Families Edinburgh issue 67 July/August 2011

FREE 速

ISSUE 67 July/August 2011

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

Woolworths.co.uk

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

www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk

Email - editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk

Tel. 0131 622 0405

2 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

What’s Inside...

Welcome to the July/August issue of Families Edinburgh.

We’ve been hard at work gathering up loads of ideas to keep you and your children busy over the summer. I’m keeping everything crossed for wall to wall sunshine over the next few months. Let’s hope my wishful thinking pays off.

Whatever the weather this summer I’m sure you’ll find lots of fun things to do within these pages!

Remember to check online at www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk for up to date listings, events, news, competitions and offers.

Follow us on twitter too!

Contact Information: sarah Adair Editor Families edinburgh, PO Box 23802, edinburgh eH7 4xL 0131 622 0405 editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Kenny Dickson Design/Layout kennydickson7@gmail.com 01292 318895

Next Issue:

Back to school Out from August 19th school News, New terms of Clubs and Classes and LOts more!

Booking deadline July 31st.

news&views Pilates Plus Have you recently had a baby and want to get back to fitness and into shape but are finding it hard to find any time to visit the gym or exercise? Pilates Plus offers postnatal Pilates classes run by expert physiotherapists where you can bring your baby along while you exercise.

Their 45-60 minute classes cater for all levels of ability.

Beginners classes focus on technique and are perfectly suited for the early stages of postnatal rehabilitation. Pilates Plus intermediate classes are ideal for Mums’ that have previously done Pilates or are ready to progress to a higher level. The classes are individually tailored to help tone muscles, improve posture and increase your physical function; whilst ensuring a comfortable pace of progression.

Pilates Plus classes are run in 8-week blocks and are based in Marchmont, St Giles Church. For further details please visit our website: www.pilatesplusphysio.co.uk email: tessa@pilatesplusphysio.co.uk. Tel: 07971778962

Tutti Footy FC

Blossom Tree Children’s Nursery

Tutti Footy FC delivers fun football coaching classes in a relaxed environment to girls and boys aged from 2 to 7 years.

They cover ball control, passing, movement, shooting, fun games and mini football matches.

The aim for every Tutti Footy FC footballer is to: • keep them active; • help develop their mobility, confidence and self esteem; • develop their football skills; and • ensure they have a great time.

Classes cost £4.50, payable in block bookings for each school term period, however a 10% discount applies for a limited period only. The first football class is treated as a taster session and costs only £2.

Mobile: 07791 755472 E-Mail: enquiries@tuttifootyfc.com Website: www.tuttifootyfc.com

Blossom Tree Children’s Nursery is a new and exciting nursery based in Gilmerton, Edinburgh, for children 0 – 5 years.

Blossom Tree is a small, comfortable and unique nursery that supports only 19 children - allowing the best possible care, support and development for your child Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00.

Bruntsfield Community Nursery Bruntsfield Community Nursery is a excellent council funded nursery and is situated within the grounds of Bruntsfield Primary School. There are morning places (9-11.45am) available for pre-school children aged 3-5yrs from August.

If you want more information please visit our website www.bruntsfieldnursery.co.uk or contact the Manager Fiona Anderson on 0131 228 1526.

The nursery is owned and run by Julie McMorrine who, with a background in early year’s childcare, development and protection, has strived to create a stimulating, child centred and educational environment for all the children at Blossom Tree. The nursery hosts three key rooms, The Ladybird Room, The Bumblebee Room and The Grasshopper Room, all of which have been specifically designed with the children’s age groups in mind. At Blossom Tree Children’s Nursery, they encourage autonomous play, both within the carefully created nursery rooms and within the experiential and developing garden environment.

Blossom Tree and its experienced team of staff recognise the importance of good communication and participation links with the child and their family, and place great importance on working closely with them to support each child’s individual development needs. For further information on Blossom Tree Children’s Nursery visit www.blossomtree.org.uk or call us on 0131 664 4944.

Jupiter Artland Jupiter Artland is delighted to announce the launch of an Artsparks preschool group, “Little Sparks” at Jupiter Artland.

The group will meet every Tuesday morning from 9.30 to 12 in the new woodland classroom from the 30th August to the 22nd November. The sessions will include an outdoor activity to initiate an art activity based on the collection and around natural themes. Children will also have related singing, drama and imaginative play activities built into the mornings.

For more information and to book any of these activities please see the website www.jupiterartland.org 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

0131 337 3402 www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk 4-6 Coltbridge Ave, Edinburgh, EH12 6AH

3 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

news&views polarnopyret Sweden’s leading baby and childrenswear brand now online in the UK! www.polarnopyret.co.uk The clothes are smart, functional, bright, playful and durable. Over 30% of the range is organic and the brand prides itself on providing unisex colours and patterns that do not gender small children and can be handed down easily. Letting children be children is the philosophy. Clothing that offers freedom of movement and stands up to wear and tear.

From the softest organic cotton baby bodysuit to highly functional jackets every detail is considered with family life in mind.

Coats that children don’t mind wearing, adjustable waists in trousers, cuffs that roll down for growing room, baby grows that wash at 60˚, quality clothes that last and can be handed down or sold on. As it turns out, Swedish parents and children are not the only ones who appreciate our quality, design and function!

Families Edinburgh readers a 10% discount

We are delighted that Polarn O.Pyret are offering plus free P&P to use online using this code FMEDN11 (valid from June 17th to August 31st)

Water Babies Swimming with your baby in warm waters is a truly delightful experience.

It’s a very special time, where you’re able to focus purely on each other, enjoying a real sense of closeness that playing in water creates. Babies love being in water – so have great fun learning potentially life-saving skills. And swimming from birth is entirely natural. After all, they’ve just spent nine months in the womb!

As well as being really good fun and energetic, Water Babies’ structured lessons are a wonderfully sociable activity. Having begun your journey together, classmates often become friends and a real source of support.

And, as the weeks go by, you’ll love sharing the thrill of seeing your children progress with the help of our professional instructors. The Water Babies autumn 2011 term begins w/c 22nd August and we are intending to increase our Edinburgh pools further to include Murrayfield and The Gyle. If you would like to look into the class options in your area, please give us a call on 0131 554 6682, send us an email to woggle@waterbabies.co.uk or have a look at our website www.waterbabies.co.uk Babies should be under 12 months old when starting our beginners classes and many of our little swimmers join our waiting list before they are even born, so it’s never too early to get in touch!

Home-Start As the UK’s leading family support charity, Home-Start recruits and trains volunteers to offer emotional and practical support to families who are struggling to cope.

Support is given for many reasons, including poverty, isolation, multiple births, lone parenting and illness or disability.

Home-Start Leith and North East Edinburgh, have moved from Pirrie Street to 247 Leith Walk, EH6 8NY. Home-Start Leith and North East Edinburgh have been supporting local families with pre school children since 1985. In the last year alone 32 volunteers have supported 76 families and 157 children. Volunteers receive full training with Home-Start and then are asked to commit to 2 hours per week working with their assigned family. They would be delighted to speak to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer and you can get in touch via the contact number, website or email below. www.homestartleith.co.uk or call 0131 553 7819

4 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Music with Mummy Music with Mummy has been running across the UK (and beyond) since 1992 and has been restarted in South Edinburgh by Rachel Pickett. The classes are divided into two age groups: Jolly Babies for babies up to about 14 months, and Music with Mummy from around 14 months to 3 years. Classes last for half an hour, and include singing, dancing, percussion time, listening, marching and much more. Children attend with a parent or carer, and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal. Jolly Babies has a maximum of 8, and the older ones can take up to 10 children.

Much of the music is specially written for the schemes, but there are also old favourites which people will recognise such as Mulberry Bush and The Grand Old Duke of York.

Classes at: Craiglockhart Parish Church, Wednesdays 9.30am (Jolly Babies) and 10.15am (Music with Mummy); Juniper Green Village Hall, Wednesdays 1.00pm (Jolly Babies) and 1.45pm (Music with Mummy); and Pentland Community Centre, Thursdays 9.30am (Jolly Babies) and 10.15am (Music with Mummy). People can attend a free trial class (which must be booked in advance) www.music-withrachel.co.uk or call Rachel on 0131 316 9076

Doodle & Splat

Being able to create something special is important for everyone but especially for a child. Research has shown that art can significantly contribute to a child’s development, encouraging children to interact with their environment, stimulate their imagination, help to develop small muscle skills and refine hand-eye coordination.

However due to our busy lives, we are often unable to find the time each week to explore art with our children and clean up the mess it can create. Doodle & Splat classes allow this to happen, where all ideas and materials are provided plus all the cleaning up at the end, allowing you to enjoy creating works of art with your child without the worry of the mess!

Doodle & Splat classes for under 5's start in Edinburgh from 31st August with classes at St Stephens Church and the Mayfield Salisbury Church. Doodle & Splat will also be at the Fringe with Baby Loves Disco on the 14th August at Electric Circus where you will be able get a taste of what to expect at the classes. For more information about the classes or birthday parties, see www.doodleandsplat.co.uk or email doodle@doodleandsplat.co.uk or call 0794 282 5114.

news&views Butterflies Nursery Helps to Keep Musselburgh Beautiful

Workmum

Staff and children at Butterflies Nursery in Musselburgh have been flexing their fingers to take part in local litter picks to keep Musselburgh beautiful.

Nursery Manager, Julie Wood, commented “Our children are really aware of their environment and are committed to caring for their surroundings, from tidy up time in the nursery to caring for our garden and now joining our friends in the local community to keep our area litter free and looking its best. Staff support the children in their plans and help to extend learning opportunities to ensure children are not just contributing to the community but are actively learning about and participating in caring for the world around them.”

Butterflies Nursery is a registered Eco- schools centre and proudly displays its bronze and silver awards, staff and children are now focussing on achieving the coveted Eco-schools Green Flag award. Some of the green activities underway at the nursery involve recycling, making compost and growing tasty vegetables for use in the nursery kitchen.

“We believe happy and fulfilled mums make for happy children.

Ok, so we can’t perform miracles, but we do support mums to focus on what is next for them after taking time to bring up their children” says Jenny Haines from Workmum. Their Back to Work with Confidence! course has been designed to help you plan and prepare for this transition back to work.

You may be considering working more flexibly, changing careers or even starting your own business? You may want to build up your confidence, add sparkle to your CV or learn more about the current job market?

Back to Work with Confidence is a 12 hour course that will support you to explore how you want to work in the future and provide help and information so you can plan how you will achieve this.

Through coaching, information sharing and specialised careers advice, the course will provide an opportunity for you to focus on what is next for you; while recognising your need to balance work and family life.

To find out more please visit www.workmum.co.uk All courses are open to men who have been the main carer of their children and are considering returning to work

Absolute upholstery Absolute upholstery was established 41⁄2 years ago by Kevin Marr, who has over 15 years experience in modern, traditional and contemporary furniture.

He taught upholstery at night school for ten years and worked in upholstery workshops in Australia while traveling there for fifteen months. His workshop is based in the heart of the Grange which makes him ideally placed for clients throughout Edinburgh.

Absolute Upholstery specialise in all aspects of traditional and modern upholstery including French polishing, cabinet repairs and loose covers.

Traditional work: i.e. chaise lounge, chesterfields, traditional armchairs, deep buttoning and hand studding, which requires a high level of accuracy, skill and craftmanship.

Work on Modern Furniture, using foam to build up a modern frame and cover in customers selected fabric.

No job is too big, and free estimates are provided within the Edinburgh and Lothian area. He can also supply upholstery sundries for anyone interested in their own upholstery project.

Absolute Upholstery - 0131 662 6644 or 07727224072 www.absoluteupholstery.biz E: kgm1000@hotmail.com

CHILDREN 1ST The 1 Walk, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sunday 18 September 2011 Do you have 1 hour to change a child’s life for the better? Bring your family and friends to Holyrood Park this September and join our sponsored walk to support children living difficult lives right here in Scotland. Our 5K family-friendly route takes only 1 hour to complete and is fun for all ages and abilities.

At CHILDREN 1ST we listen, we support and we take action for vulnerable children and families. Every penny you raise stays in Scotland to provide local and national services which enable children and young people recover from abuse, neglect and violence. Last year we supported 6,000 families, children and young people and we need your help to do this again. Join us for The 1 Walk and help build a brighter future for every child and young person in Scotland.

To register or find out more please visit our website www.children1st.org.uk, email us at events@children1st.org.uk or call 0131 319 8068 CHILDREN 1ST is the working name of the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (RSSPCC). Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 016092

Sparkle Arts Classes

Sparkle Arts Classes are designed to help little personalities shine through a fun mix of Expressive Arts. Through dance, drama and music they encourage creative expression, develop social skills and build confidence. Props such as puppets, dressing up costumes, photographs, educational books, stories and musical instruments help little imaginations blossom.

Sparkle Arts can provide entertainment at Children’s birthday parties, simply tell them your preferred theme and they will create a magical performing arts party where children can immerse themselves in a wonderful imaginary world.

Parent & Child classes where you can watch your child develop his or her creativity and imagination – and join in yourself. The specially-themed classes complement the National Curriculum for early years and the Curriculum for Excellence. Sparkle Arts teach a variety of fascinating topics to facilitate early knowledge and understanding of countries, cultures, festivals, the natural world, the changing seasons, animals and more. For more information visit www.sparklearts.co.uk or call 07717 706 708.

5 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

A Guide to Purchasing Getting your ducks in a row In our previous article we looked at the selling process and offered tips on how to prepare your property for sale. The sale and purchase of property tend to go hand in hand, and even if you are at the very early stage of marketing your property it is worthwhile considering what to do when you have sold and are ready to move on. No doubt the process of buying a new home will have changed quite significantly since the last time you did so.

As in many areas of life, preparation is the key to success and in this article we offer some practical advice - as well as highlight some points you may need to consider during the purchasing process.

Where to next?

Given the current economic climate, some sellers opt to hold off buying until the sale completes and the proceeds are safely deposited in their bank account. For some this may mean moving into rented accommodation until a suitable property comes on the market. While this may seem a daunting step for you and your family there are significant advantages to this approach as well. Most rented accommodation is available on 6 or 12 month lets, and some accommodation is available unfurnished meaning you can take your furniture with you and avoid storage costs. If you are moving to a different town, moving to temporary accommodation gives you time to familiarise yourself with the local amenities and decide whether the area you think you want to move to is really the one for you. If you already know where you want to move to, having funds readily available and no house to sell are factors that can considerably increase your chances of success when bidding for a new property.

When is the deal “done” But if moving into temporary accommodation is not for you, when is it “safe” to consider offering for a new property? The answer is normally when missives are concluded for the property you are selling. Once missives are concluded there is a legally binding contract between the parties, though there are certain limited circumstances where the purchaser may still be entitled to withdraw from the missives.

Financing the purchase One of the essential components of your purchase is sorting out how it will be financed.

Will you able to meet the cost of the new property from sale proceeds of an existing one, or do you have available capital? If not then you will most likely need to take a mortgage out over the property and it is important that mortgage funding is in place before you make an offer.

It is wise to speak with a mortgage advisor or your existing lender to find out what level of borrowing is available and what, if any, conditions might be attached to that borrowing.

In general the assessment criteria is tougher the higher the loan to value. However even in the current economic climate we are seeing some 90% loan to value mortgages available, although most are 85%. Assuming you do meet the initial criteria, you will receive an agreement in principle confirming that the lender will consider lending to you at a stipulated rate, based on the information you have provided. However, this is not confirmation that the mortgage is in place, as the lender will require to carry out a full assessment before a formal offer of loan is issued.

6 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

You need to keep an eye on the timescale to make sure everything runs smoothly in getting your new mortgage in place: from researching the market for the best deals, talking to your lender, and arranging the agreement in principle right through to final confirmation that your mortgage is approved. The process can take longer than you might think.

Finding the right property It may seem obvious but before making an offer consider carefully whether this is the right property for you. If one of the reasons you are moving is to provide a garden for the family to relax in consider what direction the garden is facing and what time of day you are likely to get most sunlight. Visit the property on more than one occasion, preferably at different times of the day.

Find out whether the property is in the catchment area for the school you wish your children to attend. How long is the commute likely to take? Do a dry run at school times to see how long it will take you to drive to and from the school or nursery.

Does the property offer the amount of accommodation and storage you require? As one of the main reasons for your move is likely to be to accommodate the needs of your growing family, it is important to ensure the property offers the right amount of rooms with space to grow.

If the property needs upgrading and modernisation it might be wise to walk round with a builder and get an idea of the amount of work that is needed, whether what you plan to do can be achieved and how much this might cost. You should also consider if you really will want to live in the property whilst renovation work is ongoing or whether it might be more practical (and less stressful) to move into rented accommodation whilst work is carried out.

