Here is an article written by guest writer Jennifer Allison who is passionate about the environment and how we can change our habits for the benefit of the environment, while also enriching our own experiences

Going Green When Choosing Toys And Crafts
If current trends continue, the middle of the century will see 12 billion tons of waste plastic in landfills around the world, so the issue of looking after our world and its resources is an ever-present and urgent one. It’s crucial for us all to find more eco-friendly ways of living our day to day lives, and this can easily start with the toys and products that we use to entertain and nurture our children. Changing your toy-buying and crafting habits to make them more sustainable and ‘green’ is nowadays an affordable and viable choice. It can neatly fit alongside cutting down on your carbon footprint by lowering the amount of car and plane travel that you do, recycling regularly and efficiently, and reducing your use of excess plastic packaging and bags in your efforts to maintain a more ecologically responsible lifestyle.

Sustainable And Engaging Toys
This everyday awareness of our responsibilities doesn’t have to be a negative, nagging burden. It can be fun, engaging and creative, whilst setting an example for the next generation coming along. The world of green crafting and eco-friendly toys exemplifies this attitude perfectly.
Toys are fundamental for a child’s development. They can engage a child’s attention, encourage the development of their motor skills, expand their sense of creativity, and help them with problem solving. And thankfully, nowadays an environmentally aware parent’s choice of toys isn’t limited in scope. The whole journey of a child’s development and care, from the baby shower onwards, can be catered for with toys, baby wipes, diapers and accessories made from sustainable products free from potentially harmful chemicals. 


The Benefits Of Crafting
Green crafting is also increasingly popular. Not only is it satisfying and fulfilling to make your own cards, designs and ornaments for your child, it can also have the same personal effects that mindfulness does. Crafting can help to reduce anxiety and depression, clearing your mind and inducing a less stressful life. When you add in the environmental benefits of using recycling and involving organic materials such as paper and wood in your craft projects, you can clearly see that green crafting is a hugely positive step for you, your child and the planet.

These days you can create a rich, colourful, exciting and stimulating atmosphere for your child using the simplest of materials and the most ethically minded products. Buying and making these items doesn’t need to be a grudging choice. There’s something heart warming and reassuring about a beautiful wooden train set or a set of home-knitted teddies, and it’s reassuring for every parent to know they don’t just have to rely on plastic, chemically treated diapers, toys and other essentials to look after, entertain and delight their child. 

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Try out my new Roasted Cauliflower Steaks recipe. This has been a popular addition to the menu in our household. The spicy tahini crust flavours the cauliflower beautifully, enhanced by the flavours of roasting - yum!

Find the recipe, instructions and downloads here 

I've just created Maths Number Houses for learning Maths facts from 4 through 10. Free printable and downloadable. There are number houses from 4 through 10 as well as practice addition and subtraction sum sheets.   

There are also illustrated instructions to make using them simple and easy.
These have taken an age to create. I hope that you find them a useful tool for helping your child with maths.

Find all the houses and instructions here on the craftnhome website

I just photographed this stunning banksia flowering in my Autumn garden. They are stunning flowers. Find this and more Banksia flowers here.

I've just uploaded a heap of free downloadable and printable maths help sheets for teaching at home and home schooling. Covering numbers four through to ten, with sheets of addition sums to test whether the facts have been remembered and understood.  They've taken an age to create - I hope that you find them useful. Find them all here on craftnhome.

A new recipe is up on the website - Tomato and Apple Chutney. The apple brings a slight sweetness, great with salads or cheese and biscuits.
The full recipe, instructions and jar labels are available here on the website.

I've just uploaded the recipe to one of my childhood favourites - Fig Jam. Yum! Fantastic on toast with cream.

​Full instructions, recipe and jam jar labels are available on the website here.

Looking for inspiration for a Mother's Day Card? This card is a beautifully simple design. To see what I used to make it visit the website here.

A delicious fig chutney that's mildly sweet and perfect for a cheese board. Find the printable recipe, jar labels and full instructions here.

Make an easy Mother's Day Card personalised with the child's fingerprints - this free printable card and instructions are available here on the website.