Innholdsfortegnelse for April - May 2024 i The Green Parent

Welcome to our Education special edition of The Green Parent, brought to you by the alder - a tree of bravery and courage. Often when I tell people that we’re a home educating family, they tell me I’m so brave. For ages I struggled to understand this. I didn’t feel brave. But recently I’ve come to understand it better. I think it’s about having the courage to do something different, to choose an alternative path. It is brave to go against the grain and stand up for what you believe in. And I believe that children should be free to think for themselves, to discover their own answers. That learning should be incorporated into everyday life. And that we should all be free to follow our own natural instincts, in…

Make Morris Bells Dance around wearing your Morris bells to greet the May Day spirits and attract the helpful fairies to your home and garden. morris bells Build Fires And Make Merry Beltane is the Pagan festival of fertility, which takes place on 1st May. Discover five ways to celebrate with your family. beltane Heal With This Sacred Tree Hawthorns are long lived and some may be over 400 years old. Find out how to use them medicinally to treat the heart and sleeplessness. hawthorn…

BLACKBIRD Blackbirds lay very pretty blue-green eggs which have light brown speckles. They lay 3 – 5 eggs at a time from early spring to mid-summer. MAGPIE These eggs are blue-green in colour with brown markings. They are a relatively average size and are laid in clutches of 5 to 8. Magpie’s laying season is early April. GOLDFINCH Goldfinch eggs are an off-white colour with red/brown speckles. They are around small in size and are laid in clutches of 4 – 6 during late April. PHEASANT Eggs are an olive-brown colour with no markings. Pheasants lay an impressive 7 – 15 eggs per clutch, and their laying season extends across April to June. SONG THRUSH Song thrushes lay in early spring and have 3 – 5 eggs per clutch. Their…

♥ the Green Parent LOVES 2024 Having another baby and want to help your firstborn feel involved and connected? You'll love this children's pregnancy and birth education activity pack, by home educating mother and birth enthusiast Hannah Thomas. Give your children the gift of positive and empowering information about growing and birthing babies - with child-friendly, non-clinical language and beautiful illustrations. WombToWorldArt.com RAISE AWARENESS: The next Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week will take place 29 April to 5 May, with World Maternal Mental Health Day 2024 on 1 May.…

♥ the Green Parent LOVES 2024 Kids’ UV swimwear at PO.P Children's skin is especially sensitive to damaging UV rays. The best way to protect them is to make sure they are not in the sun too long and to try to keep them in the shade as much as possible. The UV swimwear at polarnopyret.co.uk is UPF 50, which means it gives 98% protection against UV rays, which is the highest possible rating in a fabric. This means that you can be outside in the sun or water for 50 times longer than if you were not using any sun protection at all! SAVE THE DATE: From 25 May, it’s Children’s Gardening Week. Find fun activities including creating a wildlife rich space at childrensgardeningweek.co.uk…

toddler If you're looking for a fun and memorable way to celebrate your child's birthday, a nature themed party is a great option. Not only is it a great way to get kids outside and exploring the world around them, but it's also a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of conservation and caring for our planet. Here are some tips for planning a nature themed birthday party that your child and their friends will love: Choose a location The first step in planning a nature themed birthday party is to choose a location. Look for a local park or nature reserve that has plenty of space for kids to run around and explore. If the weather is nice, you can even host the party in your own…

The typical home has more toys than a child really needs, and research shows that too many toys can actually be overwhelming for children. Having fewer toys out at any particular time benefits the child by allowing them to get deep into longer stretches of play, which enhances their learning. It’s also great for parents as independent play is more likely to happen when children are given a more minimalist environment with fewer choices. Toy rotation is a classic Montessori technique where only a few toys are kept out at a time, arranged on open, low shelves with the others put away out of sight. This can help your child follow their natural interests and build independence. With fewer options in reach, a child will engage more meaningfully with each…

EAST ANGLIAN STORYTELLING FESTIVAL 17-19 MAY Festival goers will be able to listen to stories told live, mouth to mouth, heart to heart, rediscover an ancient folk tradition and find out that nobody is too old to enjoy a good story. eastanglianstorytellingfestival.co.uk FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE - 19-21 JULY Festival at the Edge is the oldest storytelling festival in England and has something for everyone. A weekend of fantastic tall tales, music and more… surrounded by views of Hopton Court, and the Cleobury Mortimer countryside. festivalattheedge.org OXFORD STORTYTELLING FESTIVAL 23-25 AUGUST An intimate festival weaving magic with stories, spoken word, poetry and song. There’s a grand tipi full of stories and magic and musicians with songs collected over the ages. oxfordstorytellingfestival.co.uk…

