Families Edinburgh September/October 2010

FREE ISSUE 62 September/October 2010 速

Artistic Director Julie Mitchell, LRAD, ARAD, AISTD Examiner of The Royal Academy of Dance

EDINBURGH DANCE ACADEMY Branches throughout Edinburgh and East Lothian

EDINBURGH DANCE ACADEMY Edinburgh's Premier Dance School * Ballet * Jazz * Modern * Tap * Drama * Singing A caring environment where pupils achieve their highest potential.

See us in the Pantomime at The Kings Theatre.

EXAM RESULTS 100% PASS RATE

The popular football programme for children Ages 6 months - 5 years Venues in Edinburgh and East Lothian.

Book your free trial and/or block booking now!

SOCATOTS BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR AGES 1-5

0131 337 3402

call Socatots on 07923 005534 or www.socatots.com/edinburgh&elothian j.smith@socatots.com

Cover Picture www.next.co.uk

www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk 4-6 Coltbridge Ave, Edinburgh, EH12 6AH

www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk

Email - editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk

Tel. 0131 622 0405

What’s

Inside...

Page 2 – 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 – 11

News and Views Holidays in Scotland Time to Achieve By Anna Davis Health and Fitness Investing in your Children’s Future

by Fiona Byron from Morton Fraser

Page 12 – 13 Page 14 – 15 Page 16 – 21 Page 22

Healthy Lunch box ideas Tips to avoid back to school bedlam Independent School News and Open Days Dyslexia – common myths and how to recognize it By Corrina Shepherd Sharing Stories By Fiona Clark Clubs and Classes Listings Clubs and Classes News Out and About

Cover Information: School uniform from Next

Page 23 Jersey Pinafore from £9/€12, Polo Shirt (set of 3) from £6.50/€8.50, www.next.co.uk Tights (set of 2) from £5.50/€7.50 Page 24 – 25 Contact Information: Sarah Adair Editor Page 26 – 34 Families Edinburgh, PO Box 23802 Edinburgh EH7 4XL 0131 622 0405 Page 35 – 39 editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Next Issue: Bookings are now being taken for the November/December issue of Families Edinburgh.

Call or email before October 1st if you would like to book any space.

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news&views Nikki gave birth to her daughter in October 2009. Having worked as a nanny she was keen to stay at home with her and not go out to work. After looking at ways to earn money from home she found the Jamie at Home products. “It’s so easy to sell something you’re passionate about. So I took the plunge and I’ve never looked back. The start up costs are really reasonable and the girls in the team are a great support. I go round to peoples homes, set up my kit and demonstrate the products. It’s great fun, there’s even a DVD from Jamie!

The hosts earn great rewards and there are monthly special offers. I’ve not lived in the area for very long & have met lots of new friends doing this”.

The sky really is the limit with Jamie at Home, hard work really is rewarded.

For more information on joining or booking a party call Nikki 07920 141427 nikkieatwell@hotmail.com

Smallprint Franchise for Sale

Natural Family Planning

Franchise for Sale - Smallprint Edinburgh is now for sale.

This well established business has now been running for 3 years in Edinburgh and is part of the largest Keepsake companies in the UK (as well as having multiple Franchises worldwide). Smallprint create beautiful silver jewellery showcasing your childs fingerprint, hand/footprint, drawing or writing. We can do adults too!! This is a flexible job, perfect for Mums wishing to work around their children. Please contact Karen direct for further details - 0131 334 7893 or karen@smallp.co.uk. Please note its BUSINESS AS USUAL in the meantime!!

Wanted women/ couples wishing to learn Natural Family Planning. NFP teacher is offering this free service for three women/couples in Edinburgh area to complete her training with Natural Family Planning Teachers Association. You'll learn how to achieve, avoid and space pregnancy through the double check system using temperature and mucus charting. The teacher is non religious, she is working from a natural holistic background and currently incorporates fertility awareness methods into her fertility work. For more information contact Elizabeth Biagi on 07777617473 or elizabethbiagi@btinternet.com.

Phoenix Trading Jude Walsh is a Phoenix Trader. "I have been a trader for over a year now, I sell cards gift wrap and stationery on behalf of Phoenix Trading and I love it. My daughter started school last year and I was looking to do something for some extra cash but I still wanted to attend sports day, the nativity play (I cried lots!) and be there for her at the school gate. A friend had a party and I loved the cards so much I decided to become a trader. The cards are cheap but great quality and gorgeous, they sell themselves. I meet lots of lovely people and have fun doing something I enjoy- oh and I get paid for it. I decide what hours I work and there is no pressure, you can work part time or there is a even a full time opportunity, that's the beauty of Phoenix! Even though we are individual traders we support each other and meet regularly, sometimes for training and sometimes for just a natter; there is a real team spirit. I would recommend it to anyone!" If you are interesting in becoming a Phoenix Trader call Jude Walsh (Id 23156) 0131 336 2750 www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/judewalsh

Pretty Pregnant A huge 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized bra – and that’s not including the countless pregnant women whose breasts are changing daily.

Luckily help is at hand with Pretty Pregnant’s specialist bra fitting service.

Pretty Pregnant are the only maternity boutique to send all its staff on a specialist course accredited by The Royal College of Midwives and as such can offer genuine advice and an expert service – handily they also do all this for free!

The average women goes up at least 2 cup sizes throughout pregnancy and their breasts size & shape can change very quickly. Pretty Pregnant offer bra fittings from any time during pregnancy but suggest a fitting from 16 weeks for maternity & 36 weeks for nursing. On average we’d suggest at least 3-4 fittings throughout your term.

The most important things to look for in a bra fitting are firstly how comfortable is the bra? Is the back strap sitting well, no gaping at the front? Do you feel fully supported and there’s no possibility of chafing.

Pretty Pregnant’s Edinburgh store specialist Gail recommends you try on several bra’s instore as finding the right bra is often as difficult as finding that perfect pair of jeans. The Edinburgh store has a range of bra’s from the pretty matching sets at HOTmilk – because why should you compromise on style simply because your pregnant! To the practical & comfortable Anita range – Made from microfibre to be extremely breathable and very stretchy. So if you find yourself getting bigger in the cup you can loosen the straps to get much more wear out of your bra. The Anita Bra’s are also suitable for nursing and the micro fibre dries super fast so you don’t have to worry about leaks. Gail also recommends you try PP’s range of underwired bra’s – Most women are warned away from underwiring but Pretty Pregnant have offered a safe alternative with its soft & flexible plastic underwiring. Since it’s much softer and won’t cut into your skin it’s perfectly safe and offers a supportive alternative to most maternity bra’s.

PP is your one stop shop for all things maternity & nursing and would love for you to become part of their little community – They also run store events throughout the year. Notably an NCT drop in centre during National Breast Feeding Week & upcoming events with Neal’s Yard scheduled to feature expert talks from Midwives, Breast Feeding Counsellors, Pretty Pregnant & Neal’s Yard specialists. Also expect gorgeous goody bags & Raffle prizes as always.

Contact Jess@prettypregnant.co.uk or T:0131 225 9777 for more info.

Children's Sleep Clinic If you are struggling with your childs sleep, pop along and see me, Linda, for a one to one session to chat about your child's sleep.

Booking is essential, and each appointment lasts about an hour.

Sleep Clinics are held at The Ceramic Experience in Leith, just outside Ocean Terminal.

Individual home visits can also be arranged.

www.thesleeplady.co.uk

07827930830

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news&views LORNA FREYTAG

Don’t Let The Weather Stop Play!

We are delighted to be able to offer Families readers another voucher to get 20% off at Polarn O. Pyret, the Swedish brand for babies and children (see page 35 or register at www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk and download it).

Their desire to make the best children’s clothes in the world starts with the vision to let children be children, and their Layers concept for coats and outerwear is unique. Water repellent, breathable yet windproof fleece jackets, perfect for September become a cosy middle layer under a waterproof coat in mid-winter.

This autumn, Polarn O. Pyret launch a Fleece Jacket made entirely from 25 recycled plastic bottles. The smart soft fleece is water repellent, wind proof yet breathable and never bobbles. Perfect for autumn days out, and as a middle layer when the weather turns cold.

Find out more from the friendly PO.P staff in your local store (Jenners) or check out the website www.polarnopyret.com.

Independent schools A quarter of pupils at Edinburgh’s secondary schools are educated at the city’s independent schools – the highest proportion anywhere in the UK. Around 11,000 children of mixed abilities from diverse social backgrounds are educated at Edinburgh’s independent schools. Each school has its own distinctive, almost tangible ethos, which is why a visit is essential. It’s the only way to gain a true sense of whether your child is likely to be happy there. See our feature starting on page 16.

OXO Nightlights We love these in our house as 2 members of our family don’t like the dark (don’t want to give too much away but only one of them is a child and the other one isn’t me!) OXO’s new warm and cosy nightlights are available in two stunning colourways.

Each energy efficient set comes with two portable Tooli’s: one for providing gentle lighting in baby or toddler bedrooms; the other for hallways or bathrooms to encourage brave midnight trips. We took ours camping and they were great. We kept them on when people were dropping off then switched them off to save energy as we didn’t have a method of charging them while we were away. The energy efficient LED lights charge during the day and automatically illuminate when lifted from the charging plate as night time draws in. The nightlights are simple to use and are cool to the touch, perfect for protecting little hands, and even stay lit during power cuts. Price (per set): £50. Available at Mamas & Papas stores.

For details, please call OXO on 0114 290 1455.

Bespoke Children's Portrait Photographer Originally from Edinburgh, Lorna Freytag has worked as a children's photographer in New York, Dubai, London and Sydney. Her work has appeared in publications such as Junior, Studio Bambini and Collezioni.

She has also completed projects for Harrods and several exclusive children's boutiques.

Inspired by dark forests, magical landscapes and old fairytales, Lorna uses her imagination and unique style to produce spellbinding images. Her children's portraiture gives her the opportunity to do what she loves best; creating enchanting pictures to be treasured forever. Each image is unique and created entirely by Lorna. From the first rough sketch to the final detailed retouching.

Initial consultations can be done easily by email or in person upon which time Lorna will explain her full working process. Lorna will be happy to discuss any thoughts and ideas you may have for your childs portrait. If you would like to arrange a consultation, Lorna can be contacted at: hello@lornas-portraits.com.

Examples of Lorna's work can be viewed at www.lornas-portraits.com

Happy 10th Birthday to Wee Masons in Haddington!

Wee Masons understand that children must enjoy wearing their shoes, which is why they are proud to stock such a wide variety of shoes in a range of trendy colours and fabrics.

All the staff are Start-rite trained, so you can be assured of quality service and fitting.

They are also delighted to report that William Masons in North Berwick is now fully re-furbished after terrible storm damage earlier this year. The store is light, bright and modern with the same welcoming service as ever. www.mason-shoes.co.uk

Food Monsters healthy eating activities Do you want your baby to enjoy healthy food, now and in the future? Start life beyond weaning as you mean to continue with a Food Monsters workshop. Workshops include: • A review of the ‘solid food’ babies should and should not be offered • A review of ‘baby-led weaning’ and traditional baby puree methods • Practical ideas to encourage you and your baby to enjoy healthy food together • A hands-on interactive tasting session (for babies and parents!)

• Lots of opportunity for discussion • An Information Pack to take home, including recipes and practical hints and tips.

Current workshop dates are: 25th August, 2nd September, 15th September and 30th September. Workshops run from 10.30am to 12pm, cost £20, and take place at a venue in Edinburgh. Group workshops can also be arranged at a time to suit you.

Contact Claire for further information and availability: claireburrell@foodmonsters.co.uk or 0131 538 4815. Check out www.foodmonsters.co.uk for photos, and fab testimonials from parents!

Wester Coates Nursery School Wester Coates Nursery School - a small city centre kindergarten, has celebrated its 20th birthday! A Charity Fundraising Reunion was held and much chatter ensued as children, teenagers and adults alike shared photos and memories and enjoyed afternoon tea. The children's efforts, and an auction, resulted in £4660.00 being raised and split equally between The Royal Hospital for Sick Children Edinburgh, and The RGA Trust Edinburgh.

WCNS believes in a holistic approach to Early Education whereby each child is considered unique, and their experiences are extended through fun filled sessions full of play. Qualified staff interact and carefully guide every child towards early literacy, numeracy, problem-solving and social skills, as relevant at any given period. Much time is spent out of doors both in the extensive garden areas and in the wider community. By ensuring a balance of structure and familiarity, coupled with freedom and exploration, all conducted in a variety of individual, group or 'class' situations the best of all worlds is achieved. It was deightful, therefore, to find at the reunion new graduates, youngsters at college and in work, teenagers undertaking academic and vocational course work, and school children who all hold the nursery in warm regard - almost like an extension of their family. To find out more email wcns@hotmail.co.uk

Vanilla Bloom has moved location and launched its website!

Edinburgh based Boutique Vanilla Bloom has now moved to its exciting new location at 6 William Street. Although not far from it's previous spot, the store has come a long way in terms of surroundings and is now equipped to showcase its beautiful nursery furniture, bed linen and plenty of nursery essentials to suit even the most discerning of mums, and mums-to-be. Please do pay us a visit when you are next in the area, our opening times can be found on our website www.vanillabloom.com In addition to our fully equipped nursery range we also stock some super-glam maternity ranges by designers such as Tiffany Rose, Attesa and Elle Macpherson. If it's the little ones you are looking for we stock leading brands including D'arcy Brown, Catimini, Mayoral and will soon be exclusively launching a new brand called 'Miniature'. Whatever your occasion, Vanilla Bloom has something for you. Vanilla Bloom, 6 William Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7NH, Tel: 0131 2202502

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news&views Rosie’s Kitchen Rosie’s Kitchen in Edinburgh is continuing to cook up a storm with its fabulous, home-made party food.

While most of Rosie’s mouth-watering ranges are aimed at children, the business is also having great success with its ranges of adult treats and party platters. Designed with grown-ups in mind, the range comes in both savoury and sweet varieties and includes sumptuous treats such as parmesan shortbread with feta cheese and sun-dried tomato, and mini savoury muffins with fabulous flavours including courgette and sesame seed, crispy bacon or spicy chorizo. Sweet treats include gorgeous cupcakes, crumbly bakewell tarts, moist bite-sized chocolate brownies and mini lemon muffins topped with edible gold stars. Fabulously decorated, delicious birthday and occasion cakes are also topping the popularity stakes.

Rosie Hansen, owner of Rosie’s Kitchen said; “We’re finding that our home-baked products are in demand not just for kids but also for grown-ups hanging around while their child enjoys some party fun. We’re also catering for a growing number of adult birthday parties, anniversaries and other special occasions and are further developing our range of tasty treats to add to the current mix.”

More information is available at www.rosies-kitchen.co.uk or by visiting the Rosie’s Kitchen Facebook page.

Roseburn Primary School You might have read in the papers before the summer holidays about some local parents who fought to get their children into Roseburn Primary School. The parents, who lived just outside the catchment, had failed in an appeal to get their children places at the school so joined forces to take their case to the Sheriff Court to get the decision reversed.

Fortunately, places became available for their children so they didn’t have to proceed with any legal action. However, Pete Gregson, a parent with no legal experience, offered to act as the authorised lay representative in Court for the families, which meant there were no legal fees to pay. He has documented their battle and also his DIY guide “The Procedures of Court” to help any other parents who find themselves in a similar situation.

Go to www.roseburn32.plus.com to find out more.

Fairmilehead Baby and Toddler Group Fairmilehead Parish Church, 1a Frogston Road West, Edinburgh, EH10 7AA. We are a friendly group for children from birth up to 5 years. Mums, Dads, Grandparents, Nannies and Childminders are sure of a warm welcome.

We meet from 10am to 11.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Plus Wednesdays from 1.30 to 3pm. (This is a drop in class) Each group has a leader who will welcome you when you arrive. We aim to provide support and a network within parents in the community. The room is set up for free play for the children, snack for everyone and a song-time to finish. Each session has space for up to 24 Adults and children. First week is free then cost is £2 per week, paid in term blocks Please contact Fiona Brien 07905 571555 (Attendance coordinator) at fairmileheadtoddlergroup@hotmail.com

Parent and baby classes at Edinburgh Montessori Arts School.

Edinburgh Montessori Arts School is the new umbrella organisation incorporating Morningside Montessori Nursery. The school opens its primary programme in August this year and in addition are hosting specialist groups for parents interested in baby and toddler development. The Lauriston room in Barclay Viewforth Church provides the ideal setting for you to share special time with your child. Parents have the opportunity to observe their little ones in a specially prepared environment. Nancy Cecchetti; ‘Assistant to Infancy’, works with you to develop a gentle cycle of observation, play and attachment building.

Termly classes include insights into all areas of children’s development as you work through a structured programme of observation and interaction. Topics covered include; physical development, sensory play, bonding with your baby, infant-toddler massage and much more - alongside lots and lots of ideas to try at home.

“Nancy is so calm and gentle in her approach, the ideas she has given me for activities have really helped my interaction with my daughter.” Trish Thornton – Montessori mum Parent and baby classes – every Wednesday during term time Parent and toddler classes – every Thursday and Friday Term one is August – October and a terms classes cost £160 for parents and babies (up to 14 months) and £250 for parent and toddlers (14mths – 3 years).

Contact 0131 446 0777 for bookings.

Seesaw Seesaw on Broughton Street, who sold wooden toys and reusable nappies, has sadly closed and wishes to thank everyone who shopped there over the last few years. One of the owners has started a new venture called Relove on St Stephen St, Stockbridge selling quality second hand baby clothes and equipment at bargain prices. 0131 226 4141. Open Mon - Sat / 10.00am - 5.30pm

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Baracaldine House Barcaldine recently won a child friendly award at the Scottish Hotel Awards, marking the hotel’s relaxed home from home feel. There are plenty of family hotels that put on entertainment for kids and this isn’t one of them – there’s not a clown or soft play in sight, just an ease with children to wander in and out, staff that are happy to stop and chat with your off-spring and beautiful grounds to explore. There really is no need to “shush” your children.

WONDERFUL CAKES FOR ALL OCCASIONS (we also provide wheat, gluten, dairy, egg and nut free) CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN Order before 30th September for 25% off Xmas package deals. phone maggi on 07706 379114 or email maggiorr@hotmail.co.uk www.orrganiccakes.co.uk

The hotel, near Oban, is under new ownership and they have worked very hard to breathe new life into Barcaldine and create one of Scotland's true Hidden Gems. “We are looking forward to making the experience at Barcaldine even more magical and to welcoming new guests into our beautiful hotel.”