Don’t be afraid to ask the sellers about the property. For example, ask them why they are moving, and ask about the neighbours – you could even knock on the neighbours’ doors to complete your research. All this information will help you to assess whether this property is suitable for you and your family.

If you are interested in a new build property, consider what stage the development is at.

Is the property you are purchasing one of the first to be completed on the development?

If so how long is construction work likely to continue? Will the contractors be on site at the weekends? If so will this disturb your long lie on a Saturday morning?

Regardless of the type of property you are buying it is worthwhile taking along a friend or family member to give a second opinion. It is very easy to be too focussed on what you like about the property and on planning where you want your TV to go, rather than seeing the property with a critical pair of eyes.

Residential Property Negotiating on price Once you have found the right property your legal adviser will register your interest with the selling agent, obtain a copy of the Home Report, and advise on price. Now that we are very much more in the realm of a buyer’s market, you can hopefully negotiate the best deal for the property you want to buy.

In the current market in Scotland, most residential properties are advertised for sale at a price in line with the Home Report valuation. However it may be possible to negotiate a price lower than the valuation figure, particularly if the property has been on the market for some time.

If a property attracts a high level of interest the selling agent is likely to set a closing date.

If that happens, all interested parties will be asked to submit their offer on a specified date and time. Ordinarily (but not always) the highest offer will be accepted assuming the parties can agree on other factors such as date of entry.

If you are taking a mortgage, the offer submitted on your behalf can be made subject to your lender accepting the terms of the Home Report. It is worth checking with your lender if the surveyor who prepared the Home Report is on their lending panel. If not, your lender may commission a further valuation. You may also want to make your offer conditional on obtaining satisfactory specialist reports where appropriate, rather than incur the cost of these before making an offer.

Buying with someone else, how should title be taken?

Couples that live together without formalising their relationship have different rights from married couples and civil partners. If a couple live together as if they were spouses or civil partners certain presumptions will apply to property acquired during the course of their relationship. Items of furniture, for example, will be presumed to be owned in equal shares. Ownership of a family home however will be determined by how title to the property is formally held.

the property are, and possibly even what will happen to the property should you separate from your partner. You may not want to consider that possibility when purchasing your new home, but it is better to be prepared.

The finances If you are buying a new property, it is a good idea to review the financial protection you have put in place for your family. If you become ill for a long period of time you may begin to struggle to meet your mortgage payments. How would your family cope financially if you died? Also very importantly, have you done a rough monthly budget with your new mortgage payments and other increased payments such as insurance, Council Tax and utilities? Will this give you any scope to save each month? Don’t buy something which is going to make ends hard to meet.

In Conclusion There is more to buying a new home than just acquiring the bricks and mortar. While not intended as an exhaustive list, we hope that some of the points discussed in this article will alert you to issues you might want to consider during the course of your purchase.

Catherine Macdonald is an Associate in Morton Fraser’s Property + team specialising in all aspects of residential property sales and purchases.

If you are considering moving or have any questions about selling or buying then you can contact Catherine on 0131 247 1086 or catherine.macdonald@morton-fraser.com.

If you are buying a property with a partner, you may automatically think title needs to be taken equally. However, you can alter the percentages of ownership relative to the level of funds you are each contributing. You may also wish to enter into a property agreement, which will record who has to pay what, and what the levels of liability for repairs etc. to

7 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Parent

A course for women returning to work Are you looking to return 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 10 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. We’ll have courses starting in September 2011 and February 2012.

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

Pilates Plus offers pilates classes which are expertly designed by qualified physiotherapists.

Postnatal Pilates mat and equipment classes located at: Marchmont St Giles Church, Thursday afternoons.

Designed specifically for Mums’ (babies are welcome) - beginners through to advanced classes: • Retrain your pelvic floor • Re-educate posture • Improve your core • Regain your shape To find out more please visit our website:

www.pilatesplusphysio.co.uk or to book a space in one of our classes email:

tessa@pilatesplusphysio.co.uk or phone: 07971778962.

2

Parent

This issue we hear from Diahann Whitefield, about her experiences of being a parent in Edinburgh.

Diahann is mum to Chapman, 4, and Emmeline, 2, and convenor of the committee for Edinburgh for Under Fives – the handy printed guide to child-friendly places in and around Edinburgh.

Where do you live: Edinburgh West End Why do you like living where you do: We’re on a quiet street within walking distance of the Water of Leith, the Modern Art and Dean Galleries, Edinburgh Castle and Princes St. Park – all places we love to visit.

Favourite shop: When the kids were smaller, John Lewis was the best place to go for accessibility with a pram/pushchair, family feeding area, and large nappy changing facilities.

Favourite park: Inverleith Park for the lovely walk to get there and to visit the ducks and swans.

Favourite children’s club/class: We have been going to Rhymetime sessions since Chapman was 6 months old.

Both children love singing songs and get really excited about choosing books from the library.

Favourite day out: We don’t get there as often as we like, but picnicking, playing in the sand, and searching for creatures in the tidal rocks at North Berwick beach is a favourite.

Favourite child friendly restaurant: Luca’s is a real treat for us and the kids – a great children’s menu and excellent ice cream treats for all ages.

Proudest eco-friendly moment: Getting use out of reusable nappies and washable wipes for both the children over 4½ years! (Although I’m hoping the 2½ year old will soon embrace using the toilet!)

Best planet saving tip: Teach your children respect for the environment around them, and the importance of reducing waste, recycling and re-using.

No parent should be without: Plasters, first aid cream, and emergency snacks stashed in every handbag and change bag!

Parenting pet hates: Feeling like I’m constantly nagging about “please”, “thank-you” and manners in general!

Parenting high points (what makes it all worthwhile): Seeing the two children encourage and support each other, and hearing them laugh hysterically together.

Most embarrassing moment (with child): An extended period of very “spirited” tantrums in public places during the “Terrible Twos”. Supermarkets, carparks, cafes, playgroups….no place was immune from a sudden display of toddler lung-power!

Funniest comment (from child): Chapman saying, “Look Mummy – there’s a chicken man!” loud enough for everybody to hear when in line at the grocery shop. He was pointing to a punk-rocker with a Mohawk!

Favourite family holiday spot: The Moray Firth coast – lovely beaches and walks, and time to just hang out together as a family.

Best children’s book: Anything by Nick Sharratt is a hit in our house for the great humour, illustrations and rhymes.

Another favourite is “Martha No!” by Edward Hardy and Deborah Allright about the antics of a mischievous little girl who Emmeline finds hilarious!

Best children DVD or video: Friday nights are movie nights in our house, and “Dumbo” for Emmeline and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” for Chapman have been watched over and over (and over….).

Most played with toys: The bouncing zebra still gets lots of use, and the wooden Thomas the Train set and Lego sets are constantly getting deconstructed and rebuilt.

Biggest waste of money: Little plastic toys that seem to reproduce by themselves, and collect in piles throughout the house.

Most successful recipe/food: Healthy mini-muffin pizzas to go with Friday movie night.

The kids love making them on their own, and loading them up with lots of veggies!

Edinburgh for Under Fives is an Edinburgh institution, founded 25 years ago by the NCT. Written by parents, for parents, it contains more than 1000 reviews of child-friendly places in and around Edinburgh, including days out, places to eat, parks and playgrounds, leisure centres, libraries, activities and classes, festivals, shops, and much more. Find out how to get your copy at www.efuf.co.uk As parents in Edinburgh you have so much fantastic local knowledge – if you would like to share your favourite bits of being a parent and living in our fantastic city then please email: editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk

8 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

50

things to do in the School Holidays

Don’t even give them a chance to think of saying “I’m booooored” this summer holiday – we’ve got more than 50 ideas for some great summer family days out and activities.

1

Edinburgh International Magic Festival

The most amazing magicians from all over the world are coming to Edinburgh for the second ever MagicFest! Immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of mystery and illusion from the 1st to the 8th July and watch the city come alive with magic.

This year’s Festival line-up will truly leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more!

The programme features magic shows from different genres and is suitable for children and adults of all ages.

Is your child dreaming of becoming a wizard or wizardess? They will have the opportunity to learn, create and perform their own magic during a very hands-on, 90 minute 'Magic School' workshop which will teach them the secrets and skills to perform them! We’ll even give you your own ‘Magic School’ magic set so you can keep practicing at home.

Magic School finishes with a mind-blowing performance by Gary, and parents can relax in the Café next door or go shopping, confident in the knowledge that the children being looked after by an experienced team of magicians and child minders and HAVING A REALLY GOOD TIME! 2 – 8 July 10.00am (for age 7-9) & 1.30pm (for age 10-12).

Sandeman House (£12). Please note, all children should be registered for Magic School in advance and therefore, tickets for this event are not available on the door. Tickets are available from the Hub box office: 0131 473 2000 or online www.magicfest.co.uk.

2

Go Swimming!

Free swimming for children under 16 from 3 July – 12 August at EnjoyLeisure in East Lothian. www.enjoyleisure.com. Time restrictions do apply so check with the sports centre before visiting. In Edinburgh under 5’s can swim for free at Edinburgh Leisure pools. www.edinburghleisure.co.uk Or if you’re feeling really adventurous go wild swimming www.wildswimming.co.uk

3

Go to the Beach

In the latest edition of the Good Beach Guide, by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), 50 Scottish beaches are recommended as having excellent bathing water quality out of the total of 110 beaches sampled. There are are plenty of wonderful MCS Recommended beaches to choose for a swim or a paddle around Edinburgh: Portobello, Thorntonloch, Whitesands Bay, Dunbar – Belhaven, Peffersands, Seacliff, Broadsands, Gullane, Longniddry and Seton Sands in East Lothian and Coldingham Bay and Pease Bay in the Borders. Go to www.goodbeachguide.co.uk to find out more about each beach.

4

Paint terracotta pots

You can buy small terracotta pots from a garden centre very cheaply. Sit outside in the garden or inside at the kitchen table (covered in lots of newspaper!), make sure the kids are wearing old clothes and let then paint the pots with poster or acrylic paints. Or you could stick on tissue paper, scraps of fabric, glitter – or how about painting a face and adding googly eyes to it?

Roll up, roll up for all the fun of the ‘Big Top’ at a library near you!

5

The drum role has begun for Circus Stars, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge for children, coming to Edinburgh libraries from 27 June to 28 August 2011.

Get down to your local library to take part in lots of circus fun. Pick up a free membership card and a Circus Stars stage, and start reading. There are stickers to collect along the way and a gold medal, certificate and a Circus Stars yoyo for every child who completes the challenge.

Thanks to our generous sponsors there is also automatic entry for everyone who finishes the challenge into a big prize draw to win family tickets to all kinds of attractions. Check it out at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/circusstars

6

Visit a pick-your-own farm

Fruit picking is a great day out. Strawberries are usually the first fruit ready to pick but through the summer you should also be able to pick Raspberries, Blackcurrants, Brambles, Redcurrants and Gooseberries. Wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or stained. Not only will you enjoy a day out in the fresh air you’ll have loads of yummy fruit to eat fresh or if you’ve picked too much freeze for smoothies or make some jam. www.pickyourownfarms.org.uk/Scotland

7 8

Six: Grow Salad Once your pot is dry (see no.4) you can fill it with compost and plant some salad seeds. Water and care for your seedlings and before the end of the holidays you should be able to harvest your salad leaves and use in the back to school lunch box!

Introduce your children to Opera!

Free Big Screen Opera Screenings. The Royal Opera House is delighted to announce that this summer’s free BP Summer Big Screen performances The Royal Opera’s Madam Butterfly and Cinderella. These world-class productions will be beamed live from Covent Garden to Edinburgh. Madama Butterfly on Monday 4 July at 7.30pm and Cinderella on Wednesday 13 July at 7.30pm on the screen to be located in Festival Square.

9 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

9

Summer Camps & Classes

dynam-nic-dance.com

Do you like adventure?

Discover the joy of dance at Edinburgh's newest and funkiest dance school. Two day dance and craft workshop on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th July (for under 10s). We'll focus on theatre crafts such as mask and costume making whilst the dance will be our usual mix of Modern, Tap and Ballet. 2-4 years 11am-12.30pm £20 for 2 days 510 years 11am – 4pm £50 for 2 days (bring your own lunch) Intense dance workshop for 11+ years on Friday 29th July. No experience needed covering Jazz, Street Tap and Ballet 11am - 4pm (please bring your own lunch) with a short performance for family and friends from 4-4.30pm. (Cost £35) All workshops will take place in Craiglockhart Parish Church. Places are limited so call or email Nicky on 07545551271. nicky@dynamnic-dance.com now to reserve your place. www.dynam-nic-dance.com

Would you like to spend your summer playing games outdoors? Fancy exploring tropical rainforest one day and desert lands the next, followed by some precious native woodland? Garden Gnome Club is a holiday activity group focussed on creative outdoor play for 8-12 year olds. There will be a range of group activities with an artistic and environmental focus such as treasure hunts, storytelling, drama games and digital photography. It’s a chance to explore the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh thoroughly with a range fun and imaginative activities. What do the garden gnomes do when you’re not looking? There’s only one way to find out! Dates: Mon 18 – Fri 22 July 2011. Price: £120. To book call: 0131 248 1040.

Westwoods Superstars

Jupiter Artland

Westwoods Superstars is a daytime activities camp for children aged 5-12 years old based at Westwoods Health Club. The health club is situated within the stunning grounds of Fettes College ensuring your child can enjoy exciting activities in a fun and safe environment.

Activities during the day include swimming, indoor and outdoor sports, arts and crafts, traditional games and much, much more!!! The Camp runs Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm – but you can drop your children off from 8.30am. We will be running for four weeks in the summer commencing on 11th July and ending on 5th August (11th – 15th July, 18th – 22nd July, 25th – 29th July, 1st – 5th August). For more information or to request an information pack, please call Westwoods on 0131 332 5777 or visit our website: www.westwoodshealthclub.com (click on “Current Members” and then “Westwoods Superstars”).

Due to popular demand Jupiter Artland is expanding its holiday and preschool courses to complement the education programme we run during term time. We have created a superb woodland classroom with an outdoor area under the trees which will act as a base for all our activities.

26th to 28th July - an exciting 3 day Artsparks course with a special focus on the Marc Quinn orchid, the children will create large scale collages as well as a variety of work on paper and sculpture.

5th, 12th and 19th August drop in workshops for 5 to 15 year olds during Jupiter’s opening hours.

The workshops are in order: “Mud glorious mud!” “landforms!” and “Goldsworthy out and about!”

22nd and 23rd August - a 2 day Artsparks course inspired by Charles Jencks building our own earthworks and landforms which will transform your garden forever! www.jupiterartland.org

Music Bugs Music Bugs will be holding special themed summer classes during July. Classes will be held on Monday 11th, 18th and 25th July in Morningside at 10.10am; Tuesday 12th, 19th and 26th July in Leith at 10.10am and 11.00am and Wednesday 13th, 20th and 27th July in Musselburgh at 10.00am. Please check our website for full class details and prices (www.musicbugs.co.uk) or contact Hilary on 0844 822 1156 or hilary@musicbugs.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

10 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

SwimEasy SwimEasy’s Summer “RapidTrack” Lessons will run in Edinburgh in July and August with three locations now available - Merchiston Castle School, the Royal Blind School and Craigroyston High School. RapidTrack Lessons will also be available at Donaldson’s School in Linlithgow in July and August.

Our specialist One-to-Two Holiday Classes, for children or adults, can be booked a week at a time, from Monday to Friday. Five consecutive lessons can improve any weakness rapidly and any technical correction, or specific area of improvement required, can be dealt with much more easily.

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

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

The holidays give your child the perfect opportunity to try something new or spend more time on an activity they already enjoy.

Doodles Summer Pottery Classes: Week 1 18th – 22nd July Week 2 1st - 5th August This summer we will be having a sea theme...mermaids and pirates galore! Classes run Monday - Friday 10.30am - 12pm and are suitable for age 6 and up. We will be making items from squidgy clay and trying fun new painting techniques to make a variety of practical and decorative items. This will cost £60 for the week and includes juice and a mid morning snack. Please call us on 0131 229 1399 to book your place or if you need more information.

Spanish Amigos Summer club Monday 18th- 21st July inclusive from 10.30-13.30.

