outofschoolclubs&classes Theatre and Performing Arts
School Support
Arts and Crafts
Drama is a wonderful extension of the ‘let’s pretend’ games young children love to play. Classes open and extend children’s imagination through role play and characterisation. Working to a theme or play introduces literature, classic stories and make-believe worlds which come to life through speech, song and movement. Students explore empathy for their characters and classmates, and learn to work effectively in groups, growing in confidence as they learn to express themselves more fully. Before too long, students learn to make eye contact, speak clearly in front of others and stand up tall when entering a room - attributes which will serve them well whatever their choice of career. All this and usually there is an end of term performance where the students have the chance to showcase their new skills in front of an appreciative audience. The Drama Studio – 0131 453 3284 www.thedramastudio.com Helen O Grady – 0131 667 0939 www.helenogrady.co.uk Little Shakespeare – 07724 937331 www.littleshakespearetheatreschool.co.uk Lyceum Youth Theatre – 0131 248 4830 www.lyceum.org.uk Sparkle Arts – 07717 706 778 www.sparklearts.co.uk Stagecoach - 0131 449 9507 (Drummond High School and Currie High School) or 0845 052 9474 (Grassmarket, Roxy Art House and James Gillespies School) www.stagecoach.co.uk
As soon as children have a grasp of numbers and arithmetics, countless other tasks become easier. In almost every other subject and in many walks of life, arithmetics and maths are needed and a weakness in this area will hold your child back. Extra maths classes not only help improve a grasp of numbers, but help in confidence and add to children’s achievements longterm. Meanwhile, with computers now standard in schools, learning to touch-type makes work faster and more accurate. It is also better for young hands (using every finger rather than just ‘pecking’ with two index fingers) and backs (looking straight at the screen rather than bending over the keyboard). By starting young before bad habits take hold, children have a very useful skill that they will use throughout their lives. Explore Learning – 0131 332 3300 (Blackhall) or 0131 337 7401 (Murrayfield) www.explorelearning.org.uk KB Insights - 0783 793 0714 www.kb-insights.co.uk Kids NLP – 0783 793 0714 www.kidsnlpscotland.co.uk Kip McGrath – 0131 610 6110 www.kipmcgrath.com Kumon - 0131 466 9235 (Morningside), 0131 669 1699 (Portobello) or 0131 315 3025 (Ravelston) or 01506 884 894 (Currie) or visit www.kumon.co.uk The Raviv Method – 07512311317 www.ravivworks.co.uk Step Ahead – 0131 228 1144 (Edinburgh/Lothians) or 01383 62 45 99 (Fife) or 0845 643 2823 (central) www.stepaheadtuition.com Whizzkidz – 0131 447 5893 www.whizzkidz.org.uk
From the earliest age, children just love to make things. Admittedly they start by making a mess, but in time their painting, sticking, kneading and moulding start to take a pleasing, recognisable form. When clutching a big paintbrush, sticking pasta to a piece of card and squeezing play dough, children are developing motor skills which will later be fine-tuned to manage tasks such as writing and using cutlery effectively. Furthermore, the early attempts are stimulating many senses while introducing new techniques and textures. “There’s nothing like using clay to develop children’s artistic abilities,” one local potter observed: “usually they don’t get the chance to do pottery until they’re much older, but the younger ones love it just as much.” The Ceramic Experience – 0131 554 4455 Doodles – 0131 229 1399 www.doodlesscotland.co.uk The Imagination Workshop – 0131 466 0148 www.theimaginationworkshop.co.uk Kids Knit - 0796 3367314 www.kidsknit.co.uk Kiss The Fish - 0131 332 8912 www.kissthefishstudios.com National Galleries of Scotland - 0131 624 6560
Dance It’s a rare child who does not enjoy dressing up games, and dance is the perfect way to move ‘in character’, whether as a graceful fairytale ballerina princess, or grooving to a funkier beat. While dancing is great fun it also helps develop coordination, fitness and a sense of rhythm, musicality and expression, promoting self-discipline and confidence. Edinburgh Ballet - 07723 589 280 Angela Watson School of Dance – www.edinburgh-ballet.co.uk 0131 661 9590 The Julie Mitchell Edinburgh Dance Ceilidh kids - 0131 667 8898 Academy – 0131 337 3402 www.ceilidhkids.com www.edinburghdanceacademy.co.uk Dancebase – 0131 225 5525 Lothian Dance Academy – 0131 669 9073 www.dancebase.co.uk www.lothiandance.com Dance for All – 0131 226 5533 Popstars Academy – 0131 538 0774 www.danceforall.co.uk Dynam-nic Dance – 07545 551271 www.popstarsacademy.com The Waterfront Dance Studio – 07772 www.dynam-nic-dance.co.uk 504958 niki.forbes@talktalk.net
Cooking and Food Learning about food and how to cook can help children learn about nutrition and healthy eating. Teaching children to cook will help instill skills to last them a lifetime. Following a recipe uses maths (weighing and measuring), science (how different ingredients work together) and creativity. Cooking Mania – 0131 220 2040 www.cookingmania.co.uk Food Monsters - 0131 538 4815 www.foodmonsters.co.uk Victoria Plum - 0131 558 9041 www.victoria-plum.com
25 FAMILIES EDINBURGH ISSUE 62