Head Chef Craig Ferguson (who won Rising Star Chef of the Year) sources this menu from local waters, lands and even from the Barcaldine Garden. There wasn’t a children’s menu and although our children enjoyed a meal with us, it seemed that other parents had fed their children earlier and were enjoying a peaceful grown-up meal alone!

It’s great for a family weekend away with loads to explore nearby – the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary is just up the road.

Or if you’re thinking of getting away for a bit longer during the October break they also offers self-catering accommodation set around a beautiful courtyard.

The 1709 country house hotel is surrounded by enchanting forests and secret gardens - a joy for children and adults alike. Barcaldine House makes a convenient base when exploring Argyll & Bute and the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, with easy access to spectacular mountains, beaches, lochs and glens as well as a range of superb activities in Argyll. www.barcaldinehouse.co.uk

Country house hideout

Beano the Clown Magic, Balloons, Songs & Games -5s & +5s, 1hr & 2 hr,

Tel: 07948-070 569 Web: Beano.theclown.free.fr

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There is an undeniable excitement of turning up for the first time at Chesters. Greeted at the stable block by the lovely and very friendly owners John and Ellie we were asked if we wanted to unload the car or go straight to our “tent”. Our car was left fully loaded as we scampered off into the woods in search of our hideout.

Cars aren’t allowed any further at Chesters and although there is a warning about traffic that might be moving around the Estate we didn’t see anything when we were there. As we ventured deeper into the woods the thought of lugging everything we’d crammed into the car an hour or so earlier did keep playing on my mind – I’ll be honest, it’s quite a walk - but as we emerged from the walled gardens the niggling stopped and was fully replaced again by bubbling excitement.

Out hideout for the weekend came complete with wooden floors, a stove to light to keep us warm and make coffee on, table and chairs, sink and a campers dream….a flushing toilet. Actually, even more of a campers dream – proper beds with warm duvets on them!

The tents also have battery powered lights – powered by cycling on the bike on the porch to charge the battery! Dads age immediately dropped to about 8. Each tent has a discovery tent next door which has art materials, books, a telescope, microscope, binoculars and various explorer type “stuff”!

As well as the grounds to explore there is also a boat to play with on the river (we spent a long time rowing upstream not going very far and a very short time going down stream back to our starting point!) and also a croquet lawn. There is also a bothy with various groceries, vegetables and supplies and within the walled garden a huge vegetable garden to help yourself to.

It’s a place where our kids got to do proper old fashioned kid things - run through the woods, swim in rivers, gather kindling for the fire, pick vegetables for their tea. We had a fantastic time – it’s impossible to rush your day when a cup of coffee in the morning requires a wood burning stove to be lit and you can’t have a shower until you’ve rolled your barrel up to the shepherds hut to fill it with hot water.

It’s very much pretend roughing it and the warmest camping trip I’ve ever been on. Small word of warning – the ground around the tents had been recently disturbed when we were there in July (due to the setting up of the hideouts) which means it was a bit uneven outside. However, given time the hideouts will grow into their surroundings beautifully, I’m sure, and it’ll be even better than it already is!

Chesters is near Jedburgh in the Borders. www.countryhousehideout.com

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Time to Achieve Starting after the summer holidays A course for women returning to work Are you looking to get back to work after a break?

If you want to feel confident about relaunching your career, develop your computer skills and update your CV and interview technique, then The PCT Partnership's 'Women Returning to Work' course is for you. The course will also re-introduce you to today's working environment and give you guidance and support in finding work.

The 16 week course is funded by Skills Development Scotland and is free if you live in Edinburgh and the Lothians and have been away from work for 13 weeks or more. Programmes will start in September and November 2010 and February 2011.

For information call The PCT Partnership on 0131 622 6240 or email training@thepctpartnership.co.uk

How often do you say “I haven’t had time…”? Yet, look through history and think of people who you admire who have achieved amazing things they all had the same number of hours a day. So how did they achieve it?

As a coach & consultant, I have discovered many techniques for making the most of your time and achieving more. I have found these fall into three core areas that will vastly increase your effectiveness, feeling of control - and ultimately your happiness. Within each area I have numerous methods to help you progress, depending on where your greatest improvements could be made.

Today, I am sharing 3 or 4 tips for each area. Find a pen and paper and start the new school year on the right path....

Top ten tips to achieve your dreams Clarify your priorities 1. Clarify what you want out of life – This deceptively simple exercise is a good starting point: Write down ten things which you would like to achieve within the year, large or small. Focus on the one that would have the biggest impact on your life. Write down all the actions you need to undertake to achieve that goal.

Decide what you can do this week and do one action every week to move you forwards.

2. Remove extraneous activities – If I were a fairy (and not just a tooth fairy!) and could magic you an extra hour a day, what would you do with it?

Alternatively, if I were a baddie (to use my 4 year old’s vocabulary), and took away an hour a day, what would you stop doing? Now…replace one with the other!

3. Look after yourself – We can cope with almost anything as long as we are both mentally and physically strong. Schedule (on your family calendar), regular time each week to do exercise and to relax.

Keep that time sacred.

Get organised 4. Organise your correspondence – Start organising your paperwork by buying a 31 day expanding pocket file. The slots correspond to the next 31 days in a rolling manner. Put all invitations, tickets, cards etc into the day you need them (a couple a days beforehand if preparation is required e.g. a present to buy). Just make sure you check it every day!

5. De-clutter – Don’t try to de-clutter a whole room.

Break it down into individual shelves or drawers.

Dedicate 15 minutes a day to making progress and

put each item into one of four buckets – keep, throw out, give away (charity/ freecycle.com), sell (ebay.co.uk/gumtree.com).

6. Put systems in place – Design systems and routines. For example, when the children get home from their swimming class, rinse and dry their things then re-pack into swimming bags for next week.

Get it all done 7. Delegate – Don’t take everything on your own shoulders. Delegate tasks where possible and make sure the children have their own, age appropriate, responsibilities.

8. Plan – “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. Many things on our to-do list are not actions at all, but “projects” requiring two or more steps. Write out all the steps so you know where to start and what is stopping you.

9. Be punctual – Calculate your “Stop Working on Everything Else Time” (SWEET spot) by working backwards from the appointment. Include plenty of buffer time for unscheduled delays - at least 10 minutes when leaving the house for the inevitable dirty nappy, lengthy toilet visit, accident or itinerant shoe.

10. Stop procrastinating – Select an issue which needs thought but which you have been putting off. Start a timer for exactly 5 minutes. Brainstorm (do not judge) the issue non-stop until the timer goes off. Read through and underline any significant insights or actions. What can you do first?

These are just the tip of the ice-berg. There are many more techniques and much more depth to uncover. It can also be hard to make some changes without support…cue my “Time to Achieve” courses which take you step by step through a detailed process to get your life under control and moving in your chosen direction. If you would like to find out more email anna@balancedmum.com, ring 07764 235394 or go to www.BalancedMum.com – don’t procrastinate as there are limited places! PS you receive a free pocket file!

Anna also does career coaching for people who are dissatisfied with their current career situation or returning to work after a child, and personal coaching to provide support to help you achieve your goals.

New Job? Why not start your own business?

Become a consultant selling high quality home ware.

Great commission & build your own team.

Great free products for party hosts.

Contact Nikki on 07920141427 or nikkieatwell@hotmail.com over 18’s only

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Would you like to work from home with flexible hours that fit around you?

Become a Phoenix Trader and run your own business from home! Selling a fantastic range of quality greeting cards, gift wrap and stationery.

• Low cost start-up • No pressure or targets • Support and help given • Good profit margin Please contact me to find out more Jude Walsh (Id 23156)

0131 336 2750 www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/judewalsh

Health and Fitness Zumba

Pilates

Let's face it, working out can be healthy, rewarding and beneficial. It can be lots of things, but it's never been known to be an exhilarating experience…UNTIL NOW! In the past years, the Zumba® program has become nothing short of a revolution, spreading like wildfire, and positioning itself as the single most influential movement in the industry of fitness.

Although Pilates has been around for 80 years, it’s only in the last ten years or so that people have started to hear about it.

It’s a great way of toning up, improving your posture and strengthening your muscles – what makes Pilates so effective is that, whether you’re a first-time exerciser or a top athlete (the Chelsea football team do Body Control Pilates every week), the exercises can be adapted for you.

Body Control Pilates is Europe’s largest professional body for Pilates teachers and there is a really active community of teachers in Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. Everyone is trained to a level that exceeds the UK national standard for Pilates.

With more people going to Pilates classes than ever, there is always a need for good,new Pilates teachers. Body Control Pilates is, in fact, running a training course in Edinburgh and Glasgow starting in October this year – courses normally run in London so this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to train locally with the UK’s leading Pilates organisation. If you have some experience of doing Pilates and you would like to have a career teaching Pilates, you are welcome to apply for the course.

If you are already a qualified Pilates teacher but would like to retrain as a Body Control Pilates teacher, a new ‘conversion course’ has been launched. It builds upon your existing qualification and is already proving very popular. The next course runs in London in October with five days of tuition, followed by practical work that can be done in Edinburgh.

Finally, a very rare treat for all Pilates teachers with the visit of Lolita San Miguel to run some workshops at The Pilates Place in Edinburgh on September 4th and 5th. World renowned, Lolita is one of only two teachers who were certified by Joseph Pilates, so she provides a fascinating link back to the origins of the Pilates Method. Her workshops are open to all Pilates teachers and are highly recommended!

For more information, please call The Pilates Place on 0131 555 6423, email them at info@thepilatesplace.org.uk or go to www.bodycontrol.co.uk

Cath Buchan, an advanced personal trainer who has been instructing fitness classes in Edinburgh and the Lothians for the last 10 years, has Zumba® classes in a variety of locations and explains more about the phenomenon.

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. The goal is simple: To get you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in an exciting session of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!

What is so great is that it is designed for anyone and is attracting people who are used to working out and far more who are not.

The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat.

Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got a Zumba® class!

Cath has a number of classes across Edinburgh and West Lothian, come along and join the party! Check out her website at www.cathbuchanzumba.com.

Weight Loss Cath’s experience of Zumba® is that it is great for working the waistline and certainly assists with Weight Loss.

But why is weight loss so important?

Understanding The Problem (UK & Ireland): • 46% of men and 32% of women are overweight.

• 17% of men and 21% of women are obese.

• The percentage of adults who are obese has doubled since the mid-1980's.

• 60 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women, and half of primary school-age boys and one in five girls aged up to 11 could be obese by 2050.

• There are soaring rates of diabetes, strokes and heart disease caused by more Britons becoming fatter.

These are sobering statistics, but what is also important is how we feel in ourselves. Not just vanity, being overweight can cause sore knees, hips and can aggravate lower back pain to name a few.

Many of us want to lose weight but lack the will power to make the changes in our lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a combination of good nutrition and regular exercise.

This is where weight loss groups can come in and the 12 week community weight loss challenges being run by Cath provide a great opportunity to learn how to change your life and to successfully make that change, whilst cementing new friendships.

Total weight loss in the previous challenges was in excess of 30 stone at an average of 12lbs per person. That could be you. - join a weight loss group or come along to bootcamp at the Gyle Park, Saturday 2pm Have a look at www.cathbuchan.com for more information or feel free to pick up the phone 07909952015 to find out more.

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Investing in your Children’s Future As a parent you will want to ensure that your child has the best possible start in life.

Many factors will be out of your control but helping your children out financially is one thing that you can plan for whether it be funding school or university fees, helping them to buy their first car, starting a wedding fund or building a deposit for a first home. What options are available if you want to save something in your child’s name that you look after for them?

With the Government announcing that Child Trust Funds will be abolished from January 2011, you may be wondering where to start.

There are many factors to consider such as the type of savings product, how often you make payments and the tax implications.

And importantly, how much can you afford to save?

Children’s Bank Accounts Most banks and building societies offer children’s savings accounts. These operate in a similar way to adult savings accounts and there are various types available, with the rate of interest differing depending on the individual product and provider.

Children, like adults, have their own income tax allowance: £6,475 for the tax year 2010/2011. Interest on their savings account can be paid gross (without tax being deducted from the interest) by completing a form R85 which you can pick up from most bank and building societies. This can also be downloaded from HMRC’s website.

If a parent or step-parent decides to save on behalf of their child and more than £100 interest a year is produced, that interest will be taxed as the adult’s income even though it has been paid gross to the child. The adult has to include it in their tax return.

This rule does not apply to money invested by grandparents or other family members.

Government Savings Products National Savings and Investments (“NS&I”) offer a number of tax-free products which are suitable for children: Children’s Bonus Bonds, Premium Bonds and Indexed-Linked Savings Certificates.

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Children’s Bonus Bonds are only available to children under 16. An additional bonus is paid if the Bond remains untouched for 5 years. The Bonds are available in “issues”, each having its own rate of return. For example, Issue 34 (on sale as at 26 July 2010) offers an interest rate of 2.50% pa/AER. Between £25 and £3000 can be invested in each issue.

Like an adult, a child can also own between £100 and £30,000 of Premium Bonds.

Interest is not paid on Premium Bonds. Instead, each Premium Bond is entered into a monthly prize draw, with prizes ranging from £25 to £1,000,000. Any prizes won are completely tax exempt.

A child can also invest between £100 to £15,000 in Index-Linked Savings Certificates for a 3 or 5 year term. If the child is under the age of 7, these must be purchased by someone else on their behalf. Index-linked Savings Certificates are guaranteed to keep up with inflation, with a guaranteed rate of interest.

Due to over-subscription, there are currently no Index-linked Savings Certificates on issue. However, National Savings and Investments have indicated that new issues will be available in the future. No specific date is available at this time.

Individual Savings Accounts (“ISAs”)

A Note of Caution…

A child can open a cash ISA at 16 and a stocks and shares ISA at 18. Until then, a parent can use their own allowance (£5,100 for a cash ISA or £10,200 for a stocks and shares ISA) as a way to save for their children even though the ISA has to be in their name, not the child’s. ISAs are tax efficient investments and are not subject to income or capital gains tax.

It is worth shopping around as the return on ISAs varies between providers.

If you save for your child then you hope that the pot will grow over time. However, you need to remember that a child is classed as being an adult with legal capacity in Scotland at age 16. They can insist that any assets held for them must be transferred to them. Depending on how much you see yourself investing for your child, you may want to consider setting up a trust for your child to hold the investments or savings. This would ensure that the capital is protected and managed properly for your child and they cannot access the capital directly at too young an age. How much would you feel comfortable with your 16 year old getting their hands on?!

Investments You might want to invest directly in ‘stocks and shares’ for your child. When you invest in the stock market, there are more risks involved, and crucially you need to understand that the value of your shares can go up and down. This risk has to be weighed against the possible returns and is an important consideration. A less volatile option could be to buy what are known as collective investments. The Fund you buy has itself many different underlying investments so that you are more sheltered from the risk of any one company’s poor performance. Investments can be bought in the child’s name which you look after for them.

Children have the same capital gains tax annual allowance as an adult: £10,100 currently.

Pension Starting a pension for your child may seem an unusual savings option. However, under current pension laws, anyone can save up to £3,600 per year in a pension scheme on behalf of a child. Contributions attract tax relief at the basic rate, currently at 20%. In other words, the contributor pays £2,880 into the scheme, and the pension fund claims tax relief of £720 from the Government to top up the contribution to £3,600. You can set up a pension and pay the contributions for any number of children under 18. Money is invested for the long term though, and under current regulations cannot be accessed until the child reaches 55.

Fiona Byron is a solicitor in Morton Fraser’s Asset Protection team. At Morton Fraser we can help you consider your child's future and help you plan ahead financially. If you would like any advice on this then Fiona would be happy to help 0131 247 1161 or fiona.byron@morton-fraser.com) or you can contact Chris Ness in the Finance and Investment Team 0131 247 1101 or chris.ness@morton-fraser.com.

Please note that the information contained in this article is correct as at 26 July 2010. Morton Fraser is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Existing Child Trust Funds If a Child Trust Fund has already been opened (or if you have already received the voucher from HMRC), this can still be used, and family and friends can continue to invest up to £1,200 a year. The tax free element will also continue which means that no income tax and capital gains tax is payable on sums invested. The child will be able to access funds at age 18. The Government will not however make any additional payments to the account.

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A HEAlTHy luNCH HElps CHildREN lEARN Making a packed lunch every day can be quite a test of parents’ ingenuity – it’s easy to start a new term with renewed lunch box enthusiasm but a couple of weeks into term it’s like Groundhog Day. The lovely people from Real Foods have put their heads together to come up with some suggestions that may help Families Edinburgh readers get through the next school term of lunch box tedium…and beyond!

While a daily lunch box filled with a sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar and drink isn’t an appalling diet by any means, that old school report chestnut fits nicely here – “Could do better”.

What should be in your child’s lunchbox?

A healthy lunchbox should help to improve your child's attention, behaviour and learning throughout the afternoon and needs the following: • • • •

a source of protein to keep children alert complex carbohydrates for slow-release energy calcium for growth, healthy bones and teeth fruit and vegetables for vitamins and minerals

protein Make sandwiches using fillings such as egg, houmous, pates or cheese. A salad with cubes of cheese or tofu makes an exciting change from sandwiches and will be a good source of protein.

Carbohydrates Choose complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread, pasta or rice. Complex carbohydrates release energy slowly and help to keep concentration levels up. In contrast, refined carbohydrates (as in white bread, biscuits or cakes) provide shortlived energy. For variety, try using different wholemeal breads, pittas and rolls.

Children who like pasta and rice will enjoy a salad made from either. Mix wholewheat pasta or brown rice with pepper, sweetcorn or cherry tomatoes, feta and green beans.

Calcium Children under the age of five shouldn’t have a low-fat diet as they need fats for body and brain development, so choose whole-milk products. Cheese, yoghurts and fromage frais are excellent sources of calcium.

FREE nakd bar

Complete and present this voucher at the cash desk at your local Real Foods store to receive a free Nak-d bar.

Name Address

Email: Have you shopped at Real Foods before? yes

no

Terms: one voucher per purchase, not to be used in conjunction with any other Real Foods offer instore (for details of the stores please see below). Your contact details will be retained by Real Foods only for the purpose of keeping you informed of the current offers and new products.

