parent tribe issue seven | Autumn 2015
Exploring how different families exp
lore the world together...
be creative . be free . be together
Never Stop Exploring
mum
contents Family Travel
Family Stories
The Meek Family Adventures - PRINT ONLY
Food
Bringing the World into your Family Home - 26
Learning
Exploring Child-led Learning - 10 What is Worldschooling? - PRINT ONLY
Holistic Parenting
The Golding-Tomters from East London - 14
Spinach & Nutmeg Quinoa Bake - 36
Creativity
A Happy Heart is a Found Heart - 18 Dyad Poem - 24
Exploring - 8
A Bug’s Life - 34
The Wild Mother-Self - PRINT ONLY
Surya’s Christmas Lanterns - PRINT ONLY
Exploration - Autumn Signs for Everyone - 38 How do you Celebrate Christmas? - 42
contributors Clare Cooper
Tim Meek
facebook.com/MilestonesOfMotherhoodBook
dotrythisathome.com
Rachel Denning
Veronika Robinson
discovershareinspire.com
veronikarobinson.com
Kimberley Golding
Shelley Ensor
minimagpie.com
lilltlesignersclub.co.uk
Pippa Best
Monika Strell
storyofmum.com Rebecca O’Malley Lucy Pearce dreamingaloud.net
Surya Cooper-Ivison
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Welcome to the Autumn 2015 edition of Parent Tribe
inspired by a talk from the travelling Meek family (also in
which is also the 2nd edition to be in print! It’s been really
this edition) and now have an adventures board where
exciting to have Parent Tribe in print and I hope that all
we are writing ideas for small family adventures we can
those who have received one have been enjoying their
do together.
real life versions of the magazine! Whether it is exploring the outdoors, a new way of So the autumn leaves are falling again here in the UK
living you hadn’t dreamed of, a new way of eating or
and as I’m sure you will agree it’s a beautiful time of the
simply exploring yours and your family’s creativity it’s
year. I decided to focus this edition on exploring so that
an exciting way to connect and move forward on your
we could all read it and explore what was important
family journey together.
for ourselves and our families with ideas to move on to explore in 2016.
I hope you enjoy this edition and collect some ideas for family exploration in 2016!
For us as a family we have been exploring education recently, which we will be reading about more in this edition. We had always planned to home educate
Big love
our eldest, but after much deliberation have gone for
Hatti x
flexi schooling where he goes 2 days a week which is working great at the minute. We have also been
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Autumn 2015 | Issue 7 Editor & Designer - Hatti Burt of Creative Soul Assistant Editor - Clare Cooper www.parenttribe.net www.thecreativesoulstudio.com Parent Tribe Windlehurst Millans Park Ambleside Cumbria LA22 9AG e. hatti@parenttribe.net
Contact Hatti for all advertsing and subscription queries.
Photography Cover Image by Pippa Best - Co-founder at Story of Mum Page 3 Photo by Elizabeth Kelsey Bradley Page 10 Instagram Photo by @jaimerachel Page 16 & 18 Photos by Emily Gray Photography Pages 20 - 23 Photos by Pippa Best Page 26 Photo by Lorna Preston Photography Pages 34-36 Photos by David White
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exploring
Words by Clare Cooper
Taking a break on a bike ride recently, we stopped by some trees and a stream and the kids began exploring. They climbed up the steep bank and swung around on tree branches. A little piece of bark came off, and underneath we discovered a colony of tiny woodlice living inside the tree, the kids were fascinated by this. Although we have been to this spot many times before, it always seems slightly different, as the leaves and plants change so quickly with the weather and seasons. In some ways it feels familiar, and in others, new and different, so there is always something interesting to explore. The girls set about climbing the tree, going higher than they previously have. There were moments they were panicking about being stuck and being too high, and then, once they found their balance, and their confidence, they were laughing and excited, daring each other to go higher and creep further along the branches. They were exploring and discovering what the tree had to offer, and at the same time they were exploring and discovering more of themselves. Giving our children the space to get out and about and to explore not only gives them the opportunity to learn about the world around them, but also to explore themselves, their abilities and limitations. And it is through exploring, discovering, getting stuck, getting wet, climbing high and checking things out in their environment that they test their own limits and boundaries. In doing so, children become aware of their abilities – what they can do easily, and this gives them confidence. They also become aware of what they would like to do but as yet cannot, and from this they develop ambition. Exploring gives our kids the opportunities to take risks and learn through their
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experiences.
And this is a great attitude to life to cultivate in ourselves and model to our children.