1 Learning happens when you least expect it. Your child might build a cardboard fort before breakfast, or engage you in a conversation about the ethics of online gaming from the bath. Perhaps you despair of them ever learning to tell the time, or talk to a peer in the playground. You try to help, get nowhere, and give up. One day you realise they have mysteriously learnt it. Or, they’ve learnt something quite different (and maybe more valuable!). Often you’re not sure how it happened. 2 Parents are learners too. You don’t need to know everything to be an effective home educator. In fact, one of the best things you can teach your child is how to learn something new. Being willing not to know; finding things out together;…

Drawn to Change the World Emma Reynolds £8.99 Harper Alley I really like graphic novels and I sometimes draw them myself. I liked this book a lot; it gave me new ideas and taught me new things. It’s good for people who want to understand more about the climate crisis. Brilliant Black British History Atinuke and Kingsley Nebechi £12.99 Bloomsbury From reading this book I found out that the first people to live in Britain were Black and that many of the Crown Jewels were stolen from British colonies. There’s so much information in it. Calming Nature Activity Book £6.99 Usborne My sister and I shared this book. It’s aimed at younger children I think, but I loved the painting and colouring activities. It was relaxing and it did make…

Be Confident Be You: The teenage guide to build confidence and self-esteem by Becky Goddard-Hill There are tons of ideas inside, from practising positive self-talk, to making a coping kit and tackling fears, plus you’ll learn the science behind why they work. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers by Sean Covey This book addresses the issues that concern teens most: relationships, parents, peers, life choices, concerns for the future, and even larger questions about life and death. A Growth Mindset for Teens: Practical Lessons & Activities To Build Confidence, Problem Solve, Grow Skills, And Become Resilient in 31 Days by Sydney Sheppard Equip yourself with a growth mindset and discover your potential to bring out the best in you. SAVE THE DATE: Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13-19…

POSITIVE + NUMBERS 4 Number of times around the earth the average person will walk; about 75,000 to 115,000 miles in their lifetime! Skin Deep Dr Anita Sturnham works with Childs Farm. Here are her top 3 tips on dealing with baby eczema. 1 Master the bathing routine Cleanse your baby's skin with lukewarm water and a gentle fragrancefree product, specifically formulated for babies. Avoid using harsh soaps or foaming cleansers that can strip the skin of its natural oils. After bathing, pat the skin dry with a soft towel and ensure that all skin folds are thoroughly dried to prevent moisture buildup. 2 Go natural - Choose soft, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen for your baby's clothing and bedding. Avoid wool or rough textured materials that can irritate…

The spring brings a new quality to the air. The beginning stages of new life buds and grasses and flowers – heralding spring! Many of us welcome the change of seasons from winter to spring. Cultures around the world celebrate the approach of spring, and many of those celebrations incorporate “spiritual cleaning” as well as rigorous housecleaning rituals. The idea is that thoroughly cleaning our home rids it of accumulated dirt and things we have held onto during the last year (especially during the winter season when we naturally move slower) and prepares us and our home for the active time of the year ahead. Spring cleaning can improve your physical surroundings and boost energy levels, mood, and outlook. Here are a few possibilities to get the most out of…

Those born during this period are said to be path finders, adventurers, creators - with the tenacity needed to solve problems. They don’t suffer fools. The Alder has associations with spiritual decisions, duty, prophecy, oracular strength, intelligence, mental prowess, resurrection, air magic, water magic, strength, spirituality, teaching, weather magic, and protection from outside forces. Alder represents enthusiasm and bravery, which makes those born under this tree sign, excellent leaders. With fiery passion often gaining loyal followers to your cause. You are charming, gregarious and mingle easily with a broad mix of personalities. In other words, Alder signs get along with everybody and everybody loves to hang around with you. Animal Correspondences Fox, Hawk, Raven Keywords Release, enthusiasm and bravery Your Rune Fearn is the third letter of the Ogham alphabet.…

Q I already do things like turn the tap off when brushing my teeth and we always keep a jug of water in the fridge for cool drinks but how else can I save water at home? A In the UK, the average household currently uses around 330 litres of water a day – that’s 140 litres per head, every day. Here are some ideas to reduce your water usage further: If possible, take a shower instead of a bath. A five-minute shower uses about 40 litres of water. This is about half the volume of a standard bath. You can find shower timers at showerbob.co.uk. If you haven’t already, think about fitting a water butt to collect rainwater off your roof. Water butts usually store about 200 litres of…