If you do not wish to be contacted please tick this box The offer is valid until November 1st 2010 (or until stocks last), is not transferable and there is no cash alternative.

✁

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Fruit and vegetables Health experts recommend that we include five portions of fruit and vegetables in our diet every day. Real Foods stock a varied display of fresh, local and seasonal organic fruit and vegetables in store.

Whole fruit may not be that appealing to youngsters, so try cutting fruit into chunks. It’s easy to make vegetables more appealing, too. Cut sticks of carrot and celery and put with a small amount of houmous for dipping.

Replace crisps with apple snaps, dried apricot or mango.

Things to watch out for: There are lots of foods that are marketed as healthy and 'ideal for lunchboxes' that are neither. Check the labels to find out the real truth but here are some to generally avoid: • Savoury snacks: lots of these tend to be highly processed and may contain high levels of saturated fat and salt. Keep these as special treats and help balance the effect of the salt by including food that is high in potassium such as banana or apricot.

• 'Real fruit' snacks: saying a product is made with 'real fruit' gives it a healthy spin.

But take a closer look at the label and you may find that they contain as much as 63% sugar!

• Breakfast bars: many well known breakfast cereal bars contain more than 40 per cent sugar and 30 per cent fat!

• Fruit juice 'drinks': pure fruit juice contains 100% fruit juice as you would expect.

However a 'fruit juice drink' can contain as little as 6% juice.

All these healthy lunchbox suggestions are available from Real Foods.

Reader Offer Real Foods have an amazing range of snack bars in many sizes and flavours that can be added sometimes as a treat to the lunch box. For example “Nak-d” bars that are simply raw fruit and nuts squashed together – 100% raw ingredients. Flavours include Cashew Cookie, Cocoa Orange, Ginger Bread, Pecan Pie. They are all natural which in this case translates as no added sugar, gluten, wheat, dairy & GM free, just raw fruit and nuts.

37 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU / tel: 0131 557 1911 8 Brougham Street, Tollcross, EH3 9JH / tel: 0131 228 1201 email: info@realfoods.co.uk • www.realfoods.co.uk

HEAlTHy luNCH bOx idEAs Possibly it would reduce me to tears if I worked out quite how many lunchboxes I’ve filled over the years - and quite how many have come home with the fruit still rattling around inside.

Here’s some more top tips for an interesting and fully eaten lunch for your child!

What do you think the most important thing is in deciding what to put in your child's lunch box? For me it's remembering to involve my son. First of all I would give him a choice of healthy lunchbox items when writing my shopping list - e.g. would you prefer ham or roast beef for your sandwich? Would you like red or green apples? Limit the choices for each item to two, three at the most. Stick to your guns and don't offer unhealthy options! Secondly I would encourage my son to get involved in making up items like sandwiches, so that he knows exactly what is inside them. And finally I would make sure that my son has seen the final contents of the lunchbox before leaving the house, so that there are no surprises, and to give him the chance to change items which are easy to swap e.g. yogurts or fruit. By involving your child you are giving them some positive control, and some responsibility for whether or not they choose to eat the lunch. You can also feel confident that you have given them food that they wanted to eat in the first place. If the lunchbox comes home half-full then explain to your child that they need to make better choices next time. Good luck! Claire Burrell, www.foodmonsters.co.uk Rosie Hansen, owner of Edinburgh-based party-food company Rosie’s Kitchen and mum of two said: “Food has to be easy to eat as the children are always in a rush to get out to play so bite-sized finger food is good. I try to put one of each below in the lunchboxes: Carbohydrate for energy - pasta or couscous salad, crackers, bagel, oatcakes, tortilla wrap, mini-savoury muffins, breadsticks. Protein to help growth - bacon, falafel, leftover chicken slices (spread with mango chutney), mini frittatas (cooked in muffin tin or ramekin dish), sticky chicken drumsticks Calcium for strong bones/teeth - spoon greek yoghurt & honey into a pot, chunks of Edam/Jarlsberg/Cheddar, Fromage frais. Vegetables for vitamins - Broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrot, cucumber, pepper or celery sticks, baby sweetcorn, mangetout, cherry tomatoes Fruit, also for vitamins - apple wedges wiped with lemon juice, dried fruit (cheaper to buy from the baking section as no VAT), grapes, smoothie, melon wedges, mango cubes, stewed apple & blueberries etc.

As I spend a lot of time baking I like to pop a sweet treat in occasionally - apricot flapjack, raisin & oatmeal cookies, blueberry, carrot & pineapple or banana & choc chip mini muffins (see recipe) or chocolate dipped strawberries.”

Chocolate & banana mini-muffins Whizz 125g melted butter in a food processor with 150g golden caster sugar, 3 ripe, chopped bananas, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Sift 300g self-raising flour into a separate bowl and add 50g dessicated coconut and 100g chocolate chips.

Fold in the banana mixture but don’t over mix. Spoon into 36 mini muffin cases. Bake for 15 mins until risen and golden. Cool for 10 mins in tin & then turn out onto a rack until completely cold. Can be frozen. www.rosies-kitchen.co.uk

Katie Brooke, mum and trained chef, from Victoria Plum is also a big fan of muffins in lunchboxes and suggests using left-overs to make them. Another great way to use left-overs is a tasty tortilla. Smoothies are another great way to use up fruit and sneak some of that all important five a day in! www.victoria-plum.com

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Back to School Bedlam on the School Run! Ask parents what they think is the most fraught part of the day and the majority will probably say, the School Run. Whether you walk, bike or go in the car, if you’re anything like the average parent that journey to school always seems to be a last minute frantic dash topped off with a bundle of school bags and rushing back for forgotten items.

©www.klaklakphotography.co.uk

It goes without saying that leaving the house with plenty of time will inevitably help to make that journey a less stressful and therefore happier environment in which to start the day. However, getting your brood out on time in the mornings can require military-style organisation especially at the beginning of term. So to give you a helping hand and because even the most organised of mums can find it difficult to get back into routine after the summer holidays, we’ve put together some top tips for getting them off to school in the mornings:

• Make sure you set your alarm and allow enough time for the whole family to get ready – take into account slow eaters and week day sleepy heads (that group of children who like to get up at the crack of dawn at the weekend but sleep in on school days).

• So that everyone knows the routine for getting to school on time, make a school morning timetable and put it somewhere where everyone can see it, such as the kitchen or their bedroom door.

• Encourage your children to be independent and get themselves ready so that you have more time to get dressed yourself or do jobs such as clearing away breakfast. Reward charts can be a great way to do this and can be a reminder for what they need to do in the mornings eg, clean teeth and get dressed for younger children or polish shoes or remember homework for older ones.

• Make sure bike hats, shoes, coats and car keys have a place and are always returned at the end of the day so you don’t waste time in the morning looking for them.

• As much as you can, get things ready the night before, put reading and homework books, lunch money or show and tell items in their bags and put them by the door ready to go.

• Make sure you know what’s coming up in the day ahead. A new school year means there is a whole new timetable for parents and children to get used to with different PE and homework days, new school clubs and show and tell sessions.

As soon as you receive information from school, make sure you write it in your diary or calendar • If possible, allow enough time to walk to school rather than going in the car.

Not only is it the healthier option but the fresh air will improve their concentration levels. Plus, research has shown that parents who walk their children to school gain valuable social time with their children (over a third of parents who walk to school said this was the time that they found out the most about their child’s life compared to 44% of parents who drove who admitted that they spend 5 minutes or less engaging in quality conversation with their child on the journey to and from school).

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Win!!

Win!! So you can keep up to speed with all the events and activities of the new school term we have five fantastic Weekly Planners from Organised Mum to give away. Starting in September and lasting for 16 months, it has a week-to-view format and loads of great features to keep you organised including a handy plastic overlay on which to write regular appointments which can then be moved from week to week to save rewriting. Plus, it has tear-off shopping and to do lists, a pocket for paperwork, colourful reminder stickers and a pen that writes on both the calendar and overlay.

Register at www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk and enter online. Terms and conditions apply.

Available for £10.99, it’s the perfect calendar to organise a busy home so make sure you don’t start the new school year without one.

The Weekly Planner is just one in a whole range of products from Organised Mum designed to help mums keep on top of family life. Visit www.organisedmum.co.uk to see the full range including Life Book diaries, monthly planners, magnetic fridge lists, shopping lists and much more or call 0845 644 7507 for a brochure.

starting school

tips

By now you’ll have got the first few days of school under your belt and hopefully they’ve gone well. We’ve gathered together some tips and advice for the new school term for the whole family.

Starting School By Joanna Parry

Labels4Kids

• Encourage small talk. Talk to your child about their day, but don't be surprised if you get little back. “What did you do at school today?” often gets the reply “nothing” or “I can’t remember”. Try asking specific questions: “who did you sit next to at lunch?”, “did you use the computer at school today?” You’ll get a much more positive response!

Labels4Kids personalised name labels is an award winning business. Ann-Maree Morrison has years of experience in labelling and catering for 3 boys of her own, with a team of staff who are also into labelling girls clothing too and everything from horse belongings to swimming kit they have a number of tips for parents new to the business whose child may be starting school for the first time.

• Homework adds pressure too. “I was unprepared for the amount of work my son received in his first term and was faced with cries of “why do I have to do homework?” Give your child two choices of when to do it – they’ll feel empowered and be more co-operative. Read to your child as much as you can - it builds up vocabulary, helps them perform better, it makes a good bedtime routine, it is also a very precious moment between parent and child..

• Cut down TV time. TV is stimulating, say Relax Kids, and may cause sleep problems, especially if the TV is in the child's bedroom. On the other hand exercise and playing sports are great stress-busters. Let them run off their anxiety and they’ll sleep better too!

• Set a good regular routine with healthy meals and early nights, baths and even massages before bed. A new range of products called Aromagels combine aromatherapy with reflexology to aid sleep and restlessness. For these, plus tips to aid sleep visit www.speciallittleproducts.com

Top tips are: 1 Label EVERYTHING. Yes, from hair bands to swimming googles. If you have it, label it.

2. Better still, label it TWICE if you can afford to.

3. Don’t go for the traditional woven label for clothing unless it is compulsory at school or you particularly love them and cannot do without them. There are many more options available these days.

4. Don’t rely on a marker pen that fades. Belongings are more expensive to replace if lost than the cost of labels.

5. ORDER EARLY. Labels4Kids has tested most labels on the market and gives honest feedback on the website about what is good and why. If you are not sure, email sales@labels4kids.com and they will advise you as well.

Help give your child a boost with these ideas from Kids NLP Scotland • Give praise and positive feedback when they have tackled something for themselves - your child measures her worth and achievements by what you think of her. "Well done, that was hard, and you managed it" is music to young ears. Reassure your child that it's OK to make mistakes and that it's all part of growing up • Practise active, reflective listening - listen carefully, repeat what you've heard to make sure you understand and give positive prompts to encourage your child to continue.

• Acknowledge your child's feelings - and help her express them verbally.

• Respect your child's interests, even if they seem boring to you - take a genuine interest in your child's friends, and what's happening at school, and comment to show you're listening.

• Accept any fears or insecurities your child expresses as genuine - even if they seem trivial to you, don't just brush them aside. If your child says, "I'm useless at maths" say "You're obviously finding maths a struggle, how can I help you?”

• Encourage independence - encourage your child to take chances and try new things. Succeeding gives a huge boost to confidence, and sometimes your child will need to learn by her mistakes.

• Laugh with your child - never at her.

• Focus on your child's successes - swimming, music, whatever she can succeed at.

Kids NLP Scotland are here to help your child overcome barriers holding them back. www.Kidsnlpscotland.co.uk Karen@kidsnlpscotland.co.uk Telephone 0783 7930714

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE

Primary reasons to choose an independent school...

Parents, especially those of younger children, say that the true measure of a school is whether their children are happy there. So what is it that makes children at independent schools happy? Research reveals consistently that there are three key main reasons why parents choose independent schools: • Development of the whole child • Purposeful work environment • Quality of teaching

Development of the whole child Every independent school offers something unique, but all share a common goal of encouraging each individual child to be all that they can be. Developing the individual talents of children gives them confidence in their abilities and motivation to succeed. This seems to be what parents “buy into”. At independent schools, at every age and stage, children enjoy a rich mix of learning opportunities, both in and outside the classroom. The curriculum is broad and there’s a wide choice of activities and clubs to engage children – something to suit everyone. As children progress, they rise to new challenges, grow in confidence and make firm friendships in the process.

Purposeful work environment The positive “can do” culture of independent schools is almost tangible, which is why a visit is strongly recommended. The work environment is purposeful which means that children can learn without disruption. Visitors are welcome during term time so that they can see schools “at work”. Just call the Admissions Secretary or Registrar to arrange an appointment. Contact details for independent schools in Scotland are online at www.scis.org.uk

Quality of teaching Independent schools recruit committed teachers who contribute to the wider life of the school. Learning is an engaging experience for children of all ages with positive outcomes achieved. As most independent schools admit pupils of mixed abilities, this indicates that the quality of teaching is high.

For help in finding the right school for your child’s needs, talk to Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) on 0131 220 2106. Contact details for independent schools are at www.scis.org.uk

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Edinburgh Montessori Arts School New Independent School in Central Edinburgh Edinburgh Montessori Arts School launches its primary programme this August, bringing a new choice of educational method to Edinburgh. With a spacious classroom in Barclay-Viewforth Church, the school offers a primary curriculum tailored to the learning style and interests of the individual child.

Following on from Montessori nursery education where the children have developed autonomy, perseverance and a multitude of ways to find things out for themselves; they now use their classroom as a laboratory. Maths and literacy skills are applied to their investigations of natural and physical sciences, geography, history, literature and the arts.

The children learn through hands-on experience in the classroom as well as being encouraged to explore the outdoors and apply their lessons in real life. This practical grounding underlines our holistic approach to education.

“Our work in Edinburgh Montessori Arts School always begins with a philosophical conviction; the idea that meaning is both possible and worthwhile. The arts and the social and natural sciences are presented at elementary level with a specific goal in mind; to set each child out on a lifelong search for meaning.” Dr Irene Pollock, Elementary Teacher About Montessori Dr Montessori developed her educational method through her teaching and observations of children from a huge variety of backgrounds. She discovered, that given freedom to explore, in an environment designed to meet their needs, children developed confidence and made thoughtful choices. They learned the social mores and graces of their place and time, formed a caring community and explored their world with enthusiasm and joy.

With encouragement, and time to develop at their own pace, children’s fascination for their world was always strengthened and developed.

Edinburgh Montessori Arts School incorporates Morningside Montessori Nursery.

Primary Education for 6 – 9 and 9 -12 year olds.

For more information call 0131 446 0777. www.morningsidemontessori.co.uk office@morningsidemontessori.co.uk Open Day – Saturday 9th October

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE Fettes Preparatory School

Cargilfield Nursery and Pre-Prep

Everything we do at Fettes Prep is an aspect of our commitment to the happiness of your child. Like any good family, we encourage the children to throw themselves into everything they undertake but, above all, we want the process of growing up to be fun.

Every boy and girl is capable of success and it is our duty to help them achieve this within a caring, happy and committed environment.

Care We strive to nurture the qualities of honesty, courtesy and tolerance in all of our pupils and our pastoral care is of the highest standard. Our boarding houses (one for boys and one for girls) are run by dedicated staff who create a warm and caring environment.

Learning Our wide and varied curriculum inspires all children to build on their academic potential while small class sizes ensure we can devote considerable time to each child. A strong emphasis is placed on a thorough grounding of English and Maths and specialist subjects are taught by specialist teachers.

The Arts Music, Art and Drama all give an excellent opportunity for self expression; every child has their work displayed, we have regular stage performances and a range of musical instruments is taught with expert tuition.

An Active Lifestyle With Sport, we encourage maximum participation not just because it is fun but because of the real lessons it teaches: teamwork, determination, discipline, self-esteem and manners. We also offer an extensive range of activities vital to an all-round education.

Fettes Prep & Fettes College We believe that every Fettes Prep student has had the benefit of an education that will set them up for a bright future, in any senior school in the world. However, it also has something rather special on its doorstep, Fettes College, one of the world’s finest senior schools. Every single day our students benefit from that great school’s proximity. We share many of their facilities; from the 50-metre swimming pool to the dining hall; the rugby pitches to the drama theatre.

Fettes College and Fettes Prep also share one other important thing – our ethos. This manifests itself in a determination to provide the best education your child could ever hope for.

Open Day 10th October 1.30pm – 4.30pm. Please call 0131 311 6744 for details.

In our Nursery class, we recognise that the best way for our children to learn is through purposeful play-based activities, which allow them to investigate and question the world around them while laying a secure foundation for future learning.

The Nursery environment and the extensive range of experiences the children have, help to nurture all aspects of their development and encourages them to become enthusiastic, confident, happy individuals with a love of learning.

As the children move up through the early years in the Pre-Prep, the small classes allow learning to be tailored to the individual to ensure that they have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Literacy and Numeracy form the basis of the curriculum and the skills and knowledge gained enable our children to access and learn about the wider-world through topics which encompass History, Geography, Science, Technology, Art and Drama.

Educational visits also play a major role here in supporting learning in the classroom for all children aged between 3 and 8.

Pupils have the opportunity to develop their skills in French, Music, Drama and Physical Education with our specialist teachers and with our extra-curricular programme to experience a range of sporting, creative and charitable activities.

Academic Success at Cargilfield In the last three years, Cargilfield boys and girls have won fifty scholarships (to Ampleforth, Eton, Fettes, Glenalmond, Gordonstoun, Kilgraston, King’s Canterbury, Loretto, Merchiston, Oundle, Sedbergh, Shrewsbury) and this year, 2010, twenty eight pupils won a total of twenty four scholarships to schools all over the United Kingdom.

There are also very strong inspection reports from both the HMI and the Care Commission.

Bursaries Means tested bursaries which can be up to 100% of the fees are available and parents may apply to the school at any time during the year. Further information about bursary support is available on the website and from the school office.

Cargilfield has just finished a five million pound development which has brought our facilities up to an outstanding level: Pre-Prep and Nursery; two new science laboratories; two astro areas; girls’ boarding house; music school and two teaching centres housing mathematics, French, geography and history. But at the end of the day this is an environment of fun and humour with and emphasis and challenge at all times.

