DISCOVERY SPACE: CARTS, CARRIAGES AND CAROUSELS

From January 12 to 16 and 19 to 23, sessions: 10-11am; 11am-noon; noon-1pm, The Hall: Children can make their own hobbyhorse or horsedrawn toy cart, inspired by the toys on show in the Spirited: Australia's Horse Story exhibition, and the variety of horsedrawn vehicles at the Museum. Adults free, children $3 (free for Museum Friends full members only). Bookings essential; buy your ticket on the day at the Information Desk.

THE BOGGY CREEK SHOW

January 15 to 17, 22 to 24 from 6.30-7.30pm, January 17 and 24 from 2-3pm: The Boggy Creek Show, presented in association with Spirited, is a horseman show direct from the Snowy Mountains with fourth-generation cattleman Tim O'Brien. Tickets $20 adults, $5 children. Friends $15 (full membership only), children under 16 free if accompanied by a Friend. Entry includes a free ticket to the Spirited exhibition. Tickets online through eventbrite.com.au or at the door.

FILM SCREENING

January 20, 2.30pm: The Man from Snowy River (PG, 1982), the Australian movie starring Tom Burlinson inspired by the Banjo Paterson poem, will be shown at the National Museum of Australia. Tickets $5.

A SPIRITED AUSTRALIA DAY

Monday 26 January 2015, 10am to 3pm: Inspired by the exhibition Spirited: Australia's Horse Story, this event celebrates Australia Day and all things horse-related with country music, bootscooting, horse rides, craft and much more. Highlights of the day include the Baz 'n' Snags puppet show, X-Factor star Caitlyn Shadbolt and country musician Warren H Williams. Free entry; costs apply to some activities.

WORDPLAY

Wordplay is the National Library of Australia's new pop-up kids' space. It's a hands-on, interactive place where parents and kids can explore language and imagination through reading, writing and illustration with activities including drawing, poetry games, stamp-making, letter blocks and iPad learning apps designed to inspire a love of language and learning. It's on from January 19 to 30 from 10am to 4pm in the Ferguson Room on Level 1. It's free and bookings are required for groups of 10 or more on 6262 1271(weekdays 9am-noon).

SUMMER STORYTIME

Come and share your love of reading and stories with some yarns from the National Library's collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring lunch and stay for a movie. It's on in the Conference Room, Level 4, National Library of Australia on Thursday January 22 from 11.30am-noon. Cost is $1 a child. Bookings: 62621271 (weekdays 9am-noon).

NPG MOVIES

The National Portrait Gallery is hosting free screenings of films suitable for children.

Spirited Away PG (2001, PG, Saturday, January 10, 2pm) is a Japanese animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the story of Chihiro Ogino (voiced by Rumi Hiiragi), a girl who, while moving to a new neighbourhood, enters the spirit world.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982, G, Saturday, January 17 at 2pm), directed by Steven Spielberg, is about a lonely boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) who finds and befriends an alien creature who has been stranded on Earth and wants to return home.

3. Lilo & Stitch (G, 2002, Saturday January 24 at 2pm ): In this Disney animated feature, lonely Hawaiian girl Lilo (Daveigh Chase) befriends a blue alien she names Stitch (Chris Sanders) who is being pursued by other aliens.

NLA FREE MOVIES

The National Library of Australia is screening free children's movies in its lower-ground theatre. Bookings must be made: phone 6262 1271 (weekdays 9am-noon).

A Little Princess (G, 1995, Thursday, January 15, 1pm), is based on a book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In it, kind-hearted young Sara (Leisel Matthews) is relegated to servitude at a boarding school run by the cruel Miss Minchin (Eleanor Bron) when her father goes missing during the First World War and is presumed dead.

FairyTale: A True Story (G, 1997, Thursday, January 22, 1pm).Based on the real-life case of the Cottingely Fairies, it tells of cousins Frances and Elsie whose alleged photographs of real fairies in Yorkshire attracted the excited attention of Sherlock Holmes' author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O'Toole).

The Secret World of Arrietty (G, 2010, Thursday, January 29, 1pm) from Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, Arrietty is based on the much-loved children's story, The Borrowers, where tiny people "borrow" simple items from "Human Beans" to make their home. The English-language version of the film will be screened.

LIGHT AND SHADOW: CHILDREN'S CREATIVE WORKSHOP

National Gallery of Australia, Jan 14: 10.30am-12.30pm (ages seven to 12) and 2-4pm (ages seven to 12). Be inspired by the light and shadow in the Sculpture Garden to create ephemeral sculpture using natural materials. Meet at information desk. Price $25, $20 child members (includes materials). Bookings: nga.gov.au.

FAMILY ACTIVITY DAY

National Gallery of Australia, Jan 16 and 17, 11am-3pm: This is a free drop-in workshop in the Small Theatre for the whole family (all ages, children to be accompanied). Enjoy games and creative activities inspired by the Alive and spirited exhibition of Indigenous Australian art. No bookings required.

GOT IT COVERED

National Gallery of Australia, January 21 10.30am-12:30pm and 2 to 4pm (ages seven to 12): Create a printed and stamped cushion cover for the much-loved NGA cushions used for family and community events all year round. Make another cushion cover to take home. Venue: Small Theatre. Price : $25, $20 child members. Bookings: nga.gov.au.