POSITIVE + NUMBERS 43% Percentage of parents who said they would pay more for organic food according to research by BabyCenter Make Sunshine Cookies! Paulina Suonvieri calls these 'sunshine cookies' because they look like suns, and they bring her happiness! Find more recipes at 100kitchenstories.com. Combine 80g wholewheat flour, 120g peanut butter and 80g maple or agave syrup in a bowl. Mix thoroughly using a spatula or spoon. Roll balls (approx 10-12 pieces) and place them on the lined baking sheet a few cm apart. Use a glass, with a nice bottom (like the sunshine pattern I have) and press out the the balls to cookies. Bake the cookies in the oven at 180ºC for approx 10 mins. Let them cool on a grill to give them a crispier texture. Dig…

Kim Walker & Vicky Chown are both trained medical herbalists who run the herbal educational company Handmade Apothecary The first of May signalled the official start of summer, but did you know that in folklore summer was marked by the opening of the first elderflower all the way until the last elderberry? The elderflowers are just about opening and their luxurious creamy scent is recognisable from the popular drink many remember from their childhood. The elder tree has several old medicinal uses and was once such a popular medicine that a 17th Century German herbal dedicated to the elder contained hundreds of recipes. Unfortunately many of them are to do with purging the body by compelling the patient to vomit and are not recommended now! However, a few folk remedies…

Based on feedback from families, kidsinmuseums.org.uk rates cafés every year on space and facilities, choice of food, affordability and sustainability. It includes everything from children’s meals and activities in the café to food waste and sourcing sustainable and high welfare ingredients. Here are three of their new favourites. The Mary Rose Café in Portsmouth is family friendly, including offering a kids lunch box, and visitors are welcome to breastfeed anywhere on site. maryrose.org Overlooking the historic pit yard and the Accessible Play Area inspired by Woodhorn’s industrial heritage, the Winding House Café at Woodhorn Museum offers a range of sarnies and toasties featuring Northumbrian food and suppliers. museumsnorthumberland.org.uk The Senedd at Welsh Parliament in Cardiffhas a play area for children complete with toys, sensory play, and a large map of…

A DAY OUT IN THE CITY explore OUT IN THE CITY Royal William Yard The transformation of this historic, waterfront victualling yard into a vibrant community hub has been dramatic. Find a tidal pool with spectacular views, charter a boat or hire a paddleboard. Explore art studios, a cinema, or take a history tour. If you’re hungry, grab some noodles at Pho or snacks from cafes focussing on local suppliers. There are often performances, art workshops and live music; check out listings online royalwilliamyard.com The Leviathan Also known as the Barbican Prawn - it’s set in the historic quayside Barbican area and it, um, looks like a prawn - this pole-top sculpture mashes up local marine life. The head of an angler fish is set on a lobster’s body with a…

Dublin Steiner School WHERE: Dublin WEB: dublinsteiner.com The school’s focus is on creativity, developing emotional intelligence, and on cultivating a love of learning as an end in itself, rather than as a means to an end. In Waldorf education, outdoor play and natural experiences are not an ‘extra’ at school, but crucial elements that lie at the heart of the student experience and provide the foundation for much essential learning. Nature Kindergarten WHERE: Bray, Co. Wicklow WEB: parkchildcare.ie Nestled in a small forest in north County Wicklow, is a unique classroom where the walls change colour every day and the ceiling is a kaleidoscope of hues of blues, whites and greys. A classroom where children aged three to six immerse themselves in nature and learn through it. NORTHERN IRELAND Holywood…

TAMU THOMAS Author, Tamu loves to learn. “I live in a state of awe and wonder. I think it is a real privilege to be a human being and wish we embodied that. I know that my parents and ancestors endured a lot for me to create this privilege for myself despite living in a system that is built to oppress me. I am obsessed with the world of somatics, behavioural neuroscience, polyvagal theory, positive psychology and how unmet needs impact our lived experience. I know that coaching can be a powerful tool for transformation". Read more about Tamu’s story on page 13. CHARLOTTE STIRLING REED Author and mum to two little foodies, Charlotte’s mission is to give parents confidence in feeding their children. “I’ve dedicated my career to making…

