Families Edinburgh March/April 23

Help Your Child Realise Creative Vision and Win, Without Having to Drive Them All Over Town

Every parent wants the best for their children so they can grow into happy and productive adults.

That’s why you do so much for your child’s future to take them to a variety of clubs and experiences to enhance their learning, yet at the end of the week, you wind up exhausted. Wouldn't you rather put your feet up, have a cup of coffee, or catch up on some work whilst your child’s stimulated and inspired? Spaces are still available for an online art class that can help your child express their individuality in the form of art.

Taught by Paloma, an art graduate from Central Saint Martins with works showcased in galleries, these classes put the emphasis on creativity. Sign up today and enter your child in the art competition. Every entry wins a prize, and with this class, every family wins too with more time together, less stress, and a newfound appreciation of art.

Go to www.palomasartclasses.com/competition to enter for free.

Forth School of Music

We are proud to have a highlyqualified and enthusiastic team who deliver the majority of our individual lessons and group classes from our very own studio space on Newhaven Road.

All of our lessons and classes enable each student to fulfil their potential, and our pupil centered and multisensory approach places meaningful music-making at the heart of every lesson. It is our aim to nurture confident, well-rounded musicians. We look forward to welcoming new students into our community.

We offer 1:1 lessons in piano, trumpet, voice, flute and music theory and run a range of group classes throughout the week -

Mini Musicians (age 3-4)

Little Keynotes (age 4-5)

Storytellers (age 6-10)

Mini Solfa (P1-P2)

Junior Solfa (P3-P7)

Visit our website to find out more. www.forthschoolofmusic.co.uk

EDA, recently voted highest ranked dance school in the UK and Ireland offers classes and exams in RAD Ballet, Commercial, Pre School Dance (for those little movers!), Parent and child Tennie Toes classes, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Acro, Turns and Limbering, Progressing Ballet Technique, Contemporary, Competition and much more! (Including performing in the King's Panto).

We pride ourselves on our high standards and constantly apply ourselves to be the best but the most important thing is that all of our pupils are cared for, nurtured and have FUN!!

We can't wait to see lots of happy faces old and new in the studio this term.

For more information please email hello@eda.scot or call 0131 3344299

Make an meaningful impact on the lives of Edinburgh families

Home-Start Edinburgh strives to do its part in Home-Start’s countrywide mission to help families with children (aged 5 and under) through challenging times.

Since Home-Start began working in Edinburgh in 1986, we have built a fabulous network of volunteers with one simple goal, to provide practical and emotional support to all our families in their home.

From our partnerships with local community projects to inperson family support, our volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, providing wonderful care to all our clients.

What does it mean to be a Home-Start Edinburgh volunteer?

Once you’ve signed up as a Home-Start volunteer you will take part in a training programme which will guide you through working as a volunteer, providing you with the tools and knowledge you’ll need to feel confident visiting Edinburgh families at home.

We will personally match you with families, tailoring your experience and skills to the right family. Our team will support and guide you throughout your time with us, so you can give the best help to the family that needs you.

Whether you are offering a lending hand in the home, taking a trip to the park with the little ones or acting as a friendly ear to help parents in need of someone to talk to, the kindness, guidance, and friendship you will provide is invaluable.

Home-Start has done outstanding work in Edinburgh for over twenty-five years. If you feel now is the time for you to make a difference then this is the perfect role for you. Please get in touch!

We are looking for volunteers who can offer 2/3 hours a week for a minimum of a yearthought we appreciate that some volunteers may need to juggle school holiday so endeavour to be as flexible as possible

For more information about our work or to sign up to our volunteering network please email us at admin@homestartedinburgh.org.uk or call us on 0131 553 7819.

If you have any suggestions on others ways you can help uswe’d love to hear from you.

Facebook – www.facebook.com/homestartedi Instagram – www.instagram.com/homestartedi Twitter – www.twitter.com/homestartedi

Water Confidence with Waterbabies

That moment, when everything else melts away and their smile washes over you.