LIGHT MY SCULPTURE

National Gallery of Australia, Jan 23, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2 to 4pm (aged seven to 12): Build a light sculpture inspired by James Turrell and the spectrum using coloured gels and perforated materials. Venue: Small Theatre. Price $25, $20 child members. Bookings: nga.gov.au.

DISNEY ON STAGE

Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales. See Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast unfold before your eyes. At the AIS on Tuesday, January 13 at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Tickets from Ticketek. For more information visit disneylive.com.au.

CINDERELLA

Ickle Pickle Productions' first show for its 10th anniversary year is Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which will be on at Belconnen Theatre from January 9 to 24. Originally written for television as a vehicle for Julie Andrews and featuring adult and child actors, the musical version of the fairytale features songs such as In My Own Little Corner. Tickets through Canberra Ticketing - visit canberraticketing.com.au or phone 62

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Child Players ACT presents Alice in Wonderland, a musical by BJ Anyos, Georgia Pike and Jeff Young based on the book by Lewis Carroll about a little girl's adventures in a strange world. Children do both the onstage performing and backstage work for the show. It's on at Theatre 3, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton on January 14-17 at 11am and 2pm. Tickets $16. Bookings: 62571950 or canberrarep.org.au.

CHARLIE & LOLA

Live Nation presents Charlie & Lola's Extremely New Play. Direct from Britain, it's the sequel to Charlie & Lola's Best Bestest Play, which toured Australia in 2012. Enter a magical journey though the seasons with siblings Charlie and Lola, the stars of the hit ABC and BBC TV series and books by Lauren Child. The show combines puppetry, live action and music. What happens when Lola and her best friend Lotta say they will honestly and promisedly look after Sizzles? And follow Charlie and his best friend Marv on a Pirate Squidbones adventure! It's on at the Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, on January 10 and 11 at 10am and 12.30pm. Tickets $39.90/$34.90. Bookings: 62752700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

GIGGLE AND HOOT

Giggle and Hoot and Friends is a 50-minute stage spectacular with Jimmy Giggle and the owls joined by the Bananas in Pyjamas and for the first time on stage, Zap, Mimi and Jango from the show Hoopla Doopla. The three extraordinary characters, each with their own amazing physical skill; tumble, juggle, leap and somersault in and out of trouble. However, whenever anything goes wrong - and it usually does - they always have each other to fall back on, so all turns out OK. The Canberra Theatre, January 24 and 25 at 10am and 12.30pm. Tickets $39.90-$64.90. Bookings: 62752700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

Bring your kids to the National Film and Sound Archive FSA throughout the January school holidays to experience classic Disney animation on 35mm film in the air-conditioned Arc cinema. They are being screened to lead into the Centenary of Animation in 2015. All tickets $5. Bookings: 62482000. Website: nfsa.gov.au.

Lady and the Tramp (G, 1955, Wednesday, January 14 at 10am) was the first animated film released in CinemaScope. It's the charming story of wellbred cocker spaniel Lady (voiced by Barbara Luddy) who falls in love with a stray mutt named Tramp (Larry Roberts).

The Jungle Book (G, 1967, Wednesday, January 16 at 10am): The first Disney animated feature released after the death of Walt Disney is a fun-filled adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's stories about Mowgli (Bruce Reitherman), a boy raised in the jungle and helped by friends such as Bagheera the panther (Sebastian Cabot) and Baloo the bear (Phil Harris).

The Aristocats (G, 1970, Wednesday, January 21 at 10am): Breezy tale of high-society cat Duchess (voiced by Eva Gabor) and her kittens who are dumped in the countryside by a greedy butler and must find their way home to Paris with the help of happy-go-lucky cat Thomas O'Malley (Phil Harris).

The Fox and the Hound (1981, G, Friday, January 23 at 10am): A young fox named Tod and a puppy named Copper become friends but as they grow up they realise they are meant to be hunter and prey. Its voice cast includes Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell and Jack Albertson.

Beauty and the Beast (1991, G, Wednesday, January 28 at 10am): Book-loving Belle (Paige O'Hara) offers to take the place of her father who's imprisoned in the castle of the fearsome Beast (Robby Benson) and discovers there's more to her captor than meets the eye. The film won Oscars for its title song and score.

Aladdin (G, 1992, Wednesday, January 28, 2pm): Robin Williams dominates the movie as the fast-talking Genie as street urchin Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and his mischievous monkey Abu battle to save Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) from the schemes of the evil sorcerer Jafar (Jonathan Freeman).

Questacon has a range of activities on offer this school holidays.

The Questacon Excited Particles are presenting regular puppet shows for preschoolers from Mondays to Fridays. In this new show, Dinostory 6 – The Lizard of Oz, little ones can travel back in time with Mutty the Muttaburrasaur to prehistoric Australia as he goes in search of the Lizard of Oz.

The Q Lab gallery has a program of interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities during January. Launch into the new year with water rockets, take toys apart to see how they work, and celebrate International Potato Day by making potato batteries and more. These activities are all included with Questacon admission and complement Questacon's eight galleries with more than 200 hands-on exhibits, plus daily Spectacular Science Shows.

In addition, holiday workshops will be running between January 12 and 16 at The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre in Deakin. Full-day or half-day workshops will have your child unleashing their inner inventor with 3D design activities, building robots, and making contraptions out of springs, mousetraps and salvaged materials. Cost: Full day workshop $110 a workshop (Q Club members $88). Half-day workshop $55 a workshop (Q Club members $44). For bookings phone 1800 889 995 or email: bookings@questacon.edu.au.