The price per child is £75 (15% sibling discount available). The children learn through games, songs and activities. We celebrate different cultures and teach the children something different from each country. During the week the children will learn a short play and the parents are invited to watch on the last day. 121 Montgomery Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH7 5EP. 0131 661 0880

Summer Hip Hop School at Dancebase Summer 1: Mon 11 - Fri 15 July 09.30 15.30 Summer 2: Mon 18 - Fri 22 July 09.30 15.30 Open to children ages 7-9 and 10-12 A fantastic opportunity to learn a variety of dance styles (street dance, breakin, poppin, lockin and house) as well as playing with photography, art and music video production.

There will be a chance to show off all the new moves to parents and family members on the Friday afternoon at the end of week show. £92.50 per week or £78.50 for 1+ children from same family. (Bring a packed lunch and plenty of water) Book online at dancebase.co.uk, over the phone on 0131 225 5525 or at 14- 16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU

Kip McGrath

Excel really is excellent fun!

How about a week of Tennis, Football, Dance, Golf, Rugby, Canoeing, Horse Riding, Rock Climbing, Hockey, or perhaps a week of Summer Science from the folks at the Edinburgh International Science Festival? How about a week of Computer Xplorers for some digital movie making, robotics, design your own video game, crime scene investigators etc, or what about the Edinburgh School Rock where you can join your own band and play at a live gig!

Sports Leaders UK qualifications 1 & 2 might suit older siblings over the age of 13. And then there is always the Multi-Sports programme for half-day, daily or weekly bookings, always full of fun! For 5 – 16 year olds, and childcare vouchers are welcome. For more information visit www.excel-sports.co.uk or call 0131 554 4249.

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival The Edinburgh International Magic Festival will run its hugely popular Magic School workshops (ages 7 – 12) from 2nd to the 8th July at the beautifully atmospheric Sandeman House on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Your kids will have the opportunity to learn, create and perform their own magic during a very hands-on, two and a half hour 'Magic School' workshop. Budding wizards and wizardesses will receive training from the President of the Edinburgh Magic Circle, and one of Scotland's best family entertainers, Gary James. Ticket price £12.

For further details and times please visit www.magicfest.co.uk or email info@magicfest.co.uk. To book your place visit our website or call 0131 473 2000

Summer tutoring at Kip McGrath – From pre-school, p1, standard grades, credits to highers and Advanced levels give your child the best start to the new school year. Many parents worry about the effect of holidays on the education of their children. Summer tutoring at Kip McGrath could make all the difference.

Kip McGrath Education Centres provide professional tuition by fully qualified teachers, all of whom have a wealth of experience teaching in local schools. The high quality Kip McGrath programme focuses on maths, English, reading, spelling and comprehension. Each 80 minute tutoring session involves the completion of 6 different multi sensory activities some of which involve the use of the computer. As well as being enjoyable, this approach adds variety and maintains the interest of every child.

For further information phone Indy on 01316106110, Kip McGrath Edinburgh (Central), Inverleith, Willowbrae and Morningside.

Explore Learning Explore Learning is a network of learning centres for children aged 4-14, where children become members and attend regularly once or twice a week. Explore tutors create individual courses to inspire children to develop into confident, successful individuals with the knowledge and skills to succeed in life. Over 500 children regularly attend our Edinburgh centres to gain knowledge and enthusiasm from our team of fantastic tutors. A Free Consultation is offered to all families interested in the tutoring service provided by Explore Learning centres.

Families joining Explore Learning in July will receive 25% off their first month’s membership.

Additionally, we would like to invite families to our free community days which allow children to take part in fun, interactive learning activities. Please contact your local centre for more information.

Honeypot Ceramics ‘Trip around the World’ Projects will include a range of techniques and materials inc: clay, stamping, collage, painting, and will be inspired by the ‘destinations’. £12.00 per head or £55 per week (inc juice).

10.30–12 noon.

July 11th - Rainforests, 12th - North America, 13th - Sahara, 14th - Arctic, 15th -Scotland. 25th – Mediterranean, 26th – Africa, 27th – Ireland, 28th – Asia, 29th – Great Barrier Reef, August 8th – South America, 9th – Himalayas, 10th – Europe, 11th – Wales, 12th – China There will also be a ‘Prepare to Travel Session’ where travelers can design their own canvas travel bag, fabulous sunglasses, make their own travel soap and of course prepare their travel documents! Drop in any time week commencing 4th July. £12 (90mins) Booking Essential. www.honeypotceramics.com or call us on: 0131-333-6348. Based at EICA, Ratho, Edinburgh

11 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

50 things

to do in the School Holidays

9 Summer Camps & Classes Canoeing at Forth Canoe Club Summer Courses for 8-12 year olds 4-8 July, 11-15 July, 18-22 July, 25-29 July, 1-5 August, 8-12 August 10-12am or 12-2pm or 4-6pm. £35 for 5 days of canoeing During a 5 day course you will have the opportunity to try plastic boats, slalom boats and sprint boats. After the course you can join the club and have coach lead regular sessions for fun and self improvement. Bring a change of clothes, a towel and a drink.

Forth Canoe Club, based at Harrison Road Bridge, is the oldest active canoe club in Scotland. It has weekly club sessions and caters for various canoeing disciplines including slalom, sprint racing, down river racing, etc.

For more details look at www.forthcc.com. Bookings and more information at: kristina.medovcikova@canoescotland.org or 07946 975462

Summer Week 1: 11th - 15th July Week 2: 18th - 22nd July Week 3: 25th - 29th July Week 4: 1st - 5th August

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 further afield 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.

Give your child the best opportunity to stay in touch with their learning and prepare for the next academic year. With our services on-going throughout the holidays, we are able to continue to offer the best programme and tutor for your child.

For further information contact 0131 441 3603 or 01383 624599 and look at our website www.stepaheadtuition.com

Whizzkids

NEXT ISSUE – BACK TO SCHOOL SCHOOL NEWS, CLUBS AND CLASSES AND LOTS MORE! BOOK YOUR SPACE BEFORE JULY 31ST editor@familiesedinburgh.co.uk 0131 622 0405

Whizzkids will be running computer courses for children aged 5 and up throughout the summer holidays. Whether your child needs to learn or improve touch-typing skills or learn how to use the different Microsoft Office applications effectively there’s a course to suit!

There are 8 courses to choose from: PowerPoint, General Computer Course (mixture of Word and Excel), Educational Games, Computer Art, Desktop Publishing, CLAiT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology – see www.ocr.org.uk for details), Project Creation and Touch-typing. For full details of the various courses visit www.whizzkids.uk.com. With a maximum of 5 children per class courses may be individually tailored to suit your child’s needs so if there is any particular skill you would like to include in a course, just ask!

For further information or bookings e-mail: gillian@whizzkids.uk.com or call 0131 447 5893.

Kiss the Fish Studios Here at Kiss the Fish Studios we’ve got a packed programme of craft activities with something to suit all ages. Choose from origami, ceramics, felt-making, mosaics, sewing, card-making and mask-making to name but a few!

Dr Who themed art workshops with Ben Morris, illustrator at Dr Who Magazine. Suitable for ages 7+ Wednesday 3rd or Monday 8th August. £12 pp with juice and a snack.

Don’t forget that you can also just drop in anytime and select something to decorate with our amazing decopatch papers, paints, glitters and sparkles. We’ve got a huge range of animals, boxes, picture frames and letters to choose from, prices start from just £3 per item. Sign up for our e-newsletter at www.kissthefishstudios.com to stay up to date with what’s new.

Tumbletots Tumbletots are running Summer Playschemes for children from 3-7 at Cluny Centre, Morningside. The children can be left in our care for the two and a half hours. During this time they will play on the equipment, enjoy a healthy snack and spend time on the arts and crafts, brio, jigsaws and playdough, finishing off with the parachute. All for £9.50 per child.

Morning sessions 10am to 12.30pm Afternoon sessions 1.30pm - 4pm 18th, 19th (pm only), and 22nd July, 1st, 2nd (pm only) and 5th August.

We shall also be running Summer Classes for children from 6 months to 5 years on 4 of the 6 Tuesdays during the summer holidays in the morning at Cluny Centre, Morningside from Tuesday 12th July. Please call Jo on 01875 819966 for more information and to book or email Jo on joletelier.lobos@virgin.net

Potter Around Potter Around is set on a working farm in the countryside outside Edinburgh, a short train or bus ride away from the city and with plenty of parking if you are driving. As well as pottery painting every day, a wide range of craft activities will be on offer to keep all ages happy throughout the summer.

Summer Holiday Club – Each day will bring a different activity, including pottery painting, textiles, jewellery making and clay modelling, fun with glass, painting on canvas, paper craft and more. Supervised sessions will run from 10.30-12 each day. £10 a session including juice and a snack. For more details see www.facebook.com/potteraround or www.potteraround.co.uk or call 01506 238961. Find us as Overton Farm, Kirknewton EH27 8DD.

12 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

SASCS will be running 2 Summer Schemes again this year, 8.30am - 5.30pm in Sciennes Primary School, 10 Sciennes Road, EH9 1LG.

Edinburgh Leisure At Edinburgh Leisure we’ve got over 40 different fun and exciting activities to choose from to keep your kids happy, active and healthy over the summer holidays, for tots right through to teenagers – they’ll be spoilt for choice.

If you prefer to stay on dryland, choose from and A-Z of sports coaching and fun stuff; Athletics, activ5, trampolining, football, tennis, gymnastics, golf, climbing, creative courses, triathlon and more. Or, if you’re more of a water baby, then choose from swimming lessons, aquavator, kayaking, sailing and fun sessions.

Our camps are flexible to suit everyone’s needs. With so many options available, in the form of week long, full days, ½ days or just a couple of hours – we have something for everyone. www.edinburghleisure.co.uk or give us a call on 0131 458 2100.

South Morningside After School Care Club.

Our summer holiday dates are from July 4th to August 16th. We provide special activities each morning and afternoon, these include arts and crafts activities, plenty of outdoor activities and indoor games. We also provide one full day trip a week for example to Blair Drummond safari park, Dalkeith country park, East Links family park, and one half day trip for example to the cinema, swimming, ice-skating as well as outings to local parks. We are open to children of all primary schools. Contact – 0131 447 6800 or email – manager@smascc.org.uk

Drama Studio Holiday Clubs Drama Studio holiday clubs are real fun weeks meeting new friends and doing all kinds of Arts activities. Students will certainly be doing Drama and popular activities such as Art and Craft, puppets, filming, song and dance, Tai Ch'i, dressing up, soft ball, parachute games and performing to an audience if you attend in the morning.

Wardie Church Halls, Primrose Bank Road 18th-22nd July Fairmilehead Church Halls, Frogston Road West 25th29th July AND 1st-5th Aug. Full or Half day availability for both venues. Drop in days may be available. PRICES FOR FULL WEEK PLACES

Mornings 9.30am - 1pm £75, Afternoons 1.30pm - 4pm £60. Full Days 9.30am - 4pm £125 Please visit our website www.thedramastudio.com for more detailed information. e-mail - info@thedramastudio.com Phone 0131-453-3284

Kb-Insights summer programme Want to improve your child’s performance academically and physically?

Make this summer break count - take advantage of the opportunity for your child to participate in fun active sessions which will integrate left and right brain.

We have 2 feet, 2 hands, 2 ears, 2 eyes and even 2 brains: left and right. When it comes to function we are decidedly one sided, the most obvious of course is handedness. Where there is mixed laterality it can cause difficulties: dyslexic tendencies, auditory processing difficulties or behavioural difficulties. Academic and cognitive learning is based on successful motor learning experiences. If your child finds aspects of learning challenging or has fluctuating concentration, give them a break from the books and get them active.

A 6 wk programme based on 2 sessions a week. Individual sessions available which can be tailored to your child or various group sessions 5 – 16 Full details at www.kb-insight.co.uk call Karen 07837930714

Monday 4th to Friday 29th July 2011 Sports Camp – for children aged 8 – 12+yr Children can experience a range of different sporty activities at a variety of sporting venues throughout Edinburgh.

Full Day - £25.00, Half Day - £15.00, Trip - £28.00

Monday 4th July – Friday 12th August 2011 Holiday Care delivering activities suitable for all ages 4.5 – 12+yr. (Primarily aimed at children 4.5-7yrs whilst Sports Camp is operating).

Art and craft, dance, drama, baking, sport and outdoor games all delivered by enthusiastic and qualified staff.

Also on offer an optional part day outings 4 days a week Full Day - £18.50, Half Day - £11.00, Trip - £23.50.

Both Schemes will attend one day trip per week (new venues this year - Cairnie Fruit Farm and Active Kid Toy and Adventure Centre) For more information and booking forms phone 0131 662 4810 and speak to sonia/Lindsey or email sascs@btinternet.com SASCS is the trading name of Sciennes School After School Care Scheme Registered Scottish Charity Number: SCO23891

Dance For All

Dance For All are running two summer clubs this year: The DFA Summer School for 6-15yrs and the 4 Day Intensive Summer Workshop for 13-20yrs. The Summer School will run from Monday 8th– Friday 12th August and is just £120, 10am-3.30pm and the Intensive Summer Workshop runs from Sunday 13th – Tuesday 16th August and is just £125 (doors open 9.30 for both). Each summer club promises to be fun and exciting, culminating in a performance. Booking is essential! See www.danceforall.co.uk more details.

Canoeing at Forth Canoe Club Summer Courses for 8-12 year old boys and girls 4-8 July, 11-15 July, 18-22 July, 25-29 July, 1-5 August, 8-12 August

£35 for 5 days of canoeing WANT TO TRY IT? Join-in, develop the skills, enjoy!

BOOKINGS and MORE INFORMATION at: Kristina : kristina.medovcikova@canoescotland.org or 07946 975462

Scottish Youth Theatre Summer Festival – in collaboration with The Festival Theatre Edinburgh Our thrilling theme is… horror and all things spooky! Learn about drama, perform to a live audience and meet new friends Junior Course – 4 – 9 July (ages 8-11) This course is perfect for beginners. Work on general drama skills, explore movement, characterisation and storytelling within the drama. Explore a theme to create a unique performance to present on the final Saturday of the course in a professional theatre venue.

Foundation Course – 11 – 23 July (ages 12 – 15) This two week performance course is open to those who want to build on what they already know about drama and performance. You will look at general drama skills and work with professional directors and specialist skills tutors as you devise, rehearse and perform a new and exciting piece of theatre.

To apply, download an application pack from: hwww.scottishyouththeatre.org/festival/summer_ festival_2011/ and return to info@scottishyouththeatre.org

Dance classes for both boys and girls from 11⁄2yrs upwards.

Ballet: Tap: Modern: Jazz

SuMMEr DAnCE & CrAFT DAYS no MorE BorInG HoLIDAYS Wed 27th & thurs 28th July 11am - 12.30pm 2, 3, 4 years 11am - 4pm 5 - 11years InTEnSE DAnCE DAY thurs 29th July 11am - 4.30pm 12+ years (beginners welcome) tap, Ballet & Jazz Challenges short performance at 4pm for friends and family 07545551271 HELD AT www.dynam-nic-dance.com CrAIGLoCKHArT PArISH CHurCH nicky@dynam-nic-dance.com

SASCS SASCS will be running 2 Summer Schemes 8.30am 5.30pm in Sciennes Primary School, 10 Sciennes Road, EH9 1LG. Monday 4th to Friday 29th July Sports Camp – for ages 8 – 12+yr Making use of a variety of sporting venues throughout Edinburgh your child can experience a range of sports inc swimming, water polo, golf, tennis, bowling, volleyball, squash, football, basketball, etc.

Full Day - £25.00, Half Day - £15.00, Trip - £28.00 Monday 4th July – Friday 12th August Holiday Care delivering activities suitable for all ages 4.5 – 12+yr.

Art and craft, dance, drama, baking, sport and outdoor games. Also on offer an optional part day outings 4 days a week to venues such as Butterfly and Insect World, Dynamic Earth, Musselburgh Beach, Happy Castle Soft Play, etc. Full Day - £18.50, Half Day - £11.00, Trip - £23.50. One full day trip per week (new venues this year - Cairnie Fruit Farm and Active Kid Toy and Adventure Centre). Phone 0131 662 4810 (Sonia/Lindsey) or email sascs@btinternet.com.

13 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

50 things

to do in the School Holidays

9 Summer Camps & Classes enjoyleisure

The Imagination Workshop

enjoyleisure promises to deliver an action packed summer for families in East Lothian. Children can try out a new sport, develop their technique or just enjoy being active. Activities include badminton, football, judo, gymnastics, trampolining, mini-tennis and multi-sports or kids can take the water and become a rookie lifeguard.