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE George Watson's College

Mannafields Christian School

All on One Campus At Watson's they work hard to help pupils to settle in to their new environment. Arguably, however, it is the warm welcome from other pupils that makes the biggest impact. It is a close-knit community, and girls and boys from Nursery through to S6 share a secure, friendly and stimulating environment, from which to explore the many opportunities available to them, all on a single campus.

Mannafields School - A Parent' s Perspective Mannafields Christian School is a small, non-denominational Christian School situated in Easter Road in Edinburgh. The school was established in 1988 and has been in its present location since 1992. It caters for primary school children and also offers the first two years of high school education.

After nine years at Mannafields, our daughter Emma will move to S3 at The Edinburgh Academy to continue her education. We first heard about Mannafields when I picked up a leaflet at a Mother and Toddler group. My husband Paul and I knew that we wanted Emma educated in a school where morals are as important as Maths and English, where the spiritual is as important as the physical. We wanted to be sure that the teachers would share our values and encourage the standards we were aiming for at home. We found that in Mannafields, and have not regretted our decision for one minute.

We fell in love with the school straight away. The OFSTED reports over the years have made special mention of how well the children relate to each other across the age groups.

Pupils at Mannafields are helped to recognise that each of them has very different God given talents and purpose in life. They are encouraged to be supportive of and build each other up.

Mannafields is a small community. Parents are involved where possible in the running of the school, giving generously of their time to help out with playground duty, as classroom assistants, and with lifts on day trips. Others may serve on The School Board, organise catering for events or be involved in the promotion of the school.

We are so grateful for the extra two years that Emma was able to spend at Mannafields. She has grown in confidence in that time and we are sure that she will have a smooth transition to her new school as a result. We have mixed feelings about the move. It's an exciting time for her and she looks forward to new challenges. On the other hand, Mannafields, especially the staff will be sorely missed.

Words can not express enough our gratitude to the teachers and volunteers over the years for sharing our task of educating Emma and for encouraging her hopes for the future.

Catriona Atkin, parent

George Watson's College is ideally placed in the South of Edinburgh and can be easily accessed from East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. All these places are serviced by buses organised through the school, as is Haymarket Station, for those travelling to Edinburgh by train.

The School is characterised by a warmth often associated with smaller schools, but unashamedly exploits the advantage of size to the full - and there is no doubt that the range of opportunities available to the pupils is exceptional. Academically, it provides an unrivalled choice of subject and levels, but the breadth of opportunity also extends beyond the classroom to a thriving extra-curricular scene. With over 80 clubs the School aims to offer all pupils the chance to develop existing interests or discover new ones. Activities range from around 20 different music ensembles to more than 20 sports clubs and a further mix of clubs representing such interests as politics, environmentalism, business and the arts.

All of this requires committed staff and excellent facilities. Recent developments include the extension of their flexible care arrangements, providing pre-school education, and extending their wrap around and holiday care for younger pupils to fit the needs of modern family life. Construction of Phase 3 of the major development to create ‘The George Watson’s Centre for Sport’ began this summer.

From August 2011, it is hoped that S5 and S6 pupils will be able to choose between either SQA examinations or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB), as the school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. This would make Watson’s the only Scottish School to provide the IB alongside SQA qualifications.

Go along to their Open Morning on 9 October and see what it means to be part of the Watson’s family.

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE

Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools

George Heriot’s School

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools offer a fully co-educational Junior School where girls and boys learn from and with friends of both sexes. As our pupils enter S1 they proceed into single-sex education at The Mary Erskine School for girls and Stewart’s Melville College for boys until S5, before coming back together again to enjoy a fully co-educational Sixth Form experience.

At George Heriot’s School we have just celebrated the 350th anniversary of the admission of its first pupils; we find ourselves in very good heart, here in our historical campus in the heart of Edinburgh.

We have developed a community that gives children the best of all educational approaches; we believe that this variety ensures that our pupils receive the best social, emotional and academic development possible.

Last year our exam results at S5 Higher were the best in Scotland– down to the outstanding professionalism and skill of our talented staff and the natural flair, hard work and dedication of our pupils. We are confident of excellent results again this session.

The Best Start in Life We are passionate about giving our children the very best opportunities, and for us that starts on day one. From age three, we welcome children into our Primary Start nursery. Our £1m Early Years centre provides a safe and stimulating environment in which our girls and boys take their first educational steps. Each of our nursery classes is led by a professionally qualified teacher and assisted by nursery nurses.

Together our staff create a stimulating and supportive atmosphere which encourages a positive, confident attitude to learning. e-Plus Flexible Childcare We know that life does not always fit into a strict daily schedule, so we have developed flexible childcare solutions to suit each family’s needs. Our e-Plus programme provides care from 7.50am to 6pm, in our dedicated purpose-built play centres.

Fee Assistance A wide range of means-tested fee assistance and scholarships are available for boys and girls entering our schools at any stage from S1, and from Autumn 2010, children entering Primary 7.

Open Day Saturday 25 September 2010 10am to 1pm.

Please contact: Mr David Gray Principal Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools Tel: 0131 311 1111 Email: admissions@esmgc.com Website: www.esms.edin.sch.uk

However, our exam grades are only a small part of the picture. At all stages throughout our Junior and Senior Schools, Heriot’s cultivates an ethos of care reinforced by outstanding guidance and our commitment to charitable fundraising and voluntary service. Our pupils also benefit from an extraordinary number of extra curricular activities, ranging from the 27 sports on offer to a huge variety of musical, dramatic and other possibilities; the emphasis, once again is on taking part – in everything we do we want to encourage our young people to participate, to try hard and to be happy.

For us, the highlight of our Open Morning, which this session will fall on Saturday 2 October, will once again be the turn out of pupils, Junior and Senior, willing to volunteer to give up their Saturday to show prospective pupils and their parents their School. We hope you will join us for a happy and fun morning and discover the warm community that is George Heriot’s School. You are also most welcome to visit the School on ‘normal’ days – visits are easily arranged by contacting our Admissions Department on 0131 221 6709.

Choosing a school for your child is a very important decision. Our most important publicity come from our current and former parents so do please feel free to speak to them! We look forward to meeting you.

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE The Edinburgh Academy The Edinburgh Academy, now catering for boys and girls from pre-school to 18 years, is a small school with small classes. A high ratio of staff to students ensures that teachers genuinely have time for each individual child.

Parents are invited to visit the outstanding facilities at both the Junior and Senior Schools including the new purpose built Nursery, state of the art Performing Arts Centre and all-weather sports pitches.

Financial support for school fees is available through the Bursaries and Scholarships.

Founded in 1824 The Edinburgh Academy prides itself on a curriculum designed to encourage independence coupled with an eagerness to question and develop using active learning. The wider curriculum emphasises creativity and enterprise through participation in science, music, drama and sports.

Recent major investment in new facilities including The James Clerk Maxwell Science Centre and Performing Arts Centre demonstrate the Academy’s commitment to providing a high quality learning environment. The new purpose-built £2.5m Nursery building was specially Higher. The size of classes and year groups ensures each pupil is encouraged as an designed to offer flexible nursery arrangements, individual through the personal commitment and example set by exceptional teachers. tailored to suit the needs of children aged three to five. The Academy has a proud record on the sports field, as befits the school which brought The Junior School’s leafy and spacious campus near rugby to Scotland, demonstrated by their recent victory at the 2010 Under 18 Scottish Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens provides a rich School Rugby Cup. Pupils have gone on to become full internationals in eight different environment for education outside the classroom, with sports in recent years, including skating, skiing, rugby and canoeing. on-site playing fields and sports centre.

Call: 0131 624 4987 or email: admissions@edinburghacademy.org.uk Residential trips and expeditions offer experience of for more information. www.edinburghacademy.org.uk working as a group, tackling tasks through teamwork.

The Senior School is the only Edinburgh day school committed to offering both GCSE and A-level as well as Scottish Highers. Highly qualified teachers provide the stimulus for academic achievement, with leavers regularly accomplishing three A’s at A-level or five A’s at

Open Day Saturday 9th October

Junior School 10am – 12.30pm 10 Arboretum Road, Edinburgh EH3 5P Senior School 11am – 2pm 42 Henderson Row, Edinburgh EH3 5BL

Merchiston Merchiston is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh and it has been providing a first class education for boys (aged 8-18) since its foundation in 1833. Merchiston is a school in which each boy is expected to try his hardest and make the most of his talents. The Headmaster, Andrew Hunter, is keen to stress that in addition to providing a first rate academic education, and an extremely wide range of co-curricular opportunities, this is all in the context of a traditional ‘education with character’, which also focuses on moral, spiritual and personal values including integrity, courage, determination, resilience, optimism and concern for others.

The School was named The Sunday Times Parent Power Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year 2009, Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power said: "Merchiston Castle's award is thoroughly deserved. The school's commitment to teaching boys in an engaging and innovative way sets it apart. Exam success is almost incidental at this school, a bi-product of everything else it does - which is of course how it should be. The result is happy and engaged boys with a sense of purpose and a belief that they can succeed in whatever they go on to do in life."

Forthcoming events at the School include the annual Big Activity Weekend taking place on 21 and 22 August, which is an ideal opportunity for any boy with a possible interest in the School to gain a full experience of Merchiston life. There is a wide range of activities to choose from, including sport with celebrity sportsmen, music, magic, electronics, outdoor pursuits, target shooting and an evening trip into Edinburgh. Only real lessons are missing!

The Weekend is open to boys aged 8-13 years who are considering joining the School, either as boarders or day pupils. There is no commitment to register a place at the School, either before or after the event.

An Information Morning will also be held at Merchiston on Saturday 18 September at 10am. At this event you will have the opportunity to meet the Headmaster, staff and pupils. Everyone is welcome - bring your family and friends! The day will include coffee in the Memorial Hall at 10am with a welcome address by the Headmaster, Andrew Hunter, followed by tours of the School by pupils. There will also be activities and a créche for younger visitors. The morning will conclude with a buffet lunch.

For more information about Merchiston and any of the forthcoming events, please visit www.merchiston.co.uk or telephone 312 2200.

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE St George’s School for Girls St George’s School for Girls, the only all girls school in Edinburgh, provides a caring, stimulating and challenging environment in which our students learn and develop. Emphasis is placed on individual achievements, responsibility, diversity and partnerships. Our eleven acre Edinburgh city centre campus includes state of the art facilities. The International programme of educational exchange opportunities is outstanding with students as Young as Primary 6 exchanging with a school in China!

Nursery welcomes students from 18 months and thereafter there is progression through Early years, Junior School and then into Lower School. This is a unique feature of St George’s which provides students with a very positive and educationally rich experience in the transition from Primary to Secondary. It is a small school of three year groups: Primary 6, Primary 7 and S1. Primary 6 have their own space and class teachers with some specialist teaching (Art, French, PE and Chinese) and move seamlessly into secondary education in the same geographical location but with the challenge of all secondary specialist teaching. In this three year transition phase within a small close-knit community the girls grow in confidence and maturity and in S1 they are assuming considerable responsibility and experiencing leadership roles in a range of activities.

After transferring across the campus to the Upper School into S2, the students follow an individual pathway of examination courses.

We offer a range of courses with both English and Scottish Qualifications. Small classes and outstanding relationships between staff and students, together with excellent facilities, combine to produce a first class education for girls. Examination results consistently see over 98% of our students go on to higher education at university or college with popular courses being medicine, law, dentistry, vet medicine, engineering, languages and social sciences.

Boarding is popular and Houldsworth House provides a home from home for around sixty students. Flexi-boarding or just the odd overnight stay can often be arranged. There is an extensive programme of weekend activities and outings, but also areas for quiet study.

We welcome enquires throughout the year and assessments are often held to suit parental needs.

For Open Day information on Wednesday 13th October and Saturday 30th October 2010 visit our website at www.st-georges.edin.sch.uk or for more information about admissions please get in touch with admissions@st-georges.edin.sch.uk .

Regius School ‘Narnia’ was our end of year production! As Peter, Susan, Edward and Lucy, our P7 children, were crowned as kings and queens of Narnia and moved behind the screen, there was a collective intake of breath from the audience as four young people emerged, the grown up children of Narnia! These were ex-Regius pupils, in professional roles in the outside world, their strong links to the school and to each other having withstood the joys and angst of adolescence, now sharing centre stage alongside the present Regius pupils!

Regius School began in 1986 and since then has seen many youngsters realise their hopes and ambitions, with a rich and diverse curriculum based on the Scottish curriculum (now the Curriculum for Excellence). We encourage our children to dream big dreams, to be the very best they can be, to be encouragers and enablers of others. We have a strong Christian tradition and our continuing emphasis is to enable our children to make informed decisions and life choices based on a secure Christian foundation.

We have had children from many backgrounds and nations and a very high teacher to pupil ratio, providing for those who need additional support. At the same time we encourage a strong emphasis on independent learning and small group explorations.

Every child, each school year, has their individual folder containing all possible experiences and outcomes that they could expect to encounter, achieve and apply throughout the year, together with various contexts where this learning can take place.

All these reflect their own individual differences and choices, enabling them to assess and direct their own next steps for learning, with teacher support and facilitation.

We have a strong emphasis on parents being involved in the education of their children and we meet frequently to discuss how best how to achieve this.

Situated on the edge of the city, just off the A1 and city by-pass, Regius enjoys outdoor education in a rich countryside environment, with two local parks, beach, harbour and excellent shopping and transport facilities, (only 10 minutes by direct train to the city and 30 minutes by a frequent, every 10 minutes, bus service).

We also have our own garden where we plant and grow flowers and vegetables, exercise our school dog and enjoy a climbing frame and undisturbed views over the countryside.

Regius school, where a child’s imagination opens doors of endless possibilities!

Jenny Taylor, Head Teacher

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Dyslexia – common myths and how to recognise it Dyslexia is often misunderstood, hard to diagnose and those affected by it often do not receive adequate support. So what is it and how does it affect children? Corinna Shepherd explains.

So what is dyslexia?

The word dyslexia comes from the Greek, literally meaning ‘difficulty with words’. The condition can affect spelling and reading, and many people believe that’s all it is. But it can also affect individuals in other areas such as confusing dates and times; confusing left and right; difficulties getting ideas down on paper; difficulties sequencing numbers and information; and following verbal instructions. Working memory is often also poor. This shows itself when new information needs to be processed effectively and quickly.

While dyslexia can be viewed as a learning difficulty, it can also be seen as a gift. Some talents include the ability to think in pictures, being creative and intuitive and being good with their hands. They’re often highly aware of their environment and have vivid imaginations. Children with dyslexia often have above average intelligence, yet they struggle with words and processing new information.

Who is affected?

Can you grow out of dyslexia?

The exact percentage of the population is debated, but it’s generally thought to affect between 8% and 15%, 4% severely. That means that in a class of 30 children, 3 are likely to have dyslexic tendencies, maybe mild or possibly severe. So everyone is likely to know at least one child or adult who is dyslexic. Children with dyslexic tendencies are likely to be resistant to traditional teaching methods and benefit from a one-to-one, multi-sensory learning environment.

Dyslexia often runs in families, with a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle or cousin struggling with it, too. Most are born with it and don’t grow out of it, although they do learn to cope with it. It’s not directly linked to intelligence. Children and adults with other learning difficulties or sensory disabilities may also have dyslexic difficulties.

As children grow up, they learn to compensate for their difficulties, the more successful ones using their strengths to overcome their condition. Support during the formative years is vital to help overcome difficulties and unlock their potential in literacy and in other areas.

As a parent, you can help your child at home by encouraging them to enjoy the world of words through fun books. Books that are relevant to their interest and developmental age are best, particularly if they have been designed with the dyslexic child in mind. Children struggling with dyslexia love pictures and colours, so colourful illustrations relevant to the words are engaging and helpful for these children. The multi-sensory approach is best, so supporting reading and writing with games or activities will help your children in an enjoyable way. This may help your child be less resistant to more formal learning tasks, such as homework set by school.

Keep talking to key members of staff at your child’s school to ensure your child gets the best help and support that they need. Seek out extra private tuition, if you feel more help is needed and you can afford it

How to recognise dyslexia Sometimes it is hard to get a diagnosis of dyslexia.

However, there’s a lot you can pick up about your child just by sitting down together with them and a good book, appropriate to their developmental stage and interest level. Areas of difficulty to look out for include: • Does your child struggle with reading or spelling?

• Do they avoid picking up a book?

• Do they guess at a word, looking at the whole word or just the initial letter?

• Do they forget how to read or spell a word as soon as they’ve turned the page?

• Do they find it hard to sound out individual letters in simple 3 letter words, for example cat, bat?

• Do they find it hard to rhyme simple words?

• Do they skip little words such as, and or the?

• Do they miss out words when reading?

These are all potential indicators of dyslexia. Other nonlanguage indicators in primary-age children include difficulty with tying shoe laces, tie or dressing generally; difficulty telling left from right, ordering the days of the week, months of the year etc; having a poor sense of direction; lacking confidence; and having a poor selfimage. The presence of any, most or all of them does not necessarily mean your child is dyslexic, but I would recommend further investigation if you have any concerns.

I think my child might be dyslexic.

What should I do now?

Speak to an educational specialist, such as your child’s teacher. If your child is at nursery, their nursery teacher or health visitor will be able to point you in the right direction, although there is often a reluctance to consider dyslexia at this early age.

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Further information British Dyslexia Assocation, www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.

Dyslexia Action, www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk.

For more information on Corinna’s new series of books developed specifically for dyslexic children and a mini test visit www.dancingkites.co.uk.

My Dog Nick, the first in an innovative new series of books specially designed for dyslexic children, it features a carefully selected combination of illustrated poetry, puzzles and activities, combining words, illustrations and rhymes in a fun way to encourage and inspire dyslexic children to read and write.

Once Upon a Time...

Whether it’s snuggling on the sofa with the Gruffalo or diving under the duvet with Upsy Daisy, the bedtime story plays a pivotal role in children’s early language and literacy development.

The bedtime story is one of the most powerful educational experiences you can give your child. Reading at the end of each day gives young children a head start for when they reach school. Through books, our children learn to love language, and reading helps them to communicate confidently. This is really important as skilful communicators find it easier to make friends, to learn about the world around them, and to express their thoughts and feelings. Despite this, research suggests that British children are spending less time than ever reading for pleasure, and literacy skills in the UK lag behind many other European countries.

The good news for parents is that there are easy, fun ways to provide children with a solid foundation for literacy skills even before they start school, and sharing a bedtime story together is a fantastic starting point.