That skin-to-skin contact, nurturing, bonding and developing in the warmth of the water. Water confidence builds life confidence, for you and your baby, and who better to guide you than the best trained teachers in the world? When you’re ready, we’re ready. We’ll teach you to teach your baby to swim. From lesson one, we’ll get your little one used to the sensation of the water, developing their natural instincts and transforming these into core aquatic skills.

We run lessons at 9 pool across Edinburgh and Dalkeith. Call 0131 554 6682 for information. www.waterbabies.co.uk

House of Jack is a dance studio based in Leith (Ocean Terminal), focussing on street and performance dance styles including hip hop, breaking (breakdance) and musical theatre dance.

As a non-profit organisation, we offer affordable classes for kids from preschool to secondary school (and adults of all levels!), as well as holiday camps, youth company training, performances, shows and events. We welcome all ages and levels of ability and run classes every day, with more than 40 classes per week - learn to dance in a fun, encouraging environment!

Doodles

Why not treat your Mum this Mother’s Day - Sunday 19th March, with either a lovely hand painted pottery item or bring her along to Doodles for a painting session (please note painted items take one week to be ready).

For those wanting to have a go at clay making, there is a Mother’s Day candle holder workshop running on Friday 3rd March, costing £25 per person.

Please call 0131 229 1399 to book today!

St George’s Junior School

The warm and welcoming ethos of St George’s Junior School is evident from the moment you come onto the beautiful site in Ravelston. With around 150 pupils (ages 39), teachers take the time to appreciate every one of the children individually to help them flourish academically and personally.

With access to the generous facilities of a 318 school, your future scientists, artists, and adventurers will experience a wealth of opportunities to foster their skills, talents and dreams.

St George’s welcomes girls and boys in Nursery and Primary 1, and boys will extend to the end of Primary 3 by 2024.

Meet the lovely team and explore the stunning site by contacting admissions@stge.org.uk for a visit or register for Open Afternoon.

George Watson's College sits in the heart of Edinburgh city, providing a world-class education for children and young people from Preschool to Senior 6.

We encourage our pupils to develop a love of learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive enrichment programme, which are underpinned by the four values we live by: aim high, be kind, join in and respect all.

Our school is a place where pupils have the freedom to thrive, explore, perform, and grow, giving them the opportunity to discover their own limitless potential. Preschool, junior and senior pupils all learn and play on the same 52 acre campus, where you can find our sports facilities, music school, art department, technology building, drama studios and more. We offer our pupils one of the widest extra-curricular programmes you will find anywhere, plus the opportunity to travel internationally during their time with us, and a broad range of learning experiences outside the classroom. Life at Watson’s is about so much more than lessons.

Our school has an enviable reputation for the breadth of opportunities pupils have to get active, with around 25 different sports. Participation, excellence, professionalism and equality are the four cornerstones of our physical education and sport department here at Watson's. When it comes to music and drama, our pupils are given the opportunity to co-produce stunning shows, delivering memorable performances that live long beyond school days. Most importantly, the wellbeing of our pupils matters to us more than anything else. There are various ways we support pupils to proactively manage their mental health, while a range of peer-led programmes has created a culture in which we can all play our part.

All this means that when the sun shines we celebrate the happy moments, and when it doesn't we're there to protect and support, just as our motto says: Ex corde caritas - love from the heart.

Easter & Summer Holiday Camps

DnDance

Welcoming boys and girls from 5-12 years old, our Easter Holiday Club at DN Studios in South Gyle is inspired by Matilda the Movie.

Running from Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, our holiday club weeks are filled with acting, singing, craft, dance and games.

Everything we do throughout the week goes towards a fabulous musical theatre performance for parents to watch on the last day. A rewarding week not to be missed. www.dndance.co.uk

TotalRugby Easter & Summer Camps

3rd to 7th April 2023 31st July to 4th August 2023

7th to 11th August 2023

TotalRugby has been running fun packed school holiday rugby camps for 5 to 16 year old boys and girls in Edinburgh since 2009. Our structured yet fun programmes will help develop and improve their rugby skills and techniques in a fun and safe learning environment. We absolutely love seeing children return to us each year allowing us to help them in their next stage of rugby, whilst they enjoy spending the holidays with friends or making some new ones.