There’s also the opportunity to go dance crazy with the launch of our brand new Dance Machine, which allows participants to compete against other players. Kids can also get ready to find their groove at Zumbatomic, a brand new fitness dance class especially tailored for kids aged 5-12 years which is taking place at Musselburgh Sports Centre on Fridays at 12.30pm.

Don’t forget you can also enjoy the numerous outdoor leisure activities across the county including pitch n putt, grass bowls, golf courses, putting greens and tennis courts. For more information on all of our summer activities visit www.enjoyleisure.com.

4th – 8th July Get Set For Summer: We'll be painting, sticking, embellishing with all sorts of materials to fit you out for the summer holidays! Age 5+. 10.30 – 12.30 or 3 – 5pm.

11th -15th July Fabric Fun: We'll explore all sorts of different things to do with fabrics, fibres, threads and materials. Age 5+. 10.30 – 12.30.

18th - 22nd July Bedroom Makeover: Spend a week making lots of great things for your bedroom - sewing, decopatching and painting. Age 7+. 10.30 – 12.30.

25th – 29th July Sew up a Storm: We'll be hand sewing all sorts of fantastic items, great for beginners or more advanced. Age 8+ 10.30 – 12.30. £15 per day or £70 if you book all week. Price includes snack and drink. Places are limited and booking is essential – call 0131 466 0148. 136 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9

Lothian Dance Academy These will range from a fun week with taster sessions in Ballet, Tap, Streetdance, Modern, Jazz, Cheerleading, Drama, Singing & Stage Crafts. Cost: £80 for the full week or £20 per day.

We will also be offering intensive 3 day courses in RAD Ballet grades & majors and ISTD Tap & Modern Jazz. These courses will run from 10am to 3pm and cost £50 per 3 day course. Details can be found on our website: www.lothiandance.com

BigWorld 25-29 July Corstorphine Hill and 8-12 August Craiglockhart LNR For woodland enthusiasts aged 8(ish) and upwards. (Max group size – 12). From our woodland base camps, we'll explore the nearby woodlands and come up with activity and project ideas together. Group members can choose from and learn a whole range of activities, such as: shelter-building, wild cookery, fire-making techniques, tooluse & survival techniques; archery; nature photography, pottery, weaving & woodland art galleries; pond dipping, bug-hunting, tracks and trails and camouflage, games and much, much more . . .

Places are limited, so do get in touch to book places to avoid disappointment!

Information about booking: Cost: £28/day. Clubs officially start at 9 and end at 5, but ask about early drop offs/late pick-ups. Wet weather alternatives are provided.

Contact: aline_hill@hotmail.com. Aline Hill 07796677059. www.bigworlduk.co.uk

14 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Kids rock uK Kids Rock UK provides music tuition that prides itself on being fun, good value for money and affordable and the Summer Camps are no different. Not only do we provide a safe environment for your child to spend a week of their holiday but also teaching them to play music and lots of other musical and non musical activities. We bring guitar, keyboards, drum, percussion and encourage the children to learn and play at the same time they make friends. Half or full days are provided for your convenience and budget and the whole week builds towards a performance for the parents. The children will have down time throughout the day, where they can exercise their artistic skills or just play games. Places are limited though so don’t leave it til the last minute. www.kidsrockuk.com Call – 0774 8048060

All of this and more online at www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Visit the site regularly for up to date news, events, competitions and offers.

Follow us on Twitter too!

50

things to do in the School Holidays

10

East Links Family Park, Dunbar

Over 25 different breeds of sheep, 5 breeds of cattle, rabbits, guinea pigs, real pigs, goats, llamas and more!

For the smaller children there’s a soft play area, and the more adventurous can go go-karting, swing, slide, climb, run, jump on trampolines and expend their excess energy in just having fun!

The whole family will enjoy a safari – by train – which takes you round the paddocks of friendly farm animals. An on board commentary gives you information about the animals you will see or you can just relax and throw feed for them as they come to the train. Both park and train are accessible to wheelchair users and those with buggies/prams.

The Fortress is a 9 metre high, 4 level, multi activity structure which totals 15,000 square metres of fun. Inside the fortress there is around 15 different activities including cargo nets, spiders’ web tower, rat tunnels, flying ariel runway, ogre climbing arch, sky high rope bridges and a talking telescope.

In fine weather, pack a picnic and enjoy al fresco eating at the picnic tables – or enjoy being spoiled in the Family Park’s Café which serves hot and cold snacks, cakes and refreshments.

01368 863607 Go to www.eastlinks.co.uk for opening times and prices.

11

Label Everything!

Labels4Kids personalised name labels is an award winning business having been finalist in 6 awards now since 2007.

Labels4Kids Top tips are: 1 Label EVERYTHING. Yes, from hair bands to swimming googles. If you have it, label it “because kids lose stuff”!

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. Check out the website at www.labels4kids.com/fam because kids loose stuff. Labels4Kids can prevent lost property and wasted time and money buying new uniform or belongings.

12

Opening Weekend at the Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street

Be among the first to explore all the exciting new galleries and displays.

Friday 29 – Sunday 31 July 10:00 – 17:00.

13

Go down to the woods today

www.visitwoods.org.uk is the result of a project led by the Woodland Trust in collaboration with the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission. It allows users to search for their nearest wood (there are 14,000 UK-wide on the site - almost all publicly accessible woods) and also includes inspirational ideas for things to do when you get to the woods.

14

Water Painting Let little one paint a fence or wall with water.

Give them a bucket of water and a big brush and you’ve got some simple and mess free fun!

15

Make some money at a Jack and Jill Sale

Did you know that you have at least £500 sitting in your cupboards, according to recent research?

That’s right, all those buggy’s, bouncers, bikes, clothes, toys, games, and the rest add up to a pretty penny – not to mention the space they swallow up in your home. Well, you can quickly and easily turn all these unused but useable items into cash at The Jack & Jill Market.

The Jack & Jill Markets are quality nearly-new baby & kids markets (0-9 years) established to help local mums make and save money. You can book a stall, turn up on the day, and sell directly to the hundreds of smart money mums looking for quality products at great prices. It’s a fun morning out with the kids, making money - and recycling! The next Jack & Jill Market in Edinburgh is Sunday 31st July at Meadowbank Sports Centre, 10.30am – 1.30pm.

For details visit: www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk

16

Ten Pin Bowling @ The Corn Exchange

Bowl a ‘strike’ this summer at the Corn Exchange, all bowling throughout the summer holidays is 50%

cheaper for Families magazine readers.

They have 12 ten pin bowling lanes which are suitable for bowlers of all ages, with light balls, ramps and bumpers available. Fresh Italian coffee is served in the Sports Bar as well as a wide range of stone baked pizzas to share while you bowl and the diner is also open at the weekends..

Children’s birthday parties are fully catered for with the choice of a bowling or football theme from only £11. Open 9am – 11pm daily with over 400 free onsite parking spaces and free wifi. For any further information please call reception on 0131 443 0404.

17

Clarinet Lessons 1st lesson free Individual tuition from age 10 upwards.

Adult beginners and returners also welcome.

Friendly, experienced teacher.

For fun, and/or exams.

Home visits arranged.

Music theory tuition also available.

Fulfil your musical potential!

Karen Mitchell MA, ALCM, LLCM(TD) 0131 555 0467 07932 094768

Traquair Fair

Held on the weekend of August 6th/7th, the Traquair Fair is an incredible family festival in the magical grounds of historic Traquair House near Innerleithen which combines theatre, music, dance, children’s entertainment, artists and craft demonstrations, workshops and storytelling with a "fire" theme.

On the main wine glass lawn there will be some stunning outdoor shows including fire breathing, the Voodoo Unicyling performance group, Turbo Jonez, and the Temple of Boom and the exciting sounds of the Explosive Dholi drummers.

A huge array of Children’s entertainers on the main avenue will include The Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre, Mike Hares with Willie the Wicked Woof, the wonderful Mr Boom and a puppet theatre based in an old Gypsy Caravan.

There is also a Children’s Book Tent with authors and storytellers and for those wanting to get involved or run around there will be arts workshops a colour maze and swing boats.

In the Old Walled Garden there is always a relaxed atmosphere and music on the Little Stage. With traditional music and dance in the courtyard and even touring the house included in your ticket travelling to the Fair early is advisable to make the most of your day unless of course, you decide to camp and make it a weekend you and your kids will remember. Go to www.traquairfair.co.uk to find out more or book tickets.

15 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

19

18 Go Camping

©Comrie Croft Eco Camping

Scotland Camping with Kids features 30 of the best child-friendly campsites and caravan parks in Scotland as well as all the information you need to plan an unforgettable Scottish camping experience, whatever the weather!

Camping with children is always fun and a fantastic way to get them away from modern living and back in touch with nature and the countryside.

Top tips 1. Do your research on sites and plan ahead – Use the website or invest in the Scottishcamping Map. 2. Always practise putting your tent up and trying out your stove at least once before you go camping otherwise you could end up the site entertainment.

3. Get a decent weather forecast for your trip.

4. Book ahead -Scottish camping always recommends that you contact the site in advance if you wish to use their services (before 8pm if phoning) as sites are constantly changing their facilities and can be fully booked at both peak and non-peak times. Please also ensure that you state your requirements when you call as sites operate different policies towards group sizes and compositions, the units they accept and pets.

5. Take your time in choosing your pitch. The time you spend doing this may be worth it in terms of your enjoyment later. As not all sites allow you to choose your pitch and may allocate you one on arrival, when the site is not full it is worth negotiating to have a look around in order to identify what would be best for your group. Remember where you are put at first can be subject to change when other campers move on.

6. Think about what you will do if the weather breaks so have some poor weather alternative activities.

Scotland Camping with Kids Available from www.scottishcamping.com £7.99 (ISBN: 978-0-9553049-3-4) Lavishly illustrated with colour photos and packed with site descriptions, reviews and helpful advice on things to do onsite and in the area, this is the only guide you will need to see you through your camping adventure. The book also provides essential information on: Choosing your site and planning your trip, Camping equipment: what you really need and how to use it, Setting up your pitch, Wild camping, Animals, beasties and the famous Scottish midge!, Fun recipes for eating in the great outdoors.

16 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Book an Eye Examination

8 is too late – is the statement that best describes the need for children to have an eye examination according to Clare Downes of Downes Opticians, Leith.

To ensure your children’s eyes develop to their best potential and conversely ensure your child has the optimum environment to learn and progress, an eye examination by an Optometrist is essential. Unfortunately the school eye examination, when provided, is not comprehensive enough to ensure your child has no visual problems.

Children are often unaware that they have a visual problem as they have no method of comparison; they are often unaware that others see differently from themselves. This is never more so the case when the problem is in one eye, as it is masked by the better eye. If your child has even a slight prescription in one eye, this can affect the development of both eyes resulting in lifelong problems affecting their learning abilities, performance in sports, driving and many other day to day tasks.

A thorough eye examination ideally from 3 years old will detect any visual concerns as well as investigate the health of the eyes. Eye examinations should be a fun experience, at Downes Opticians we have children specific tests allowing each part of the eye examination to be made into a sort of game, which ensures each child has an enjoyable experience. The majority of issues can be rectified either by exercises and/or spectacles to ensure optimum development of the eyes and therefore no future problems in teenage and adult life.

Having an eye examination should be like going to the dentist for routine checks after all you can replace your teeth but not your eyes.

One of the most important things to do this summer is to book your Childs (and your) free eye examination. www.downesopticians.com 0131 553 5358

20

Vogrie Country Park

Beautiful Vogrie Country Park is one of Midlothian’s main visitor attractions. A fantastic place to spend a family day out over the summer months.

On the B6372 near Gorebridge, the park is easily accessible from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. There are a range of facilities on offer to suit all ages and interests. These include an adventure play area with specific areas for older and younger children, grassy areas for recreation and picnics, a nine hole golf course, a path for horse riding, a cafe, soft play, miniature railway on Sundays, barbeque areas, rangers events and woodland walks with paths for disabled users.

The grounds are also home to the impressive baronial styled Vogrie House.

The Daily Telegraph last year recognised Vogrie Country Park alongside attractions such as Kew Gardens in London as one of the top ten parks to visit in Britain.

Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, Midlothian EH23 4NU. Open for 365 days of the year from 07:30 until dusk.

• Vogrie Country Park General Information: Tel 01875 821716 • Barbeque Tel 0131 663 1103 • Tee times on 9 hole Golf Course bookable 24 hours ahead: Tel 01875 821716 • Miniature Railway: Tel 01875 822388 or 07957856687 • The Cedar Tree Cafe and Soft Play: Tel 01875 823695 • Midlothian Ranger Service for countryside information and events: Tel 01875 821990

21

Climb Arthur’s Seat

I only found out recently that if you climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat and look down you’ll see lots of pictures and messages spelt out in stones by previous visitors. It’s being added to all the time and so far includes a kilted bagpiper, a cow and a boat!

22

Toys!

The summer is perfect for spending time with the children so whether you are staying in Edinburgh or going on holiday you should head down to the new look children’s toy shop in Bruntsfield where their helpful staff have a selection of outdoor activities and travel toys and games to entertain all ages.

For younger children their nifty little Vespa style balance scooter is the way to go. The only bike certified safe from 2 years, this scooter will make getting places fun and with its adjustable seat it can grow with your child. With no tricky pedals it allows children to find their balance and the transition to a pedal bike in later years is a doddle. For ages 2 to 5 years £74.99. The Smart Stork, 165b Bruntsfiled Place, Edinburgh EH10 4DG. 0131 629 9424. www.TheSmartStork.co.uk

23

The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Always a fantastic place to wander round with children. Great for an explore and Dad’s favourite place for a game of hide and seek. You can also go to drop-in science and nature activities at weekends in the Gateway, Storytelling sessions, inc. a special outdoor storytelling day on 17 July, Albert & Friends Instant Circus, 1pm, 21 – 29 August as well as self-guided trails across the Garden and Glasshouses. The café also does great kids meals and lovely coffee and cakes! Go to www.rbge.org.uk for further details

24

Portobello

Sandcastles and paddling on a sunny day. If the weather isn’t looking so great then head for the amusements. My kids love the 2p waterfalls and it’s amazing how long 50ps worth of 2ps can last. Our rule is to stick to 50p each and once the money has run out no matter how precariously the 2ps inside the machine are balanced and just about to fall - it’s time to leave!

25

Back to School Shoe Shopping

Maddie & Mark's Shoes will be running their successful appointment scheme for Back to School shoes again this year in all of their shops. All you need to do is contact your nearest branch and select a free slot that suits you. It's a great scheme that avoids you having to wait to be served during a traditionally hectic shoe shopping period! Please note that you don't have to make an appointment to get school shoes in Maddie & Mark's so please feel free to drop in as well. 14 Buckstone Terrace, 1 Craigcrook Place and 205 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. www.maddieandmarks.co.uk Wee Masons in Haddington aims to make shoe shopping a pleasure instead of a nightmare!

Leave the children watching a video whilst you talk to their fully trained staff about the best type of shoe to suit your requirements. Customers at Wee Masons know they are going to get a one to one, hand fitted and hand measured service. Their advice is not to leave your back to school shoe shopping until the end of the holidays!

Exclusive styles to Wee Masons, such as Geox and Primigi, can be found at: 90 High Street, Haddington. Tel: 01620 825600.

26

Jupiter Artland

Jupiter Artland is an award-winning contemporary sculpture garden, just outside Edinburgh. Home to very special works by many leading artists and sculptors.

The cafe at Jupiter Artland is perhaps a work of art in it's own right a 1950's silver streak caravan serving fantastic artisan roast coffee and home baking, soups, gourmet salads, chef's specials, hearty open sandwiches and bruschettas, all food is home made and uses fresh seasonal produce only, also a small childrens menu. Check out their website for all the fantastic children’s art workshops they are running over the summer, as well as opening times and prices www.jupiterartland.org

27

Explore Edinburgh by Bike

The Bike Station sell ready-to-ride bikes, all from bikes or parts donated to them, collected from recycling centres or abandoned on railings and lamposts across Edinburgh and beyond. All the bikes are fully reconditioned by qualified mechanics and come with a three-month warranty. Children's bikes are priced by wheel size, starting from just £15 for a 12" wheeled bike, and proceeds from the sale of bikes supports the Bike Station's work promoting cycling. And don’t forget some wheels for Mum & Dad! Check out the adult bikes for sale, and the Bike Station also offers cycle training.

Contact the Bike Station for a range of cycling / bike maintenance courses - 250 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1UU, 0131 668 1996 www.thebikestation.org.uk info@thebikestation.org.uk Plan Your Route Did you know that Edinburgh has many miles of offstreet paths - totally traffic-free, going to the heart of the city alongside canals, rivers, through parks and woodland, and along the beach? The Bike Station has taken inspiration from the London Underground to chart Edinburgh's cycleways in a clear, easy-to use map – ‘Edinburgh's Innertube’.

