I may have been getting it entirely wrong. For ages, I've been asking for events to be child-friendly. I've complained about venues making young people feel unwelcome, and not scheduling events for kids into their programme. But now, I wonder if my insistence on catering just for kids is right. Perhaps, we should be aiming for family-friendly rather than child-friendly experiences, so we can enjoy them together, whatever our age.

I promised, at this year's Edinburgh Fringe (edfringe.com), that I'd book events we could all enjoy. I also decided to take risks with my kids; I wasn't going to take them to performances aimed only at them.

So, on our first night here, we trotted off to The Ladyboys of Bangkok (ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk) - a cheesy cabaret show of Thai transsexuals and drag queens. Ten-year-old Storme and her 14-year-old friend Sam sang along to all the 1980s anthems - I Will Survive, I Am What I Am - and lashings of Abba. Man - I Feel like a Woman, mimed by someone who seemed to have the attributes of both, had Storme jumping up and down in her seat. Perhaps I'm a poor parent, but I consider the Ladyboys excellent family entertainment.

But, as always, it's the book events that have captivated all my kids; if there was a worldwide competition for most innovative festival for children, Edinburgh Book Festival (edbookfest.co.uk) would win every year. Storme's very favourite event so far has been the rendering of Metamorphoses for older children by master storytellers Hugh Lupton (hugh lupton.com) and Daniel Morden. The tale of Echo And Narcissus stopped all our hearts, however hardened by age.

At the Ladyboys and Metamorphoses, Storme and Sam weren't the only ones squirming with delight. We all were. The Edinburgh festivals are truly family-friendly. So much harder to achieve - and so much better - than simply being child-friendly.

· Please send tips for sharing to <a
href="mailto:travelwithkids@aol.com">travelwithkids@aol.com