept

up with the New Year’s resolution diet!),so getting out for regular walks is a bonuson that front too.Why not start a new resolution now, andtry to get out for a family walk wheneveryou can at the weekends?Encouraging your kidsAs any parent knows, distraction is thegreatest tool in getting your kids to dosomething they don’t want to and theoutdoors is full of distractions.At this time of year, set them a challengeof trying to spot the first signs of Spring.Look for things like snowdrops, the shootsof bluebells, and even blackbirds startingto gather a few items to make a nest - yes,they do start this early.Geocaching is another great way to keepkids amused when going on a walk.Register for free on Geocaching.com anddownload one of the many Geocachingapps onto your phone. You can then do a



Wherever you go, get outand enjoy the outside.

www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk

treasure hunt just about anywhere.

Keeping warm and dryWet and cold kids won’t have fun and thistime of year it’s important to be preparedfor all weathers.Putting on layers of clothing is a lot betterthan just a single warm coat.Remove or unzip layers if they get too hotand add layers if they get cold.We always take a back-pack to hold hats,scarves and jumpers for when the kids gettoo hot.Keep dry too. Waterproof trousers for kidswork well this time of year and saves on alot of washing too!Stay away from cotton fabrics like jeans ifit’s wet. As you know from washing jeans,they can take ages to dry by themselves. Thesame goes for anyone wearing wet jeans,who will get very cold (and dangerously coldthis time of year), so stay away from jeanswhen out and about.Snacks also help. When it’s cold kids canburn more calories, and if they run out offuel, they get cold. So take a few snacks,both as a reward for walking, and to keepthem warm.If your kids like hot chocolate, take a littleflask of that along too.Get some disposable hand warmers and putthem in your bag. These are great at revivinganyone who’s starting to feel the cold.

Where to go walkingYou can find loads of places to walk.If you can get on the hills and into thecountryside, that’s great. But if not, therewill still be walks near you. Even gettingdown to the local park and back is a start,but you could set you family more of achallenge. One of our goals this year is to tryand complete one of the long distance walksthat passes through the area. We shall do

it in bits, at the weekends in betweenother family life. The aim is to do it as afamily, though there will be times that notall of us will be able to do it together, butbetween us, we will work together to finishthe walk.There are lots of long distance walkingroutes across the country, and you couldset your family a similar challenge.A great walk for Sundays are places run bythe National Trust. In fact, after visiting afew, we invested in a National Trust FamilyMembership Card, which works out a lotcheaper after just visiting a few properties,enabling us to get in free to places up anddown the country (and also free parking atmany of the National Trust countryside carparks).The National Trust often have selectionwalking routes available for differentabilities, and there’s usually trails for kidswith activities or finding things. Someplaces also have geocaching you can try,and will lend you a GPS to find the treasurecaches.It’s always nice to end up in the tea roomafterwards too (….though it doesn’t helpwith losing those Christmas pounds)…Your local council may have also printedsome leaflets of local family walks too, sopop along to your local tourist informationoffice see what’s available.

www.kidsdirectliverpool.com

Kids Direct Liverpool Recipe Spring 2014

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1. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.2. Grease 3 or 4 baking trays. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and egg until smooth. Next, add the flour, cinnamon and baking powder. Combine the mixture to form a dough. Add the cranberries and the chunks of white chocolate and mix.3. Make about 18 balls and flatten them onto the trays leaving spaces in between. Bake for 10- 12 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and wait a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.4. Melt the 100g white chocolate in a microwave on a low heat for 20 seconds at a time. Use a piping bag or drizzle with a teaspoon to make a cross on each cookie.

Method:

Ingredients:

Enjoy!