One mum recently commented ”..had an absolutely wonderful time, and the organisation and quality of the sessions seemed exceptional…already looking forward to the next camp”

10am to 3.30pm - £180 for 5 days

Fettes College Playing Fields, Edinburgh, EH4 1QX (indoor facilities available if wet). For more information visit www.totalrugby.org or contact us at info@totalrugby.org

House of Jack Holiday Day Camps

Ocean Terminal Centre, Leith House of Jack's Dance & Craft day camps are a fantastic way to spend some of the Easter holidays. Budding dancers and artists will explore and expand their creativity with highly qualified teachers - with two sessions per day devoted to each of dance and art, plus plenty of games, the children will learn fun choreography, as well as enjoying craft projects. Lunch is included, plus a mini-show for parents, guardians & family!  Head to www.houseofjackedinburgh.com for more details and booking.

Another school holiday, another opportunity for our lucky kids to try a new activity or spend longer on one they already love! Camps for both Easter and Summer are already booking up so get your skates on (or alternative suitable footwear!)

Mighty Oaks Holiday Clubs at the Botanics

Will your child be going into Primary 4, 5, 6 or 7 in August 2023? If so, then prepare them for a week with nature like they’ve never experienced before!

They can join our Mighty Oaks team this summer for five action packed days and explore the world of plants through trails, challenges, games, crafts and other activities – all based in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

They will learn about the plants of the Botanic Garden whilst growing new skills, having fun and making new friends.

There are four weeks to choose from and the cost is £225 per child:

• 10th to 14th July  • 17th to 21st July

• 24th to 28th July  • 31st July to 4th August

For more details visit  https://www.rbge.org.uk/holidayclub

over the Easter and Summer Holidays

Rugbytots are running their Easter Camp at the Trinity Scout Hall from 3rd to 7th April and their Summer Camp at the Trinity Scout Hall from 3rd to 7th July and at the North Merchiston Club in Polwarth from 7th to 11th August.

Camps are open to boys AND girls from age 4 to 7 with access to both indoor and outdoor space. For more information, email sandra@rugbytots.co.uk

Our Summer camps and mini camps will kick off on 3 July offering a wide range of options for kids to play and have fun in French !

Story telling, arts and crafts and more fun activities with the best native French teachers in Scotland. Email: frenchclassesife@gmail.com

Summer Holiday Clubs

Looking for a fun activity for your little one

Easter Days Out

Palace of Holyroodhouse

This Easter, explore animals in art at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Join us on Saturday 8 April for a day of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Take inspiration from a cat, a mouse, and Mary, Queen of Scots to create a special fabric panel. Discover stories of Scotland’s national animal before making your own Unicorn Easter bonnet. Enjoy tales of animals who made the Palace Gardens their home and make some creatures to take home in our origami menagerie activity.

Make your own fabric panel activity will also run on 10, 13, 14 and 15 April, and why not pop into the Physic Garden on 13, 14 or 15 April to enjoy activities exploring this special space. Come back again for free by converting your ticket to a 1-Year Pass. For full details of upcoming events please visit www.rct.uk/whatson

Spring Trail: Plants on the move Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh

April 1-16, 10:00-16:30 daily | Age 3+ | £3 | Pick up a trail booklet on arrival | No need to book.

Spring is a busy time of year in the Garden. Follow the busy Botanics magpie as she moves around the garden building her nest. But did you know that plants can move too? As you go, discover how and why plants travel. Complete the trail and collect a yummy Easter treat.

Hop along to Easter at Dalkeith Country Park

We’ve got the holidays covered!

From 1 to 16 April you’ll find a basket full of fun family events & workshops on offer. Jump into the holidays with our Duck Race on Saturday 1 April, then run off all those Easter eggs at our Bunny Fun Runs on Sunday 16 April. Throughout the holidays, little adventurers can enjoy the Fort Douglas activity zone, with a scavenger hunt and egg decorating or hunt for golden eggs around The Park. Easter bunnies can get creative on our crafty kids’ programme. Book now for Easter cookie decorating & Easter decoration workshops, and for the young book lovers, our spring storytelling sessions will be just the ticket. Find out more and book tickets for our Easter programme at www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

Make the most of your visit to Central Scotland’s family friendly steam railway and museum when our 2023 season starts on 1 April. Come travel on our steam railway and enjoy Scotland’s largest railway museum. You can show your oldfashioned ticket to the Guard and he may even let you help him clip it on the journey!