The idea of exploring is so often associated with outdoor adventures that it can be easy to overlook the
The realms of exploration need not be limited to our
potential for learning and exploring within our homes.
children; we too can venture into ourselves and explore
Toddlers are the experts here, and we can learn a lot
our creativity in all aspects of life. We can become
about curiosity and enthusiasm by watching little ones
curious about the food we prepare, the places we go,
inspect and investigate everything they can set their
the friends we are yet to meet. We can deepen our
sights on. We can take a leaf out of their book and
exploration of ourselves as well as the world around us,
re-ignite our own passion and curiosity for learning,
we can become aware of, and go beyond our perceived
discovery and exploration. Over the summer we’ve had
limitations, our conditioning, our emotions and beliefs.
lots of children in the house and I’ve been amazed to
We can journey deeper within ourselves and become
see how providing materials for a simple craft activity,
aware of all the new ways in which we are learning,
and holding the space for this to happen by exploring
growing and evolving as we parent our children and
the materials myself, leads to great experimentation,
nurture our families.
fun and discovery. Whilst in some ways we may feel less free and Simply clearing the floor and spreading out paper and
adventurous as parents, and in some ways our wings
pens and doodling a simple swirling pattern led to
may feel as though they have been clipped, spending
others experimenting with patterns of their own, sharing
time with children can re-ignite our own curiosity and
colours and ideas and seeing what they could come
invite us to look at the world in new ways. We can
up with. Another day we had a go at felt making. It is
catch some of that infectious wonder and sense of
simple, easy and fun and even my two year old made a
adventure our children enjoy. We can learn to see the
felt piece. The opportunity to arrange different coloured
world through their eyes and appreciate the joy and
strands of bright, soft wool then cover it all in soap and
wonder of the small, seemingly simple things; the flight
water and rub it around is fun and low tech, and gives
of swallows, the fragility of a butterfly, the splashes and
plenty of scope for experiment and adventure; you
ripples of pebbles thrown into a lake.
don’t have to be ‘good’ and it, and it doesn’t matter how it turns out.
Adventures don’t have to take place on far-flung shores; there is so much wonder in every aspect of life
Indeed something that can get in the way of our
if only we allow ourselves to discover it. Our children
explorations is worrying about the end result. If we are
can be wonderful companions on this journey. Invite
attached to a certain outcome, want it to be a certain
adventure into your life and make time to explore, learn
way, we can limit ourselves and become frustrated or
and discover!
disappointed if things do not go as we planned. And this can be applied to so many aspects of life. Yet when we take an attitude of exploration, we value the journey, and the learning and adventures we encounter along the way. We can learn to see mistakes as simply opportunities to reflect, and to learn more about ourselves and explore different ways of doing things.
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Exploring Child-Led Learning Words by Hatti Burt
I guess most people when they have a child just think that when they are 4, they will send them off to school, that’s if they haven’t already been to nursery before that. I went to a state school and so have all my family, so why wouldn’t I consider the same for my children? This is a BIG question. And one that I have been looking into for, well, about the past 4 years! The most important thing to me and my partner is for our children to be happy and to learn by following ther interests as much as possible, whilst still fitting in with everyone else in the family. In the UK I feel our current education system is based around the pursuit of knowledge and the more knowledge you have the better, but why do we need so much knowledge if it is not something that interests us or brings about a spark inside? I want my children to keep that spark inside and to learn because they have a hunger to learn more, not because someone thinks they need to learn something. I feel education is a decision very personal to each family, but I (like a lot of people who I have met who consider an alternative education for their little ones) would like to encourage my children to be free-thinkers, confident, creative and foster a life-long love of learning. This is why I have explored and researched many different routes for learning for my children and here I share my overview about all the new and exciting ways parents are educating their children. Surely it’s a good thing to question the education system and find out if it will work for your family, or for individual children. After all each child and family is so different, so how can a one-size-fits-all approach to education be right for everyone? One thing is for sure, whichever approach you take your child will learn - just try to stop them!
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State Schooling
Private Schooling
Most of us probably went to a state school and it is
There are a broad range of private schools and I won’t
the most popular form of education. You can find many
pretend I know about them all but the most popular
small schools that try to be as child led as possible but
privates schools with child-led learning styles are
their curriculum is still led by the government. A lot of
Waldorf Steiner, Maria Montessori and Reggio Emilia.
targets are set at early ages and there are movements
These schools often encourage learning through
such as the ‘Too Much Too Soon’ one who are
play for longer and don’t do any formal learning until
campaigning against this. www.toomuchtoosoon.org
around age 7. Learning is then taught around projects rather than separate abstract subjects such as maths, geography etc.
