contentsCREATIVE SPECIAL • DEC/JAN 2010 ISSUE 32

45

10

28

IN DEPTH 10 CELEBRATING

INDIVIDUALS Find out about the Woodcraft Folk and how to start your own group 14 HOME SWEET HOME

Ways to create a nurturing environment for your child FAMILY LIFE 13 SUNDAY SELECTION

Things to do on a relaxing family Sunday 17 SPIRITUAL PARENTING

Natalie Fee banishes junk food to the bin with the help of GI Joe 33 MODERN DAD

Adharanand Finn shares the magic of Christmas with his family 90 THE GOOD LIFE

Janet Ross provides shelter for the homeless during the festive season LEARNING 35 EDUCATION NEWS

Vegetarian schools, traditional subjects and woodland kindergartens

37 NATURAL LEARNING

Gill Kilner watches as her home educated family find their vocations 40 ON THE BOOKSHELF

Inspirational green reads for the whole family SEASONAL FOOD 43 ON YOUR PLATE

Chocolate chestnut truffles, foraging for wild food and celebrating the humble spud on Potato Day 45 SEASON’S EATINGS

Wholesome and hearty vegetarian fare suitable for the whole family 48 FUSSY EATERS

Claire Potter shares her secrets for getting children to eat vegetables WELLBEING 53 HEALTH TIPS

The best vegan beauty ranges and why we need to seek out peace and quiet 55 TRIED AND TESTED

Our reader panel put natural and organic moisturisers to the test

4 The Green Parent

19 CREATIVE SPECIAL 20 WHY ART MATTERS How can crafts help to strengthen family bonds and make us better parents? 24 POWERFUL PLAY Cher Sievey looks at how dolls are important playthings for both boys and girls 25 MAKE YOUR OWN Instructions for creating a soothing lavender doll that’s just perfect for bedtime 28 WOOLLY WONDERS Crafter, Amanda Blake Soule shares a few of her favourite winter projects 31 CRAFT PROJECT Joan Gorman explains how to make a beautiful simple festive garland for your home this Christmas

Creative Special

Creative Special

Green ParentThe

In this section we explore how creativity can help to bring families together, we

look at the importance of playing with dolls for children’s development and share ideas for making your own dolls. You’ll also find some of

our favourite seasonal craft projects, including how to make a child’s hat from an old jumper.

20 Why Art Matters How crafts can be used to bond

and ways in which to incorporate

creativity into our daily lives.

23 Christmas Crafters Our creative reader panel share

some of their favourite ideas for

crafting during the festive season.

24 Powerful Play Cher Sievey

explores why playing with

dolls is such a vital part of a child’s

development for both boys & girls.

28 Woolly Wonders Find out

how to turn an old jumper

into a warm winter hat and try out

our felting project for beginners.

31 Deck the Halls Follow Joan

Gorman’s simple project to

create a fabulous festive garland for

your home during the holidays. >>

The Green Parent 19 MEET OUR READERS This issue we have five lovely readers to test out natural and organic products, give us their opinions and share their craft projects.

JACQUI FUTERS, 35 lives in Kent with her two year old son, Rye. Describe yourself: Crocheting mummy and cook Favourite read: Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett Film: Practical Magic Best place in the world: At the beach with Rye Most memorable experience:

Created in nature’s healing garden

& crafted in Australia

Holding Rye in the recovery room after the c-section, and looking into his face and being blown away Hobbies: Painting, crocheting and blogging Edible treat: My Death by Chocolate brownies.

75 GREEN LIVING PAGES This issue we feature an ethical gift guide to help you choose presents for everyone from babies to foodies. You’ll find info on choosing the best organic clothes for nature lovers and yummy chocolate stocking fillers. We also have heaps of competitions, including a treehouse to giveaway.