Plan your months ahead – page 11, Interview: Women who work too much – page 13, Reader stories: Water birth and a home educating childminder – page 15, Spotter’s Guide: Birds’ Eggs – page 17 Over half the world’s population of bluebells live in the UK, and in spring, they’re out in full force! “I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen” Anne Lamott…

“I launched a green toothbrush brand with my best friend” Cat Beech and Catherine Western live in a small town on the edge of Dartmoor. Catherine is an NHS doctor with a young son and Cat is head of buying for a footwear company. Cat explains how they got started “We moved back to Devon from London and were lucky enough that Catherine and her family were our neighbours. Whilst staying at a lovely, modern hotel with some friends I forgot my toothbrush and asked for one at the front desk. I was given a single use plastic brush wrapped in cellophane, and it immediately struck me that it was very incongruous in such a well designed hotel and that if every hotel was doing this, the amount of plastic…

toddler I trained as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher when I was 21 and since then I have worked in Waldorf kindergartens in the UK and Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am currently opening the UK’s first Waldorf Forest Kindergarten, in East Sussex later this year, so it’s fair to say I’m passionate about it. There are many reasons why I love Waldorf education and, I’ll be honest, there are some things I challenge and question but the main reason as to why I love it is because it’s the umbrella that is always there to shelter our children no matter what storm may come. The world is changing so fast that a parent can’t relate their own childhood experiences to their child’s. So, as we navigate a world full of unknowns…

Cotton Twist As a mother of three, Cotton Twist’s founder Anne-Clare has a deep passion for fostering creativity and imagination in children, in a world that often feels overrun by gadgets and technology. Choose from personalised tin fillers and a variety of craft kits, which come in recyclable Kraft envelopes and will get kids making and creating with non-plastic materials. cottontwist.co.uk Otter Party Supplies Alex Pickstone was tired of the plastic-filled party bags on offer so she came up with a collection of eco-conscious and plastic free alternatives and set up Little Otter Party Supplies. You’ll find wooden party bag fillers, seeds, paper and canvas party bags, pass-the-parcle gifts and more. Pre-filled options start from £1.50. littleotterpartysupplies.co.uk Eco Party Bag Based in Taunton, Somerset Eco Party Bag produce a range…

child ask the expert Q "I recently discovered the peaceful parenting approach and am trying hard to change things at our house, but my kids seem to be acting out more. So I still lose it. And I feel so guilty about the past. What am I doing wrong?" Guilty mama A Those bumps don't mean that you're doing anything wrong, even if your child sometimes "acts worse" than she ever would have before. In fact, what's happening when your child acts out is that she's showing you feelings from the past, from those times when you yelled or punished, and she felt so alone and misunderstood. It takes extra compassion from you, but your empathic response will heal those hurts so you can all move on. You might think of…

child Finding the way to Faraway Valley Cecilia Heikkila £12.99 Floris Books An adventure between a little bear and his Grandpa, this story is beautifully written and illustrated by Cecilia Heikkila. There is enough detail in both the story itself and the pictures to keep slightly older children interested, whilst the tale itself is heartwarming and wholesome for little ones. As well as conjuring up a real sense of travel, it touches upon protecting our environment and leaving special places in the world for future generations to enjoy. Loved it. Kate S Jane Foster's Baby's First Stories Lily Murray and Jane Foster £10.99 Templar Publishing An adorable collection of four rhyming stories combined with high contrast art. The pictures really captured Elowyn’s interest and we were able to use this…

A Year with Findus Seasonal Crafts and Nature Activities Sven Nordqvist, EvaLena Larsson and Kennert Danielsson £16.99 Hawthorn Press We love the Findus books in our house and this is a brilliant addition to the series. Each month is packed with activities, stories and ideas. In May, for example, find out how to make an insect hotel and perfume, using plant oils. A must for every nature-loving family. Fairytales, Families and Forests: Storytelling with Young Children Georgiana Keable and Dawne McFarlane £24.99 Hawthorn Press Storytelling is a skill I would love to possess and this book is a wonderful resource for cultivating it. It’s packed with tales from around the world and there are confidence building tips and research to back up how important stories are for our culkture. Magical!…

The Green Hub Project for Teens is a local community project serving Surrey & Hampshire and surrounding areas. It supports young people (11-18) facing social, emotional and mental health challenges, along with their families and carers. The heart of the project is a garden that provides a safe and tranquil haven to learn new skills, develop new relationships and to take much needed time out for yourself and to enjoy nature. Teens who are struggling with mental health can visit the space in Milford, Surrey and take part in sowing, planting, maintaining and harvesting of crops and flowers. There’s also an invitation to help with the design and evolution of the garden and what’s planted there. greenhub.org.uk…