Structured Home Education
Autonomous Home Education
This says it in the name. Children will be educated at
This is a style of home education where the parents
home with some sort of learning structure that the
give their children minimum limitations and trust that
parents teach them. This could range from bascially
their children are learning by helping them follow their
doing school at home with a curriculum, to introducing
interests. This is mostly how my son has learnt up until
different projects and workbooks on a regular basis.
now and I have seen how well it can work. Some people
I have met a lot of home educators and there aren’t
unschool just the education part and some unschool
any I know who do full time school at home, but they
their children’s whole lives i.e. bedtimes, screentime,
may have a few planned projects and subjects now and
food etc. It is often called radical unschooling and is
again.
becoming increasingly popular in North America, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Flexi Schooling
World schooling
Flexi Schooling is legal in the UK and is a mixture of
I think this sounds like the most exciting way to educate
learning at school and at home (or out of school). It
your children. It’s where your children learn as they
is at the discretion of the Head, and the parents have
travel the world. Some people may take a year or so
to come to an agreement with the school how often
out to travel with their children and some people are
the child will attend. At the time of writing this we are
constantly travelling and their children are learning
currently trying this option out. My 5 year old son is
as they go. These parents often work online so are
going to a very small and family-like school 2 days a
location independent. I think these parents may do a
week and is home with us 5 days. It’s more for the
mix of structured and autonomous education. Read
social aspect for us. It’s working really well so far and I
the articles by the Worldschooling family and the Meek
will write more about this on my blog.
family to get more of an idea on World Schooling. www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
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What is WorldSchooling? And Why It’s the Best Words by Rachel Denning
I squint my eyes against the glare of the desert sun hanging in the bright blue Moroccan sky as I push my daughter in a stroller. The occasional sing-songy call over a loudspeaker tells me that prayer is taking place in the mosque. Getting closer, I see the shoes piled up around the door, and as I walk by I catch a glimpse through the open door of rows of men kneeling on the ground, foreheads on the floor...
Read more of this article in our print magazine! Buy it now here...
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Three words to describe how you feel about your lifestyle?
I’m very Lucky!
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Family storie s Kimberley-Tybee Golding-Tomter (AKA Kimberley Golding), 32, Jørn Tomter. 40, Odin Theodore Golding-Tomter, 5.5 & Perseus Oakk ‘Oaky’ Golding-Tomter, 2.5, from Clapton, East London.
lifestyle and philosophy
Then Oaky came along when Odin was three so I went
I got into the Attachment Parenting ideas from reading The Continuum Concept just before I gave birth to Odin, but my interest in family life also comes from my fascination with evolution and animals and the natural way humans behave as animals. Saying that I don’t
back to being more mother than working for a year, then sharing again with Jørn the next years. I like the balance of working and looking after the kids; although there is always something you can’t achieve or time you don’t have, it is only for a short time!
follow any particular lifestyle. When I was planning my first pregnancy I educated myself more about how to look after my body and tried to make the home a healthy
How do you make it work?
place for my kids, but I also really believe in taking it easy
Because my husband, Jørn is serious about being a
and trying not to worry too much. My primary interests
dad, he works part time to look after the kids and he
as a parent was to breast feed, baby wear and spend
does all the cooking. If he didn’t have that attitude there
time being with and talking to my kids. As I started Mini
would be no Mini Magpie, and a lot more baked beans
Magpie, a work at home business, when Odin was 1,
consumed!
I wanted to spend time with him while I worked and for him to see me working and making things. I am a firm believer in letting your kids realize you do other things as well looking after them and involving them in household chores and even your work.
What inspired your lifestyle?
I am determined to do things my way. I was sure I would not be a mum who is completely consumed by looking after the kids; I knew I would have my own life, still see my friends, go out on my own, have adult conversations
Do you work at Home?
and not feel burdened by having kids. So when it’s time
My first year as a parent was stay at home which I loved, and was really great to be able to do. I started
to be there for them I don’t resent it.
my business when Odin was one and worked a couple of hours per day and Jørn had him one or two days per week so I could work and be on the market stalls. www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
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education options?
I want both my kids to go to normal state school as I had a great time at school, but I felt Odin was too young at four and three quarters, so I delayed him a year by homeschooling. He is starting year one in September 2015. I feel he has had a great time growing up this year, going to nursery, going out with me and just being a kid for a bit longer. Oaky is only 2 but I plan to do the same thing with him and send him a year later.
