All children love to draw and colour and we’re so excited to bring you some gorgeous colouring in pictures to do with your little people. We hope you love these images as much as we do! Just click on the image to download the picture.

I have always gone for the most eco looking product on my supermarket shelves. When my baby was born, however, I started looking a bit more earnestly at what was in some of these products. What I found was surprising – more than just realising that having a dolphin on the pack doesn’t necessarily mean that a product is eco friendly! There are so many products around now that claim to be green, it can get a bit confusing figuring out which ones actually are green, but will also do a good job at getting rid of dirt!

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If your house constantly feels chilly no matter how many heaters you have going, it may be worth your while to look into insulating. Insulation is one of the best ways to keep your house warm, dry and healthy. Houses built after 2007 are required to have high levels of insulation. If your house was built before that, it may be under insulated and you may want to look at adding further insulation to make your home more comfortable.

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Do you want to decrease your family’s impact on the environment but are not sure where to start? Whether you need some ideas that take very little time or money, or are happy to invest in your environmental footprint, this guide will provide you with some inspiration.

The best ways to green your lifestyle are to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reducing and reusing should be your top priorities as recycling still takes a lot of energy.

Baby steps:

Reduce your waste:

• Take your own reusable bags to the supermarket, make sure you include some small bags for fresh produce and a chiller bag for frozen or cold items
• Take your own containers when you get takeaways
• Buy in bulk to reduce packaging
• Ask your child’s school to send you notices and newsletter by email
• Switch all your bills to electronic copies rather than paper
• Put a no junk mail sign on your letterbox
• Use hankies instead of tissues
• Use washable cloths instead of paper towels
• Cut down on plastic wrap. Use a plate to cover bowls in the fridge or microwave, buy reusable sandwich bags or lunch boxes with dividers so you don’t need to wrap food
• Don’t use a plastic rubbish bin liner, just wash your bin out when you empty it
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Donate quality goods to an op shop rather than throwing them away

Reduce your consumption:

• Consider if you really need something before you buy it. Upsizing your TV? Want a new phone? If you don’t really need it, then leave it on the shelf
• Choose items that are made in New Zealand or state they are a product of New Zealand to save on food miles
• Buy quality appliances are energy and water efficient, and will last for a long time
• Use eco friendly lightbulbs
• Join the library rather than buying books, and the toy library instead of buying more toys
• Water your garden at night to prevent water loss through evaporation

Reuse and recycle:

• Find out what your city council accepts and put a box somewhere handy where recycling can easily be stored
• Choose products made from recyclable packing
• Buy secondhand items where possible. TradeMe, op shops and freecycle can be great sources for secondhand goods.

Bigger steps:

Reduce your waste:

• Compost your food scraps. If you don’t have much outdoor space consider a bokashi system which can be kept inside and doesn’t smell
• Use cloth nappies instead of disposables
• Make your own crackers, biscuits and cakes
• Plant a vegetable garden
• Start menu planning to prevent food waste
• Keep a bucket in your shower to collect the water that is run while you are waiting for it to heat up.

Reduce your consumption:

• Share big items that aren’t used frequently with your neighbours or friends. You could have a communal lawnmower, sewing machine, food processor, and more
• Cut up old clothes to use as rags instead of buying special cloths or paper towels
• Consider working from home a few days per week.

Even bigger steps:

Reduce your waste:

• Consider using cloth squares instead of toilet paper. This is really easy if you use cloth nappies, keep the nappy bucket and a pile of clean cloths by the loo and chuck the used cloths in with the nappies so they can be washed together

Reduce your consumption:

• Replace your lawn with a vegetable garden. Lawns use a lot of water and energy to keep looking nice, use those resources to grow food instead!
• Install a rainwater tank to water your garden
• If you are building or renovating:
  • Consider alternative energy sources such as solar or wind
  • Use sustainable flooring such as carpet made from recycled materials
  • Use eco friendly paints and wallpapers
  • Use passive energy to retain heat in winter and cool the house in summer.

Our articles on saving power and eco-friendly cleaning products will give you even more ideas. We would love to hear your tips: what are the easiest changes you have made to live more sustainably?

Further reading:

http://www.sustainableliving.org.nz/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/series/green-your-home

http://good.net.nz/

With the rising cost of power as well as the environmental impact of electricity use regularly in the media, saving power is something we are frequently reminded we should be doing. If you’re not sure where to start, we have a great list of ideas below. From free super quick ideas, to more expensive ones that will pay themselves off over a period of years, you will definitely find something you can do! The first task on your list to reduce power costs should be a trip to powerswitch.org.nz. This site will let you know whether you are on the cheapest plan for your family. You may be surprised how much money you can save.

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Check the 2014 School Terms and Holiday Dates for NZ primary, intermediate and secondary schools + Public holidays + regional Anniversary days in NZ.

Please ensure that you check the appropriate Terms table — whether for Primary & Intermediate schools or for Secondary and Composite schools. At times, individual school dates will vary so it’s worth checking with your school to be certain of particular dates. 

2014 School Term Dates:

1. Primary and Intermediate Schools

* or a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 384 half-days in 2014.

2. Secondary and Composite Schools

* Or a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2014.

2014 Public (Statutory) Holidays

New Zealand schools must be closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following statutory holidays:

And the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday for 2014 as listed below:

Rainy days are the one thing parents do not need during the holidays, but they happen.  We have great ideas for free or low cost rainy day activities when the kids must play indoors.

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Young children love arts and crafts, and you do not need lots of art supplies to keep them happy. A pack of crayons is all you need to get started, and these great ideas will keep your kids (boys and girls) busy for hours. Continue reading »

Check the 2013 School Terms and Holiday Dates for NZ primary, intermediate and secondary schools + Public holidays + regional Anniversary days in NZ. Continue reading »