Author Archives: chrisedwards
Tips for Dealing with an Anxious Child
1. Avoid reassurance: Our first instinct is to tell our child that there’s nothing to worry about; meanwhile, their brain is telling them that it’s a life-or-death situation. Saying “don’t worry, it’s going to be okay” simply tells our child that we don’t understand what they’re feeling. Validate their anxiety and then set about solving […]
Boring sandwiches end here.
Soggy sandwiches end here. Righting the wrongs of the lunch-makers before us. Sandwich ideas this way. PLEASE SIR, I WANT SOME SLAW • 1/2 small red cabbage, shredded • 2 medium carrots, grated • 1 fennel bulb, finely sliced • 2 spring onions, finely sliced • juice of 1 lemon • 1/4 cup mayonnaise STICK […]
Bedtime Meditation for Kids
The following bedtime meditation for kids combines relaxation and visualisation techniques to encourage kids to calm themselves before sleep. Before you try it, carry out your usual bedtime routine, tuck them in and turn out the light. Meditation can literally make your brain bigger. A study by Harvard neuroscientists found that just eight weeks of […]
Sugar biscuits
Perfect for school lunches, these little biscuits are easy and fun! • 190g / 6.5oz unsalted butter, at room temperature • 1 cup caster sugar • 1 egg • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 tsp salt • 330g / 11.5oz plain flour, sifted 1. Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an […]
ELDERFLOWER + EDIBLE FLOWERS ICY-POLE
Cool down with this delicious and very pretty Elderflower & edible flowers icy-pole recipe! • 30ml / 1oz elderflower cordial • 1 cup water • lime or lemon juice, to taste • edible flowers, such as marigold/calendula, pansy/viola, lavender, basil/hives/dill/rosemary/fennel flowers, nasturtium, cornflowers, rose, chamomile, borage 1. Combine the cordial and water in a jug, […]
THE TRUTH ABOUT AN APPLE A DAY
An apple a day keeps the doctor away is probably the first bit of dietary advice that most of us can remember receiving. But is it true? Those eight words are the foundational text of a healthy diet, nutrition’s version of “thou shalt not kill”. But where did this prescription for daily apple consumption come […]
Apple Recipes: Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Apple Pie, Baked Apple Chips & Apple & Carrot Bread
Here are 4 delicious apple recipes that you will keep coming back for! First up, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes! APPLE CINNAMON PANCAKES · 1 cup buckwheat flour · 1 cup whole wheat flour · 1 tbsp raw sugar · 2 tsp baking powder · pinch of salt · 1 1/4 cup buttermilk · 2 eggs · […]
Colour & Children
An Article by Liz Evans with Colour Psychologist Angela Wright Back in the 1990s, iconic Icelandic singer Björk told me that she loved to wear orange. She felt it was a healing colour, and good for her soul. At the time I thought it was a very Björk thing to say–typically lovely, and refreshingly original, […]
Saving the world from boredom: one bored kid at a time.
Everyone needs a list of things to do, easy entertainment for the school holidays with the mission of saving one bored kid at a time. Here goes: Make a pet rock for each family member Play Exquisite Corpse Sort through your toys and choose three for charity Write a love letter to Mum or Dad Make […]
Kite Runner: How to make your own kite
In Japan, they call people tako kichi, or ‘kite crazy’. In Holland, they’re vlieger gek. But in China, there’s no such thing as being too obsessed with flying kites, which were invented there 2,500 years ago. According to legend, a Chinese philosopher named Mozi spent years carving a wooden bird in the shape of an […]
DIY: Natural Bug Spray & Natural Bug Balm
Bitten by the DIY bug, these fun DIY natural bug spray ideas are handy for the summer months! Homemade Bug Spray Natural bug sprays are quite different to conventional sprays: they are gentle and safe, but you need to spray them regularly for maximum effect. The essential oils, including basil (Ocimum basilicum), peppermint (Mentha x […]
GROW YOUR OWN WATERMELON IN A POT.
The first thing on the list for any potted-plant DIY is a pot. And this pot needs to be a biggie. Look for something with at least a 20-litre capacity, and drainage holes. Once you’ve acquired your big watermelon pot, you’ll need to fill it with potting mix. Don’t use soil from the garden: it […]