Talking Tots, the national pre-school programme dedicated to developing children's communication and pre-literacy skills, has put together some top tips for choosing books for pre-school children to help you and your child get the most from bedtime stories:

Stories for Babies Reading is a journey of exploration for babies, so look for books that reward a baby’s curiosity. Gently curved corners are great for nibbling, while flaps and textures are irresistible to little fingers. Simple action songs are a great way of capturing the attention of lively babies, who will love joining in the fun!

At this age, reading is a visual experience, so look for books with bright, simple illustrations.

Place your baby’s hands on objects as you read the words – this helps him to associate the object he sees with the spoken word. As your baby gets older, he will love “naming” objects and pointing to pictures when prompted. This is a great way to build vocabulary and boost your baby’s confidence. Animal stories are a lovely choice for first bedtime stories, as they allow even young children to join in with the story. Babies will often be able to “moo” or “baa” long before they can say “cow” or “sheep”.

Stories for toddlers Between the age of one and two, most babies will begin saying a few words. At this stage, bedtime stories are an important way to expand vocabulary, and listening to you read aloud teaches your child about enunciation and pronunciation. Teach your novice talker that words are fun by immersing yourself in the story – silly voices, actions and funny faces are all great ways of encouraging audience participation! If your child mispronounces a word, don’t point out their mistake – but do use the correct word yourself. Describe pictures and point out objects – “look, that jumper is stripy like yours”. Ask your child questions about the story, but don’t forget to leave plenty of time for them to reply.

Toddlers are independent, so let your child choose the story and take charge of turning pages. Sometimes you will end up reading the same book every night for a month, but don’t panic! Repetition helps your child’s memory, and a familiar story can be a great comfort to a tired toddler after a day of new experiences. A toddler’s attention span is short, so choose stories that will engage them. At this age, children tend to enjoy stories about everyday experiences they can relate to – going to the park, visiting the zoo, having a bath etc.

Edinburgh/Lothians 0131 228 1144 Fife 01383 62 45 99 Central 0845 643 2823

Stories for pre-school children By the age of three, children have made the discovery that things are not always what they seem. This means they appreciate bedtime stories with jokes; the sillier the better. Their newfound understanding of real versus pretend means three year olds may also enjoy fantasy stories and fairy tales; although keep scary stories for daytime if your child has a particular fear or is prone to nightmares. Once in a while, let your pre-schooler take over telling the story, or take turns “reading” alternate pages. This gives your child the opportunity to practice talking and taking turns.

As your child nears school age, begin tracing words with your finger as you read. Ask your child to identify the sound that words start with, or words on the page that rhyme. These activities help develop pre-literacy skills, which are vital for learning to read and write.

Talking Tots classes are available across Edinburgh for children aged 12 months to 5 years.

The classes offer parents a fun way to develop their child’s pre-literacy skills (those skills that children need to acquire before they can make sense of reading), attention & listening skills, vocabulary and expressive language development, turn-taking and sharing skills before they start school. For more information please contact Fiona on 07824 980943 or fiona@talkingtots.info. Further information and full class listings are also available at www.talkingtots.info

Est. 1977

For Fast, Friendly and Efficient Service Call John Petrie on Free Estimates, Technical Advice and Colour Advisory Members of the Scottish Decorators Federation

07769 684 449 or 0131 228 6237

Quote “Families” to receive 10% discount William Swanson & Son Ltd 3 St Peters Buildings, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh Tel/Fax: 0131 228 6237 william.swanson@btconnect.com

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outofschoolclubs&classes

By Robina Cowan

DEVELOPING INTERESTS outside the home is rich in rewards, from new social skills to those of the particular activity. If you’d like your child to join a local class but don’t know which one, let their interests guide you. There’s no point sending a painfully shy child to a drama class if they’ll be cowering in the corner when a good drum-bashing session or IT club would bring them out of themselves more effectively.

If they babbled from an early age, they may find a second language comes easily; if they’re forever throwing themselves all over the sofa, consider a gym, swimming or dance class to focus their energies; if they’ve scribbled on the walls since an early age and can’t eat their fish fingers, carrots and peas until they’re carefully rearranged on the plate, consider art and craft or pottery classes, for example.

We’ve been looking into the many benefits of out of school activities - and found the local classes.

Languages

Music

Given that babies learn their mother tongue practically before anything else apart from motor skills, it makes sense that they can be introduced to a second language before it starts rolling into the school curriculum later in life.

Children who learn a foreign language at an early age do so effortlessly. At the most receptive stage of their development they are like sponges and develop a wonderful accent. They learn through verbal and physical participation and communicate without inhibition and selfconsciousness. If children enjoy their early exposure to a foreign language and culture, they will absorb and retain this, ensuring not only a head start in secondary school, but building confidence in all areas of the curriculum.

Language classes for children are extremely well designed - they are fun, happy and busy with plenty of activities including games, dances and songs to introduce the culture as much as the vocabulary.

Le Petit Monde - 079100 45 743 www.lepetitmonde.co.uk Mondial – 0131 538 4362 www.mondiallanguages.com

A 2009 Booktrust survey found that almost two thirds of parents do not regularly sing or read nursery rhymes to their children because they did not believe they had any educational value. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that no matter the level of skill, music is one of the best ways to help early language development.

Like speech, music has structure, rhythm and rules. It introduces new words and concepts through repetition, encourages turn-taking (just like in conversation), and helps children develop listening skills and attention spans.

While some children - particularly those from musical families - can take to the violin or piano like ducks to water, it may be more rewarding to start in group singing, percussion and rhythm classes first to learn and appreciate the basics before taking on trickier instrument tuition. Even preschool music classes which include rhythmic singing and clapping songs are contributing so much more than a bit of weekly fun.

Edinburgh Young Musicians – 0131 226 3392 Monkey Music – 0131 669 6004 (Edinburgh south) or www.e-y-m.org.uk 0131 260 9667 (Edinburgh North/West) www.monkeymusic.co.uk Jack and Jill – 0131 667 9664 jill.reeves@blueyonder.co.uk Portobello Music School - 0131 669 1120 Jo Jingles – 0131 443 4196 (west) or 0131 620 www.portobellomusicschool.com 3282 (east) or 01875 616607 (East Lothian) St Marys Music School – 0131 538 7766 www.jojingles.com Suzuki Method Piano lessons – 0131 3371251 or 07878 361695 islapitkethly@aol.com

Language and Communication Talking Tots - 07824 980943 www.talkingtots.info

Sports and Exercise In June, it was revealed that Britons are among the fattest people in Europe. Yet pass any school playground at breaktime and the majority of children are running around, for the sheer exhilaration of moving at speed (typically exercising their lungs too by screaming at the same time!). Different sports suit different children; lively, outgoing boys and girls relish competitive team games; tennis develops hand-eye coordination as well as stretching young limbs; swimming builds strength without overstressing joints and ligaments; martial arts teach children to ‘read’ their opponents’ intentions; while dance adds poise, grace and flexibility to everyday movement.

Gracemount L.C. Portobello and Leith Areas

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Edinburgh Leisure www.edinburghleisure.co.uk enjoyleisure - www.enjoyleisure.com Fencing Fun - www.fencingfun.co.uk Gymini – 0131 334 3657 www.gymini.co.uk Junior Judo – 0131 555 4578 www.juniorjudoclub.co.uk Little Kicks - 01506 881709 www.littlekicks.co.uk Midlothian ski – 0131 445 5545 Rugby Tots – 0845 313 3252 www.rugbytots.co.uk

Socatots – 07923 005534 www.socatots.org/edinburgh Swim Easy – 0131 466 0764 or (Forth Valley) 01506 516220 www.swimeasy.co.uk Swimming Nature – 0131 220 2900 www.swimmingnature.co.uk Tumbletots – 01875 819966 (east) www.tumbletots.com/Edinburgh or 0131 336 1234 (west) www.tumbletots.com/Edinburgh-West Waterbabies – 0131 554 6682 www.waterbabies.co.uk

outofschoolclubs&classes Theatre and Performing Arts

School Support

Arts and Crafts

Drama is a wonderful extension of the ‘let’s pretend’ games young children love to play. Classes open and extend children’s imagination through role play and characterisation. Working to a theme or play introduces literature, classic stories and make-believe worlds which come to life through speech, song and movement.

Students explore empathy for their characters and classmates, and learn to work effectively in groups, growing in confidence as they learn to express themselves more fully. Before too long, students learn to make eye contact, speak clearly in front of others and stand up tall when entering a room - attributes which will serve them well whatever their choice of career. All this and usually there is an end of term performance where the students have the chance to showcase their new skills in front of an appreciative audience.

The Drama Studio – 0131 453 3284 www.thedramastudio.com Helen O Grady – 0131 667 0939 www.helenogrady.co.uk Little Shakespeare – 07724 937331 www.littleshakespearetheatreschool.co.uk Lyceum Youth Theatre – 0131 248 4830 www.lyceum.org.uk Sparkle Arts – 07717 706 778 www.sparklearts.co.uk Stagecoach - 0131 449 9507 (Drummond High School and Currie High School) or 0845 052 9474 (Grassmarket, Roxy Art House and James Gillespies School) www.stagecoach.co.uk

As soon as children have a grasp of numbers and arithmetics, countless other tasks become easier. In almost every other subject and in many walks of life, arithmetics and maths are needed and a weakness in this area will hold your child back. Extra maths classes not only help improve a grasp of numbers, but help in confidence and add to children’s achievements longterm. Meanwhile, with computers now standard in schools, learning to touch-type makes work faster and more accurate. It is also better for young hands (using every finger rather than just ‘pecking’ with two index fingers) and backs (looking straight at the screen rather than bending over the keyboard). By starting young before bad habits take hold, children have a very useful skill that they will use throughout their lives.

Explore Learning – 0131 332 3300 (Blackhall) or 0131 337 7401 (Murrayfield) www.explorelearning.org.uk KB Insights - 0783 793 0714 www.kb-insights.co.uk Kids NLP – 0783 793 0714 www.kidsnlpscotland.co.uk Kip McGrath – 0131 610 6110 www.kipmcgrath.com Kumon - 0131 466 9235 (Morningside), 0131 669 1699 (Portobello) or 0131 315 3025 (Ravelston) or 01506 884 894 (Currie) or visit www.kumon.co.uk The Raviv Method – 07512311317 www.ravivworks.co.uk Step Ahead – 0131 228 1144 (Edinburgh/Lothians) or 01383 62 45 99 (Fife) or 0845 643 2823 (central) www.stepaheadtuition.com Whizzkidz – 0131 447 5893 www.whizzkidz.org.uk

From the earliest age, children just love to make things.

Admittedly they start by making a mess, but in time their painting, sticking, kneading and moulding start to take a pleasing, recognisable form. When clutching a big paintbrush, sticking pasta to a piece of card and squeezing play dough, children are developing motor skills which will later be fine-tuned to manage tasks such as writing and using cutlery effectively. Furthermore, the early attempts are stimulating many senses while introducing new techniques and textures. “There’s nothing like using clay to develop children’s artistic abilities,” one local potter observed: “usually they don’t get the chance to do pottery until they’re much older, but the younger ones love it just as much.”

The Ceramic Experience – 0131 554 4455 Doodles – 0131 229 1399 www.doodlesscotland.co.uk The Imagination Workshop – 0131 466 0148 www.theimaginationworkshop.co.uk Kids Knit - 0796 3367314 www.kidsknit.co.uk Kiss The Fish - 0131 332 8912 www.kissthefishstudios.com National Galleries of Scotland - 0131 624 6560

Dance It’s a rare child who does not enjoy dressing up games, and dance is the perfect way to move ‘in character’, whether as a graceful fairytale ballerina princess, or grooving to a funkier beat. While dancing is great fun it also helps develop coordination, fitness and a sense of rhythm, musicality and expression, promoting self-discipline and confidence.

Edinburgh Ballet - 07723 589 280 Angela Watson School of Dance – www.edinburgh-ballet.co.uk 0131 661 9590 The Julie Mitchell Edinburgh Dance Ceilidh kids - 0131 667 8898 Academy – 0131 337 3402 www.ceilidhkids.com www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk Dancebase – 0131 225 5525 Lothian Dance Academy – 0131 669 9073 www.dancebase.co.uk www.lothiandance.com Dance for All – 0131 226 5533 Popstars Academy – 0131 538 0774 www.danceforall.co.uk Dynam-nic Dance – 07545 551271 www.popstarsacademy.com The Waterfront Dance Studio – 07772 www.dynam-nic-dance.co.uk 504958 niki.forbes@talktalk.net

Cooking and Food Learning about food and how to cook can help children learn about nutrition and healthy eating. Teaching children to cook will help instill skills to last them a lifetime. Following a recipe uses maths (weighing and measuring), science (how different ingredients work together) and creativity.

Cooking Mania – 0131 220 2040 www.cookingmania.co.uk Food Monsters - 0131 538 4815 www.foodmonsters.co.uk Victoria Plum - 0131 558 9041 www.victoria-plum.com

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clubs&classes CeilidhKids At CeilidhKids, everyone can enjoy Scottish music and dancing. Traditionally at a Scottish Ceilidh, well-loved dances are shared and passed down through the generations. At CeilidhKids classes and events simple (often simplified) dances which you would meet at a Ceilidh or Scottish Country dance are explained and demonstrated, before everyone gets to have a go. Some dances will be old and traditional, others are in traditional form but have been specially adapted for wee people to enjoy with Mum, Dad, childminder or grandparents.

For three years now CeilidhKids has been steadily growing in popularity in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Thousands of children and families have enjoyed the opportunity to get together and celebrate the dances and music of their heritage. Maybe they have danced with CeilidhKids at school, at nursery, at a preschool class, or at a festival or party. So why not join us as we clap, march, skip, jump and twirl to the beat? Bring comfy shoes and something to drink – we’ll see you there! www.ceilidhkids.com

Water Babies Water Babies is the UK’s leading baby swimming school and classes are available locally in Edinburgh. Classes run seven days a week at various times of the day. Our next term will begin w/c 23rd August, so if at that point your baby will be under 12 months old, please call 0131 554 6682 or email us – woggle@waterbabies.co.uk - to register your interest and we will contact you in with the class options for beginners. The cost of the 9-week term is £108.

Dynam-nic Dance Starting September 2010! Dynam-nic Dance has been set up by professional dancer and choreographer Nicky Pyrah.

The classes will be held in the fantastic new studios of the MGA Academy of Performing Arts. Here the children will learn in a safe and electric atmosphere, surrounded by music and dance. There is a fully equipped waiting room where parents can wait comfortably while their children are busy discovering the joys of dance. Dynam-nic is offering ISTD Syllabus dance training for children 3 years and upwards. Starting with Dynam-nic Twinkle Toes, children will use exciting props and familiar music to learn the basics of dance in all three genres of Ballet Tap and Modern. Dynam-nic Pre Primary and Primary are the next steps, here children can work towards their very first dance certificates! Dynam-nic has classes for all ages, Dynamnic Lowers is perfect for slightly older children of ages 711 and Dynam-nic Highers is aimed at young adults of ages 12-16. Both classes focusing on Ballet Tap and Modern before moving onto ISTD Syllabus grades and examinations. We will provide fun and professional teaching to guide children up the ladder of Dance Education and help them 'Discover the Joy of Dance" We are holding opening days at the studios, meet Nicky, explore our home, see what Dynam-nic is all about and your chance to grab a place for September.

Opening day 4th September. Doors open 9am. Call Nicky on 07545551271 for more information or email nicky@dynam-nic-dance.com Keep up do date with us at www.dynam-nic-dance.com

Parent and baby classes at Edinburgh Montessori Arts School.

Edinburgh Montessori Arts School is the new umbrella organisation incorporating Morningside Montessori Nursery.

The school opens its primary programme in August this year and in addition are hosting specialist groups for parents interested in baby and toddler development.

The Lauriston room in Barclay Viewforth Church provides the ideal setting for you to share special time with your child. Parents have the opportunity to observe their little ones in a specially prepared environment. Nancy Cecchetti; ‘Assistant to Infancy’, works with you to develop a gentle cycle of observation, play and attachment building.

Termly classes include insights into all areas of children’s development as you work through a structured programme of observation and interaction. Topics covered include; physical development, sensory play, bonding with your baby, infant-toddler massage and much more - alongside lots and lots of ideas to try at home.

“Nancy is so calm and gentle in her approach, the ideas she has given me for activities have really helped my interaction with my daughter.”

Trish Thornton – Montessori mum Parent and baby classes – every Wednesday during term time.

Parent and toddler classes – every Thursday and Friday Term one is August – October and a terms classes cost £160 for parents and babies (up to 14 months)and £250 for parent and toddlers (14mths – 3 years).

Contact 0131 446 0777 for bookings.

Jo Jingles The new term for Jo Jingles in West Edinburgh is starting on the 28th of August. There will be new classes in Greenbank and Polworth and we are expanding our Saturday classes and they will be held in Corstorphine.

All venues will now have our popular baby classes for babies from 3 months and you can come along for a free trial if you quote "families". If you meet other mums and would like us to come to you for the free baby trial that can be arranged. www.jojingles.com The new term for Jo Jingles in East Edinburgh is starting on the 30th August. There are new classes running in Joppa on a Friday morning in St Philips Church, 9.30 for over 2's and 10.30 for under 2's. Spaces are still available in some locations with many of the classes now taking babies from 3 months. www.jojingles.com Jo Jingles East Lothian - New Term commences Friday 20th August 2010.

Class venues - Monday am - North Berwick & Dunbar, Monday pm - Longniddry & Prestonpans. Tuesday am Haddington. Wednesday am - Prestonpans, Wednesday pm - East Linton, Friday am - Port Seton & Tranent, Saturday am – Haddington. New classes introduced Mondays 1.20pm in Prestonpans Tuesdays 10am in Haddington & 12.40pm Fridays in Tranent. Places still available in most classes call Leigh on 01875 616607 for further details.

Artistic Director: Ms K. Sara J. Wood BA (HONS), RAD RTS, Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance

Free Taster Session

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From 2 years to Adults Studio locations: Stevenson College Edinburgh Ratho EICA, Cardrona Nr.Peebles 07723 589 280 www.edinburgh-ballet.co.uk info@edinburgh-ballet.co.uk

clubs&classes STEP AHEAD STEP AHEAD Tutoring and Educational Services is the leading teacher organisation offering one-to-one tuition in the homes of clients or tutors throughout East and Central Scotland.