Advice for other work at home parents?
Choose your career around your family. You can’t travel all the time, and it’s best if you have something you can do on a laptop or at home at least at the beginning. When you get a job or choose an office get one really close to home. Make friends with everybody (your neighbours, other parents) because you are going to need them if you get work emergencies, need someone to pick up the kids etc. Do childcare swaps to save money. Make sure you understand how tax and benefits work as a self-employed person. Most important is do something you enjoy so your kids see you actually wanting to work and understand why you can’t be with them all the time. If possible show and explain to your kids what you are doing and let them help.
Favourite Family Activity?
‘Wrestle Time’. The boys have a wall-to wall bed on the floor with a swing above it so it is a kind of tickle arena.
minimagpie.com
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IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU that up to 90% of childhood upset might be prevented, you'd want to know how and why.
transforming childhood
'How' is baby signing - and just four simple signs. Join us! And learn more about ‘Why’.
littlesignersclub.co.uk Milestones of Motherhood is a book-in-the-making by Clare Cooper which explores the ways in which women grow and change through mothering. It will be published in 2017 by independent press Mother’s Milk Books. Clare is currently inviting women to contribute to the book by reflect upon their own mothering journey so far, with a particular focus on: The ways in which you have come to value yourself as a mother and recognise the contribution you make through mothering. The ways in which you have reflected upon your own childhood, and what you have tried to do the same or differently to your own upbringing. Experiences of your children growing into their own independence and how your mothering, learning and relationships have evolved alongside your growing children. If you would like to get involved please contact Clare directly via milestonesofmotherhood@yahoo.co.uk facebook.com/MilestonesOfMotherhoodBook
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A happy heart is a found heart Words by Pippa Best
We collect hearts. We find them in heart-stones, in clouds, in flowers, lichen and tea-bags. We spot them in our path along the cliffs, hiding amongst the pebbles on the beach, stuck to the side of dustbins and left as crumbs in the bed. We find them in the light, and in the shadows. My kids pause on walks to bend hearts out of palm fronds and fallen leaves. They call me over to see a heart in their dinner; in how their favourite bracelet or belt has fallen to the floor. To us, a found heart is a precious reminder of the joy in the world – a secret valentine; a marker of miracles, optimism, and warmth. It folds our happiness into a hug, and nurtures our faith in a constant beat of love, holding everything together. www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
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Whenever I’m feeling low, a heart shows up. It might be wonky, fragile, broken or temporary. It might be perfect. Wherever and however it appears, I can’t help but grin when I receive it. Because the more I notice and share all the hearts we find around us, the more I can feel my own heart swell, and the more I see that love grow in my children. And sometimes – it seems like that universal heartbeat gets a beat or two louder… So we draw hearts on leafy love notes and leave them in the park. I give heart-stones to couples holding hands as they pass me on the beach. I fold paper hearts with mums at our retreats, and with bloggers at conferences as we talk about happiness. It’s why I’m sharing a simple Happy Heart craft with you here, and hoping with all my heart that you find a heart in your path today. >>
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How to make a Happy Heart
Place your Happy Heart where you can find it when
Cut six strips of paper and staple them together at the
For more instructions and a how-to video, visit
bottom. Hold the stapled end and let the two outer
www.storyofmum.com/happyheart.
your heart needs to feel happier.
strips fall to the side. Holding the four remaining strips together, rip a centimetre or two from the unstapled end of these. Let the next two outer strips fall to the side, and rip another centimetre or two from the two strips remaining in the middle…
About Pippa and Story of Mum Pippa Best is a co-founder of Story of Mum, a free supportive community for mums to let go of bad mummy
Now use your Happy Heart to capture some of the everyday moments that make you happy: What boosts your joy when you feel down? What are the simple things that make you feel better after you’ve done them? For me it’s finding a heart, having a coffee in the park,
guilt and rediscover themselves in motherhood: sharing gloss-free stories and spurring each other on to make more creative me-time at:
storyofmum.com
bare feet on grass, breathing in the sea, holding my kids close, yoga, zumba, and a piece of dark chocolate (generally, not all at once…). What makes your heart happier? Write those things on your stapled strips of paper. Then loop each of the back strips into the middle towards the staple, forming three hearts. Staple these together again with one more staple. You can also add an extra loop or ribbon at this point if you’d like to hang it up later.