Everything you need for green and ethical livingGREENLIVINGPAGES

WINthis cool

treehouse

page 76

Looking for

presents?Check out our green

gift guide for the

whole family

L E A R NI

N G

G R E E N GI F T S

H E A L T H & B E A U T Y

DEBBIE WARNER, 28 lives in Northumberland with husband Richard and son, Lewis, six Describe yourself: Unique, outdoorsy, daydreamer Favourite read: Anything by Phillipa Gregory Best place: Snuggled on the sofa with Richard and Lewis Most memorable

For your free [A’kin] skin care sample sachet* email akin.uk@purist.com

experience: Birthing my beautiful son Hobbies: Reading, cooking, playing the violin & trumpet, cross stitch Pets: Dog, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, budgies, fish, ferret, chickens, and chicks!

*While stocks last

NO YES

Ingredient rich, vegan, using certifi ed organic ingredients where possible, 100% natural botanical

aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing.

Contain no sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones,

phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artifi cial colours.

FINALIST

Beauty Awards

2006

MICHELLE GOOD, 35 is married to her best friend Adrian. They live in Lincolnshire with their three boys aged 11, 10 and nearly three Describe yourself: Creative, bubbly and homely Favourite read: Harry Potter books Best place: Home Hobbies: Crafting - sewing, knitting,

crochet, papercrafts, foraging, reading Pets: 1 dog, 3 cats, 4 rehomed battery hens, 2 ducks and a few giant African land snails. Edible treat: Anything someone else has cooked!

PIPPA DORE, 34 lives in Lincolnshire with husband Conor and their five children aged 11, 10, eight, five and eighteen months. Describe yourself: Kind, creative, anxious Favourite read: Flying Under Bridges by Sandi Toksvig Best place: A grassy paddock in the sunshine,

listening to skylarks Most memorable experience: Five lovely births Hobbies: Sewing, gardening, knitting, tracing family tree, wildlife watching, drawing Pets: A flat-coat retriever.

KAREN HUGHES, 37 lives in Northamptonshire with husband Jim and their son Stanley, eighteen months Describe yourself: Random, loving, positive Favourite read: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts Favourite film: Crash (not the David Cronenburg one, the other one)

Best place: Anywhere with my little family Most memorable experience: Having my baby son Hobbies: Cycling, cooking, attempting to be crafty, reading Edible treat: Crisps and dip.

E C O LI VI

N G

B U M P S & BI R T H

R E A L N A P PI ES

HOUSE & GARDEN 57 AT HOME

What’s inside? 76 learning handmade personalised toys and treeblocks to win 78 green gifts

presents for foodies 80 health and beauty party make up 82 eco living gifts for the home and

chocolate stocking fillers 84 bumps and birth pregnancy massage basics and babywearing gurus

88 real nappies selection of festive nappies and giveaway 84 fashion hard-wearing clothes for boys

GREENLIVINGPAGES | The Green Parent 75

E T HI C A L F ASHI

O N

The UK’s first passive house and our pick of the best ethical bed linen 59 GREEN HOME

Turn your living room into an eco-friendly haven 61 SECRET LIFE OF

PLANTS Lucy Corkhill explores the lore and legend of milk thistle BUMPS & BIRTH 63 NEWS AND VIEWS

The placenta as internal grandmother and how to get labour started 64 BREASTFEEDING

Make your own clothes and five of the best natural clothing brands for babies GREEN TRAVEL 67 WHERE TO GO Best farm holidays and a family retreat to recuperate 69 FAMILY CYCLING Take a trip down a reclaimed cycling trail in Liverpool REGULARS 7 EARTH NEWS 38 SUBSCRIBE 72 NEXT ISSUE 73 ASTROLOGY

COMPETITIONS Email or send details on the postcard inserted in this issue 76 Win a treehouse 78 Natural baby products 84 Patchwork quilt to win 86 Nappy giveaway 88 Baby shoes to win

Jo Middleton shares why women choose extended breastfeeding ETHICAL FASHION 71 WHAT’S NEW?

The Green Parent 5