The power of individual tuition is being felt by countless children throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife and is reflected in the outstanding results achieved in national Standard and Higher exams, as well as at younger stages.

All academic subjects are catered for from primary through secondary. STEP AHEAD also has expertise, and a superb record, in preparing for and gaining places in independent schools.

Our feed back includes comments such as; ‘I would encourage any parent to speak with you and arrange an assessment. Not just for accessing tutors but for moral support as a parent in relation to any issues or concerns regarding education.’

‘Once again our sincere thanks – the difference you have made to this family cannot be under-estimated and indeed the real fruits of your labour will be harvested by our children throughout their lives.’

Contact us through our website at www.stepaheadtuition.com or phone 0845 643 2823

Swim Easy - Rapid Track from 18th October 2009 SwimEasy’s October “Rapid Track” Lessons will run for one week at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh from Monday 18th October to Friday 22nd October inclusive.

Our specialist One-to-Two Classes can be booked a week at a time, each morning, from Monday to Friday.

One-to-Two lessons are especially useful when an individual has a particular fear of the water. The confidence gained from individual attention significantly speeds up the learning process and develops better self -assurance.

This allows the learner to discover for themselves just what can be achieved and the process of enjoying being in the water is greatly enhanced.

For those individuals who are already confident in the water and are reasonably competent, swimmers One-toTwo lessons will improve any weakness rapidly and any technical correction or specific area of improvement will be dealt with much more easily.

We also operate weekly swimming classes at various venues throughout Edinburgh and Forth Valley seven days a week throughout term time.

To Book Call Us Now On 0131 466 0764 or 01506 516220 www.swimeasy.co.uk

Whizzkids

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy

This term Whizzkids have lots of fun, educational and exciting activities to offer! With half-hour classes for children of pre-school age and hour-long classes for older children and adults there’s something to suit everyone!

Lessons may be customised to suit individual needs but can cover anything from educational games to brush up on maths and spelling skills to touch-typing, word processing and desktop publishing. Children can learn how to produce various publications like calendars, cards, labels, leaflets and projects or even work towards a recognised computing qualification! Perhaps you sometimes feel the kids know more than you…if so, why not book in for an individual adult lesson and learn how to create labels, organise files and folders on the computer, create headed notepaper or make party invitations for the kids?

To discuss your computing needs give Gillian a call on 0131 447 5893 or e-mail gillian@whizzkids.uk.com.

Our classes are designed to give students ongoing confidence, self esteem and skills that will help them in everyday life. We work from a curriculum that has been developed over many years by educational experts; each lesson involves voice work, movement and creative improvised drama and allows students of varying ages and abilities to reach their personal best.

As a result of many requests from parents, we are now also offering our new Kindy Drama Programme for 3 – 5 year olds, at some studio’s.

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy has been running drama classes for children (5-17 years) in the UK for 15 years.

Our branch in the Lothian’s and Borders has been operating for 6 years and this year was awarded ‘Branch of the Year 2010’ by Helen O’Grady head office in Guernsey.

We are currently enrolling; please call our office for further information about our affordable classes.

0131 667 0939 midscot@helenogrady.co.uk www.helenogrady.co.uk

Dance Base Dance Base, National Centre for Dance in the Grassmarket has a programme of classes for everyone aged one and up. Toddlers can dance with their parents and school age dancers can join the Mini Dance Academy and try out lots of different styles in one term. All Dance Base classes are non-competitive; it’s not about grades and exams but having fun with people the same age as you. You won’t find ballet, tap or modern here; Dance Base specialises in kids Street & Hip Hop and Breakdance.

Autumn term begins on 11 September and classes go on sale from Sat 4 September. Courses fill up quickly so get in early! Book online at dancebase.co.uk or call 0131 225 5525 from 10am on 4 September.

A new studio is planned to open in October at the Thomas Morton Hall on Ferry Road in Leith. The full programme is available at www.dancebase.co.uk

EDINBURGH YOUNG MUSICIANS www.e-y-m.org.uk

SATURDAY MORNING CLASSES

musical play (pre-school and P1) workshops (P2), musicianship, violin, viola, cello recorder, chamber music, choirs, orchestras AGES 3 TO 17 JAMES GILLESPIE’S HIGH SCHOOL “They’ve enjoyed the lessons enormously and the house is full of music now”

Jean Murray, B.Mus, Director 0131 226 3392 admin@e-y-m.org.uk EYM is a Registered Scottish Charity No. SCO33153

Kids NLP Scotland Book now for our next parents’ course Sep/Oct. An innovative course for parents.

Also if parent of older children, consider our course Mind Matters to help with managing exams.

Over the summer we have continued to support individuals: overcoming stage fright, speaking and presenting to the class, reading aloud with confidence, worries about dogs, friendship issues, sleep issues, managing frustration and even surprised a dentist by ceasing a client’s finger sucking which was impacting on front teeth in just 2 sessions!

Visit www.kb-insights.co.uk Karen@kb-insights.co.uk Tel 07837930714

Suzuki Piano Lessons Does your child show a love for music?

Enjoy fun learning with your child from the ages of 3 and above.

Contact Isla Pitkethly on 0131 337 1251 islapitkethly@aol.com

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clubs&classes Monkey Music Branches Out Across Edinburgh!

St Mary’s Music School Come to our Open Day on Saturday 9 October to find out about music for children in Edinburgh Coates Hall, 25 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EL Telephone 0131 538 7766

Monkey Music, voted “The Best National Pre-School Development Activity 2010” by parents in the What’s On 4 Little Ones awards, is expanding its classes in Edinburgh for the autumn term starting in September.

Rachel Huggins, who runs classes in the north west of the city is delighted to have a new Stockbridge venue on a Wednesday morning and will continue offering classes in Corstorphine, Dalry, Comely Bank, Cramond and Murrayfield. She will be joined in September by Helen Balfry an existing Monkey Music mum who will be taking over some of the teaching.

Alison Rankin, who runs classes in the south of the city including Morningside, Newington and Fairmilehead, is excited to be offering new classes in Juniper Green Church on Thursday and Saturday mornings. These classes will be run by local mum and trained singer, Lesley Scott.

An Open Day will be held in the church on Thursday 2nd September when free taster sessions will be on offer.

Unique to Monkey Music is their Rock ‘n’ roll curriculum which has been specially written for babies from 3 months in response to huge demand from parents who are increasingly aware of the importance of introducing their children to music from as young an age as possible. Both new venues will be offering Rock ‘n’ roll classes for very young babies from September as well as the other awardwinning curricula for children from 1 year to 4 years old.

“We are so proud of the support that we have had and the way that Monkey Music classes have taken off in Edinburgh and feel sure that our new venues in Stockbridge and Juniper Green will prove to be equally as popular” commented Rachel and Alison. “The Saturday morning classes offer the perfect opportunity for working parents to enjoy musical fun and learning with their children” To find out more and to book a complimentary class for the Autumn term call: Rachel (Edinburgh north/west) on Tel: 0131 260 9667 or email: rachel.huggins@monkeymusic.co.uk Alison (Edinburgh south) on Tel: 0131 669 6004 or email: alison.rankin@monkeymusic.co.uk Or why not visit the interactive website at www.monkeymusic.co.uk to sample some of the delights of Monkey Music for yourself?

The imagination workshop.

September weekend – Monday 20th September 10am to 12 noon Kite Decorating: Decorate your own kite, all ready to fly for the Autumn winds! £12 per person. Age Mums & Dads – Learn to Face Paint Just in time for Halloween, come along and learn how to paint some great Halloween faces. Models supplied.

Thursday 14 October 7pm – 9pm. £8 per person.

October Holiday week 18 -22 October. Get set for Halloween! All suitable for aged 5+ Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 – Make a paper mache cauldron for all your Trick or Treat loot! 10am – 12 noon. £30 for 2 days Wednesday 20 – Decorate a Monster Mask.

10 – 11am. £8 per person.

Thursday 21 – Dead Mans Finger. Make a spooky dead finger pen. 10 – 12noon.£12 per person.

Friday 22 – Mummy Heads. Make a great loot collector in the shop of a mummies head! 10 – 12 noon. £12 per person.

Simply Sewing Sundays We’re taking up our pins and needles again with our Sunday morning sewing club! Starting on Sunday 5 September for six weeks from 11.15am finishing at 12.45pm.

Cost is £60 per person for the six week block and we’ll work on a variety of hand sewing projects over the six weeks. Suitable for children age 8 plus.

Booking is essential for all classes.

Call 0131 466 0148

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DOODLES Half Term Art Club Mon18th –Fri 22nd October 10.30 – 12pm £60 for week or £15 per day (Monday Clay Day £20) These sessions are always a fun exploration of different materials and glazes….Messy and creative fun guaranteed! Items made during the week will great Christmas presents or fun keepsakes.

New to DOODLES….Adult Pottery Evening Classes!

We will be running pottery making and painting workshops starting in September. These will be 7-9pm and run for 8 weeks. There will be a taster session on the 8th of September 7-9pm with wine and nibbles to help the creative juices flow!! (Cost £10 per person). Classes will begin on the 15th Sept at cost of £100 for the 8 week block.

These are intended to be a fun learning and creative evening. Items made could make very unique and personal Christmas gifts! www.doodlesscotland.co.uk

The Suzuki Method The Suzuki Method is based on the Mother Tongue Method, The natural way of learning. Just look at how amazing it is when your baby says its first word and learns their native language. How do they learn? By constant listening, observing, repetition, and most of all praise and enjoyment from their parents. We train Parent and Child the same way, by ear and memory first so they can enjoy playing the piano. Sight reading and Theory comes later when they feel confident with the instrument. We have concerts and group lessons so they can enjoy playing with their friends in the group, performing to others and is a good a social event, opportunities to travel to workshops all over the world. I have 20 years experience being that I was the Suzuki child and now I am a teacher.

Contact info 01313371251, 07878361695, islapitkethly@aol.com.

Kip McGrath - Real Teachers achieving Real Results At our Kip McGrath Centre in Inverleith, we provide professional tuition in Maths and English that is motivational, fun and builds confidence. Tuition is delivered by fully qualified teachers, who have experience of teaching in local schools and knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence. The Centre caters for the educational needs of both primary and secondary students in a relaxed, quiet and friendly environment where children feel confident and secure. Every student is tutored in a way that suits their individual learning style. The 80 minute sessions involve the completion of 6 different multi-sensory activities, some of which involve a computer. As well as being enjoyable, this approach adds variety and maintains the interest of every child. Quite simply - it works!

A satisfied parent sums it up: "Sam just loves coming to Kip. The difference in his confidence is amazing!"

To find out how Kip McGrath can help your child feel more confident and achieve greater success, contact Indy on 01316106110.

Kip McGrath Education Centre (Edinburgh), 1 Huntly Street, Inverleith, Edinburgh EH3 5HB

clubs&classes GYMINI minigym a FOUNDATION FOR SPORT GYMINI coaches are qualified British Gymnastic coaches who are involved in a variety of other sports as well as gymnastics. Our unique foundation programme based on activity and fun will stimulate our GYMINI’S to develop the major motor skills such as rolling, running, balancing, jumping, swinging and climbing. Using scaled down gymnastic equipment our GYMINI’S progress into recreational gymnasts.

Through our structured GYMINI programme our gymnasts can continue further into gymnastics involving competition and display work. Flexibility and strength gained allow GYMINI’S to use their skills to enhance other sports.

GYMINI is a private enterprise unique to Edinburgh and not a franchise. For further information check out our website www.gymini.co.uk or contact FIONA JENNI or SHEILA 0131 334 3657

CookingMania It’s time for something new, it’s time to Get real, cook a meal!

The new way to spend your Friday afternoon Get real, cook a meal!

At CookingMania you can spend time in a real kitchen, with real food and cook yourself a real meal!

You don’t need to know how to cook like a pro, but you do want to spend time having fun in our kitchen, and learn how to make some fantastic meals.

Here’s the types of food we’ll be cooking: Lunchbox central – create exciting lunches Liquid lunches – soup masterclass Muffin madness – sweet and savoury muffins Spice it up – Thai curries and noodles Bean there –we promise you tasty vegetarian food www.cookingmania.co.uk 1/2 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6ST 0131 220 2040

Popstars Academy Popstars Academy have merged two of their original Academies, Inverleith & Ravelston, to form the brand new Comely Bank Academy in it’s fabulous new Professional Dance venue – The Dance Studio, Broughton High School.

Their Morningside Academy is also moving to a better venue - Marchmont St Giles Parish Church. Classes resume for the Autumn/Winter Term on Wednesday 25th August in Marchmont, Thursday 26th in Cramond and Saturday 28th in Comely Bank.

0131 538 0774 • www.PopstarsAcademy.com Follow us on Facebook - PSA Edinburgh

Tumble Tots Tumble Tots is the leading National Active Play Programme for children from six months to seven years.

Gymbabes – for ages 6 months to walking confidently.

Class includes warming up massage, exercises with songs, some time exploring the equipment with mum, all the new stimuli really brings the children’s development along, finishing off with a gentle song.

Walking to two years old – With parent participation we concentrate on climbing, balance, agility and co-ordination. After time on the equipment we do nursery rhymes so the children can have a rest and encourage their language skills. Then the children can go back on the equipment, to finish we do nursery rhymes and a song.

Two to three years old - Still with parent participation, but is structured to cater for the abilities of the child.

The class begins with an action song and a chat, we divide the children into small groups. The equipment is set out in the four distinct areas, when the children have completed all four areas, we end the class with another action song.

Three to five years old - The children come in on their own. The format is the same as the two to three years, the children begin to develop quicker and gain confidence in themselves.

Gymbobs is an extension of Tumble Tots, for children from 4 1/2 to 7 years. We start the class with a chat, and more formal warm up exercises and a game before going on the equipment. The class finishes with a relay race which the children really enjoy and encourages team spirit.

Edinburgh East is operated by Jo Letelier-Lobos.

We operate six days a week: Monday, Tuesday and Friday at Cluny Church Centre in Morningside, Wednesday in Fairmilehead, Thursday in Haddington and Marchmont on a Saturday. Call Jo on 01875 819966 Edinburgh West is operated by April Wallace who's classes currently run five days with a sixth day soon to start. Monday in Corstorphine at David Lloyd, Tuesday at Inverleith, Wednesday at Murrayfield, Friday at Cramond Kirk and at Ravelston on a Saturday. A second day of classes at David Lloyd in Corstorphine is set to start soon on a Thursday. Call April on 0131 336 1234 Please contact us if you want to book your child a trial session or ask for more information.

Swimming Nature Swimming Nature offers a fun and educational programme with a unique, interactive reward and progression scheme to boost and enhance student development. Classes are available during term time Monday to Sunday at various venues in Edinburgh.

Call 08445 040506 for comprehensive information about the best course for your child, or visit www.swimmingnature.co.uk

October Holiday Club 18th - 22nd October

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clubs&classes Kids NLP Scotland Has your child’s return to school been difficult? Is managing their emotions or behaviour difficult?

Are they anxious about school work or friendships?

Consultations for parents Individual sessions available Book now for next parents’ workshop Sep/Oct. www.Kidsnlpscotland.co.uk

Call Karen 0783 7930714

SOCATOTS SOCATOTS® is the world's first soccer-specific physical play programme for children from six months to school age. It is aimed at giving children their very first start with the ball and is truly a unique programme.

The SOCATOTS® sessions feature parental participation, whereby the emphasis remains largely on fun and structured play throughout all ages. Using football as its core medium, SOCATOTS® helps very young children to develop both physically and socially, whilst introducing strong elements of numeracy, literacy and colour identification.

All SOCATOTS® equipment is specially designed for children to develop physical skills of agility, balance and co-ordination. From skittles, hoops and beanbags to balance boards and ball specially designed by Mitre. Each activity is intended to improve motor skills, but more importantly they are designed to be fun.

We have venues all over Edinburgh & East Lothian, please visit www.socatots.org/edinburgh or call or email Jamie Smith on 07923 005534 j.smith@socatots.com for more information.

Saturday Art Club Saturdays: 18, 25 September & 2, 9 October 1.30-3.30pm Art Blast (Ages 8-11) £55(£35) A new format for the Saturday Art Club. Have a go at painting, drawing, drama and filmmaking to explore your thoughts and feelings on the Impressionist Gardens exhibition. National Gallery, The Mound. To book call 0131 624 6560.

Saturdays: 18, 25 September & 2, 9 October 1.30-4.30pm Saturday Studio (Ages 11-15) £65(£40) An opportunity to explore the large-scale sculpture of Robert Therrien and other displays in the Gallery of Modern Art. Artists will help you think about the ideas behind the works on show, and how they can be used to inspire your own artworks about the world we live in. Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road. To book call 0131 624 6560.

Junior Judo George Kerr, Scotland’s ‘Mr Judo’, is one of only seven living people in the world today to hold a tenth Dan in judo. There is no higher honour in the sport, and almost all the holders are in Japan.

A former British and European champion, Olympic referee and chairman of British Judo (he is currently its president), George is also the only coach in Britain to have trained a double Olympic champion.

Teaching judo to youngsters is in George’s blood – he’s been teaching kids Judo in Edinburgh for over four decades.

Now, with the launch of Junior Judo Club and the participation of other internationallevel judo coaches, George is making top-flight tuition available once again to young people in Edinburgh and surrounding areas, this time in a purpose-built facility at The Club.

Developing fitness, confidence and skill: Junior Judo is serious fun for kids aged 4-15.

0131 555 4578 www.juniorjudoclub.co.uk george@juniorjudoclub.co.uk

Talking Tots Talking Tots, the only national pre-school programme dedicated to developing children’s communication skills, is delighted to be offering more classes than ever this term at venues across Edinburgh! Come along and take part in our fun and interactive games and activities, specially designed by early years experts to support the development of your child’s language skills, pre-literacy skills, listening & attention, social confidence, turn-taking and sharing skills. Classes are suitable for all children aged 12 months to 5 years, from those just saying their first words to fully-fledged chatterboxes!

Talking Tots offers a unique way to give your child a head start before starting school!

Classes are now available in Balerno, Corstorphine, Fairmilehead, Murrayfield and Stockbridge. Weekday and weekend classes available. Places must be pre-booked so please contact Fiona on 07824 980943 or email fiona@talkingtots.info.