Mill on the Brue Outdoor Activity Centre With over 40 activities in the idyllic river valley in Bruton, Somerset. We pride ourselves on teaching children resilience, self-confidence and self-belief and children need this more than ever. Each programme is individually written in consultation with the party leader who can choose the activities. www.millonthebrue.co.uk/outdoor-activity-centres/ Middle-earth Clothing by Oscha Oscha's range of baby grows inspired by The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit make perfect gifts for Middleearth fans! Crafted from 100% organic cotton, they are soft, breathable & snuggly, Perfect for every day adventures. www.oschawear.com Voxblock Voxblock is the screen-free audiobook player for children 3-12. With no need for Wi-Fi, apps or downloads, kids can listen without distraction. 130+ audiobooks available. 4.8 stars on Trustpilot. 100% plastic free packaging. Starter…

Yoga Pose of the Month Ardha Ustrasana opens and stretches the shoulders and chest. 1 Kneel with your knees hip width apart. Place the palms of the hands on the sacrum with the fingers pointed down. 2 Inhale and press the knees down reaching the crown of the head up to lengthen the spine. Exhale and press the hips forward, squeezing the buttocks and thighs and supporting your weight with the arms as you bend backwards. 3 To deepen, reach the right hand down to the right heel. If you cannot reach the heel, keep the hand on the sacrum. 4 Breathe and hold for 3-6 breaths. 5 To come out, place both hands on the sacrum, slowly inhale up, head and neck last. 6 Repeat on other side.…

LAVENDER EYE PILLOW The calming scent of lavender is great for helping you sleep or equally makes a good companion for mediation or yoga practice. Can be warmed or chilled. (£16.95 notjustashop.arts.ac.uk) RESTORE IT CANDLE Presented in an elegant, dark amber apothecary jar with lid, these candles provide hours of transformative fragrance for your home. (£50 thepositive.co) TRANQUILITY ROOM SPRAY Made from entirely natural ingredients & scented with only essential oils, this is a refreshing blend to soothe tension, ease emotional stress and encourage a sense of peace and wellbeing. ($13.95 buckleyandphillips.com.au) SELF CARE GIFT SET Contains body butter, an exfoliating soap bar and an aromatherapy candle to help you put those life stresses aside. (£54.99 sosonaskin.com) EVENTIDE REJUVENATING BOTANICAL CLAY MASK This mineral-rich French Pink Clay mask carefully restores,…

GARDEN TOOLS Made specifically for small hands with strong and sturdy wooden handles. There’s a full range of Bigjigs gardening equipment available. (Prices start at £6.50 willowandwildbox.co.uk) SEEDS Plenty of seeds to choose from at this online kids gardening shop. We love the ones by Piccolo – there’s a Tomato Sauce collection, with basil, tomato and pepper and more. (£11 minigreenfingers.com) ECO PLANT POTS These brightly coloured, biodegradable bamboo plant pots are the perfect size for starting or growing on your seedlings. Available in eight colours. (Prices starts at £1.10 gardeningforkids.co.uk…

Organic food doesn't contain any artificial colourings, flavourings or sweeteners, hydrogenated fats or GM ingredients and it contains fewer pesticide residues. While we don't yet fully understand the impact of pesticides in our bodies, choosing organic is a great way to reduce exposure and avoid any potential risks. Make your own using pureed veg from your organic veg box. Nationwide ones include abelandcole.co.uk and riverford.co.uk, or search for your local box at soilassociation.org. For those days when you don’t have time or want something convenient for out and about we recommend organix.com, ellaskitchen.co.uk and yeovalley.co.uk. SAVE THE DATE: On 19 May, the Alresford Watercress Festival in Hants, promises watercress-inspired dishes, circus skills, Morris dancers, and a watercress-eating championship! watercressfestival.org…

Merry People Made with the same technology and functionality as the best-selling adult Bobbi wellington boots, including additional tread on the sole, there’s soft neoprene lining and pull tabs. (£39.95 uk.merrypeople.com) Vivobarefoot No fun ever came from being stuck indoors. The Lumi brings barefoot feeling to a toasty, grippy and waterproof kids' boot. Super lightweight, with a 100 day trial. Available in size 8 to 13. (£85 vivobarefoot.com) Scarpa Little Terra The construction ensures a high protection of the foot, even on the most challenging tracks. The waterproof membrane ensures maximum weather protection. (£79.95 littleadventureshop.co.uk) SAVE THE DATE Sat 18 May is International Museums Day. Find the top 15 award winning museums around the UK at kidsinmuseums.org.uk…

