This 'bugs and leaves' duvet combo has got to be the cutest bed linen set I've ever seen, so I was delighted to learn that it's made from 100% organic cotton, too.

It's part of an outstanding collection of ethically made, organic luxury linens by LUMA organic, and even though it's meant for kids, I would quite happily come home to a scene like this every evening! The single (140 x 200cm) duvet cover costs £59.50.

Unless we take dramatic steps now, our kids will have a lot more on their plates when it comes to curbing climate change than we do now. So, many parents are working on the basis that it's good to start 'em young.

I've collected together a few resources for parents of young children who'd like to keep their family's carbon footprint as small as possible. Eco-friendly kids is a fantastic site with loads of advice and activities, and is well worth a look. Or for a quick tutorial on green parenting, follow the jump for our brief guide to 'growing green kids'.

Barbie as an eco-warrior raises a few questions, not least how it's possible to take on such a roll when you're entirely made of plastic. But Mattel has announced that it is to launch a range of accessories made from the leftover fabric from making the Barbie toys.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, fashion-conscious Barbie is a woman of many castoffs. These are to be turned into a collection of "cool, patchwork style" tote bags, purses, hats, pillows and other little girl accessories. This is, of course, a good use of fabrics that would otherwise go straight to landfill, but this doesn't change the fact that Mattel basically makes millions flogging plastic, and has now found a fairly obvious money spinner with a supposedly "green" angle.The range isn't out in the shops yet, but is expected to hit Toys R Us soon.

Organic bedding needn't be plain and saintly white: these brilliant coloured jungle print duvet sets are great fun for cheering up kids' bedrooms but are also organic to the core.

The 'Lions, tigers and kitties, oh my!' set is one of many dazzling designs by Pixel Organics, all of which are printed with non-toxic inks using a 'low impact' process that aims to leave only the tiniest footprints! Unfortunately for us Brits, the products are still mostly limited to the US, but there are dozens of online stores that will deliver. Alternatively, you can get the full 'Lions' bed set for £290 at UK site Twenga.

Bindi Irwin, the nine-year-old daughter of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin is an ambitious young lady. Already, her career has already seen her present a TV show, bring out her own fitness DVD and album, and now she's launching a super cute eco-friendly clothing line for kids.

Irwin showcased her collection, Bindi Wear International, with a catwalk show starring herself and a troupe of young models (including a real-life python) in Sydney yesterday. The clothes in the 130-piece collection aim to bring the eco fashion message to kids, and feature recycled materials, lots of fun animal prints and a funky 'Bindi' logo.

If you've ever wanted to get friendly with an alpaca, this could be your chance. Toft, makers of super soft, sustainable clothes and accessories from happy, hand-reared alpacas are running a series of 'alpaca fun days' this summer. From £10; details on the site.

It may seem a long way till June, but Toft want to keep groups small so book early to avoid disappointment! Activities will include farm walk and tour amongst the alpacas, herding and feeding, petting and handling, halter training and leading, fleece sorting and includes a picnic amongst the alpacas! Adults and children are both welcome, but must be booked seperately due to difference in price. Adults £30 and Childen £10. The days will run on Saturday 7th June and Saturday 16th August 2008 from 10am- 4pm

Related: Chocolate on an organic farm this easter | Alpaca baby hats from Entertaining Elephants | Men's and unisex alpaca accessories from Traidcraft

Like it or not, kids are big fans of fizzy pop, and many get through a fair few cans of drink during the school week. Education is the key to ensuring these don't end up 'decorating' the streets, and a new project has just launched to tackle this very problem.

Thinkcans new kids' area teaches children all they need to know about disposing of aluminium drinks cans in a green and responsible manner, through a series of fun games and downloads. There are also some useful materials for teachers hoping to pass on the recycling message to junior and early secondary school pupils. The project is brought to you by Novelis, Europe's only dedicated aluminium can recycling plant which is capable of recycling every aluminium can sold in the UK. And it's not just for kids...if you're in any doubt as to how you go about recycling your mid-morning can of diet cola, check out the site and be educated.

Babies put everything in their mouths, so it's good to have at least some things in the house that are guaranteed safe for chewing.

All the toys at Zoe B Organic are free of substances that have raised alarm in the past, such as Parabens, PVC, phtalates and BPA (bisphenol-A); all of which have traditoinally been used in baby toys. The cute little mushroom pictured here is made from 100% natrual rubber with non-toxic paints, and is also available in pink or the ever-popular 'non gender specific' yellow. Called 'Chan Pie Gnon', it's just one of many teething toys, dummies and bottles on sale here; all are made in France.

