Thistles Stirling hosts Littlest Pet Shop
A free event for all kids this summer which allows them to become a vet for the day and learn all about different animals –
Friday 18th June 2021
With the summer holidays fast approaching and families looking for fun activities to attend with their children, particularly as foreign holidays are largely off the agenda this year, Thistles shopping centre in Stirling has announced a free event for kids in the form of The Littlest Pet Shop, which will run from Friday 2nd – Thursday 29th July.
In what promises to be four weeks of animal antics, kids will step inside a pretend pet shop and become The Littlest Pet Shop employees as they help look after their cuddly toy pets. Located near the Barrhead Travel store, children will have their turn at playing vet, complete with lab coat, be given demonstrations on how to care for pets and get involved in exciting interactive sessions.
Thistles has teamed up with local animal charity Reanimate, which works to positively influence the wellbeing of people and animals in the community and rescues and rehabilitates animals of all kinds, with all donations going directly to the charity. The event is free and donations are entirely voluntary.
Doors to The Littlest Pet Shop open on Friday 2nd July with Puppy School. Attendees will pick and name their puppy, learn all about how to look after a dog and how to pamper their pooch too. It’s then onto puppy school where kids bring their toy puppies and join the puppy trainer ‘Jack Russell’ to teach them lots of new tricks.
A new theme will launch each week, with reptiles taking the limelight in week two. The children will learn all about different reptiles, what they eat and how to make sure they don’t escape their incubators, before moving onto snake and lizard training school where they’ll play reptile themed games.
Next up is the bunny spot, where the little ones will help feed the rabbits, hop like bunnies and discover where bunnies burrow during week three, before popping on aprons and creating some delicious bunny cookies to take home.
The final week will see kittens and cats take a starring role. Children can choose and name their cuddly toy feline friend, dress them up to compete in a best dressed cat competition and get involved in some kitty craft to take home as a memento from the day.
Gary Turnbull, Centre Director at Thistles, said: “This is the first event of its kind at the centre and we’re really pleased to be able to offer something so different and engaging completely free of charge to families during the summer holidays.
“We launched our new campaign, #ThistlesHelps, earlier this month which aims to lend a helping hand to the community after a difficult year. We hope that the Littlest Pet Shop goes some way to helping parents and carers when it comes to entertaining their children while they are off school or nursery.
“There’s a new theme each week so we are confident the kids will love the first session and want to come back for more in the following weeks.”
Sharon Taylor, founder of Reanimate, said: “We are thrilled to be the chosen charity for this project and look forward to seeing all the children learning about animals. This project will help us to buy feed, hay and cover necessary vet bills for all the animals under our care. We feel it will be particularly helpful for our oldest resident Twiggy who needs high levels of medication to help keep her healthy.”
Each session lasts 15 minutes, with sensory sessions taking place between 11am – 12pm every Sunday, as part of the ongoing work the centre does with Scottish Autism. The Littlest Pet Shop will meet all Covid-19 safety regulations, with online booking required.
Extra digital content on how to care for pets at home, where to go if you want a pet and information on the charity partner, Reanimate, will also be available to all attendees.
For more information and to book your place at the Littlest Pet Shop, please visit www.thistlesstirling.com. Sensory sessions can be booked via email by contacting informationdesk@stirling-thistles.co.uk.