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Dyad I know we’re supposed to complain about night feeds And I get it. I do. I’ve known those week-long, back-twist, dead-arm, neck-crick, never-un-latch nights, And those grey-grim, matchstick-eye mornings. And yet there’s something about those moments, When it is just the two of us, in the stillness. Suck suck swallow, suck suck swallow In the darkness I drink you in. The earthy scent of your head, The soft print of your ear curl, The cotton cream of your cheeks, I devour it all. Because I know (as one has gone before) that this too will pass in an eye-blink. So we feast together in the darkness. Till we are both full-filled. Me. You. You. Me. Youme.
by Jessica Starr
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Embracing the Wild Mother-Self Words & Photography by Lucy H. Pearce
Embracing my children has always been the easy part. Mostly. There are other stories for other days of maternal ambiguity. But my ambiguity for my maternal self. Embracing myself as a mother. I never realised how challenging that would be. I had an image of what a mother should be, what a good mother was. And then there was me...
Read more of this article in our print magazine! Buy it now here...
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The fun & reward of bringing the world into your family home by Monika Strell
We are a Scottish-Austrian family of three (plus 2 dogs and 3 cats) living on a lovely woodland croft in the very far North-West of the Scottish Highlands, in the parish of Assynt. Our 6 year old son Corwin is home-educated, and our work as a social-media manager (working online from home) and fly fishing guide (seasonal) means we are lucky to be able to travel regularly. We treasure hospitality and we love having people come to stay. With remoteness comes the logistical struggle for friends and family to have the time and means to come and stay with us regularly though, so all too often our loghouse felt far too empty. To remedy this we decided last year to reach out to travellers coming to our area and invite them to stay with us for free. There are various websites that match hosts and travellers – like www.couchsurfing.com, or www.warmshowers.com, which is specifically for touring cyclists. Early this year we added international students in the UK who want to spend a weekend with a family to experience everyday life, via a charity called HOST. Not long after putting up our host profile we had our first guest – Ethan from Seattle, on a one-year world tour and working on an art project during his journey. He was an amazing first visitor and the fun never stopped since. Last week we waved farewell to motor biker Michiel from Belgium, our 25th visitor in 15 months. We had visitors young and old, everything from gap year travellers, students and travellers in their 50s and 60s. We connected well whatever the age - 6 year olds have amazing skills in breaking the ice, and nothing more rewarding than introducing a grown up to the delights of playing Mario Kart on the Wii, or roping them into a family game of cards. Our guests come using all sorts of transport too, from hitch-hiking, to bicycles, motorbikes and camper-vans. Our hosting has certainly brought the world to our remote Scottish corner. We had visitors from 15 www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
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different countries and 4 continents including Australia,
at Christmas and a return visit for Corwin’s 6th birthday
NZL, US, Canada, India and China. And it’s not just a
to cook a genuine Chinese meal for us. Sometimes
one-way street getting people here, sometimes it works
a surprise arrives … one of our Spanish cyclists, an
two ways. Sonam, a student from India, recorded one
engineering student, picked up a French illustrated
of her weekly Youtube pod-casts to her early-years-
book for children about the construction of the TGV, at a
music business customers in India from just outside our
conference in Paris he visited many months after staying
house and Corwin was able to take part in her music
with us. Remembering his animated discussions with
video broadcast.
Corwin about construction vehicles he posted it to him. And we promptly got our next visitors – Erik & Julie, a
Overall our experience has been fantastic but are all
French father and his 14 year old daughter, to read and
visitors truly likeable, fun, and do we ‘gel’ easily? The
translate it to Corwin. The same two wonderful people
answer is no, there are some you connect with instantly,
who went to our local beach the day before his birthday
and with whom you develop an instant deep friendship
to write a huge message in the sand for him.
that lasts, whilst others will remain transient visitors. We have learned a lot about tolerance, and about ourselves
When telling our tale of hosting ‘strangers’ and
in the process of hosting. We have realised how we love
welcoming them to our family we often get mixed
listening and sharing stories, so those arriving with tales
reactions. What do we ‘get out of it’? Well, partly it’s
to share are a real treat. Sometimes visitors are tired
a case of what goes round comes round. We hope
and exhausted, and then we quite enjoy pampering
that on our future travels we will find generosity and
them and entertaining them with good food and our
hospitality of the kind we love to offer. But most
tales too. The most difficult ones for us are guests who
importantly meeting new people, hearing their stories,
lack curiosity, and who remain very quiet, and yes we
seeing them love our home, enjoying our food, being
had one or two of them too.