I’m excited to bring you the second edition of this jam packed guide to alternative schools across the UK. This is for those of you who don’t want to follow the mainstream path for your children. Inside you’ll find a broad range of alternative options to help you choose an education that is tailored to your child. So many of us are choosing something different for our kids. I see so much value in home education, in raising free-thinkers who are able to listen and respond to their own instincts. It’s my belief that the schools and settings in this guide will enable your child to be themselves and most importantly, think for themselves. Discover completely outdoor kindergartens, forest-based home-education groups, Waldorf schools, Montessori farm schools and many more. Happy…

Clapham Montessori WHERE: Clapham and Clapham Park WEB: montessoriclapham.co.uk Children’s House is used to describe these settings for children aged from two to six, due to Maria Montessori’s belief in a home from home environment. The ratio of adults to children is at least 1:4 for children aged 2-3. Greenwich Waldorf School WHERE: Greenwich WEB: greenwichwaldorfschool.com An independent school located alongside the green spaces of Greenwich and Blackheath in South East London, the teaching integrates art, creativity, movement and music with academic learning. St. Pauls Steiner WHERE: Islington WEB: stpaulssteinerschool.org Providing an education for children aged three to 14 that supports the development of wellrounded human beings who are resourceful, creative, responsible and curious, this school is housed in a Grade II* listed building. The Children's Garden WHERE: Richmond WEB:…

Scraffle And Scrow WHERE: Carlisle, Cumbria WEB: scraffleandscrow.uk This outdoor nursery features a large, natural play area where little people can run, explore, and discover, as well as dedicated areas for gardening, nature crafts, and environmental exploration. Also provision for home educators one day a week. Apple Blossom Kindergarten WHERE: Levenshulme, South Manchester WEB: appleblossomkindergarten.squarespace.com Set within Cringle Park, this is a play and nature-based education for three to six year olds. Open five days a week from 8:30am-5pm. Maharishi School WHERE: Ormskirk, Lancashire WEB: maharishischool.com Consciousness-based Education started by the founder of the Transcendental Meditation technique. All teaching and office staffat Maharishi School practice the technique and pupils (aged four to 16) meditate in the class as part of their school day. Kids Adventures WHERE: Prestwich and Salford WEB:…

thegreenparent.co.uk facebook.com/greenparentmag twitter.com/greenparentmag instagram.com/thegreenparentmag DOWNLOAD THE APP Read digital editions of The Green Parent and search all our back issues online. Type 'The Green Parent' on the Apple App Store. WHAT TO DO DURING THE SPRING Sign up for our free (and jam packed) weekly newsletter and you’ll be the first to discover the very best of what’s happening for families across the UK. There’s everything inside from exhibitions to events, recipes to craft projects. Get on the list and make sure you don’t miss this regular hit of Green Parent magic at link.thegreenparent.co.uk/newsletter CHAT WITH US Come over to Instagram and let us know how you’re celebrating the season. Find the best picnic recipes, our favourite foraging tips and ideas for outdoor home ed. Find us @thegreenparentmag…

April - The month of opening; find hope and possibility in the sunshine and fresh flowers COUNT THE STARS Join in a citizen science event this International Dark Sky Week (2-8 April) - a worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night. Every year the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England encourages families to get out and look up into the velvety blackness and count as many twinkling constellations as you can see. Download resources at cpre.org.uk. World Book Night IGNITING A PASSION We each have a book that’s had a profound effect on us. For The Reading Agency (a national charity that tackles life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading) this knowledge led them to create World Book Night (23 April) to help ignite a nation…

“My daughter leapt into my birthing pool to welcome her baby brother” Charlene McNabb lives in West Lancashire with her husband Lee, daughter Paisley (9) and son Jameson (2) “My first birth experience was awful. The hospital pushed their processes on me, rushed things and pulled Paisley out when they deemed fit, even though we weren’t ready. It took me two years to realise that I’d struggled with birth trauma. It was pretty much going to stop us having any more children; it wasn’t that I didn’t want them, it was just the thought of giving birth. I found links to some amazing Manchester doulas in an online birth trauma group. They have a plan called With Woman. One of those doulas told me that you don’t have to have…