If you like the look of Zoe B's toys, there's currently a 10% off offer at the label's blog. Simply quote the code "safeteether" at Zoë b Organic with your purchase; offer ends 31/03/08.

Anyone who's ever been a child will remember the real reason we showed up at friend's birthday parties: was it the birthday cake? the games? the joy of seeing your little friends' eyes light up as they opened up your gift? Of course it wasn't. It was the party loot bag full of swag that your friend's mother handed out to you at the end.

So we all know now what a heinous crime it would be not to provide loot bags at the end of a children's party. Fortunately, you don't have to compromise your principles to do this now that Little Cherry have launched a range of exciting eco-friendly party bags, packed with sustainable and ethically-made toys that children will actually want to play with. There are girls' bags, boys' bags, unisex bags and different sizes and prices to choose from. Browse the entire range here. From £4 at Little Cherry.

Related: Ethical, fairtrade, 100% biodegradable balloons

If you're planning on a rural adventure this Easter weekend, the Soil Association have teamed up with some of Britain's organic farms to run fun events that will give you an insight into where our food comes from as well as making for a great day out.

There'll be farm walks and tours, the promise of "ample opportunities to see gambolling lambs in the fields" - and even the chance to learn about lambing firsthand. If that all sounds a bit messy to you city types, fear not: Green and Blacks have also got involved, and are running Easter Egg hunts at several of the farms. Follow the jump for a list of participating farms, with activity details...

It may sound like an entry in a list of unfortunately named foreign products, but Munchskins Bum Bum Balm will in fact work wonders for little ones with nappy rash and parents who don't want to rub obscure chemicals into their babies' most sensitive parts.

Now available in the UK, the Canadian-made balm is completely natural, made from pure, organic and cruelty-free ingredients such as unbleached beeswax, organic Calendula infused Sunflower Oil and Vitamin E. £6.49 at Global Kids

[Via Ecofabulous]

'Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon', Winne the Pooh once wisely said, so it's nice to see his sentiment is a little bit more true now we can buy balloons that are not only fairly traded, but 100% biodegradable and made from rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Much as we love them, most balloons are a menace to the environment, being essentially a disposable product that doesn't stay in one place for long: they either end up in landfill, or float off into the environment at large where they can do damage to wildlife.These large, extra-strong balloons -- the first to be ethically and environmentally sound -- are made in India and great quality, which is perhaps surprising when they are designed to decompose in an ecologically sound way. Now that sounds worth celebrating to me! [Via Little Green Blog]

Pack of 25 for £2.30 at Fair Deal Trading

I can't decide what makes me love these toys the most: that they're gorgeous, the prices, the fair trade principles, the eco-friendliness or the fact that this is not mass-marketed plastic TV-branded crap. These beautiful wooden toys are made with sustainably sourced materials - primarily chemical-free rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paints - in factories that are located close to communities so that craftsmen can "maintain quality relationships with their own children while they make toys for others".

ImagiPLAY also claims to visit every factory to ensure there is a safe, clean, respectful working environment, no child labour and only a local workforce paid a fair, living wage. The mark-up on the products isn't huge, however. The Noah's Ark or Day at the Zoo playsets, to give two examples of many, are $99 and only $26.99 respectively, the latter being budget-friendly for many even if the exchange rate isn't working in your favour. Imaginative, long-lasting, sustainable, ethically-produced toys; can you get much better than that?

As anyone who's ever been a child will know, headlice (or 'nits') are a fact of life that will never go away, probably.

You'll also remember just how vile and pungent that ointment used to treat the problem was. I know I hated it -- which is why I've decided to share with you a remedy you can make yourself for treating headlice. So if you have children and don't want to subject them to those chemical fumes next time the nit nurse comes a-calling, I'm told that this home made cure from Little Green Blog really does work. Here's what you'll need:

Home headlice treatment:
10 mls of neem oil
90 mls of sesame oil
20 drops each of rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, bergamot and geranium essential oils.

Follow the jump for instructions on how to use.

Popular US babywear range Happy Green Bee is buzzing over to Britain with a fun collection of organic clothing and accessories for infants and toddlers.

The range features fun, practical and brightly coloured toddlers clothes that have gone down a storm in the USA. They are comfortable, stylish and as fun to buy as they are to wear and can be mixed and matched in endless combinations. The brightly-coloured clothing is non gender specific, and there are some really cute accessories to check out, too. Available exclusively at Green Mums.