LETTERS

�HAVE YOUR SAY... Have your say in our letters page via email, Twitter, Facebook or good old pen and paper. letters@thegreenparent.co.uk twitter.co.uk/greenparentmag facebook.com/greenparentmag  Post: The Green Parent, PO Box 104, East Hoathly, Lewes, BN7 9AX

WIN INDULGENT BEAUTY PRODUCTS & ORGANIC BEDDING

The

Green Parent

THE NATURAL PARENTING MAGAZINE

APRIL/MAY 2012 £3.95 THEGREENPARENT.CO.UK

Natural Homes Create space for learning How to live off grid

Healing Teeth How to treat tooth decay naturally Awareness ParentingRaisingchildren mindfully

GREEN BABIES Co-sleeping Babywearing Stories

CUT YOUR CLUTTER For energy, better health and abundance

Veggie Feasts Delicious recipes & traditions from the Middle East Unplugging Teenagers

Tools to reduce screen time

.uk

.thegreenparent.co

•www

46

ISSUE

PLUS HERBS FOR HEALTH • WELLBEING • BREASTFEEDING • SPRING ACTIVITIES • CRAFTS

CURE TOOTH DECAY Well done for a great article on tooth decay in Apr/May (Stop the Rot), well researched, and with lots of good advice. A further excellent reference book I would recommend for every parent interested in keeping their own and their children's teeth in good shape and strong is Cure Tooth Decay, by Ramiel Nagel. I much enjoyed the Of The Earth article (Apr/May 12) as well and will be passing it on to our local Transition Town groups. Marianne (grandmother)

Star Prize

I FOUND REAL INSPIRATION I was delighted to read your latest edition (April/May). I'm not much of a magazine reader; they always seem to think they know who we are and patronise us. But yours is entirely different! We are finishing renovations on our eco-house and I had started to lose motivation and vision. Now I have some real inspiration for setting the space up to work more creatively and be more peaceful. As an artist and art teacher, I've got a whole load of new insight and ideas to make my work and home spaces more in tune with what we want from life. My daughter's room and our family space is going to get a gentle make-over. Libby Davy

INSPIRING CHANGE I received my current mag the other day. Unwrapped it and put it on the chair to read later. My 87 year old father-in-law picked it up and started reading the decluttering article (Cut the Clutter Apr/May). The next day he turned up with a bag of food that he will never use from his cupboards for us to use, and the birds got a feast in his garden from all the out of date products too. All inspired by the article, and brought a real sense of satisfaction to him. Aisling

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES My husband and I stumbled across your magazine and discovered that we could label ourselves as in the 'attachment parenting' group without even knowing there was a term for

FROM FACEBOOK I’ve just bought my first ever copy and can’t believe I’ve been without it. For me its not the teenagers I need to 'unplug' its my husband!! Loving the magazine will certainly buy again. Vicky this style. We have two children aged one and three and we are definitely seen as 'different' amongst the families that we know, because I have breastfed both my children on demand, we all co-sleep (it's a bit of a squeeze with all of us in one standard double!) and we always try to do everything as a team. Your magazine has helped me to feel that being different is the best way to be and there are plenty of green parents out there who prove that we are making the right choices! Laura Wilson

I've just bought my first magazine today and just wanted to say how much I loved it. I am a cloth bum mum and have looked everywhere for a magazine that has the same outlook as myself. Hayley

I could never recycle Green Parent magazine

- I have a years worth stacked in my living room as there is stuff I will always refer back to. Rachel

THANK YOU FOR PRIZE Just wanted to say a big thank you for our prize in the competition to win a subscription to Puffin Post. First time I've ever won anything very exciting! We recently got our first copy along with lots of goodies and a selection of books to suit all four of our children. They are thrilled and we'd heartily recommend it! Alex at Puffin also very kindly organised some other goodies for our new school library we are organising on a shoe string, so big smiles all round. Looking forward to the next issue of Green Parent. Siobhan, Aoife, Ciara, Milo and Saoirse

STAR LETTER We have the perfect starter kit of organic goodies from Green People to give away to our star letter writer this issue. All the products you need for beautiful, soft skin, this makes a lovely gift for mums. Includes nappy cream, baby balm, moisturiser, baby wash and shampoo and baby salve. This is part of a fabulous range at greenpeople.co.uk. For your chance to get your hands on some natural goodies, write to us at the address above.