Spokes, The Lothian Cycle Campaign (www.spokes.org.uk), has produced a detailed and up to date Edinburgh cycling map which shows all of the city’s roads and streets. The offroad cycle paths are clearly marked and offer great places to get the kids in a traffic-free environment. There are also Spokes maps for East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian, plus Glasgow. All available from bike shops and the Spokes website. Check out the new Spokes fact-sheet, ‘How to Be a Cycling Family’ available from the Spokes website or email familycycling@spokes.org.uk to be sent a printed copy.

The “Explore Edinburgh by Bike” series covers the whole of Edinburgh, area by area, and include detailed cycle maps and ideas for things to see. You can download the leaflets from the Council website or order copies of them from Clarence (0800 232323 / clarence@edinburgh.gov.uk).

Sustrans (www.sustrans.org.uk) is a national charity which promotes cycling and walking as well as managing the National Cycle Network routes, several of which go through Edinburgh and the Lothians. Sustrans produces a range of detailed maps and information sheets showing traffic free routes across Scotland.

28

Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen’s Gallery, Edinburgh

Pick up an activity bag at the entrance to The Queen’s Gallery and explore this exciting exhibition with all the family! Discover drawings of imaginary beasts, tiny miniature portraits painted in the finest detail, mighty kings and their fine attire and stories galore. Designed to bring our exhibitions alive for 5 – 11 year olds and their families. These activity bags contain games, challenges and activities and are included in the standard admission to The Queen’s Gallery. All family activities are free with standard admission to the Palace/Gallery or a valid 1 Year Pass.

1 YEAR PASS! Enjoy free re-admission for a year if you buy your tickets directly from the Palace. Simply ask to stamp your ticket on your first visit – a great way to fill the school holidays at no extra cost! Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX www.royalcollection.org.uk/learning for opening times and prices.

Enjoy a fun-filled family day out at the Botanics this summer Drop-in science and nature activities at weekends in the Gateway Storytelling sessions, inc. a special outdoor storytelling day on 17 July Albert & Friends Instant Circus, 1pm, 21 - 29 August Self-guided trails across the Garden and Glasshouses

Summer Holiday Club July 4th to August 16th

Go to www.rbge.org.uk/events for further details 17 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

29

Drama Workshops during the Fringe for 5 – 14 year olds

Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, Venue 278, 22 Hanover Street. From 2nd August Spotlites will be running themed drama workshops. Star Wars, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Horrible Histories, Hannah Montana, Hairspray, Pirates of the Caribbean and Narnia to name but a few! £5 per child (10% off for groups of 10+).

Book on 0131 220 5911. www.spotlites.co.uk

30

Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World. Enter the tropical rainforest

paradise and discover…

Tropical Rainstorm: Experience what a tropical rainstorm is like 1st hand.

Fish Feeding, Animal Handling: Join our experts and get the chance to handle tarantulas, snakes and millipedes.

PLUS many other fascinating daily occurrences such as: • Leaf Cutter Ant Parade • Glowing Scorpion Display • Working Honey Bee Hives (Seasonal) • Tropical Gardens As well as seeing all of these incredible creatures and having an unforgettable time, you'll also be helping to support the conservation of threatened species and habitats throughout the world.

Dobbies Garden World, Melville Nursery, Lasswade. www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk for opening times and prices.

31

Make playdough

You will need: • 1 cup of salt • 2 cups of flour • 4 tsp cream of tartar • 2 tbsp cooking oil • 2 cups water You can also add in vanilla or mint essence Method: Mix ingredients in a saucepan. Cook on a medium heat for 3 – 5 minutes until it becomes stiff(it will, have faith!). Store in an airtight container in the fridge

32

Family Fun at Stirling Castle

Paint a jester and see him leap into life, follow the palace mice and enjoy super interactive displays – history is fun at Stirling Castle. The completion of a £12 million project means there will be lots more to see and do. The castle’s royal palace recently reopened, now returned to how it might have looked when Mary Queen of Scots lived there as a girl. Visitors will meet costumed characters including lords, ladies, servants and guards. There are family-friendly displays in the undercroft, where children can meet our family of cartoon mice.

Then there’s a new exhibition where you can come face to face with the knight and medieval lady whose skeletons were discovered by archaeologists. There are three shops to browse and a comfortable café serving cakes baked at the castle. For more information, opening times and prices see www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/.

33

The Edinburgh International Book Festival

Saturday 13 to Monday 29 August 2011.

Tickets go on sale from 26 June either on-line (www.edbookfest.co.uk) by phone (0845 373 5888) or in person. Highlights for children include Julia Donaldson, Carol Ann Duffy, Francesca Simon and Roger McGough. Full details of the programme are available from www.edbookfest.co.uk.

34

Do something with all that artwork your child bought home at the end of term!

Obviously every single piece of artwork created by your child is precious – a friend of mine had a weetabix box with a small sprinkling of glitter and her child’s name glued on it displayed on her shelf for years – but really you can’t keep it all! Use the holidays as an opportunity to create a collage of selected pictures, laminate a few, frame a few, send a few to Granny and Grandad….and dare I say it?...Recycle a few!

18 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

35

Join the circus!

If you're looking for an exciting day out, come and join the trainers of London's Premier Youth Circus at Bonaly Outdoor Centre and learn some traditional circus skills! Enjoy the fun of achieving some challenging but achievable skills. Thrill to the spills and astound yourself, friends and family with your newly acquired skills - aerial, stilt walking, unicycling, walking globe and juggling. Bonaly Outdoor Centre, 71 Bonaly Rd, Edinburgh EH13 0PB 21st to 29th August10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. £35.00 per person (Lunch & Refreshments included) info@albertandfriendsinstantcircus.co.uk +44(0)208 2371170 www.albertandfriendsinstantcircus.co.uk and www.bonaly.org.uk

36 37

Go for a picnic.

Kids love to help put a picnic together but if the weather isn’t great then why not have an inside carpet picnic instead!

Gorgie City Farm

Gorgie City Farm is a child-friendly working farm on a 1 hectare site with little fields and stables, styes and poultry- and sheep-houses.

They have a horse, cow, goats, sheep, pigs, hens, turkeys and ducks, also an owl and a pussy cat!

There is also a café, playpark and picnic area.

The city farm is open every day 9.30-4.30 the summer.

Entry is by donation, (suggested £2 per person). 51 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh.

38

Big Book Challenge for Bookworms

The aim is to encourage children to read as many books as possible during their summer break, and ask friends and family to sponsor them to raise money for The Children’s Trust, a national charity which supports some of the UK’s most profoundly disabled children. Every penny raised will make a positive difference to the lives of the children and families that The Children’s Trust supports. Everyone who takes part will receive a certificate and those who raise over £50 in sponsorship will receive a free copy of ‘The Bestest Ever Bear’ poetry book. www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/bigbookchallenge.

39

Waste Education Family Day

Friday 12 August from 11 – 3 drop into the Education cabin. See how easy it is to make a waste free picnic, enjoy arts and crafts using scraps of waste materials, take part in competitions and much more! Seafield Community Recycling Centre, Fillyside Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6RD

40

Wild Adventures at Almond Valley Heritage Centre Daily from Saturday 2nd July until Sunday 14th August.

Go wild in the great outdoors in a summer-long programme of activities recreating the lives of our prehistoric ancestors. Every day, children and their families can all lend a hand in constructing a prehistoric encampment and learn skills essential for prehistoric living. There’s a shelter and fences to be build, crops to plant, and livestock to tend. And between all of this hard work there’s need to make fire, prepare food, make clothing and bedding, and even go hunting.

Nestled in a pleasant riverside site with woods and green spaces that extend for almost a mile, there's so much to do and see. The picturesque buildings and paddocks of Mill Farm are home to many friendly farm animals, including Highland cattle, rare breed sheep, goats, ponies, horses, and some very inquisitive ducks.

Kids can let off steam and engage their imagination in a range of unique play facilities including a simulated archaeological dig, a play mine, toy tractors, pedal carts and trampolines. Even if the sun isn't shining there are indoor play areas for all ages, and secrets to be discovered in the museum. Millfield, Livingston, West Lothian, 01506 414957 www.almondvalley.co.uk for opening times and prices.

41

Dunedin Dancers' International Folk Dance Festival

24th -30th July 2011. Dancers and musicians from Scotland, Sweden, Austria and Spain will perform throughout the week. Beautiful costumes and fantastic music! See website for full listings, with more details of venues and times: www.dunedindancers.org.uk/public/festival.php, Free displays on Monday 25th July Scottish Parliament and Tuesday 26th July The Mound and Scottish Storytelling Centre

42

Be part of Mardi Gras – 23rd July

A vibrant and vivid jazz carnival leaves City Chambers at 12.30pm, led by Criterion Parade Band with a host of other parade bands, and marches to the Grassmarket for three hours of live music on multiple stages - a perfect afternoon for the whole family. The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival runs from 22 – 31 July. www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

43

Get the kids to help bake something for their lunchbox

Here Real Foods give us their top tips for cooking with children.

1. If you have the time, you can make a whole day out of a cooking activity. Involve your children in choosing a recipe, shopping for the ingredients, making the food and (of course) eating it! Children are far more likely to eat foods that they have been involved in making. If they won't eat it – don't worry – they are also more likely to eat new foods if they are exposed to them often and see others enjoying them. So tuck in!

2. Health and safety – OK it's probably occurred to most folk to tie long hair back, wash their hands regularly, be safe with knives and keep the handles of pots and pans toward the middle of the cooker – but get the kid to run through the rules also. Often putting them in charge of the hygiene will result in a mini-Napoleon bossing you around, but it's worth it to avoid food poisoning (or just grey cakes!)

3. If your children are really young then choose something easy that doesn’t take too long or is too involved. Begin with making a fruit juice cocktail and progress to smoothies, sandwiches and soups. As children get older, they can concentrate for longer and you can move onto more complicated dishes and eventually entire meals.

Real Foods have thousands of healthy, nutritious products, helpful advice and daily special offers in their two central Edinburgh shops open 7 days a week.

Many products are available online and there are lots of free recipes and health advice too at www.realfoods.co.uk 37 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU tel: 0131 557 1911 8 Brougham Street, Tollcross, EH3 9JH / tel: 0131 228 1201

19 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Go to the Cinema to see Mr Popper’s Penguins

44

Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, in a family comedy about a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life – until he inherits six penguins. While Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland – and the rest of his life upside-down - they teach him valuable lessons about families… human or otherwise.

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS is a contemporary update of the award-winning book. Released on 5th August.

Win!!

One of 3 sets of Mr Popper’s Penguins goodies including a kids t-shirt, plush toy, stationary set, beach ball, key ring and sticker set. Closing date August 5th. Enter online at www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk

45

Paint Stones

I’ve had some lovely days with my kids painting stones. Cover the table with newspaper, get the paints out and let the creative juices flow!

Varnish them once dried and display proudly!

(This is our family of ladybird stones)

46

Spend time in some of Edinburgh’s many Free Museums

The Museum of Edinburgh - Learn about the Old and New Towns of the city in their family and school activity area. Dress up in replica gowns and costumes from Georgian and Victorian times, take part in an array of art activities, follow the activity trail around the museum and much more! Opening times: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm. Sundays (August only) 12 - 5pm. 142 – 146 Canongate, Edinburgh Museum of Childhood, The Museum of Childhood is a favourite with adults and children alike. It is a treasure house crammed full of objects telling of childhood past and present.

Opening times: Monday-Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12-5pm. 42 High Street, Edinburgh Brass Rubbing Centre The Brass Rubbing Centre, just off the High Street opposite The Museumof Childhood, includes a large number of replica monumental brasses.Opening times: Monday-Saturday 10am–5pm (April to 31 October). Free admission but costs to make a rubbing (last rubbing to begin by 4pm).

Museum on the Mound - Want to see a million pounds? See Scotland's oldest banknote?

Explore the changing face of Edinburgh? Build a model home? Crack open a safe? These are just some of the things you can see and do at the Museum on the Mound.

Opening times: Tues – Friday 10am – 5pm, Sat & Sun 1pm – 5pm National Museum of Scotland Explore Scotland’s story – then discover the world! Opening times : daily 10am – 5pm Chambers Street, Edinburgh

20 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

47

Get outside!

Check out the fantastic website www.naturedetectives.org.uk which is run by The Woodland Trust. It’s packed with loads of ideas for outdoor play. The charity's nature detectives website has put together 100 FREE summer activities to inspire families to get active over the summer holidays and explore woods, gardens, parks and beyond. As well as making fantastic discoveries right on their doorstep, it’s a great way for families to have fun together whilst also learning about the wonder of trees, woods and the outdoors through their adventures.

Activities include wildlife spotter sheets, den building tips, a picnic kit, treasure hunts, stargazing and many more. Families record their adventures in a free activity booklet downloaded from the website and at the end of the summer the Trust will award one family the accolade of 'UK's most adventurous family'.

The winning family will get a whole year of adventure in the Trust’s nature detectives CLUB, along with an ‘explorer backpack’ full of outdoor goodies to help them on their weekly CLUB nature challenges

48

Encourage everyone to have a well deserved lie in before school starts again!

49go and see lots and lots of shows!

It’s nearly time for the annual August bonkers-ness that is the Fringe so get ready to see a lot of jugglers on unicycles, mountains of flyers and tons of fantastic shows!

A firm favourite at the Festival, Comedy Club 4 Kids is back - bigger, bolder and more brilliant than ever with a host of top stand-ups waiting in the wings to perform. Loved by children, parents and comics alike, the show presents the best comedians around doing what they do best but without the rude bits!

Comedy Club 4 Kids has been delighting audiences since 2006, featuring top comedians, from Stephen K Amos, Brendon Burns, and Phil Nicol to Adam Hill, Stewart Lee and Josie Long. Completely reinvigorated for 2011, the show is now run and hosted by loveable standup Tiernan Douieb, who is joined by a lively line-up of three top comedians daily plus special performances from youngsters from the Comedy Academy 4 Kids.

Host Tiernan Douieb can’t wait to get the show started, saying: ‘Comedy Club 4 Kids never ever gets dull to host, with constantly brilliant audiences and watching amazing comedy acts do completely unexpected sets in order to cater for 6-11 year olds. I'm looking forward to another Fringe of introducing some of the best acts on the circuit and see them deal with heckles such as “you look like a duck”.’ comedyclub4kids.com Bongo Club, 0131 557 2827, 17:30, 3-28 August Five One Productions presents: Anderson 2011, a collection of fairytales brought to life about characters told not to dream bigger than they are.

When ‘The Brave Tin Soldier’ is pulled far away from his love he gets lost in the big world and struggles though whirlpools and fire to get back to her.

When ‘The Little Mermaid’ gives her voice to a witch she breaks free from the ocean and runs to the man she loves. But he doesn’t know who she is, and she must find a way to tell him.

When Thumbelina is kidnapped from her family by an ugly toad she escapes and searches for happiness in places where everyone says that she’s just not special enough.

In an intimate setting the actors become the storytellers for a new generation, and bring to life the spells that are cast, the wings that are made, the wishes that are dreamt, and the spellbinding rollercoaster rides flying high into the sunset, through crashing ships, and down to the bottom of whirlpools.

Adapted by Sarah Goddard (The Demise of Christopher Marlowe and Three of Hearts) and directed by Mike Raith (Fringe Sell Out Show: The Picture of Dorian Gray and the collection of 5 star fringe show All Fall; All Falling), Anderson 2011 runs from 10am-11am throughout the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

C Venue 50 ECA Lauriston Place and Lady Lawson Street 3 – 29 August 10am 0845 2601234 Tickets £6.50 - £8.50 Children £4.50 - £6.50. Suitable for ages 4+

Hurry Up and Wait Time flies when you are having fun!

Two clowns wait for a parade. Time feels like it is going slowly…very slowly.

They sit, they get bored and they get hungry…until their imaginations take over and waiting becomes a game!

They dine on food that appears out of thin air, use simple items to create amazing new worlds and discover an entire universe inside a hat. Time flies when you are having fun!

In the technological age, we are less and less inclined to find creative ways to pass the time. And playtime more often than not takes place indoors around the television or the computer screen. HURRY UP AND WAIT is a show that will remind us all how to play using the best material of all – our imagination.

HURRY UP AND WAIT is a unique blend of Buster Keating and Samuel Beckett. Combining exquisite physical comedy with slapstick and clown, this Australian duo (Liz Skitch and Clint Bolster) reach extreme emotional highs and lows as their interminable wait unfolds.