Kids Direct Liverpool Eating Out with the Kids Spring 2014




A fantastic competition courtesy of:



www.facebook.com/InSightImgs

Call Claire on 07852 924451 Email: [email protected]

Newborn and baby photographyFamily and Children portraits

Cake smash sessions

InSight Images offers a high quality andprofessional service throughoutLiverpool, Wirral and the Merseysidearea.Claire is the photographer behind InSightImages andundertakes allareas ofportraitureincludingNewborn andChildren'sportrait sessions. She provides mobilestudio and location sessions throughoutMerseyside all year round. Her aim is tocapture beautiful, timeless images thatcapture your child's personality andcreate lasting memories of such aprecious time. There are a number of

packages available that have beendesigned to suit all budgets, startingfrom just £125. Packages include printsand products as well as a selection ofdigital images ensuring you have acollection of stunning high qualityimages for years to come.A very popularpackage they offerincludes 3 sessions:Bump, Newbornand Baby's 1stBirthday, whichbeautifully documents the specialmilestones during your baby's first year.They are also happy to price up anybespoke requests that you may have.Contact Claire on 07852 924451 oremail [email protected].

Maternity sessions

Kids Direct Liverpool Sporting Fun Spring 2014


Think you have what it takes to be the nextTae Kwon Do champion? Or looking to getfit in a friendly club then look no further.Juniors and Seniors can train with multipleWorld and European champion RogerLawrence also a former Team Scotlandcoach. He has won unprecedented successthat led Scotland to be ranked number 3 inthe World. Call Roger on 07973 195 301 oremail [email protected]. Also,Liverpool Tots Kwon Do for toddlers aged 2to 4, use merit badges to mark your child’sprogress. Tots Kwon Do can improvebalance, coordination and give your childconfidence in the art of learning, whilsthaving fun. Parental participation isrequired! So go along and have some fun.Friendly female instructor. For bookings orfor further details call Claire on 07507 720040 or email [email protected].



Airborn Academy is a state of the art urban sport centre based close to Liverpool Citycentre on Boundary Street, in the Liverpool Film Studios Complex and less than 10 minuteswalk from Sandhills railway station. This unique and exciting new venue is the first of itskind in the UK and unites an array of urban sports under one roof; freerunning,cheerleading, trampolining, tumbling, break dancing, aerial skills and martial arts.Their facilities include an urban obstacle training space, competition size cheerleadingfloor, aerial equipment, dance studio and innovative raise training zone with freerunningbar space, sunken trampolines and fast track, all leading to the central foam landing pit.Their professional and fully qualified coaches offer the highest quality of instruction in asafe and inspiring environment. Regardless of age, ability, or fitness level, AirbornAcademy has something for everyone and is the perfect place to get active, explore theprogression of movement, participate in upcoming, exciting urban sports and also meetsome awesome people in the process.Open every weekday evening and from 10:00am -9.30pm at weekends, classes are offeredfor complete beginners right through to thosewith a high level of skill and experience. Partiesand private bookings can also beaccommodated and keep a check on theirwebsite for extra daytime activities duringschool holidays. For lots more details visit:www.airbornacademy.com.



Liverpool Watersports Centre offers awide range of watersport activities. Theiraim is to open up watersports to thewhole community at affordable prices.They provide quality instruction in waterand land based activities for adults,children and groups. Lessons can behourly, half day, full day or as a courseand taster sessions are available too.

Children will also love celebrating theirbirthdays at Liverpool WatersportsCentre. Parties can be from 1 to 2 hoursand include a choice of activities fromkayaking, rafting, canoeing, stand uppaddleboards, sailing, windsurfing &water rollers. Food can also be arrangedfor your child's party in their coffee barwith its stunning views at an additionalcost of £5 per child and you arewelcome to bring your own birthday

cake.For something different, why not bookyourself onto one oftheir Albert DockCanoe Tours? You canpaddle from thecentre in Queens Dockthrough the SouthLiverpool Docklands uptowards the Albert Dock and return. Thetour is taken with one of their instructorswho will guide you and tell you about thehistory of the docks and give you somehandy tips on your paddling technique.

The staff at Liverpool Watersports Centreare friendly, very experienced and arealways happy to help. Contact them on0151 708 9322 or email them [email protected]



Documents

Spring 2014