able to show them the beauty of the place we live in are extremely rewarding experiences. Those who stayed
One of the great pleasures of welcoming people to
with us were never demanding, but always grateful
our home is to show them our area. We are deeply
for what we offered. It’s not about offering a luxurious
passionate about our mountains, and beaches, and our
spare bedroom with en-suite facilities (which we don’t
woodland croft. Corwin is a great natural mini-host who
have) – it’s literally about a couch or bed to sleep in,
takes great delight in showing people around. From
some food if you are happy to offer that, and a friendly
pointing out the best spots to find chanterelles and
and welcoming attitude.
blackberries, or introducing them to the tangy taste of wood sorrel, or dragging them off to find a few dragonfly
Living in such a beautiful but remote corner of Britain
nymphs in our little stream – there is no shortage of fun
comes with the risk of isolation - opening our doors to
with him as your guide.
visitors is not only preventing this, it has made us feel deeply connected to amazing people all over the world.
The flip side of welcoming visitors is that inevitably there comes the moment of saying goodbye, which can be tough. With many of our new friends we have stayed in touch though, via email or Facebook. Some returned, like our friend Qun from China who during her one year study came to stay with us 4 times, including a week
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The Meek Family Adventures The Meek family are Tim, Kerry, Amy (12) and Ellla (10) and they are a very inspiring family who are living and ‘edventuring’ around the UK and soon around Europe. We were very lucky to attend a talk they were giving as a family at The Good Life Experience Festival and they inspired us to create a family adventure board. Here Tim Meek explains how they are living and why they have chosen this amazing edventure lifestyle.
Read more about the Meek Family adventures in our print version
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Buy it here now...
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Read about the Meeks in our print magazine which you can buy here...
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Books Carried on your back by Ida Therén, Nära Förlag (Attachment Publishing) Reviewed by Hatti Burt
This is a beautiful book for young children which celebrates compassion and simple living. The A4 size is fun especially with the big, colourful and simple illustrations and words. My 20 month old loves it and I’m sure can identify with it as the the toddler in the book is also carried in a sling, breastfed and snuggles up to his mum at bedtime. He likes to kiss the dog on the page that the toddler in the book does too and hugs and kisses me on the page they have a hug. A refreshing slant on a toddler story which portrays an attachment parenting lifestyle. More should be made like this!
Reaching for the Moon by Lucy Pearce, Womancraft Publishing Reviewed by Clare Cooper
As a mother of two daughters I read this book with great pleasure and happiness; here is a book which speaks honestly and beautifully to girls and young women about their periods and their transition to womanhood. Poetic writing and stories create beautiful, nurturing imagery and feelings of love, specialness and support to surround young readers, encouraging them too to create a nurturing circle of women to love and support them in their own life. Lucy introduces girls to the biology and practicalities of their menstrual cycle, the link to the moon, and also talks in depth of the accompanying emotions and feelings they may experience. The message throughout the book is that of loving, nurturing and accepting yourself, your energy and your emotions, and Lucy provides many suggestions for taking care of yourself throughout your cycle. Reaching for the Moon is an incredibly valuable book for our time and has the potential to completely transform how young women come to view themselves and their cycles. It is a lovely resource to share wisdom and ease communication between mothers and daughters and support parents and adults in general in supporting and nurturing the girls and young women in their life as they begin their own journey to womanhood.
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A Bug’s Life Words by Rebecca O’Malley
With Winter around the corner, fending off the elements
both unique and worthwhile; whilst my practical husband
as well as the January blues also provides a good time
helped with the construction process, I bustled around
to think about our wildlife, and ways in which we can
hunting for accessories to furnish the interiors.
help our garden friends survive the winter months. Bug hotel number one incorporated a jumble of old Having made small bug shelters from two little craft
flowerpots filled with raffia to provide snug hideaways,
kits last winter, it soon became apparent that although
whilst bug hotel two featured a raffia-filled bird feeder
the results had looked pretty, the shelters hadn’t been
and grass-filled mugs dangling beneath a small stack of
visited once. Clearly our garden bugs felt that they
logs – tempting creepies to crawl into the cracks.
weren’t up to scratch. Maybe they were too small? Or too rickety?