Join the Maternal Journal for a deep dive into the world of motherhood, journaling, creativity and mental well-being as Laura Godfrey-Issacs talks to ten incredible writers. Explore how nurturing your creativity can work wonders for your mental health and overall well-being during parenthood and learn from their inspiring experiences, stories and unique insights. We love Cathy Rentzenbrink on the power of writing for mental health and Nikesh Shukla on how parenthood changes our perceptions of life. maternaljournal.org/podcast…

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT SUPPLEMENT This breastfeeding complex includes Lutein, Vitamin B12 and iron, selenium and zinc which contribute to the reduction of fatigue as well as the health of skin, hair and nails. (£33.50 wildnutrition.com) CHAMOMILE ELVIE CATCH This pair of silicone milk collection cups is designed for total comfort and confidence—even if you experience heavy leakage. (£19.99 elvie.com) NIPPLE BALM Developed with midwives and pharmacists, this fragrance free nipple balm provides care and protection for sore nipples, cracked skin and chafing. (£8.50 weleda.co.uk) COLOSTRUM HARVESTING KIT This kit has been developed by midwives so you can harvest colostrum from 37 weeks of pregnancy. Colostrum is the breast milk that your baby receives for the first few days after birth when you are breastfeeding. (£22 myexpertmidwife.com) BREASTFEEDING BRACELET Help to keep…

ALL-NATURAL SUN SCREEN Contains just four natural, moisturising and sun-resistant ingredients to make this 72% organic, sustainably-sourced, unrefined, fragrance-free and nonNano broad spectrum sunscreen. Suitable for every body, even those unable to use other sunscreens. From £3.75, shadecream.com SCENT-FREE SUN CREAM SPF 30 Presented in a squeezy sugar cane tube that’s travel-friendly, this sunscreen is perfect for paddles by the seashore. The sun filters used in this natural sun cream are all ocean friendly. There’s no Oxybenzone and no Octinoxate and Green People are proud partners of the Marine Conservation Society. £27, greenpeople.co.uk SPF 50 SUN MILK This certified organic SPF 50, fragrance free, mineral Sun Milk is suitable for babies, children, and adults and will protect the most delicate skin from the harsh Sun rays. It blends effortlessly and…

Communitree There's no better way to welcome in another year than being surrounded by family and friends in nature. Lasting for two hours, the themed parties provided by Communitree, in Greater Manchester, include nature-based games and activities and plenty of time for tree climbing and unstructured play. Choose from Dragons and Knights, Outdoor Kitchen or Woodland Fairytale. communitree.co.uk Wild Minds Do you have a love of nature and art? Have you ever created something beautiful with the things that the trees and flowers provide? Wild Minds in South Derbyshire host nature art parties for all age groups. Guests are invited to collect wonderful things in the woodland and then work on individual art projects and a final BIG NATURE display that will bring joy to those around you and those…

Eloise Rickman is author of Extraordinary Parenting (fridabemighty.com) “My father is a gifted storyteller. I have very precious childhood memories of laughing until I cried as I listened to the stories he would make up, weaving stories as if by magic out of thin air. My husband has the same gift, creating wonderful, rich stories for our daughter, Frida with apparent ease. I do not share this natural gift for storytelling, but it’s important to me that I keep practising and developing my storytelling skills. Telling a story about yourself as a child - Children love to hear about when their parents were the same age as them, and all the adventures (and mischief!) they got up to. Swapping your child for a little animal (eg. a mouse) and then…

When we started our home education journey the hardest thing was maths – my worst subject. I had no affinity with it, no confidence about what my five year old son needed to learn, or in what order. To help me teach him, I’d signed us up to an app that offered gamified lessons, voiced by cartoon characters, designed to make it all seem fun. It was still hard to persuade him. I tried everything. Maths was vital, I told him, not optional. He was the kind of kid who would make electrical circuits for fun. He was always building something, always asking why. For all I knew, he might want to go into robotics. Or surgery. Or rocket science. He would need some maths for that. If he had…

Five Leaves Bookshop 14a Long Row, Nottingham Initially set up in 1995 as a small publisher and press, Five Leaves became a real-life bookshop in 2013, the year when independent bookshops fell below 1000 for the first time. However, owner Ross Bradshaw, was positive: “We'd noticed that bookshops that did more than simply waiting for customers to turn up were thriving. So we opened, with a regular events programme. It brings people in!” A Pagan book club meets every couple of months. Ross says, “The event that sticks in my mind most is our first meeting on an autism book, with an autistic academic speaking. For some of those attending it was the first time they had come out as autistic. The feeling in the room was electric.” The tiny…