Watch the engine being coupled up to the carriages … is it really magnets that hold them together? Be Harry Potter in a compartment carriage with its own sliding door. Then enjoy some fun in the museum, get hands on and discover railway history through interactive displays, or have fun sorting letters in the Travelling Post Office! Come along and have a great day out! Day Out With Thomas and other special events also booking now. See our website for details. www.bkrailway.co.uk.

Doodles

The Easter bunnies have already started popping up at Doodles. Lots of spring and Easter themed pottery to choose from, such as egg cups, chicks, bunnies, flowerpots and spring animals.

Please book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Call 0131 229 1399 to book today!

Edinburgh Science Festival

City Art Centre five floors of hands-on science extravaganza for children between 3 and 12 years old.

With 6 new workshops this year – including Construction Challenges, Ella’s Wobble, Speedy Sails, Creative Coding, Tech Corner and LEGO® Build The Change – and all-time favourites E.R. Surgery and Splat-tastic, City Art Centre is the most fun a family can have this Easter holidays. Full programme online at www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Healthy after-school snack ideas

By Sarah Alder

It’s a familiar scene across the country at school pick up time. Children come running out of the classroom to greet you and instead of ‘hello’, it’s: ‘can I have a snack?’ . So how do we satisfy their ravenous after-school hunger with healthy foods?

It’s good to have some quick and easy ideas to hand to avoid spending a fortune on packaged snacks.

SavouryFun bites

Fruity

Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and raisins or cream cheese and tomato are really yummy and can even be presented as a stack to make a Gruffalo log pile house!

Vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, pepper etc) are easy to prepare and work well with houmous. Or, for something a bit different, try bread sticks with a yoghurt-based dip or guacamole.

I’m a great fan of savoury muffins. These can be batch cooked and frozen. For a great courgette, spinach and cheese muffin recipe, head to https://bit.ly/ ktsavourymuffin

To ramp up the novelty factor, you can make a simple but tasty savoury mix and keep it in an airtight container for the kids to snack on throughout the week. There’s one at https://bit.ly/kttrailmix you can try. Or you can mix together some dried fruit and seeds if you don’t have much prep time.

Don’t forget healthy cereals which make a great snack especially if paired with some fruit and milk or yoghurt - think popped rice, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat or Cheerios. And then there’s the fun favourite – popcorn! Try popping your own and experimenting with flavours (think cinnamon, smoked paprika, Marmite butter…)

Top Tip

Think of snacks as mini meals which should ideally include a small amount of foods from different food groups to ensure your kids stay fuller for longer. This will reduce the demand for more snacks!

Not always a firm favourite with kids but fruit can be offered in different ways to keep it interesting. Think fruit salad, fruit kebabs, chopped apple, banana and grapes, berries and natural yoghurt (you can use frozen berries to save some money and to offer them all year round).

Fruit smoothies are really tasty and go down well with kids, whilst home-made fruit muffins don’t even feel like fruit! See https://bit.ly/ktsmoothie for recipe.

Carb Filled

Think oatcake with peanut butter or cheese, toasted fruit bread or even a fruity, low sugar flapjack - there’s a great recipe at https://bit.ly/ktflapjacks

You can also serve cheese with crackers or plain scones with cheese. Great for days when the kids really need to get their teeth into something….

who works with parents to support fussy eaters. Visit her site for lots of tips and advice and to find out about her courses and workshops.

Sarah Alder of Kitchen Titbits (www.kitchentitbits.co.uk) is

a meal planning and family mealtimes mentor

Images, top row from left to right: celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, savoury mix, fruit kebabs and natural yoghurt. Bottom row from left to right: courgette, spinach and cheese muffins, popcorn, fruity, low sugar flapjack.

Bringing back playing out

For the majority of today’s parents, the best childhood memories don’t involve expensive toys or organised activities. Instead, they remember the simple pleasures of playing and running around outside with their friends. Their strongest and fondest memories recall a magical sense of freedom and possibility.

