single shell of each kind to take home. In my experience, children are always happy with this thoughtful compromise, and parents can feel satisfied with their own responsible approach to an activity that will always be cherished 
as a wonderful childhood

Shaker heartA love-filled centrepiece for your table or to hang in your cupboardMaterials 57x50cm striped cotton fabric (such as Forbury Stripe £38 from Laura Ashley)Small amount of linenButtonWadding/dried lavenderWireBay leavesRibbon.How to makeCut out two heart shapes from the...

The tradition for Easter bonnets originates from Victorian times when families paraded in the park at Easter and fashionable ladies sported ever-more-decorative hats. Get your children to form their own Easter parade once they’ve finished making

How did Okido start?Okido started when my son Emil was four and not yet at school. We were on holiday in Morocco with just one Richard Scarry book that we were reading over and over again. So we started drawing our own book with some activity pages

and reinforcing their position as an important member of the family.How to begin…The Box A memory box doesn’t have to be beautiful or expensive. It could be a shoebox or a box file – which allows you to continue adding to the collection each year with a new

enduring family memories. But how can you unleash this creativity?An uptight Daddy screeching “Be careful with the camera” is unlikely to bring out the best in your child’s inner David Bailey. Although you want to teach your child to respect the fragility

that children learn to express their gratitude in a written form, so here's how to encourage the art of thank you note writing, even from a very early age.• Explain why they're important For a young child, discuss the fact that a friend or family member has