Further information and full class listings are also available at www.talkingtots.info

Edinburgh Young Musicians Edinburgh Young Musicians’ new term of Saturday morning classes begins on September 11th at James Gillespie’s High School in Marchmont, with approximately 300 children on the books. For younger children, EYM has a range of pre-instrumental classes, which can be joined at any time up to the beginning of P2. There are vacancies in musical play classes (final pre-school year and P1) as well as musical workshop classes (P2), the latter forming a year’s course designed for children to be ready to start an instrument or join a choir in P3. For older children with suitable musical experience, there may also be vacancies in choirs, string orchestras, chamber music, recorder and musicianship classes. For children taking individual instrumental lessons in school or privately, EYM offers a chance to make like-minded friends, to experience the satisfaction of group music-making and to enhance the pleasure they gain from music. www.e-y-m.org.uk. 0131-226-3392.

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clubs&classes Dance For All Dance For All, is launching a Boys Only dance class this term, led by one of Dance For All's male tutors: Peter Twyman. Peter has been teaching both Dance For All's professional course students as well as weekly classes including: children's RAD ballet, ISTD jazz, adult jazz, fitness & street. The Boys Only class will run on Tuesday evenings 6pm-7pm. Please contact Dance For All to register your interest on 0131 226 5533.

Dance For All is celebrating its silver anniversary this year and continues to offer a diverse range of classes with up-to-the-minute training. With 2010 being the tenth year of the Professional Stage Dance & Teacher Training Course, Dance For All has become known as Scotland's premier dance college. It is proud to offer a hub of expertise to dip into at any age and level, from the complete beginner to professional. www.danceforall.co.uk

Victoria Plum Ex London Chef Katie Brooke has founded a brand new cookery school for children.

“The difference is all about getting children really engaged with food and above all having fun.” Explains Katie.

The new venture Victoria Plum caters for children between the ages of 7-11.

“At this age, children are best placed to create their own food.” She continues “It’s also important to keep class sizes to 5 children so my assistant and I can keep our eyes on them at all times and ensure they get the most out of the sessions.”

Victoria Plum is based in Windsor Street where Katie’s kitchen looks out onto her herb and vegetable garden. “Educating children about seasonal food is essential. To give them a greater understanding about this and where different foods around the world come from are both very important lessons for later life” says Katie.

The classes run after school every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 4.00pm and 6.15pm and include an afternoon tea where the children devour their creations and head back home already fed.

For more info on how to book contact Katie at: www.victoria-plum.com or 0131 558 9041

The Waterfront Dance Studio The new name for Pointeworks Dance Academy After many years touring the community venues of North Edinburgh, Niki Forbes and her team have moved into permanent dance studio premises in the Granton Waterfront.

2 studios with dance floor, barres, mirrors and changing facilities, what better place to learn to dance. Junior pupils start from age 3 with Twinkles & Little Stars and for our tiniest dancers we now have Tu Tu Tots, where children from the age of 2 can enjoy dance with a participating adult. Older children progress onto RAD Ballet, Move It! ( Which is fast paced and funky )or Tap dance. Boyz Only has also been re introduced for boys in P1-P3. Junior classes still held in Cramond & Davidsons Mains, Borders Branch classes in Hawick and Jedburgh .

All Dance Studio teachers hold professional qualifications and are fully disclosed.

Performance and training opportunities available. Call Niki Forbes 07772 504958, niki.forbes@talktalk.net

Fencing Fun – Best in Britain Since the last issue of Families Edinburgh, Fencing Fun has improved its website with secure online booking and payment. Coach Keith Cook has become the first Scot to win the British foil title for 21 years. This achievement received excellent coverage in The Evening News on 30th July, explaining Keith’s wish to see fencing become a sport enjoyed by many more young people in Edinburgh. We believe that fencing is a fantastic sport that develops skill, speed, balance, co-ordination and timing as well providing positive benefits for a child’s social and emotional skills. Fencing Fun – the champions of today coaching the champions of tomorrow. www.fencingfun.co.uk. Call Sean 07764 685520

Sparkle Arts (1-12 years). Helping little personalities shine, through an exciting mix of dance, drama & music. Little Sparkles – special classes in nurseries & Parent & Child classes – get involved, every Friday for 1-5 years. Holiday workshops – perfect for 5-12 years. Sparkle Arts parties! A magical time, for 1-12 years.

07717 706778 info@sparklearts.co.uk www.sparklearts.co.uk

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clubs&classes Kids Knit Kids Knit provides exciting and imaginative knitting classes for boys and girls of primary school age, from Beginner through to Expert level.

With Beginners we start by making

wooden knitting needles, topping them with hand made felted balls.

Then working with quality, chunky yarn that produces great results quickly, we make unique and characterful creations the kids adore! It gets really exciting as they progress through Intermediate, Advanced and Expert levels and learn just what can be done with a couple of sticks and a ball of wool!

Knitting encourages creativity, increases ability to concentrate, is beneficial to maths skills and induces relaxation. Furthermore it’s a wonderfully satisfying hobby with endless possibilities for the creative imagination. Learn to knit the Kids Knit way and knitting success is guaranteed!

Weekly and one off classes in Corstorphine and Marchmont throughout the year.

Corstorphine Beginners, Saturday 9.30 – 11, United Free Church of Scotland Glebe Road. Beginning 4th September Marchmont Beginners, Tuesday 4.45 – 6.15, The Imagination Workshop Marchmont Road, Beginning 7th September 12 weeks £120 Intermediate and special skills classes also available.

For details please visit www.kidsknit.co.uk or phone Kerry 0796 3367314 email info@kidsknit.co.uk

LE PETIT MONDE comes to your nursery!

LE PETIT MONDE is a unique puppet based theatre company, developed by Tania Czajka, a qualified nursery nurse and French native speaker. Our aim is to introduce very young children to the French language in a gentle and fun way.

For this, we visit nurseries and schools with our original puppet shows (written in English with French keywords repeated throughout the stories), and our follow-up classes and workshops.

Various packages are available including the "One Day Package", especially designed for primary classes (P1 to P7).

All LE PETIT MONDE activities link to the Curriculum For Excellence.

LE PETIT MONDE also runs the "Play in French" classes on saturday mornings for children aged from 0 to 5 years.

Voila!

To find out more, go to www.lepetitmonde.co.uk or contact Tania on 079 100 45 743 or info@lepetitmonde.co.uk " Edinburgh East - Jo - 01875 819966

Morningside, Marchmont, Haddington, Fairmilehead

Edinburgh West - April - 0131 336 1234

Classes Monday to Saturday

Trinity, Murrayfield, Livingston, Cramond, Ravelston, Corstorphine

Fun and educational computer lessons for children of all ages during school term-time and holidays

Little Shakespeare Theatre school This term Little Shakespeare Theatre school will once again take part in the Shakespeare Schools festival, where they will be performing Twelfth Night on 29th September at the Pleasance Theatre. Bookings can be made directly through the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings during school term in Musselburgh. The play has been cast, but there are still spaces available for those wishing to audition.

Saturday classes for begin on 21st August for 5-7 years ,and 8-11years.

These classes are fun and based on a Shakespearean theme, with music, dance, improvisation and roleplay and are open to children of all abilities . The children will take part in a Shakespeare Evening at the end of year. see www.littleshakespearetheatreschool.co.uk for more details or contact michelle on 07724937331

Food Monsters Do you have children in Primary 1 or 2 at school, or teach P1 or P2? Food Monsters runs theme-based healthy eating activity sessions in schools, with competitions and prizes. The hands-on sessions encourage active and challenging learning, and are great fun! Bookings now being taken for the new academic year.

Contact Claire for further information and availability: claireburrell@foodmonsters.co.uk or 0131 538 4815 Check out www.foodmonsters.co.uk for photos, and fab testimonials from parents!

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clubs&classes Kumon Free Trial!

Kumon Educational UK will be offering a free trial from the 21 August until the 20th of October inclusive! Kumon Study Centres provide after-school maths and English programmes which are designed to promote independent learning and strong study skills for children of all ages. The main features that facilitate the success of the programmes to so many children are easy start points, daily study practice and learning from corrections which builds confidence, good concentration and the ability to selflearn. Building strong foundations enable every child to tackle new work and this is fundamental to their ability to learn and acquire the skills which will last them a life time.

We have four study centres run by dedicated Instructors: Edinburgh Morningside, Edinburgh Portobello, Edinburgh Ravelston and Currie. If you want to find out more about the Kumon programme and would like to enrol on a Free Trial basis, contact your nearest Instructor today. You can find us at: www.kumon.co.uk or call 0800 854 714

Edinburgh Ballet Edinburgh Ballet is a young and exciting dance school offering high quality dance training from the age of 2 years old. Our main focus is classical ballet, which we believe is the most fundamental of all dance forms. We also offer a combination of Modern/Jazz technique classes, for those already attending ballet classes. RAD Ballet Examinations are taken at the appropriate levels. All dancers are encouraged to take part in our annual performance, even the youngest! Regular theatre outings are held, allowing students to witness some of the best dance companies in the world. Registrations are taken throughout the year. Please call to reserve your place: 07723-589-280, or alternatively email us on info@edinburgh-ballet.co.uk. You can also visit the website for information www.edinburgh-ballet.co.uk

Ravivworks Reading, writing, spelling and maths are all a learned process.

To enable us to do all these very important skills we need to have the correct wiring in our brains.

Sometimes if there is a loose connection in our brain wiring, we can really struggle to read, and this then leads to low self esteem, lack of confidence and other related difficulties.

Those with dyslexia spend a great amount of energy trying to understand words, and may see letters the wrong way round and jumping around the page.

The Raviv method is a multi sensory approach to overcoming learning difficulties.

The therapy involves focused and fun based movement exercises.

On a 1:1 basis over a period of 4 to 6 months, the Raviv method will create new neurological connections in the brain, which will allow the child to learn and realise their full potential.

Ravivworks now has places available in central Edinburgh.

For more information and to arrange a FREE 1 hour consultation, please contact Jane Wexelstein-Oliver,Tel: 07512311317, e-mail jane.wexo@virgin.net www.raviv.co.uk

Jack and Jill-Music Fun for Tots Are you looking for a new and unique musical experience to share with your child? ‘Jack and Jill-Music Fun for Tots’ is a local, independently run business which has been providing music classes for babies and young children for the last 18 years.

The classes are run by qualified music teachers who passionately believe in the positive value of live musical experience from an early age. We aim to give your child the opportunity to participate in a varied, flexible and enjoyable programme of themed musical activities including listening to live music, moving and dancing, singing new and familiar songs and handling a wide range of musical instruments.

Themes such as ‘Scotland’, ‘The Seaside’ or ‘The Caribbean’ come to life by the sounds of unusual instruments such as accordions, ocean drums, or the steel drum.

If you are looking for a music class that can awaken your child’s love for music – ‘Jack and Jill’ is the class for you! Contact Jill on 0131 667 9664

Portobello Music School Expansion Now in its fifth year and with numbers approaching the 300 mark, Portobello Music School is about to embark on a period of expansion that will create a program of activity on weekday evenings and Friday afternoons. In addition to their hugely successful Saturday morning music centre which currently provides comprehensive music education to over 200 children aged preschool and upwards they will begin to offer additional classes during the week which will include group tuition in acoustic and electric guitar, drums and keyboard and individual lessons across the whole range of instruments both classical and modern. The new program of activity will be introduced during the autumn term with details being announced on the music school’s website.

Enrolment is still open for Saturday classes starting in September however places are limited. To check availability, please visit www.portobellomusicschool.com or telephone 0131 669 1120

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clubs&classes The Drama Studio The Drama Studio's classes across Edinburgh start back as from August the 19th. We welcome returning students and new starts who are interested in Drama either as a hobby, making new friends or indeed taking it further - we also run a Casting Agency!

Our classes are suitable for ages 4-16 and after our 3 fantastic Summer schools we are really looking forward to the new term.

"If you were giving it stars I would give it 5 !" Matthew Wilson Age 10 We also have singing and dancing in some of our venues and our Themed Parties are very popular with excellent reviews (see netmums.com) Please have a look at our website to see everything that is going on at www.thedramastudio.com or call 0131-453-3284 to talk to us.

Kiss the Fish Studios Keep little fingers busy with a visit to Kiss the Fish Studios in Stockbridge. We have a huge range of animals, boxes and frames ready for you to decorate with our fabulous tissue papers, paints, glitter and jewels from just £1.99. We also have a great selection of wood crafts for pre-schoolers to decorate – and the best part is that we do all the clearing up!

We’re open seven days a week. Book ahead or just drop by when you’re feeling creative, whether it be after school, during the holidays or at the weekend! Keep those creative juices flowing with a range of yummy snacks and drinks.

We also host birthday parties or why not catch up with a group of friends by booking one of our relaxing evening sessions - you can even bring along your own wine and nibbles….

Check us out at www.kissthefishstudios.com for more details.

Little Kicks

After School Drama Workshops for Young People age 3+

• Singing / Dancing / Drama • After School Classes throughout city • Activities Week Full/Half Day available • Resources and Workshops for Schools/Nurseries/Teachers • Themed Birthday Parties • Casting Agency Opportunities • Venue performances for all classes and Teenage Theatre Performances twice yearly.

Venues throughout the city; Murrayfield, Wardie, Davidson’s Mains, Marchmont, Juniper Green, Balerno, Colinton, Viewforth, Fairmilehead

Contact Julie McDonald B.Ed. 0131 453 3284 www.thedramastudio.co.uk

Little Kicks run football activity classes for children from 18 months through to 7th birthday, our classes are at various locations throughout Edinburgh and West Lothian.

At Little Kicks the focus is very much on fun - a national network of informal yet professionally run training classes where enthusiastic boys & girls are given a helping hand to stand on their own two feet.

The goal of Little Kicks, is to use football as a fun forum to instil our growing squad with a little extra confidence, co-ordination, control and sense of camaraderie; which we feel will stand them in very good stead for the future.

To find out more please have a look at our website, www.littlekicks.co.uk. If you would like your child to try our classes, please contact Deborah on 01506 881709 or 07590 849119 to arrange a free trial, alternatively you can email dparis@littlekicks.co.uk.

The Julie Mitchell Edinburgh Dance Academy The Julie Mitchell Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) has classes and workshops in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Singing and Drama in and around Edinburgh and East Lothian.

The Academy is the only school in Edinburgh to have its own Company, who perform at regular Film Premiers, Balls, Fashion Shows, Corporate Events and Competitions. We are now in our 11th year of providing the Edinburgh Kings Theatre Christmas Pantomime with all juvenile and student dancers. Auditions take place in early September for EDA pupils.

Julie Mitchell founded the Academy in 1995 and is an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance. She has vast experience in all areas of dance and as a result our exam results are unrivalled. The Academy was crowned the best dance school in Edinburgh in 2010.

If you would you like further information on EDA please contact our office on 0131 337 3402 or email edinburghdance@aol.com www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk

Fantastic Crafty Fun! Our crafty studio is set up for lots of fun with paint, glitter, decopatch and fabric paint. Open for parties, drop in and holiday clubs.

Find out more at www.theimaginationworkshop.co.uk or call 0131 466 0148 136 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1AQ

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All these events and more can be found on our website www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk While every care has been taken to compile the OUT AND ABOUT section please remember that this magazine is printed weeks ahead of the events. PLEASE call and check events with the venue to avoid any disappointment before setting out.

If you have any events you would like listed free in this section please email them to editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk

WiN a family ticket to visit The Royal yacht britannia, Edinburgh

(2 adults and up to 3 children). Britannia is a must see five-star attraction berthed in Edinburgh's historic Port of Leith. You can explore five main decks with a fascinating audio tour and children get their own special version, ideal for the under 10s.

For your chance to win a family ticket go to www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk.

Terms and conditions apply.

Closing date september 30th

Every first Wednesday of the month Nature Nippers. A group for the under 5’s and their parents run by the National Trust for Scotland at Newhailes, Musselburgh. If you’re fed up with a lack of opportunities for your child to enjoy playing outside and discovering the natural world then Nature Nippers is for you! Run by a NTS Ranger on the first Wednesday of every month, there’ll be wildlife to see, things to make and games to play. Call 0844 493 2124 to reserve a place (£2 per child) and for a programme of activities.

Every Saturday and Sunday Connect super science shows Connect gallery. 12:15/13:15/14:15/15:15 (20mins). Age 5+. Limited space (seating for 20). Free. Come along to our free events every weekend in Connect. Find out about science in the real world at our Meet the Scientist events or enjoy a Super Science Show! National Museum of Scotland

The Jet Age National Museum of Flight, New permanent exhibition Included in museum admission. Visitors can revel in the glory of 1960s air travel, when photographing celebrities at the airport was still a novelty! Discover how the aircraft was made and watch interviews.

Uniforms, baggage trolleys, airline jet engines and an airport fire engine all help tell the story of the airline that ushered in the ‘Jet Age’.

parachute store National Museum of Flight, New permanent exhibition, Included in museum admission. Experience an evocative glimpse into life at East Fortune in the Second World War. Newly restored to its original appearance, the Parachute Store is where parachutes were hung from the ceiling to dry and repacked ready for use.

Saturday 28 August Moooooooooooving Toys. 10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. £4 per adult/child. Make the coolest toys that actually really do move – you will be able to look at the beautiful toys in the museum for inspiration.

Classes cost £4 per person and are specially designed for families working together, they are best suited for ages 5+. Booking is essential - 0131 529 3963. margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk. Museum of Childhood, Saturday 4th September 2010 polwarth Children's Nearly New sale Polwarth Church, 38 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh. 11am - 1pm Come along and bag a great bargain at fantastic prices. Lots of good quality toys, nursery equipment, maternity and children's clothes. Entry by donation, suggested amount £1-£2. Donations of good quality toys and equipment gratefully received.

Contact donations@nearlynewsale.org.uk www.nearlynewsale.org.uk This sale will be supporting The Sick Kid's Hospital Edinburgh and The Polwarth Church Repair Fund Saturday 4th September dress up Georgian peg dollies. either 10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. Create tiny peg dolls all dressed up for a day out in style in Georgian Edinburgh, using lots of lovely papers and fabrics.

Free. Museum of Edinburgh. Booking essential 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk. With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb.

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All these events and more can be found on our Saturday 4 September big zzzzzz’s. 10.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm. If animals dream, what life do you imagine your pet might dream of? Inspired by the exhibition images, you will use paint and collage techniques to create an image of your own pet or animal and place it in a wonderful Wegman style setting.

With artist Stephanie Walker. City Arts Centre Free with the price of an exhibition ticket, but booking is essential.