There have been many studies into the benefits of free, unstructured outside play. Children playing together use their creativity and imagination to create games and invent rules; they learn how to collaborate, share, negotiate and resolve conflicts. They build resilience, independence and social confidence as they learn to navigate the world without adult interference. All valuable experiences as they grow into young adults.

Playing outside is also the natural, joyful way that children are physically active and develop running, balancing, skipping, climbing, jumping and even ball skills at their own pace. You don’t have to ‘make’ children do this; just look at a school playground at breaktime!

In the past, playing outside was the easy, free way that children got all these vital health and wellbeing benefits, every day. All it needed was safe spaces close to home: streets, patches of land, small parks children could get to. It didn’t need money, a car or an adult to take them.

Today things are very different. While screens and ‘lazy’ children or parents often get blamed, one of the biggest barriers is traffic. UK traffic volume has doubled since the 1980s and roads are now seen as ‘just for cars.’ Parental fears are justified, as the numbers of children being killed or injured on our roads is shocking and should be unacceptable in any society.

So what can parents do?

Gardens are safe but not everyone has one. Organised activities are great but not always possible and don’t replace the benefits of unstructured play.

Play streets are one way to reclaim some of the freedom children have lost. By temporarily stopping through traffic on a residential street, neighbours can open up a safe space for children to play together on their doorsteps.

In 2009, a group of Bristol parents closed their street to through traffic for a few hours to give their children some of the freedom they grew up with. Their council then agreed that this could happen every week. The idea began to spread and they set up Playing Out to support other parents and residents do the same. Playing Out brings more play and freedom into children’s lives in an easy, affordable way. Look into setting up your own space at www.playingout.net.

Children’s health and community Getting started with play streets

Play streets have been spreading across the UK for over a decade now and the positive impact on children is backed up by research: regular extra hours of physical activity, the opportunity to make friends with other neighbourhood children and picking up fun and useful skills such as skipping and riding bikes. In short, all the good benefits of playing out for health and wellbeing that many of us used to have.

Many streets which have been playing out regularly for several years have found that it’s not just the children who benefit; it can bring the whole street community together. Everyone on the street is invited to join in, whether they have children or not.

Friendships between neighbours are formed or strengthened, while older residents often feel less lonely. When Covid left some elderly or unwell people feeling isolated, those living on play streets found that they already had a support network of friends and neighbours on their street.

Play streets aren’t just for children, they’re for everyone on the street!

There are four steps involved with setting up a play street: Consult your neighbours. It’s clearly got to be something that they will either actively embrace or, at the very least, find acceptable.

Apply to your council for permission. Not all councils have policies to support play streets but they can often be persuaded if they can see that there is demand from residents. In these areas, why not start with a street party (for the Coronation perhaps), focus on low key space for play and then take it from there?

Effectively communicate what is happening to everyone on the street.

Release your kids to play out. On the day, volunteer stewards supervise the road closure so that residents who need to can still drive in and out and the disruption to neighbours is minimal. All the information and support you need to take this further is at www.playingout.net

DISCOVER RUGBYTOTS

Our dynamic weekly play sessions enable boys and girls aged 2–7 to develop their social and physical skills in a fun, positive environment. For more details, just call or email: 0345 313 3252

kirsty@rugbytots.co.uk

OUT&ABOUT

We LOVE sharing everything that is going on in and around Edinburgh with you every issue but please remember to check with the venue before setting out just in case anything has changed. All details are correct at the time of going to print but as we've all learnt over the last couple of years - things can change!

MARCH

18th of March Science Saturday: Exploring the Science of Doctor Who National History Museum of Scotland 10.30 – 16.30

Meet scientists whose research might be helping to turn science fiction into science fact! From AI and quantum realms to different dimensions and time travel, Science Saturday brings together expert-led activities that explore the real science behind Doctor Who's interstellar adventures. Contributors include University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and National Museums Scotland.