Created by deBASE Productions and Queensland Theatre Company, this new physical comedy has delighted over 20 000 children in Australia. Don’t miss your chance to see the European premier of HURRY UP AND WAIT at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe!

For 3- 10 yrs. C Aquila 4- 29 August 2011 14.40 (45 mins) £6.50 - £7, concs £5.50 - £7.50, children 4.5- 6.5 Venue box office :0845 260 1234/ www.CtheFestival.com Fringe box office: 0131 226 000/ www.edfringe.com

21 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Kipper Tie Theatre present The Mole

Who Knew It Was None Of His Business by Werner Holzwarth and

Tall Stories presents The Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Man. Based on the classic

‘Perfectly Pitched’ The Guardian ‘Everything successful children’s theatre should be’ Sunday Herald ‘Kipper Tie clearly have bags of talent’ The Scotsman ***** Edinburgh Evening News

character written and illustrated by David McKee Live on stage... as if by magic!

Tall Stories (creators of the smash hit shows The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom) are proud to present a new production, to celebrate 40 years of David McKee’s much-loved TV character. The genial Mr Benn springs to life on stage in this magical, musical show for everyone aged 4 and over.

One day, out of the blue, ordinary Mr Benn receives an extraordinary invitation – to a fancy dress party. He stumbles across a strange little shop where, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appears with an array of costumes – and one or two other surprises. Mr Benn’s life changes for ever when he is shown into into the dressing room. Inside is a magic door that leads him into incredible adventures – full of dragons, princesses, mermaids and sea monsters... Will Mr Benn ever go back to his ordinary life?

Come to the show in your best fancy dress costume and share in the adventure. This brand new adaptation of the much-loved TV series is perfect for children and adults of all ages, with magic, music and plenty of laughs and surprises along the way.

C venue 34, 3 to 29 August 2011 (not 15th) 10:00 (55m) Ticket prices: £6.50–£8.50 / concs £5.50–£7.50 / children £4.50–£6.50 Venue box office: 0845 260 1234 / www.CtheFestival.com Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

3-18 August (not 6th). 11.30am (duration 50 minutes) £5-£9.50Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, The Grand Venue box office: 0131 556 6550 / www.pleasance.co.uk Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

Pollyanna - the Musical.

Monkey at the Fringe!

This family show tells the story of Pollyanna, sent to stay at her Aunt Polly's house she brightens the lives of everyone she meets. In her efforts to help her friend, Jimmy Bean, she is lured into a situation that results in near disaster. With a happy ending, lots of comic characters and memorable songs this is a family musical you won't want to miss.

C Venue 34. Adam House Chambers St. Tel 0845 260 1234 21st -26th August. Running time 90mins.

Tickets from £6.50 and £4.50

Back for the 3rd year, award winning Monkey Music will be running 2 age specific fun filled workshops for babies and children at the Pleasance Kidzone situated in the Pleasance Courtyard. The shows will be 10.30am for 6 months – 2 years and 11.30 for 2-5 year olds.

Each show will last 45 minutes and will be full of songs, games and fun with percussion instruments. Come and join in the fun with Monkey. Tickets available from the Pleasance/Fringe Box Office and limited tickets will be available on the door.

Monkey will also be launching a range of new classes and venues in September so check out the newly designed website for class details. Free taster sessions available to all. www.monkeymusic.co.uk

Wolf Erlbruch, adapted by Bernie C Byrnes and Jim Fowler. The 2004 hit for children is back!

Did you do a poo on Mole’s head? Well if not you – then who? Was it Horse? Or Pig? Or Goat?

A magical, musical adaptation of the popular children’s picture-book. Follow Mole’s travels as he meets a variety of outlandish and amusing characters along the way. Enchanting for adults, captivating for children (3+). A cathartic tale set to a delightful original score by Jim Fowler. Biology with belly-laughs – informative and fun.

Nonsense songs and sing-a-longs. A show for the under 5's and their grown-ups.

Join Music Bugs® at the Edinburgh Festival and take a child's eye view of the world as we sing our hearts out to some of our favourite songs. Discover why a Frog went a Courtin’, the Bear went over the Mountain and what Boa Constrictors really like to eat for dinner. Our company mascot Bugsy Bear will be joining us in our musical extravaganza and will enter the spirit of the Fringe by sporting a kilt.

Our 90 minute interactive sessions will be jam packed with percussion instruments, action songs, puppets, bubble machines and parachutes to encourage as much singing, dancing, bouncing, wriggling and jumping as the children can perform. There will be an instrument making workshop followed by a jamming session, light refreshments and a goody bag to take home. Contact Hilary Crothers on 0844-822-1156, email hilary@musicbugs.co.uk or visit www.musicbugs.co.uk/classes/edinburgheast.php for further details. We hope to see you there!

22 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

“This lovingly staged adaptation delights a whole new generation of youngsters” The Herald ****

BEING 747 present ‘AMOEBA TO ZEBRA’ A natural history musical 4.6 billion years in the making. Pop music and science fact come together in a unique and educational concept show that tells the story of evolution through 14 songs, narration, visuals and really wild props. Being 747 have been touring around UK schools and now return to the wilds of Edinburgh for a second year.

‘Weird & Wonderful’ - Sunday Express. Suitable for children (aged 8+), but just as enjoyable for adults.

The Ballroom @ The Counting House, 19th – 23rd August, 12:00pm daily. FREE (no advance booking required) Under 5’s also get the chance to join in with the brand new production, ‘The Enormous Turnip’! Performed in an intimate setting, the children are invited to join Boy and Grandad as they tend the seeds! The family is hungry; what will grow?

Will the birds steal the seeds? Will the slugs and snails munch the leaves? Will there be enough for tea? Will this plant ever stop growing? Pop! Kapow! Help Grandad plant the tiny seed! Slide in the snail slime! Blow up the enormous turnip! Little ’uns come onstage throughout! Spotlites Theatre Productions. Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, Venue 278, 22 Hanover Street. Thurs 4th, Sat 6th, Thurs 18th, Sat 20th, Tues 23rd and Thurs 25th, Mon 29th Aug 4.20pm (4th, 6th, 18th, 20th, 29th) & 1pm (23rd, 25th) 45 mins. £6.50 / £5.50 concs (£22.00 Family of 4). Adults must be accompanied by a child! Group discount: 10% off for groups of 10+. Box office: 0131 220 5911 www.spotlites.co.uk

Five One Productions presents: The Magical Tale of Finley the Great. By Sarah Goddard. ‘Enter my magical world, and prepare to be amazed!’

Five One Productions returns to the Fringe with a magical masterpiece that is The Magical Tale of Finley the Great. A fantastical fairytale for children of all ages, with live music and animals, puppets and a set to rival any in Edinburgh, Finley’s world will be one you’ll never want to leave. Enter a world of magicians and wizards, talking puppets and dreams that come true. The Magical Tale of Finley the Great follows the tumultuous tale of young Finley, an aspiring magician that wills himself into a state of fame and power in order to win the heart of the girl of his dreams, Rosie. But it is not he who performs the magic he is so famed for. Can Finley see beyond his own desires and acknowledge the role his assistant plays?

And if so, will he still have the love of Rosie? Come along and join in the tale, as we watch little Finley come to some of the most important decisions a little magician will ever have to make. Aided by his trusty rabbit friend and ever-faithful assistant Pip, this plucky magician is sure to win all your hearts. C Venue 50 ECA Lauriston Place and Lady Lawson Street 3 – 29 August 11.25am. 0845 2601234. Tickets £6.50 - £8.50 Children £4.50 - £6.50.

Suitable for ages 4+

‘Peter Pan on Dinosaur Island’!

This is an immersive new adventure set ten Neverland years after the classic tale finishes but eighty London years! The devious Captain Hook uses the famous clock to escape the belly of the crocodile creating a time vortex, which lands him in prehistoric Neverland. Seeing the menacing Velociraptors’ claws (like his own hook), Hook plans to steal the monsters’ eggs and raise a Raptor army of his own! The Velociraptors race to retrieve their stolen eggs before Hook can escape through time again, whilst Peter and his fairy, Stinkerbell, try to rescue the eggs from under his nose! Defeat the T-Rex with Peter and real swords!

Fly with the Pterodactyl! Bombard Captain Hook with dinosaur droppings! Kids come onstage throughout!

Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, Venue 278, 22 Hanover Street. Tues 2nd - Sun 21st & Sat 27th - Sun 28th Aug 1.30pm (1hr 45 mins). £6.50 / £5.50 concs (£22.00 Family of 4). Adults must be accompanied by a child! Group discount: 10% off for groups of 10+ Box office: 0131 220 5911 www.spotlites.co.uk

‘Robinson Crusoe the Lost Jedi Knight’! It’s Robinson Crusoe ‘Star Wars’ style! The audience are invited to join Jedi Knight Crusoe as they master the Force and train in lightsabre combat together! They then help to defeat the Sith Lords and evil droids – the audience really do take an integral part in this immersive interactive experience! Battle the Sith Pirates with real lightsabres! Blast the Dark Side’s droids on the Lost Planet! Master the Force with Jedi Knight Crusoe! Kids come onstage throughout! ‘totally unlike anything I’ve ever seen elsewhere…’ – Stage on ‘Robinson Crusoe the Lost Jedi Knight’ Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, Venue 278, 22 Hanover Street. Tues 2nd - Sun 21st & Sat 27th - Sun 28th Aug. 10.45am (1hr 35mins) £6.50 / £5.50 concs (£22.00 Family of 4).

Adults must be accompanied by a child!

Group discount: 10% off for groups of 10+ Box office: 0131 220 5911. www.spotlites.co.uk

The Chronicles of Bitter and Twisted Everyone knows the story of the Ugly Ducking – a baby duck grew into a beautiful swan…less well known is the other story of a beautiful swan who grew into a duck. A bitter duck. A comic and touching tale of two tails finding their place by the pond and ruffling a few feathers on the way. An urban sequel to ‘The Ugly Duckling’. A swan discovers she's a duck. A comic and touching tale of two tails finding their place by the pond. ‘Beautifully performed … funny and touching’. 3 – 29th August (no show on 15th) 11.50am.

Assembly George Square.

Booking info www.assemblyfestival.com or 0131 623 3030

‘Magic Porridge Pot’ for 2-5 year olds was a sell-out in 2009 and 2010 and now it’s back at the Fringe 2011 and better than ever! Played in the round on cushions, children can join Boy as he ventures into the woods to find food for his sick Dad. He meets an old woman who gives him a magic porridge pot and the secret words: “Cook little pot, cook”! Boy returns and feeds his Dad and friends but a greedy thief spots them and sets out to steal the pot! Will the thief over run the whole town with porridge? Can Dad and Boy stop the porridge pot in time? Splat porridge in a magic food fight! Jump in the huge sea of porridge! ‘A great introduction to theatre’ – Herald on ‘Magic Porridge Pot’ (Fringe ’09) Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, Venue 278, 22 Hanover Street. Fri 5th, Wed 17th, Fri 19th, Sun 21st, Wed 24th & Fri 26th, Sun 28th Aug. 4.20pm (5th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 28th) & 1pm (24th, 26th) 45 mins. £6.50 / £5.50 concs (£22.00 Family of 4) Adults must be accompanied by a child! Group discount: 10% off for groups of 10+ Box office: 0131 220 5911 www.spotlites.co.uk Be sure to catch Spotlites’ popular ‘Drama Workshops for 5-14yrs’! Children come and have drama fun and activities on their chosen theme! Join the Doctor and stop the New Time War in ‘Doctor Who’; be Hannah’s double & protect her secret identity in ‘Hannah Montana’; train in Lightsabre combat, Force Lightning and Storm Trooper tactics in ‘Star Wars’; become Vicious Vikings & Cut-throat Celts in ‘Horrible Histories’; ‘Timewarp’ to the 50s & 70s in ‘Hairspray & Rocky Horror’ and have adventures with muddled up Princes and Princesses in ‘Tangled’!

Howes you doing are presenting the fantastic performance of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes. Howes You Doing is an all star cast hailing from the Roald Dahl Museum bringing the madness and magic from Revolting Rhymes to life. Not just for children but for adults as well the performance is there to suit everyone and get everyone involved with no two performances being the same. With more theatre and stand up comedy. Come and see the madness!

“A truly entertaining way to spend an hour for Roald Dahl fanatics of any age” www.Edfestmag.co.uk

Pleasance Courtyard: Upstairs (12:30). Adults: £8, Concessions: £6 August 3rd – 29th To book tickets online please go to: www.pleasance.co.uk

23 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Dirty Work Comedy presents

List Operators for Kids do Compooters.

Following their smash hit debut at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe this award winning Australian duo are back with a brand new show exploring the cyberspace, interweb thingo, myface, spacebook, lolz, and fartificial intelliegence! It promises to be the most ROFL and raucous show for kids, adults and robots at this year’s Fringe. No-one will be keybored! Ages 5-12 terrabytes.

Guaranteed not educational!

This show is perfect for: 1. Hackers not slackers 2. Males, females, and emails 3. Survivors of Y2K Since their UK debut, The List Operators (aka Matt Kelly and Richard Higgins) have been in constant demand, performing and receiving rave reviews throughout Australia and South East Asia, including the Sydney Children’s Festival, Adelaide Fringe, and Melbourne Comedy Festival. ***** ‘Funny as any comedy show you could hope to see’ FestMag ***** ‘The List Operators must come close to the top of the pile at this venue, or indeed of all the children's show at this year festival’ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine ‘The Toy Story of the comedy stage’ Herald Sun (Australia) ‘Take every child you know. If you don't know any - kidnap some’ - Aussietheatre.com

Pleasance Courtyard, 11.30am Aug 3-21 (excluding 14) box office: 0131 556 6550 / www.pleasance.co.uk Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com Bring your kids to the Gilded Balloon and singalong with Mr Boom; He’s a one man band who comes from the moon with cosmic songs and happy tunes. Audience participation; Action songs with choruses; tell a joke; sing a song.

Mr Boom – the children’s one man band from the moon – first appeared at the Gilded Balloon in 1988 and so it’s highly likely that wee Earthlings who saw his show way back then, might well be returning with their own wee Earthlings to Singalong with Mr Boom and join in the hour of musical fun.

Mr Boom has been visiting Planet Earth for 25 years now and is well known . His imaginary space ship has landed in schools and theatres throughout Scotland and at festivals as far around the globe as Tokyo, Vancouver, Adelaide and Stornoway.

Always game for spontaneous banter Mr Boom invokes wholehearted, uninhibited participation and there are plenty of humorous asides for care worn parents.

Book early to see the return of Mr Boom to the Gilded Balloon.

For further information about Mr Boom visit www.mrboom.co.uk or call 01555 841168 To book tickets call 0131 622 6552 www.gildedballoon.co.uk

24 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Le Petit Monde presents 'Lapin wants breakfast' a puppet show about a very hungry French rabbit who will only eat ONE THING for his breakfast! What could it be?

Find out in this fun and very visual table top show, in English with carefully chosen and repeated French words.

No knowledge of French needed. "Unique puppet show brings bite-size French to all" To view the puppets and see Lapin in action, visit: www.lepetitmonde.co.uk (portraits/video section). You can also search for 'Le Petit Monde' on Facebook to keep up with all Lapin's adventures. Preview on Fri 5, then 8-23 Aug (not 17/18). 11am (40 mins) / £7- £5 / Age 3-5 Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30), 43-45 High street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR. Box Office: 0131 556 95 79

The Pleasance KidsZone is back this year and it’s bigger, better and snow themed! A giant igloo theatre hosting all kinds of delights to keep children wide eyed and entertained. With a fantastic selection of shows from the story of Mr Benn’s wild adventure to Dan and Jeff’s Potted Potter which even involves a game of quidditch with the audience.

Another show not to be missed is Bootworks’ The Incredible Book Eating Boy a unique one to one presentation of storytelling, puppetry and performance.

Arctic adventurer Tim FitzHigham will be leading expeditions all round the Pleasance’s artificial tundra and Lyngo theatre companies enchanting Snow Play invites everyone to get involved in an August winter wonderland.

Award winners Monkey Music return again this year alongside John Hegley and his Family WordShip while the List Operators provide a show they guarantee is not educational (or so we tell the little ones). Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes are brought to life and the companionship of Tim and his cat Light will charm children and adults alike.

Our mission is to provide a truly family friendly festival experience, ensuring our younger audiences enjoy the festival as much as adults. The Pleasance Kids Club, run by childcare experts Premier Crèche Services Ltd, is open daily from 10-6pm so parents come along with their children, and spend an hour or two enjoying a vast programme or craft activities, storytelling, music and more.

