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IN DEPTH 8 LOCAL LIVING Dawn Francis-Pester on how to create community outside your front door

12 SISTERHOOD Marija Smits explains the part her sister plays in her journey as a mother

16 GROWING UP Supporting and marking our children’s transition to their teenage years FAMILY LIFE 15 SUNDAY SELECTION Reclaim family Sundays

LEARNING 40 NATURAL LEARNING Home education at the kitchen table

41 EDUCATION NEWS A family activity centre

42 PRIMARY EDUCATION Is it too much, too soon? Iris

Coates considers the options

47 ON THE BOOKSHELF Great green reads for both adults and children SEASONAL FOOD 49 ON YOUR PLATE Alternatives to crisps

23 PLAY SPECIAL 24 THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY How our children learn through playing and ways in which we can support them in this work of childhood. 28 PRODUCT OVERLOAD Do our children have too many toys? asks Kathyrn Houldcroft and then suggests some natural alternatives. 31 PLAYING WITH THE ELEMENTS Louise Kennedy runs a woodland playscheme in Somerset. Here she talks about how it works. 33 OUTDOOR GAMES Take this selection of games with you to the park this summer and try skipping, obstacle courses, chasing games and more. 35 MAKE YOUR OWN Joan Gorman leads you through these simple step by step instructions to make a cup and ball game.

19 MODERN DAD Adharanand Finn shows wedding guests how to attachment parent

20 SPIRITUAL PARENTING Natalie Fee celebrates her grandmother’s life

21 GREEN BLOGGERS Rachelle Strauss tells us about her favourites

98 THE GOOD LIFE Janet Ross takes to the local river in a kayak

50 EASY BITES Recipes to make for your growing family HOUSE & GARDEN 52 AT HOME What to do in the garden

53 ON THE PLOT

Down on the allotment this month with Susie Green

55 SECRET LIFE OF

PLANTS Susun Weed shares the healing benefits of oatstraw

GreenParentThe

Play Special

14 PAGES OF INSPIRATION

In this special section we look at the importance of play for child development and discover how we as parents can make an imaginary world more available to our children. We explore the issue of too many toys and whether it affects the quality of play. Lastly we

How our children play and have fun with a make your own game and offer ideas for outdoor play. 24The Importance of Play ways that we can support them in this work of childhood.

28Quality, not quantity Do our children have too many toys? asks Kathyrn Houldcroft,

giving ideas for natural playthings.

CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE SUBSCRIBER GIFT: 01825 872858 OR GO TO: THEGREENPARENT.CO.UK

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31Playing with Elements Louise Kennedy runs a woodland playscheme in Somerset.

Here she talks about how it works.

33Outdoor Games Take this selection of games with you to the park and try skipping,

obstacle courses and more.

35Make Your Own Simple step by step instructions to create a fun catching game with options to suit all ages.

Play Special |TheGreenParent 23