19th of March Mother's Day Friendly, volunteer staff will welcome you aboard a heritage steam train for a special Mother’s Day treat on Sunday 19th March 2023. Your journey takes you along the shores of the Firth of Forth with views of the majestic Ochil Hills, before you steam past woodlands, wild flowers and waterfalls as you progress towards to Manuel Station. Why not treat Mum and join us in our first class dining car for Brunch, Light Lunch or Afternoon Tea! www.bkrailway.co.uk

19 March Mothers Day at Doodles

Why not treat your Mum this Mother’s Day with either a lovely hand painted pottery item or bring her along to Doodles for a painting session (please note painted items take one week to be ready).

For those wanting to have a go at clay making, there is a Mother’s Day candle holder workshop running on Friday 3rd March, costing £25 per person. Please call 0131 229 1399 to book today!

The world’s favourite rugby play programme rugbytots.co.uk

21st – 25th of March Annie

Edinburgh Playhouse

Wed, Thu and Sat 14.30, Tue – Sat 19.30

APRIL

1st of April – 4th of April

Earth Explored: The Deep Ocean Dynamic Earth, 10.00 – 16.00

25 March Pinocchio

The Studio. 11.30 and 1pm

Steve Tiplady, as Geppetto, uses the objects of a carpenter’s workshop to tell the tale of the puppet that wants to be a real boy, and the puppet-maker who wants to be a real father. Pinocchio is carved on stage, brushes become a fox and the shadow of two saws transforms into a giant shark. An element of improvisation makes each performance unique to its audience.

Puppetry, shadows, illusion and especially composed music combine to create a show with something for all ages; it’s inventive, visually and verbally witty with a big heart. www.capitaltheatres.com

Dive to the bottom of the sea and discover the amazing ways that the ocean is a vast and vital part of our planet! Build mountains and trenches with an AR sandbox and listen to the sounds of the deep, create and test out your own boats, get hands on with microscopes and samples as well as getting crafty and creative with lots of fun family activities! Free with admission to Dynamic Earth.

1 – 15th of April

Edinburgh Science FestivalLet’s Experiment City Arts Centre

Five floors of hands-on science extravaganza for children between 3 and 12 years old. With 6 new workshops this year – including Construction Challenges, Ella’s Wobble, Speedy Sails, Creative Coding, Tech Corner and LEGO® Build The Change – and all-time favourites E.R. Surgery and Splat-tastic, City Art Centre is the most fun a family can have this Easter holidays. Full programme for all venues online at www.sciencefestival.co.uk

29th of March – 15th of April

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Edinburgh Playhouse, 30th of March, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 12th, and 13th of April at 19.00.

15th of April, 14.00

Escape to a world of pure imagination with Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – The Musical.

1-2nd of April and 15-16th of April

FutureFest and Earthfest

National Museum of Scotland

Futurefest (1-2 April) and EarthFest (15-16 April) at the National Museum of Scotland – two family-friendly, hands-on weekends bookmarking the Festival, filled with fantastic shows and new activities. First is a celebration of technology, robotics, artificial intelligence, coding, computers, and space while the latter invites the participants to learn more about our planet, the animals that live here and how we can take care of them. Supported by PLACE funding. EarthFest headline sponsor is Cirrus Logic. Both weekends are supported by Headline Festival Community Engagement

Partner LEGO® Build the Change

1-16th of April

Easter at Dalkeith Country Park

Jump into the holidays with our Duck Race on Saturday 1 April, then run off all those Easter eggs at our Bunny Fun Runs on Sunday 16 April. Throughout the holidays, little adventurers can enjoy the Fort Douglas activity zone, with a scavenger hunt and egg decorating or hunt for golden eggs around The Park. Easter bunnies can get creative on our crafty kids’ programme. Book now for Easter cookie decorating & Easter decoration workshops, and for the young book lovers, our spring storytelling sessions will be just the ticket. Find out more and book tickets for our Easter programme at www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk

1-16th of April

Spring Trail: Plants on the Move

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 10.00 – 16.30

Age 3+ | £3 | Pick up a trail booklet on arrival | No need to book

Spring is a busy time of year in the Garden. Follow the busy Botanics magpie as she moves around the garden building her nest. But did you know that plants can move too? As you go, discover how and why plants travel. Complete the trail and collect a yummy Easter treat.