Call 0131 529 3963 or e-mail margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Saturday 4 September impressionist Gardens: Sketching in the Royal Botanic Garden All ages, Free. 10.30 am - 3.00 pm. Various locations, look for signs on arrival. Join us for drop-in drawing sessions for all the family inspired by Impressionist paintings and locations in the garden. Easels and all art materials supplied. Artists will be on hand to help.

Sunday 5 September 2-4pm Art Cart (Ages 3-12) Free activities for all the family, inspired each month by different works from the collection or exhibitions. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound.

Sunday 5 September Medieval soap sculptures Hawthornden Court, Level 1. 12:00-16:00. Free (Drop-in).

Carve your very own chess piece inspired by the Lewis Chessmen. Look closely at the Chessmen to create your own queen, bishop or humourous berserker.

Or invent your own chess character to add to the board. National Museum of Scotland

Saturday 11 September, Animal Magic 10.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm 3.30 pm. Select your favourite Wegman photograph to inspire you to create a funny short story. Your story will be brought to life by creating a simple pencil line drawing to be animated in a small flick book - the next part of the story is up to you! With artist Stephanie Walker. City Arts Centre. Free with the price of an exhibition ticket, but booking is essential.

Call 0131 529 3963 or e-mail margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Saturday 11 September Fabulous Figure drawing Come along to our drop-in family drawing days in the gallery between 10 am – 12 noon and 1 pm – 3.30 pm. Inspired by the varied artworks in the 'In Our Own Image' exhibition, join us for these artist-led drawing sessions exploring new and exciting ways to draw the human figure. Through fun activities and quirky challenges, you will learn about proportion and how to express movement and character in your artwork. With artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. City Arts Centre. Please note there is no charge for the In our Own Image exhibition.

Sunday 12 September Make a Mushroom print 5+, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Use different mushroom shapes and textures to create your own piece of art to take home. With RBGE Art Education Officer Jacqui Pestell.

Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sunday 12 September National Museum of Flight 10:00-17:00 Doors Open Day. Come along and visit the Museum for FREE! National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian EH39 5LF. 0131 247 4238 www.nms.ac.uk/flight

Sunday 5 September sketching Mushrooms 5+, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Pencils at the ready! Drop in to get some tips on how to draw fungi and then have a go with the materials provided. No previous experience necessary. With artist Claire Dalby. Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Thursday 16 September - Sun 31 Oct The Woodlanders All ages, Free. 9.30am-7.00pm. The Woodlanders project tells the individual stories of inspirational people doing inspirational things in British woods or with woodland products. From wooden buildings to bush craft, and furniture makers to foragers the exhibition and accompanying book document the resurgence of enthusiasm and talent among the new woodlanders. Gateway Gallery, upstairs in the John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Saturday 11th September baby and Toddler Nearly New sale 10.30 - 12.00. St. Stephen's Church Hall, Comely Bank £1 entry. Cash only purchases at the sale. Raising funds for Edinburgh Twins Club. Look out for our separate Toy Sale and Christmas Event on 6th November, 10.30 am, St.Stephen's Church Hall.

Thursday 16 September story space 11am (50mins), £6 per child, Age 2-5 years. Exciting tales, music and movement takes place in the Storytelling Bothy for children aged 2-5 years, led by storyteller Nia Jones Green. Accompanying adult free. Scottish Storytelling Centre

Saturday 11th September second hand sale for children clothes and toys at the German Speaking Congregation in Edinburgh from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

All visitors welcome at 1 Chalmers Crescent, Marchmont Edinburgh EH9 1TW – Please contact Michael at germanchurch@gmail.com or text to 07726 912804 or phone 0131 6671619.

Saturday 18 September A night at the Assembly Rooms Performances at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm – each lasts 25mins Join Mrs Doig and prepare for a visit to Edinburgh’s grand Assembly Rooms. Discover the essentials of Georgian etiquette and dress necessary for a night of dancing and mixing with society. Museum of Edinburgh Booking Essential 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

Come and BounCe around at edinBurgh’s

neWest trampoline, aCtivity & party Centre

unit 2-3, 109 restalrig road, edinburgh eh6 7ny tel: 0131 553 7676 www.clownaround.me.uk 36 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 62

website www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Saturday 18 September Autumnwatch with the Rspb All Ages, Free. 10.00 am - 4.00 pm. You can do more to celebrate autumn than just watching Chris and Kate on TV – come along to the Botanics and take part in some exciting autumn activities with the RSPB! Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Saturday 25th September Esk Valley NCT Nearly New sale of baby and children's clothes, toys and nursery equipment. From 1pm to 2.30pm at Newtongrange Parish Church Hall, 116 Main Street, Newtongrange, EH22 4PG. (15 min drive from Cameron Toll along A7). Come along to find a bargain. For more information or to sell please email - eskvalleynct@hotmail.com

Sunday 19 September, 2-4pm bags of Art (Ages 3-12) Collect a bag of activities from the art station to help your family explore the collection and create your own artworks. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland. Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road

Saturday 25 & 26 September Colonise: A Game of lichen survival Ages 8+, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Play ‘Colonise’ and discover a lichens battle for survival and space. Can you avoid climate change, pollution and Simon the hungry slug? Find out why Scotland is so important for lichens and how they can tell us about the changing environment. With RBGE and The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Sunday 19 September Talking Trees storytelling 5+, Free. 2010 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm. Join the Talking Trees Storytellers for tall tales and let your imagination run wild! Patrick Geddes Room, John Hope Gateway.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sunday 19 – Monday 20 September Rock On: scottish Geology Festival. Connect gallery. 12:00 – 16:00. Free (drop-in). Join us for two days of fun-packed activities as part of the Scottish Geology Festival 2010. Create your own fossil out of clay, make a mini-dino world and more! For details visit www.nms.ac.uk/events National Museum of Scotland Monday 20 September Glow in the dark Fungi & The secret sounds of spores All Ages, Free. 2010 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm Patrick Hickey from NIPHT Technologies will demonstrate the phenomenon of bioluminescent fungi and showcase how technology has made it possible for Patrick and musician Yann Seznec to create music from the patterns of falling mushroom spores. Not to be missed! Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Monday 20 September Take One Action Film Festival: Mia and the Magoo Ages 8+, £5/£3. 7.30 pm - 9.15 pm. Scottish Premiere/Botanics first: enjoy bike-powered cinema al-fresco with this delightful and award-winning animated adventure for all ages. Join Mia as she discovers the mysterious Magoo, who lead her to a sacred tree essential to all life on the planet. Doors open (Arboretum Place only) from 7.15pm. Cash bar available. Film is in French with English subtitles. Wrap up warm! Outside Gateway Restaurant (access via Arboretum Place only). Advance bookings only, online at www.takeoneaction.org.uk or telephone 07515 106 303 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 22nd – 31st October scottish international storytelling Festival Scotland's world-class celebration of traditional story, with music and song, looks east this year, bringing ancient cultures to Scotland's own hearthside. For a weekend or week long experience of the storytelling arts here and worldwide, the Festival is not to be missed. Scottish Storytelling Centre Thursday 23 September, Nappuccino, 2.15pm - 3.30pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH4 5EG. Saturday 25 September Miss dolly 10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. £4 per adult/child. Inspired by the doll gallery, make your very own paper doll wall decorations for your room in bright vibrant colours, using adorable little fabrics for the clothes. Classes cost £4 per person and are specially designed for families working together, they are best suited for ages 5+. Booking is essential - 0131 529 3963. margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Museum of Childhood

Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 September Magnificent Machines 10:00-17:00.

See monster trucks, classic and vintage cars, scooters and fire engines at the transport event of the season! Get close to our car-crushing extravaganza and marvel as engines parade in front of you. Climb inside an aircraft cockpit and discover what it might be like to fly your own magnificent machine! Adults £10.00. Concessions £8.00.

Children 12 and under free. Parking £4. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian EH39 5LF, 0131 247 4238 . www.nms.ac.uk/flight Saturday 25 September Zoom in on printmaking 10.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm. Come along and be inspired by Edward Weston's exquisite photographs of still-life objects and create your own images, using simple printmaking techniques. With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. Visitors are advised that the Edward Weston exhibition contains some nude photography. City Arts Centre. Free with the price of an exhibition ticket, but booking is essential. Call 0131 529 3963 or e-mail margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Sunday

26th

September

Cloudberry Castle book launch

Dance Base, Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Can Katie turn crumbling Cloudberry Castle into a worldfamous ballet school or will it be lost forever? Gorgeous, girly glamour from the author of Princess Poppy.

Join author Janey Louise Jones for the ballet-themed launch of her new book, Cloudberry Castle. Enjoy ballet-themed treats and activities, meet real-life ballerinas and have your book signed by Janey.

Cloudberry Castle is most suitable for 6 to 9 year olds. Tickets are free and include all refreshments (plus a glass of wine for the grown-ups).

Ballet outfits welcome! Email floris@florisbooks.co.uk or call 0131 337 2372 for tickets.

Tickets can also be downloaded from www.discoverkelpies.co.uk

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All these events and mor 7 – 9 October Room on the broom A spellbinding new adventure from the creators of The Gruffalo.

“How the cat purred and how the witch grinned As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind” Kings Theatre Edinburgh, 2 Leven Street Book on 0131 529 6000 or www.kingstheatre.org.uk

26th – 29th September The first and only live UK stage show dedicated to the Golden Globe winning TV Show, Glee! This brand new, high energy, high octane music and dance extravaganza features all of the greatest hits from the show, including Don’t Stop Believin’, Gold Digger, Proud Mary, Somebody to Love, Keep Holding On.....plus Haute Couture, American footballers, cheerleaders – all mashed up together! Suitable for all ages.

WiN!!! We have 2 family tickets for the 6pm performance of

don’t stop believin’ on sunday 26th september to give away. Go to www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk to enter. Terms and Conditions

apply. Closing date September 16th. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Tickets: £20.50 - £24.50. Sun 6.00pm / Mon – Wed 7.30pm. www.festivaltheatre.org.uk / 0131 529 6000 Monday 27 September Real Nappy information session, 5.30pm - 6.30pm, St John’s Hospital, Parentcraft Room (Next to OPD3), West Lothian. Please note that space is limited. Please email realnappies@changeworks.org.uk or call 0131 555 4010 to reserve your place.

Wednesday 29 September Nappuccino, 10am - 11.30am, Brunton Theatre Bistro, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 6AA. Thursday 30 September, Nappuccino, 10am - 11.30am, Duncan Place Resource Centre, Duncan Place (just of Duke St, Leith), Edinburgh, EH6 8HW Saturday 2 October or Sunday 3 October

Glowing Autumnal Jewellery

10.30am–12.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Be inspired by the glorious colours, patterns and textures in the magical grounds of Lauriston. Collect objects from nature and create your very own badges, brooches and jewellery. With Lauriston Castle staff.

Booking Essential.

0131 529 3963, or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Sunday 3 October, 2-4pm Art Cart (Ages 3-12) Free activities for all the family, inspired each month by different works from the collection or exhibitions. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound.

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Saturday 9 October Fabulous Figure drawing Come along to our drop-in family drawing days in the gallery between 10 am – 12 noon and 1 pm – 3.30 pm. Inspired by the varied artworks in the 'In Our Own Image' exhibition, join us for these artist-led drawing sessions exploring new and exciting ways to draw the human figure. Through fun activities and quirky challenges, you will learn about proportion and how to express movement and character in your artwork. With artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. City Arts Centre. Please note there is no charge for the In our Own Image exhibition.

Saturday 9th October – Sunday 31st October spooky Happenings A little horror for the autumn holidays when the darkest and scariest corners of the old mill and farm buildings become the abode of unearthly creatures intent on horrible fun.

Follow the trail of terror and win a small prize for your bravery, join in creepy crafts, gruesome games, and have a spine-tingling good time. Almond Valley Heritage Centre Saturday 9 October life in Auld Reekie Performances at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm – each lasts 25mins Listen as Mrs Doig reveals tales and gossip about the characters of Georgian Edinburgh. Learn how to behave when promenading on the High Street or Princes Street. Who better to help guide your way through the warren of closes and wynds and the colourful people who lived there? Museum of Edinburgh Booking Essential 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Saturday 9 October, 2-4.30pm The big draw (All ages) Free.

A fabulous day of artist-led drawing events exploring exciting ways of seeing new works on show at the Gallery of Modern Art - including artist Robert Therrien's huge table and chairs. All ages welcome. Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road.

Saturday 16 - Sun 17 October Fungi Fun 5+, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm What is your favourite fungus? Get stuck into a range of great hands on activities and guided walks around the Botanics all aimed at getting to know our fungal friends. With the British Mycological Society. Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Saturday 16 October My pet portrait 10.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm. Come along to this lively collage and drawing workshop and create amazing pictures of your favourite pets in unusual situations and costumes inspired by William Wegman's dog photographs. With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. City Arts Centre. Free with the price of an exhibition ticket, but booking is essential. Call 0131 529 3963 or e-mail margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Sunday 17 October Talking Trees storytelling Ages 5+, (Free). 2.00 pm 3.00 pm.Let the Talking Trees transport you to another place with their stories from around the world. Patrick Geddes Room, John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

re can be found on our website www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Sunday 17 October, 2-4pm bags of Art (Ages 3-12) Free Collect a bag of activities from the art station to help your family explore the collection and create your own artworks. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland. Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road.

Monday 18 October, Catwalk Creations! 10.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm. Create a stylish paper pooch and a whole fashion collection of paper clothes to dress her/him up in at this special workshop inspired by William Wegman's fantastic photographs. With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. City Arts Centre. Free with the price of an exhibition ticket, but booking is essential. Call 0131 529 3963 or e-mail margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Monday 18 – Sunday 24 October shriek Week Prepare to be scared at Edinburgh Zoo’s first ever Shriek Week, with our haunted bus, animal encounters, arts and crafts, pond dipping and ghoulish grub. Learn how to make drinkable blood and build your very own monster from scratch!

Keep an eye on our website for more details www.edinburghzoo.org.uk Normal entry prices apply.

18th October– Migration Mayhem – 2-3.30pm There are lots of comings and goings in the animal kingdom at this time of year, but why? Find out as we play some games and watch the birds from the hill at the Binns.

Suitable for age 6 and up.. Children £3, accompanying adults free, booking essential Linlithgow, EH49 7NA. Off the A904, NT 050 782. Meet in the car park.

All events must be booked in advance, call the Ranger on 0844 493 2124.

Tuesday 19 October Go wild in the Woods 10.30am–1pm. £4 per adult/child. Learn wood-craft skills like shelter building with our Ranger. Then try your hand at some woodland art to leave in the woods or take home. Lauriston Castle Pre-booking and advance payment are NOW ESSENTIAL, Book on 0131 529 3963, or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk 21st October– Autumn Art – 10-11.30am. Nature is a work of art at this time of year. Take inspiration from your surroundings to make some artworks of your own from natural materials. You will get muddy! Children £3, accompanying adults free, booking essential. Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY. NT 325 724.

Meet at the Visitor Centre in the Stables for all events. Most events require booking, contact the Ranger 0844 493 2124.

Friday 22 October Whizzing Witches and scandalous skeletons 10.30am–12.30pm or 1.30pm–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child Make your very own fabulous Halloween costume from a variety of fabrics and embellishments in the atmospheric old kitchen at Lauriston. With Stephanie Walker.

Booking Essential 0131 529 3963, or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Saturday 23 October spoooooooooooky Halloween puppets 10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. £4 per adult/child Inspired by the puppets in Museum of Childhood make your very own scary puppets for Halloween. You will get to use luminous paint and dark moody fabrics! Classes cost £4 per person and are specially designed for families working together, they are best suited for ages 5+. Booking is essential - 0131 529 3963. margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk. Museum of Childhood

Saturday 23 - Sun 24 October Fungi under the Microscope 5+, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Mushrooms come in an amazing array of shapes and sizes, but close up fungi are equally fascinating! See the extraordinary world of fungi through microscope images and time-lapse movies, and investigate fungi under the microscope for yourself. With Edinburgh University. Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thursday 28 October, Nappuccino, 10am - 11.30am, Duncan Place Resource Centre, Duncan Place (just of Duke St, Leith), Edinburgh, EH6 8HW Friday 29th October Friday Fright Night 6pm-9pm. Doors re-open after dark for horrible performances, candlelit trails, the ghost train and traditional Halloween games. Come dressed to kill. Almond Valley Heritage Centre Friday 29 October Tell-a-story day. Storytelling and storymaking for all ages. Scottish Storytelling Centre Sunday 30 October Hallowe’en Thrills. Are you brave enough to look at the beasties that live in your compost heap? Make Hallowe’en masks and outfits from recycled materials. And much more! 11-3pm. Seafield Community Recycling Centre, Fillyside Road. For more information contact the Waste Education officer on 0131 469 5070.

Sunday 30 October Tales of plants, people and places from the East 5+, Free. 2.00 pm - 2.45 pm and 3.15 pm - 4.00 pm. Join the Talking Trees Storytellers for tales based on true stories of plant hunting expeditions to East Asia. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Patrick Geddes Room, John Hope Gateway Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Saturday 30 October Feed the birds day. All ages, Free. 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway. Never mind the teddy bears – what about a picnic for the birds? The RSPB will be on hand today to give loads of advice about how you can help garden birds over the winter, including letting you in the secrets of their favourite teatime treats! Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Saturday 30th October pretty plates pottery painting either 10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. Inspired by the museum's beautiful ceramics collection, decorate your own ornamental plate inspired by the designs of the the past.

With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. Free. Museum of Edinburgh Booking essential 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Saturday 30 October or Sunday 31 October Creepy Times at lauriston 10am–12.30pm. £5 per adult/child. Come along to the scary interior of Lauriston Castle and participate in some spine-tingling activities! Hear spooky stories, search in the grounds for clues and make some scary crafts. With Lauriston Castle staff. Our workshops are hugely popular. Booking Essential 0131 529 3963, or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Sunday 31 October Air and scare Halloween 10:00-17:00. Dress up in your scariest costume and take part in creepy workshops and themed events. Adults £9.00. Concessions £7.00. Children 12 and under free. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF. 0131 247 4238. www.nms.ac.uk/flight

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Copyright Š Families Magazine 2000. We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and, while every care is taken, neither Families Edinburgh nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families Edinburgh is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Copyright Š on all artwork designed by Families shall remain with Families or contributor.