By Kate Hodges
14th July 2021
NEW ISSUE! We are excited to unveil the abundance edition of The Green Parent magazine. Published next week, this amazing issue is overflowing with rich, uplifting content. Enhance your life with features on naming ceremonies, breastfeeding toddlers, wild food foraging and unschooling. Imagine boosting your children’s growth mindset, a school that trusts students and doesn’t use control or coercion and honouring the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi, for greater prosperity and beauty in your life.
Also inside, you’ll find your Natural Beauty Bible, a pull out guide packed with the very best ethical products from toothpaste to deodorant, mascara to nappy cream. Get your copy delivered to your door - link.thegreenparent.co.uk/buy102
MAKE AND LEARN The Rain Event Had enough rain yet? According to an ancient tradition, if it’s wet on St Swithin’s Day (tomorrow, July 15), it will rain for the next 40 days. In 971, the bones of St Swithin were moved to a special shrine at Winchester Cathedral, and there was a terrific storm that lasted for 40 days. People said that the saint in heaven was angry because his bones had been moved. Why not try some weather-themed activities this weekend? You could build your own weather station or find more about how meteorologists predict weather patterns. Or get arty! If it’s sunny (fingers crossed!) make beautiful sun prints or make these beautiful sun catchers. Or try creating your own lightning , a rainbow, or a cloud in a bottle (and find out about the science behind each!)
DO AND RECIPES Veggie-Nation It’s World Meat-Free Week! Find out how much of an impact going meat-free can have on the planet and your health using this handy sustainability calculator, then join thousands of other families who’ll be going plant-based for the next seven days (or more!) Find recipes including Sweetcorn and Leek Fritters, Broccoli Tots and Miso Quinoa Buddha Bowls here and find more interviews and easy steps to protecting the planet here.
EVENT AND DO Check Mates Chess is entering a new golden era. Lockdown has fuelled interest in the game, both online and off, while series such as The Queen’s Gambit have made the game super-hip. The UK’s biggest ever chess festival, ChessFest hits London this weekend. Taking inspiration from Alice Through the Looking Glass, Sunday’s event in Trafalgar Square will feature free chess lessons, giant chess boards and an Alice-themed human chess game. Find out more about the benefits of chess for kids here, and find out more about becoming a board gaming family here.
EVENT AND DO Wow and Flutter Taking part in citizen science helps boffins find more about the world and beyond, gets you outside, teaches children about nature and is a lot of fun. The Big Butterfly Count brings purpose to a picnic and uncovers something new about our environment. Organised by the Butterfly Conservation, it’s simple enough for even tiny children to join in, and is a fun introduction to nature spotting. Download and print an identifying chart or use their free app to record which butterflies you spot. Find more incredible butterfly facts here or discover how to make a super-easy paper member of the Lepidoptera family here.
What We’re Reading: ‘I see people ageing - I don’t always see us’: one family, 30 years, 30 photographs “It was a simple idea: one family, photographed at the same time every year. Zed Nelson has traced Sue and Frank’s transition from new parents to grandparents. What’s it like to see your life pass in front of you?” Read more here
What We’re Watching: Raising a School Shooter Not an easy view by any means, this Storyville documentary explores the stories of three parents whose children became school shooters. Through the parents’ deeply personal stories and raw, honest testimony, the film explores multiple themes that emerge from terrible tragedies - guilt, failure, responsibility, sorrow, friendship and love. Watch for free on Iplayer