4 The Green Parent contentsJUNE/JULY2012

14

GO WILD SPECIAL 40 WILD CAMPING A mother and son adventure in the

Scottish highlands, exploring the Great Glen way by canoe. 44 GET INSPIRED Events and courses taking place this summer to get your family connected to nature 46 WILD SWIMMING Only a few generations ago, wild dipping was the only way to learn to swim. Here we share our favourite places for an outdoor swim 50 FORAGING FOR FOOD A foray into the undergrowth to

40

44 66

find out whether it’s possible to make a family meal from wild ingredients IN DEPTH: GREEN BABIES 63 THE FIRST FEED Three mums share their stories of the first time they breastfed their babies 66 NAMING YOUR BABY How to create a beautiful naming

THE baby and childrens swimwear specialists ceremony to celebrate your baby’s birth 70 BIRTH OF A DOULA A birthing partner can provide the advice and support traditionally offered by mothers or experienced sisters www.splashabout.com

Only sold through the best retailers and baby swim schools - find a stockist or buy online at splashabout.com

LIKE US on Facebook facebook.com/SplashaboutUK

T h e

Green

P a r e n t

IS S U E

4 7

G O

WI

L D

S P E CI

A L •

F O R A GI

N G•

SI

M P LI

F Y

Y O U R

LI

F E •

N A MI

N G

C E R E M O NI

E S •

D O U L A S •

M E A T

F R E E

M O N T HJUNE/JULY

2 01 2

Festival Fun Best summer events Green festivals MAIN FEATURES 8 PAYING ATTENTION As a basic need and a human right, we explain why children deserve all attention they need 14 MEAT FREE MONTH One family try out vegetarianism for 30 days. Is it good for health, wealth & family life? Read these diaries 18 SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE Take these simple actions and create more clarity and space in all areas of your life FAMILY LIFE 13 SUNDAY SELECTION Great family adventures for our favourite day of the week 22 SPIRITUAL PARENTING The importance of tending the flowers in the maternal garden 23 GREEN TEENS How to nurture your teenager 26 MODERN DAD Three children enjoy a weekend alone with dad 98 CYCLE OF THE YEAR Celebrating the long days and starry skies of the Solstice LEARNING 28 EDUCATION NEWS Using days out as an educational resource 29 ALL AROUND THE WORLD We explore green schools in Bali, Brazil and ones made from bottles in Guatemala 31 CRAFT A GNOME HOME Use natural objects to make a home for fairies or gnomes 33 ON THE SHELF Great reads for the whole family

SUBSCRIBE >> P24

WIN FAMILY FESTIVAL TICKETS & ORGANIC CLOTHING THE NATURAL

The

Green Parent

JUNE/JULY 2012 £3.95 THEGREENPARENT.CO.UK

PARENTING MAGAZINE

Meat-free for a month

Will it improve your family’s health?

FAMILY LIFE

Nurture your teen Celebrate Solstice

YOGA FOR THE HOME

Go Wild! Camp out with kids

Natural swimming

Forage for food

GREEN BABIES Become a doula Create a naming ceremony MAKE IT Woodland

Creatures

50

Ways to simplify your life

FREEFESTIVAL GUIDE

PLUS FAIRTRADE FOOTBALL • BREASTFEEDING • ASTROLOGY • ECO BEAUTY • FAMILY MEALS

.uk

.thegreenparent.co

47•www

ISSUE

Give yourself a regular treat and save 25% off the cover price of The Green Parent magazine.

The Green Parent 5