Planning for a child with additional needs can be one of the greatest challenges a family can face. Navigating the gap between childhood and a fulfilling adult life can be daunting. Podcaster and advocate Graham Caldow’s book, What’s Possible provides a roadmap to help guide you towards planning a better future for young adults with additional needs. We spoke to him about focussing on the possibilities of what you might achieve What is your family’s story? “I lived a fairly ordinary life up until my second daughter was born. My wife Debra is Australian, so we travelled around the world, worked in Australia, and eventually came back to the UK. Life was a breeze with my first daughter, but our second daughter was whisked off to the special care baby…

Pumice Foot Scrub An exfoliating blend of peach seed and pumice to soften dry, hard or cracked skin while mallow and ginger mint work to smooth and freshen feet. £16 nealsyardremedies.com SOS Balm This organic, vegan product is made with 100% naturally derived ingredients and is great for cracked heels and dry skin. Has many other uses too! £10.99 sosbalm.co.uk Foot Balm Packed with soothing and cooling natural extracts, this refreshing balm contains essential oils of lavender, rosemary and sweet orange and helps protect against blisters. £14.95 weleda.co.uk SAVE THE DATE: MS Awareness Week runs from 22 - 28 April. It's about speaking up about the realities of life with MS. Check out mssociety.org.uk.…

wellbeing your tree sign The wood of the Alder tree is white when cut but soon starts to turn red, a symbolic bleeding that has linked the trees to supernatural life, folklore and superstition for millennia. Besides the ability to change colour, the wood has a couple of really interesting properties which have led to its importance. Though the wood rots quickly above ground, it becomes hard as stone in water. The crannogs which peppered Scotland in the Iron Age were built on alder piles, as, more recently, was much of Venice. The wood also has an incredibly high burning temperature - the highest of any wood which would have been readily available within the British Isles or Ireland. This meant that it was highly prized for forging metal - the…

"When our youngest was born, we decided to build a tiny home to live in. Neither of us had built a house before. Marcel tore down an old wagon, completely primed the frame and built a 2.6m home on top. We had the old round roof lifted off with a tractor and reused it on the new house. The walls are made of chestnut, and so are the shingles that Marcel made himself. "Shingling" is a traditional craft here in the German Black Forest. Open Hearted Living I originally come from the Polish border in eastern Germany and Marcel from the northern lowlands. But the Black Forest with its lush meadows, deep forests, narrow valleys and magical nature simply appealed to us. There are also many like-minded people around Freiburg…

DINNER SET Made of 100% safe and food-grade material, this plate and bowl set promotes self-feeding, and helps to develop fine motor skills. The lid makes it easy to take the bowl with you on the go or to save leftovers from dinner. (£21.90 bibsworld.com) SIPPY CUP This sippy feeder will help support the tip up and down motion that's required to drink from a cup and catches most of the liquid when it drops. When your child no longer needs the feeder bit, you can just remove for a normal cup. (£9.99 ecorascals.com) BREAKFAST SET Handmade from solid oak from sustainable forests and a little Danish oil, these beautiful child's breakfast sets make a perfect heirloom gift and keepsake. Also available in bear and bunny designs. (£45 bluebrontide.com)…

During the Summer of 2019 we took our three children abroad for the first time in about five years. Having done a lot of travelling in pre-child days and worked in luxury travel, my husband and I were both keen to show our children the world beyond the UK. However, these days our budget and our lifestyle means that holidays are less about luxury and city breaks and more about staying local, usually in a caravan or a tent. This suits us fine as we really enjoy being in nature and find that parenting becomes a lot easier when things are kept simple. I was itching to go somewhere abroad though, so I was trying to figure out an affordable, family friendly and ideally green way to do it. Cue…

Aries MAR 21 - APR 20 With a solar eclipse in your sign, April is a key month for you and one in which significant changes are likely to occur. This is your opportunity to start afresh and create new beginnings. It may also be timely to consider what it is that you need for your happiness and wellbeing and to make these things a priority. Financially too, spring is a positive time when lucky breaks could happen, so focus on the abundance and it will be yours. Cancer JUN 22 - JUL 22 With a solar eclipse in your success zone, April is a powerful month and one in which you are likely to emerge victorious in whatever endeavour is important to you. This is a good time to…