After several hours of intense labour came the fun part of adding the finishing touches. And so, with sloshes
Frustrated by this revelation, my creative children came
of paint, reams of raffia, stickers galore and any found
up with the idea to build something which would entice
oddment being lovingly adorned onto the grand
even the fussiest of beetles to take up residence. The
creations, there they were finally complete… and really,
solution? Bug shelters of a different kind – robust,
REALLY huge!
inviting, Five Star Bug Hotels, on a larger-than-life scale and made from recycled materials. Better still, costing
The
girls
were
delighted
with
their
oversized
next to nothing. And so, on one bright and breezy
masterpieces, and as my husband attached them to
afternoon…
our garden fence, we all stood back and admired the results.
Using two large pallets tipped onto their sides, my resourceful children spent the afternoon hammering
It was a gratifying, creative project which had provided
and nailing (under strict adult supervision of course),
hours of fun for free. But more than that: Time spent as
cutting and sawing; deconstructing and reconstructing
a family, bonding outside, whilst giving a helping hand
huge pieces of pallet. Before long the air was filled with
to our garden friends... what better way to spend a
noises of banging and drilling amidst squeals of delight,
bright and breezy afternoon?
as the great aphid apartments began to take shape. We were all relishing the challenge of creating something
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35
Spinach & Nutmeg Quinoa Bake by Veronika Robinson
4 cups cooked quinoa, or two cups uncooked 2 tablespoons vegetable bouillon powder (to put in cooking water) olive oil, sunflower or coconut oil 4 eggs ( or 4 teaspoons egg replacer, plus liquid) 2 onions (one red, if desired) 5 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon nutmeg pinch cayenne pepper 500g baby-spinach leaves 600 ml organic sour cream or Tofutti sour cream or coconut cream 2 teaspoons organic lemon zest ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 grated carrot 1 teaspoon turmeric Cook quinoa in water and bouillon, until the ‘tail’ comes out of the seed. Preheat oven to 175C. Oil a 20x20cm baking dish or line with baking paper. Whisk eggs (or egg replacer and water) and leave to sit. Sauté chopped onions and garlic in a little oil for several minutes, until clear. Add nutmeg and cayenne, then spinach, and sauté for a few minutes. Combine with the eggs. Mix well, then add quinoa, carrot, lemon zest, pepper, turmeric and cream. When well mixed, pour into the baking dish. Bake for one hour or until the edges are brown. After cooking, leave to set for about five to ten minutes. Can be served hot or cold. Perfect for lunch boxes. Serves six as a main dish. Serve with steamed greens or salad. Recipe Copyright Love From My Kitchen, by Veronika Sophia Robinson Publishing Spring 2016 by Starflower Press.
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Exploration - Autumn signs for everyone ‘Laughter, smiles and eye contact form the basis of the very best part of cognitive development’
Autumn is very much a time of celebration – the harvest safely gathered, the smell of woodsmoke in the air as the nights turn chill; our faces lifted as we cherish the late, golden sunshine.
an abundance of sensory opportunities for our
little ones to enjoy together outside.
A nature trail,
dewdrops on spiders webs, foraging, leaf kicking, collecting conkers... all lead to magical, contented moments and wonderful opportunities for connection and communication. You can add an extra layer of learning
to Autumn
respectful and responsive interactions with happy, confident children. Using signing is a positive bonding experience between all members of a family and other
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Foreign Language) but their brain is boosted by the signing is giving them. Marilyn Daniels states in her book Dancing With Words, signing is quite literally ‘language in motion’ and therefore helps children to learn more ably.
SING (and sign) …. nursery rhymes, songs on the radio, songs you love from your own childhood. Singing is now recommended for all little ones from
adventures with signing. Signing encourages peaceful,
carers.
another language (British Sign Language is a Modern added information the kinaesthetic experience of
Children love to explore at this time of year and there is
LEARNING MORE ABLY....Not only are children learning
foetal stage and the continuation of using nursery rhymes with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers helps children to develop syntax and rhythm with speech. Children prefer their parents voices over any other so please take the plunge and sing with your babe in arms or in the bath or whenever you feel the urge, even if you don’t feel tuneful.
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Autumn - ‘N’ hands move downwards with twisting movements from the wrists, like leaves falling
Tips for Signing Success
SAY the word as you sign it SIGN in your child’s line of vision WAIT for a response REPEAT as much as possible
Hedgehog- Right, palm forward, open hand with fingers spread, swivels to the right from wrist, behind bunched left hand
Words by Shelley Ensor Graphics by Cath Smith
littlesignersclub.co.uk
Squirrel- ‘Whole hand, held in a ‘C’ shape, moves in an upward outward arc from side of www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
39
Surya’s Festive Lanterns As the nights are getting darker and Christmas is around the corner, these crafty lanterns bring warming festive light and sparkly to your table. Why not wrap up warm and enjoy an autumnal walk and collect sprigs of holly, and ivy and pine cones to decorate the lanterns, or spend an afternoon cosy beside the fire cutting out sparkling snowflakes, enjoying how no two ever come out the same, just like the real ones! These simple lanterns are fun to make with the whole family and there is really no limit to the shapes and items you can use to decorate the jars and bring some festive light to your home.