5th of April

THE HAPPINESS COLLECTORS (4+) Scottish Storytelling Centre 11.00, 12:30 & 14.00

The Happiness Collectors need YOU! The world’s supplies of happiness are running low and they need your help to top them up. Pop on your headphones and join the Happiness Collectors on a journey of sounds and silliness to learn the best ways to collect happinessand most important of all, how to pass it on! Happiness Collectors is a fusion of physical theatre and audio-immersive storytelling for family audiences. Each audience member experiences the show through a set of wireless headphones, guided by their very own Happiness Collector Instructor, SAM, aka Special Agent M.

1 – 16th of April

Edinburgh Science Festival

National Museum of Scotland

For times and prices see more details via link. Join us as we host two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events.

5th of April The Power of the Planet

Dynamic Earth, 10.00 – 16.00

Join us at Dynamic Earth for a special event where you can meet Earth’s real ‘rock stars’ –experts in the field of geology! Quiz experts from the British Geological Survey and find out through dazzling displays and fun hands-on experiences what deep secrets of the Earth can be unlocked by rocks! Free with admission to Dynamic Earth.

6th of April Earth Explored: Wild World Dynamic Earth, 10.00 – 16.00

Get ready to quake, rattle and roll as we dive into all kinds of different natural hazards and some of the weird and wonderful weather that occurs on planet Earth! Make your own tornado and see if you can design a building that will withstand an earthquake, alongside lots more exciting activities for all the family! Free with admission to Dynamic Earth.

7th – 10th of April Easter Steam Trains

Join us for an Easter Treat for the entire family! Friendly, volunteer staff will welcome you aboard a heritage steam train for a return journey that takes you along the shores of the Firth of Forth, with views of the majestic Ochil Hills, before you steam past woodlands, wild flowers and waterfalls. The Easter Bunny will be on board our train with a treat for all children, or you can choose to join us in our first class dining car for Brunch, Light Lunch or an Easter Afternoon Tea! www.bkrailway.co.uk

10th – 14th of April Test Flight

National Museum of Flight, 11:00 – 16:00

Free with museum admission. Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.

Sunday 16 April Easter Bunny Fun Run

Find out more and book tickets for our Easter programme at www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk

23 April Ugly Duckling

The Studio 2 & 4pm

Don’t miss Northern Ballet’s hugely popular Ugly Duckling as it returns to the stage this Spring

Ugly Duckling is lonely and fed-up, ignored by those around her who think she is too ugly to fit in. Follow the duckling on her journey as she overcomes her troubles and learns to love herself and those around her. Retelling the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Ugly Duckling is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time. capitaltheatres.com

10, 13, 14 & 15th of April

Design your own Fabric Panel

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, 11:00 – 15:00

11th – 16th of April

Earth Explored: Planet Protectors

Dynamic Earth, 10.00 – 16.00

8th of April

Animals in Art: Activity day

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, 10:00 – 15:00

9th of April

EASY SUNDAYS (Various ages)

Scottish Storytelling Centre, 12.00 - 15.00

Easy Sunday is a monthly session of stories, music, community and friendship, where warm welcome awaits with a variety of activities for all the family to enjoy. So come find a space to relax amongst friends, old and new, or take part in our rolling programme of events throughout the day, whatever the mood takes you. All sessions are free to attend, supported by the Thrive Network alongside the Scottish Storytelling Centre to create a warm and welcoming space for the community.

Your one-stop healthy food shop

With thousands of plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, organic, free-from, Fairtrade, ethical and eco-friendly products to choose from 37 Broughton Street EH1 3JU & 8 Brougham Street EH3 9JH www.realfoods.co.uk

For

Earth is a beautiful and fragile place, and it’s up to us to look after it! Join us at Dynamic Earth and learn about the different ways you can become a planet protector, make your own mini-bug hotel and natural plant pots, plus lots more for the whole family! Free with admission to Dynamic Earth.

Until 1st of May

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder

National Museum of Scotland

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series' weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault. Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It's bigger on the inside! Ticketed (concessions available).

13, 14 & 15th of April

Holyrood Herbal histories

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh

10:00 – 15:00

all your natural, healthy and nutritious plant-based ingredients