Purves Puppets are back in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival after about 15 years, performing in their unique style of glow- in -the-dark large scale puppets.

Celebrating 41 years of successful shows performed all over the world. We are appearing at Fairmilehead Parish Church Hall from 8 – 20 Aug (not Sundays) with “Pips and Panda in Magicland” 11am - a fun adventure for ages 1 – 7 about a cheeky monkey and a Panda’s adventures to help Mr Magic find his missing rabbit Twinkle!

The other play is Stravinsky’s -“The Firebird” 2pm - a truly magical story for ages 6 – adult, full of special effects and adventure! The evil Wizard Kostchei has a magical tree with golden apples, but someone is stealing them! The Tzar’s three sons help him to discover who it is, but it’s not so easy as you will find out!

Purves Puppets are taking “The Firebird” production to the prestigious Isle of Man Mananan Festival in July, followed by a return trip to the 18th Century Teatru Manoel, a famous opera house in Malta. Don’t miss your chance to see our spectacular shows - once seen never forgotten.... Box Office TEL: 01899 220631

Nonsenseroom Productions present

Hairy Maclary & Friends Clap your hands and stamp your feet! Following a totally Sold-Out run at the Fringe 2010, Hairy Maclary and his friends are springing off the page and onto the stage once again. Featuring some new stories and a whole new look.

“Hairy Maclary was fab, my nearly 3 year old practically levitated in excitement” MUMS.NET

Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. Children and adults will instantly recognize the opening lines of bestselling book, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by celebrated writer, Lynley Dodd. Hairy Maclary & Friends, is an official stage adaptation of the much-loved Hairy Maclary children’s books, presenting an assortment of animal antics for all the family.

Family audiences will adore meeting many of their favourite characters such as Hercules Morse, as big as a horse; Bottomley Potts, covered in spots; Schnitzel von Krumm, with the very low tum and Scarface Claw, the toughest tomcat in town. This smash-hit show features live music, singing and five of your favourite Hairy Maclary books; a summertime treat suitable for all the family. You’d be barking mad to miss it! Assembly George Square Theatre Wed 3 – Fri 5 August (previews) Sat 6 August – Sat 20 August at 10.30 (ends 11.25) £9/£7 (£5 previews). Box Office: 0131 623 3030 www.assemblyfestival.com

James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids James Campbell is a stand up comedian for children over 6, their parents and anyone who likes comedy without the rude words. His brand new show will cover ways to make parsnips interesting, how to look a chicken in both eyes at the same time and why owls don't like Easter.

James will also attempt a new world record in badger hurdling and doing loop the loop with his 93 year old Auntie Histamine. The show may also involve three dancing oatcakes called Celia, Amelia and Deal-or-no-Delia and a discussion on "Horses: Friends or big-headed twits?"

(Contents may vary and the actual show may not involve any of the above). Side effects may include your sides hurting...

"He belongs on stage," The New York Times "Has achieved almost holy status - don't miss," The Sunday Times "My seven-year-old howled with laughter and so did I," The Daily Mail

Edinburgh and UK Tours aside, James has performed his unique stand up for children all over the world including runs at the New Victory on Broadway NYC, the Chicago Humanities Festival, Just for Laughs in Montreal, The Melbourne International Comedy festival, The Adelaide Fringe, The Perth Literary Festival, The Southbank Imagine Festival and The Hay Festival.

11/12/13/14 August 2011 - 14.30 (1hr). Assembly George Square – Dans Paleis £7.00 Box Office: 0131 623 3030. AGE RANGE 6 TO 149

Fencing Fun will be running a series of workshops as part of the Leith on the Fringe events at the Blue Drill Hall in Leith. They are an introduction to fencing for primary school age children and follow on from the morning performance of Peter Pan (which culminates in the sword fight between Peter and Captain Hook!) 11.30 to 12.30.

Kids will learn the essential skills of fencing (always useful for fighting off pirates) and play sword-fighting games with the safe and easy-to-use kit that we use in our regular classes.

Albert & Friends Instant Circus will be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for its 16th year to delight audiences with a brand new show at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (1pm daily: 21st - 29th August).

Combining circus skills with theatre and comedy, and performed by an extraordinarily talented young circus troupe, the show is guaranteed to entertain and amaze adults and children alike. FREE Family Entertainment (Donation appreciated).

Children's Circus Workshops 'Circus For Success' If you're looking for an exciting day out, come and join the trainers of London's Premier Youth Circus at Bonaly Outdoor Centre and learn some traditional circus skills! Enjoy the fun of achieving some challenging but achievable skills.

Thrill to the spills and astound yourself, friends and family with your newly acquired skills - aerial, stilt walking, unicycling, walking globe and juggling. Lots of fun and games too!

Founded in the parks of the London Borough of Hammersmith in 1983, Albert & Friends Instant Circus offers a unique and innovative brand of Circus Theatre thrilling audiences from Beijing to New York, Adelaide to London.

Bonaly Outdoor Centre, 71 Bonaly Rd, Edinburgh EH13 0PB, Sunday 21st to Monday 29th August inclusive. Daily 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. £35.00 per person (Lunch & Refreshments included) Booking: info@albertandfriendsinstantcircus.co.uk +44(0)208 2371170 Other: Suitable clothing - track suit, trainers etc.

Website: www.albertandfriendsinstantcircus.co.uk and www.bonaly.org.uk

Doodle & Splat will be at the Fringe with Baby Loves Disco on the 14th August at Electric Circus where you will be able get a taste of what to expect at the classes.

Jo Jingles is 15 this year and after his sell out shows in previous years he is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe in August where he will be blasting into outer space, get your tickets early! For more details on classes or the fringe contact Joanne (West Edinburgh & West Lothian) on 0131 443 4196, Susan (East Edinburgh and Midlothian) on 0131 620 3282 or Leigh (East Lothian and Borders) on 01875 616607.

Galopin and Fringe Management

The Chronicles of

Bitter and Twisted An urban sequel to the Ugly Duckling 3 – 29th August (no show on 15th) 11.50am "Beautifully performed, funny and touching" Puppet Centre suitable for ages 6+

Look out for Beano on the Royal Mile. He’ll be performing two shows – an escape show, escaping from a straight jacket and four layers of chain, with the help of comedy, audience and five helpers !

The other is "Operato Zipoletti", an operatic, pantomimic and romantic love story.

There is a mime sketch about a wine taster, a clown sketch with a case, a red nose and a child helper, and the romantic pantomime, with the child and two grown-up helpers.

Beano the Clown Magic, Balloons, Songs & Games

Andersen 2011

-5s & +5s, 1hr & 2 hr,

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

25 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

PATRICK MONAHAN ‘Stories & Fairytales of Travels For Kids Who Dance Like Camels’. International award winning comedian and storyteller Patrick Monahan presents an energy packed and fun filled, brand new family show – a colourful mish-mash of stand-up, story-telling, music and movement!

Patrick’s rapport with children is heart-warming – he always has them giggling and clapping along with delight. He hugs Dads, squirts water pistols, teaches kung-fu moves and effortlessly entertains his enraptured audience!

As ‘Ali The Amazing’ (a 467 year old Persian story teller). Patrick returns to the festival with tales of the shepherd boy, his break dancing sheep and a camel who loves to party!

For ages 4 to 104!

Expect lots of audience participation and plenty of boisterous fun!

Patrick Monahan is best known for his many TV appearances including ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ (CBBC) and ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’ (C4). This enchanting show was a big hit at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009 and 2010 and in theatres across the UK during his 2010 tour, including the Royal Albert Hall.

‘Playfully infectious, relentlessly affable’. THE LIST 4 STARS ‘Warmth that’s unbeatable’. THE SCOTSMAN ‘Instantly loveable, wonderfully unique.’ METRO Edinburgh festival gilded balloon teviot sportsmans 2pm. Box office 0131 622 6552 OR www.gildedballoon.co.uk Previews Aug 3-5 @ £5. Aug 6-9, 12-14, 20-21,27-28@ £8.50 (£7.50). Aug 10-11, 15-16 @£7.50 (£6.50) The nations’ favourite human cartoon double act:

Big Howard and Little Howard return to the Edinburgh Fringe with their brand new comedy spectacular

LITTLE HOWARD’S BIG SHOW. With three smash hit series of their acclaimed BBC One show Little Howard's Big Question and a nomination for the prestigious Perrier Award under their belt, our heroes find themselves in trouble with the Queen following their appearance on the The Royal Variety Performance. Now a sinister government inspector is lurking and our heroes must perform the show of their young, and not-quite-so-young, lives to save Big Howard from jail!

This brand new show features songs, sketches, magic, everyone’s favourite pigeon from Barnsley, a brand new (invisible) character, The Royal Monkey Philharmonic Orchestra, a large frying pan and more laughs than should be possible.

Smash-hit BBC One children’s show “Little Howard’s Big Question” series 3 is currently showing on BBC One. Big Howard and Little Howard have also released the best-selling books “Little Howard’s Unpleasant Lullaby” and “Little Howard’s Big Book”.

"Genius" The Radio Times "One of the best kids shows on television" The Scotsman "A huge hit, clever, silly and just the right side of rude."

The Telegraph

George Square Theatre, Assembly. 3rd – 29th August (not 17th) 4:40pm. £10 (£8). Box Office: 0131 623 3030 Fringe Box Office: 0131 226 0000

The Magical Tale of

Finley the Great

26 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

The Dream of the Travelling Actor

by Georgi Spassov.

“This is a dream written in words… and bicycle tyres,” says the travelling actor, who roams the land telling the story of the “Princess and the Pea” in the hopes of one day finding his own princess amongst the audience.

Bulgarian actor and puppeteer Georgi Spassov presents a unique and vivid retelling of H.K. Andersen’s fairytale that has charmed families throughout Europe. In his adaptation common bicycle tyres transform into surprising objects, from troublesome peas to hearts burning with love. Within, under, over and around the tyres, the traveling actor creates a funny, slightly sad fairytale dream. Told in the Bulgarian avant-garde tradition of puppetry, this performance uses everyday objects to tell extraordinary stories.

Awards: Best Actor – Academy Kouklar – 1999, Best Performance – Plovdiv – 1999, Best Performance – Lut Fest – 2001, Best Role – Pierot – 2003 Best Role – Trema Fest - 2004 Ages: 10+. August 5th -29th (Except August 7th, 14th and 21st) 11:15AM. Zoo (Venue 124). £8 family rate: 4 tickets for £28

Go to www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk for reviews, ticket offers and competitions in the lead up to and during the Fringe!

50 Because we’re nice here at Families Edinburgh here are 50+ more things to do in the school holidays!

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 Until 19 October National Galleries of Scotland Art Competition for Schools 2011. In the eighth year of this highly successful competition, come and see the 53 winning works of art from nursery, primary, secondary and special education schools all inspired by the National Collection. With an Olympic flavour this year, themes include: Celebrate!; Splish, Splash, Splosh; Super Shoes Higher, Faster, Further; Move Your Body and Traces, Tracks and Trails. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound Saturday 25 or Sunday 26 June, Jolly Rogers in the Forth! 10.30 am -12.30 pm. £4 per adult/child (Lauriston Castle). Ahoy there me hearties! Make your very own pirate costume out of paper – including the essentials all pirates need: hat, eye patch, parrot, shoe buckles and cutlass. With the staff from Lauriston. Booking essential. To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Tuesday 28 June, Tiny Tales. 10am & 11.30am (40mins), £5 per child, Ages 6 mths – 2 yrs. Round the World in 5 senses with Amanda Edmiston. Accompanying adult free. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR Thursday 30 June, Story Space 11am (45mins), £6 per child, Ages 3-5. Meet fascinating characters from Edinburgh's Old Town with Linda Bandelier. Accompanying adult free. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR 1 – 8th July

Edinburgh International Magic Festival.

This year’s Festival line-up will truly leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more! The programme features magic shows from different genres and is suitable for children and adults of all ages. Opening Night Gala : Magic and Variety Gala Show Fri 1 July 7.00pm. The Royal Lyceum theatre • £18/£15 adults, £15/£12 conc, £10 child. Duration: 2hr 30mins with interval. Ages 7+ The biggest magic show in Scotland features many of the stars of MagicFest 2011 and some special guests, showcasing some of the world’s most amazing magic in a show for the whole family. Tickets are available from the Hub box office: 0131 473 2000 or online www.magicfest.co.uk.

Saturday 2 - Sunday 3 July Passionate About Plants. Meet staff from the Botanics' horticulture and science teams and find out more about their work. Pop to enjoy hands-on learning and fun activities for all the family.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Saturday 2 July Design your own Pretty Pottery.

Either 10.30 am-12.30pm or 1.30pm - 3.30 pm. Taking inspiration from the museum's beautiful pottery collection decorate a pretty plate with flowers, birds and animals.

With Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb Booking is essential for the workshops, contact Margaret Findlay on 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh Saturday 2 July Paul Wilson: Artifice: The Art of Deception. 12pm & 2pm (60mins) £12/£10 Age 10+.

Due to popular demand, the star of the BBC’s Real Hustle is back at MagicFest with his new show. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk Saturday 2 July Kevin McMahon: Would Lafayette wow the iPad generation? 6pm (45mins) £10/£8 Age 10+ Discover what the life of a professional magician was really like back in 1911 compared to now in 2011, see tricks that were extremely popular back in Lafayette's day, compared to modern magical effects. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk Saturday 2 July–Friday 8 July Dion, Florian

Sainvet, Xavier Mortimer: Parallel Realities

4pm (2–3 July), 7pm (4–8 July), (45mins) £10/£8/£5 Age 5+. Dion, Current European Champion of Magic, Florian Sainvet, a finalist on "France Has Got Talent!" and MagicFest 2010 hit Xavier Mortimer present a fantastic show with the acts that brought them right to the top of Magic. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk Saturday 2 July–Friday 8 July Rob James: Magicana. 8.30pm (50mins) | £10/£8/£5 | Age 10+ An elegant and captivating recreation of some classics of magic, ranging from beguiling sleight-of-hand and impossible mind-reading, through to rarely-seen yet ingenious magical apparatus - all presented with flair, humour and style. Not to be missed! Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk

27 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

All these events and more can be found on our Sat 2 July - Sun 3 July ( 5.00pm) Experiments in Mystery. Mon 4 July –Fri 8 July 7.00pm. The Vault,

Monday 4 July Free Big

Screen Opera Screenings. Madam Butterfly. The Royal Opera

Sat 9, Sun 10 July Summer Science: In Your Element! 11:00 – 15:30. Come and have a go at this

£10/£8 conc/£5 child Duration: 50mins Ages 7+. Lewis Barlow is regarded as one of the world’s foremost exponents of close-up magic. www.magicfest.co.uk

House is delighted to announce that this summer’s free BP Summer Big Screen performances The Royal Opera’s Madam Butterfly and Cinderella. These world-class productions will be beamed live from Covent Garden to Edinburgh (screen to be located in Festival Square) 7.30pm

drop-in, hands-on activity which combines craft with chemistry to make a huge Periodic Table of the Elements to celebrate International Year of Chemistry 2011. No chemistry knowledge required but lots of enthusiasm is essential. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street.

Sunday 3 July, 2-4pm Art Cart (Ages 3-12) Free art 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 3 July War of the Wizards (Under 18s & Open). 11.30am (Under 18s, 60mins) & 2pm (Open Comp, 90mins) £5/£3 Age 10+. The MagicFest competition will let you see the top, up-and-coming talent in the world of magic. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk Sunday 3rd July

Monday 4 July - Wednesday 6 July Gary James: Tea time treats. 5pm (45mins) £8/£6/£5 All Ages. Gary James is President of the Edinburgh Magic Circle and one of Scotland's foremost family entertainers. Join Gary and his 'partner' Stone the Crow for fun, magic, laughter and plenty of audience participation in a tea time show that will keep everyone entertained. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR www.magicfest.co.uk 5th July – Slimy Safari, 10-11.30am. We’ll be hunting around the Gardens for everything slimy, squelchy and slippery! Join us to learn what lurks in the undergrowth and pond. Children £3, accompanying adults free (non members must pay Garden entrance charge), booking essential.