Get the info for Surya’s Christmas Lanterns in our printed magazine Which can be bought here now..
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Christmas gift ideas from our favourite talented parents!
A bag of buttons from the Happy Potter?
A Mama Retreat from Story of Mum? I’d recommend gifting the mothers in your life some precious
I use recycled boards for my collages and use damaged
space and nurturing with a Mamas’ Retreat. A gift voucher to
books, preloved frames and frames made from recycled
attend one of Story of Mum’s Mamas’ Retreats in Cornwall,
polystyrene.
or the online version: Nurture At Home. Or treat your mama
natural stoneware clay that’s left unglazed. For little stocking
friends to some very special time together with our DIY
fillers I’d recommend the bags of buttons and for a unique gift
Mamas’ Retreat Kit, a digital kit with everything you need to
I’d recommend the recycled paper heart pictures.
All my ceramic wares are hand made from
host your very own retreat! Find out more at
www.thehappypotter.org
www.storyofmum.com
A Tweedy Surprise from otty Doves Designs? My recommendation is to buy Local and buy handmade! Go for a bespoke Christmas! Tweed is IN! My snugly, tactile, British, handmade Tweedy cushion/ door stop/ stocking/ throws are great for bringing a living room bang up to date or you could go for something smaller like a tweed purses or corsages I make wooden hand painted decorations (can be
Have a l rfu e d n o w as m t s i r Ch
passed down to your children or given out as gifts).
www.dottydovesdesigns.co.uk www.thecreativesoulstudio.com
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How do you celebrate Christmas? We celebrate Christmas with lots of nice food and family time and just generally treating ourselves. We like to go to lantern parades, theatre trips and make crafts to bring some joy and fun into the darkness of winter. We aren’t religious but like to celebrate our loved ones and being together with some nice family meals and gifts. We see all the grandparents and other family, but like to keep Christmas morning for us as a little family in our own home. I like to cook a special Christmas moring breakfast and light candles. This year we are trying to buy and receive experiences rather than material gifts. It’s going to be a fun challenge trying to figure this out for everyone on our list! - Hatti Burt, Parent Tribe I have learned, over the past few years, to celebrate Christmas in our own unique way without obligations - small, simple and meaningful. To take the pressure off big presents, we give each child the opportunity to choose a Christmas treat experience instead perhaps ice skating, or a trip to a Christmas farm. - Lucy Pearce, Dreaming Aloud The ‘instability’ of travel is best balanced by family traditions which are practiced year after year, regardless of location. Our family loves to celebrate a traditional Christmas the best we can. Last year while living in Costa Rica, we built our own Christmas tree out of drift wood that we gathered at the beach. Christmas morning, ‘Santa’ (our kids know there’s no such person, but they still put out cookies and milk for mom) had brought boogie boards and skim boards that we used at the beach Christmas Day. This year, we’ll be celebrating with sledding, snowmen, a real fir tree and the traditional Christkindlmarkts of Germany. - Rachel Denning, Worldschool family Our Christmas in Cornwall is always full of magical treats throughout December. The kids have a shared advent calendar with special activities left by our resident elf for each day. These are things like choosing our Christmas tree, having our first mince pie, making wrapping paper, the school nativity, going to Rogue Theatre’s Winter Wood in Tehidy Woods (to be enchanted by stories from Old Man Winter and his band of faeries and woodland spirits); watching the Mousehole Christmas lights twinkling in the harbour; and meeting Father Christmas and his reindeer-food making elves at the Eden Project. The extended family always comes together on Christmas day, with everyone contributing something delicious to the meal. Christmas is a time that always makes me feel incredibly lucky to live in Cornwall, surrounded by family and friends. - Pippa Best, Story of Mum We have a meal with grandparents on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas morning we stay cosy at home, light candles and the fire and open presents. We make a veggie roast dinner and then have a walk in the afternoon and spend the evening by the fire playing and watching films, for us it’s a quiet and cosy family day. - Clare Cooper, Milestones of Motherhood
The Happy Mag for Creative Kids
www.anorakmagazine.com
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