Suitable for 4yrs and up. National Trust for Scotland, Inveresk Lodge Gardens, 24 Inveresk Village, Musselburgh, EH21 7TE. Booking and more information on 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk Wed 6 July RBGE Show and Tell: Ferns Drop-in to the John Hope Gateway and find out more about the Garden's work on ferns. Admission free. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thursday 7 July Castle Comics. 10.30 am -12.30 pm or 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. £4 per adult/child Lauriston Castle. Comic books and graphic novels are exciting visual ways of telling stories. Be inspired by the Castle’s eerie dark corners and 400 years of strange characters and phantoms to create a short comic book. With artist and comic book illustrator Chris Kent. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

Go on a Scent Trail 10.30am & 11.30am. Learn about how flowers attack insects by taking part in a sniffy, whiffy scent trail and find some sensory surprises. Children will also make their own lavender bag, perfect for sniffing before bedtime. For full details on times and how to join Dobbies Little Seedlings Club please contact Dobbies Garden World Melville – 0131 663 1941 or visit www.dobbies.com Monday 4 – Sunday 24 July Summer Fun! It’s the summer holidays and there’s plenty to do at the museum. From character capers to science secrets, it’s a boredom-free zone. Check www.nms.ac.uk for the full holiday programme. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh

8th July What’s that...? 5.30-7pm. Always wished you knew just a little bit more about trees, birds, bugs and nature in general? Come for this relaxed walk with our Ranger and learn some basic identification tips for whatever species we come across! Adults £4, children £3, booking essential. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY, booking 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 July Dragonflies from Scratch. Spend time with Ruary Mackenzie Dodds, BBC Springwatch's 'Dragonfly Geek', and learn a few really useful tips – life-cycle, behaviour, identification – and learn what to watch out for in the dragonfly world when you are out and about this summer. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Storytelling at the Palace 16 – 17 July 11-12pm and 2-3pm Discover the Palace in a new way with tales of past royal residents and their servants!

Booking recommended call 0131 556 5100­

28 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Sunday 10 July Portrait Detectives! 2-4pm (Ages 3-12). Collect a Portrait Detectives kit and find evidence and clues in order to solve crimes by characters from Scottish history. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound Monday 11 – Friday 16, Monday 19 – Friday 23 July A

Slice of Life. 11:00 – 16:00 (drop in). Step back in time to encounter everyday characters from Scottish history, all with a story to tell. Who will you meet today? (2 characters daily) National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street Tuesday 12 July–Friday 29 July (not Sat 16 or Mon 25)

Storytellers at Home. 11am-5pm (12-5pm

Sundays) Free. All Ages. Pop into our mock living room for tales, activities, or perhaps just a wee chat. There are two free storytelling sessions each day at 2pm & 3.30pm lasting approx 45mins, with the 2pm session especially for families. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR 13 July Free Big Screen Opera Screenings.

Cinderella. The Royal Opera House is delighted to announce that this summer’s free BP Summer Big Screen performances The Royal Opera’s Madam Butterfly and Cinderella. These world-class productions will be beamed live from Covent Garden to Edinburgh (screen to be located in Festival Square) 7.30pm.

Wednesday 13 July Flying Fish. 10.30 am-12.30 pm or 1.30 pm -3.30 pm £4 per adult/child Lauriston Castle. Learn the amazing Scandinavian art of birch bark weaving to create a beautiful fish mobile to gently float in the summer breeze. With Stephanie Walker. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

website www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Thursday 14 July Once was a Tree. 10.30 am -12.30 pm or 1.30 pm -3.30 pm £4 per adult/child Lauriston Castle. Follow the tree treasure hunt trail and solve the clues to collect wooden pieces. With the use of tools, create some wooden games that you will want to play with time and time again. With Stephanie Walker. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Friday 15 July Carnival of Creatures. 10.30 am -12.30 pm or 1.30 pm -3.30 pm. £4 per adult/child Lauriston Castle. "Roll up, roll up for all the fun of the circus". Using feltmaking techniques, create your very own colourful miniature circus tent complete with a collection of circus animals. With Stephanie Walker. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Sat 16 July, 2-4.30pm A Right Royal Knees Up! To celebrate The Queen: Art and Image exhibition and to commemorate this year's Royal Weddings, we invite you to put on your best suits, frocks and hats and join us for a special afternoon. Take photos of friends and family with our Queen lookalike, enjoy the sounds of Pure Brass while taking royal afternoon tea in The Scottish Café and Restaurant and have a go at some royal-inspired design activities.

Tickets to see The Queen: Art and Image are 2-for-1 on the day (children under 12s go free).

Right Royal fun for all the family! National Gallery of Scotland, The Mount.

Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 July Sparrowhawk Weekend. Come and learn about these fascinating birds which live throughout Edinburgh. Find out how our very own RBGE sparrowhawk family are doing this year. Join in lots of fun activities for all the family. A dropin event led by RSPB Scotland. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

16 – 17 July Storytelling at the Palace. 11:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 15:00. Discover the Palace in the company of an expert storyteller! Join Fiona Herbert and listen as history comes to life through imaginative tales of past royal residents and their servants. Find out what life was like for one of our most famous residents, Mary, Queen of Scots, hear what happened when Bonnie Prince Charlie seized the Palace and held his fabulous court and unravel the mystery of the 96 portraits in the Great Gallery. An informal and friendly session in the Palace Family Room for our younger visitors (under 8s). Big brothers, sisters, parents and carers are also welcome!

Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen’s Gallery, Edinburgh Please note that places are limited and booking is advised – please call 0131 556 5100. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Sunday 17 July Garden of Delights Storytelling Day Abandon yourself to the magic of summer as The Talking Trees Storytellers weave their words in beautiful locations around the Garden. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thursday 21 July Nappuccino. Nappuccinos – are informal, free sessions where parents can pop in for a cuppa and a chat about nappies and see the various real nappy options on offer. Parents will be able to speak to others currently using real nappies for practical advice and information. Please note you can drop-in anytime between the sessions hours.

2.15pm - 3.30pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH4 5EG. Monday 18 July - Sunday 7 August Scented Conifers - Tree Trail Many conifers contain aromatic oils and other smelly compounds that are easy to smell during warm summer weather. Delight your senses with scents of ginger and grapefruit and celebrate trees during International Year of Forests. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Tue 19 July Tiny Tales, 10 & 11.30am (40mins) |£5 per child Age 6mths – 2yrs Animal Adventures - From the icy Arctic to the African jungle, from under the sea, to up in the sky, join Anne Pitcher on a story journey along with her furry and feathered puppet friends, helped along with songs and rhymes.

Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR Mon 19 – Fri 23 July Summer Science: Lost in Space! 11:00 – 16:00 (drop in).

Join our friends from the Royal Observatory Edinburgh for two weeks of space-related fun.

Launch rockets, meet meteorites or use an infra-red camera! National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street

Why not pop in to paint some ceramics and let the children burn off energy in our soft play. We are the perfect venue for birthday parties, school outings, Cubs, Brownies and Hen parties. We have hundreds of ceramics to choose from for some painting fun and there is no need to book.

Thursday 21 July Story Space. 11am (45mins) |£6 per child Age 3–6 years. Join storyteller Claire Druett and revel in her imaginative tales of the summer with sunshine and happiness galore! Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR 22 – 31 July Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. Now in its 33rd year, the UK’s oldest jazz festival offers a diverse and exciting range of jazz and blues.

23 July Mardi Gras. Grassmarket - 1-4pm - free event. A vibrant and vivid jazz carnival leaves City Chambers at 12.30pm, led by Criterion Parade Band with a host of other parade bands, and marches to the Grassmarket for three hours of live music on multiple stages.

Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 July Colombian Celebration. Celebrate the plant life of Colombia which is among the most diverse on the planet. Find out more about RBGE's work in this vibrant South American country, enjoy learning about the plants with some family activities and get a taste of Colombian culture. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Saturday 23 July Airshow. 10:00-17:00. Join us for a fun-filled family day out. Enjoy activities on the ground and in the air, with activity workshops, demonstrations and hours of exciting aerial displays. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian.

Go to www.nms.ac.uk/flight for prices

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

29 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

All these events and more can be found on our Sunday 24 July Brave Knights and Fierce Dragons. 10am - 12.30pm. £4 per adult/ child Lauriston Castle. Come along for an exciting morning of puppet-making using different techniques. Take inspiration from special loans from the Museum of Childhood. Finish by producing your very own puppet show! With the staff from Lauriston. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

Friday 29 – Sunday 31 July Opening Weekend.

10:00 – 17:00. Help us celebrate the opening of our newlyredeveloped museum. Be among the first to explore all the exciting new galleries and displays!

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street

Saturdays in August (6, 13, 20, 27) Behind the Ropes family tours. 11:00 – 15:00. Back by popular

24th -30th July Dunedin Dancers' International Folk Dance Festival 2011. Dancers and musicians from Scotland, Sweden, Austria and Spain will perform throughout the week. Beautiful costumes and fantastic music! See website for full listings, with more details of venues and times: www.dunedindancers.org.uk/public/festival.php, Free displays on Monday 25th July Scottish Parliament and Tuesday 26th July The Mound and Scottish Storytelling Centre

Sunday 31st July Jack & Jill Market Meadowbank Sports Centre, 10.30am – 1.30pm.

For details visit: www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk

26th July Amazing Bugs, 2.30 – 4pm. It’s a bug’s life at House of the Binns, these grasslands and woodlands hide the most unbelievable creatures. Come searching with the Ranger for everything the flutters, buzzes or crawls. Children £3, accompanying adults free, booking essential. Suitable for age 5 and up. National Trust for Scotland, House of the Binns, Linlithgow, off the A904, EH49 7NA. Booking and more information on 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk Thursday 28 July Nappuccino. Nappuccinos – are informal, free sessions where parents can pop in for a cuppa and a chat about nappies and see the various real nappy options on offer. Parents will be able to speak to others currently using real nappies for practical advice and information. Please note you can drop-in anytime between the sessions hours. 10am - 11.30am, Duncan Place Resource Centre, Duncan Place (just of Duke St, Leith), Edinburgh, EH6 8HW 28th July Forest survival! 10 - 11.30am The first Scots used all they could find in our woodlands to survive, but how did they do it? Come and test your shelter building skills and forage with the ranger for plants that feed and cure. Children £3, accompanying adults free, booking essential, suitable for 8 yrs up. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY, booking 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk unless otherwise stated.

30 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

Saturday 6 August Glittering Jewellery 10.30 am 12.30 pm. £4 per adult/child Lauriston Castle. Be inspired by the glorious summer colours, patterns and textures in the magical grounds of Lauriston. Make your own fun and unique jewellery from a wide range of materials. With the staff from Lauriston. Booking essential.

To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

Monday 1 – Sunday 21 August Drop-in Days. 10:30 – 16:30 (drop in). Visit our fantastic new Learning Centre and meet the team. Take part in daily taster activities to mark the opening of our new galleries.

Daily during August and September, 10:30 – 16:30 Explore Time. Get the most out of our new family galleries.

Enablers in Imagine help you and your family discover even more about the stories these galleries tell.

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street 2nd August Pondemonium, 2-3.30pm All children love to discover what lives beneath the surface of the Inveresk pond! Join the Ranger for pond dipping and games to find out more about the remarkable creatures that live underwater. Children £3, accompanying adults free (non members must pay Garden entrance charge), booking essential. Suitable for 6yrs and up. National Trust for Scotland, Inveresk Lodge Gardens, 24 Inveresk Village, Musselburgh, EH21 7TE. Booking and more information on 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk 5 – 29 August Edinburgh Festival Fringe The greatest show on earth every August in Edinburgh.

Officially the largest arts festival in the world. www.edfringe.com

demand! Another chance to explore a selection of rooms in the Palace with a member of the Learning team. Step beyond the ropes and investigate amazing décor and furniture and discover what it was like to live and work in the Palace in the past with our collection of real Victorian domestic objects. Tours last approximately 30 minutes and depart from the front door of the Palace on the hour.

Suitable for families with children aged 5+. All family activities are free with standard admission to the Palace/Gallery or a valid 1 Year Pass. Adult: £10.50 / Over 60/Student (with valid ID): £9.50 / Under 17: £6.35 / Under 5: Free / Family (2 Adults and 3 under 17s): £27.80 Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX Saturday 6 August An Edinburgh View! Either 10.30 am-12.30pm or 1.30pm - 3.30 pm. Looking at images of Edinburgh from the collection, make your own Edinburgh landscape using a variety of drawing, printing and stencilling techniques. With Artist Morag Macdonald. Booking is essential for the workshops, contact Margaret Findlay on 0131 529 3963 margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, Royal Mile

6th and 7th August Traquair Fair. An incredible family festival in the magical grounds of historic Traquair House near Innerleithen. This year’s Traquair Fair will feature a host of live music performances including folk and world music, plus circus style pyromania juggling and unicycling, outdoor theatre from Turbo Jonez and the Temple of Boom, fiery craft demonstrations, children’s entertainment, a vibrant crafts market and food and drink from around the world www.traquair.co.uk

website www.familiesedinburgh.co.uk Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 August Berry Festival. Scotland excels in growing and breeding berries. Come and taste some berries and find out why berries are good for you.

Discover what's new in the world of berries with some family-friendly interactive activities.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Saturdays & Sundays: 6 & 7; 13 & 14; 20 & 21; 27 & 28 August, 2-4.30pm.

Let's Have Some Right Royal Fun! (Ages 5+). Each weekend something different to do inspired by The Queen: Art and Image exhibition. Ever wanted to be crowned or to see yourself on a stamp or coin? What do corgis wear when they go to Royal parties? Think you could design a throne? Why not come along and have a go. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound Sunday 7th August Prickly Cactus Garden 10.30am & 11.30am. Join in the summer holiday fun and find out about cactus and other different types of carnivorous plants – hungry plants that trap and munch insects. For full details on times and how to join Dobbies Little Seedlings Club please contact Dobbies Garden World Melville – 0131 663 1941 or visit www.dobbies.com Tuesday 9 August Animal Magic 10am-12.30pm. £4 per adult/ child Lauriston Castle. Come along for an enchanting morning of puppet-making using different techniques. Meet some special characters from the Museum of Childhood's collection.

Finish by producing your very own puppet show! With the staff from Lauriston.

Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk 10th August Nature Treasure Hunt, 2-5pm Drop in to visit the Binns and the Ranger will be on hand to help you discover a bit about our plants and wildlife. Pick up a treasure hunt sheet to follow the clues around the grounds and start your exploration! Suitable for all the family, no booking required. National Trust for Scotland, House of the Binns, Linlithgow, off the A904, EH49 7NA 11th August Dusk patrol, 8.15-9.45pm. What wildlife comes out to play as the sun goes down? Take a walk around the Mill with the Ranger as the area goes from light to darkness, finding out about what our birds, mammals and insects are up to. Adults £4, children £3, booking essential. National Trust for Scotland, Preston Mill, East Linton, EH40 3DS. Booking and more information on 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk Friday 12 August Waste Education Family Day 11 – 3 drop into the Education cabin. See how easy it is to make a waste free picnic, enjoy arts and crafts using scraps of waste materials, take part in competitions and much more! Seafield Community Recycling Centre, Fillyside Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6RD 13 – 29 August Edinburgh International Book Festival Highlights for children include Julia Donaldson, Carol Ann Duffy, Francesca Simon and Roger McGough.

Full details of the programme are available from www.edbookfest.co.uk Thursday 18 August, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm Children's Author James Mayhew: Illustrated Storytelling Sessions (Age 5+). Come and see James tell amazing stories whilst drawing upside down and get your copy of his new book Katie in Scotland signed in person. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound Sunday 21 August, 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 24th August Tree Tales, 7-8.30pm. There are a wealth of amazing stories to be told about our native trees. Find out about legends, folklore, cures and magic on this evening walk around the estate with the Ranger. Adults £4, children £3, booking essential.

Suitable for 12 yrs up. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY, booking 0844 493 2124 or lothianranger@nts.org.uk unless otherwise stated.

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

Thursday 25 August Nappuccino, Nappuccinos – are informal, free sessions where parents can pop in for a cuppa and a chat about nappies and see the various real nappy options on offer. Parents will be able to speak to others currently using real nappies for practical advice and information. Please note you can drop-in anytime between the sessions hours. 10am - 11.30am, Duncan Place Resource Centre, Duncan Place (just of Duke St, Leith), Edinburgh, EH6 8HW Saturday 27- Sunday 28 August Desert Ghost Plants Desert plants sometimes conserve water by a covering of white fur that gives them a ghostly look. Come and see some of the Garden's arid land plants and learn about their lifestyles with hands-on activities. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sunday 28 August Roaring Rockets & Bobbing Boats 10 am -12.30 pm. £4 per person Lauriston Castle. Come along for a fun morning using recycled and natural materials to make your own roaring rocket, bobbing boats and whizzing windmill, followed by fun games in the gardens. With the staff from Lauriston. Booking essential.To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131-529-3963 or margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk

31 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 67

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.