It was 9:14am on the first Monday of the July school holidays when I found myself hiding in the pantry, stress-eating a family block of Whittaker’s while my…
Is vaping addictive for teens? Yes. Learn why nicotine hooks young brains fast, the warning signs, and what parents can say and do next.
A realistic example family budget with two kids, plus smart ways to cut costs, plan for childcare, food, bills and school expenses each month.
How to talk about first period with calm, clear words. Practical scripts, timing tips, and ways to help your child feel informed, safe and ready.
Teen mental health trends 2027 point to more anxiety, digital pressure and identity stress. Here’s what parents should watch and say at home.
Learn how to report sextortion online fast, protect your child, save evidence, block the offender and contact the right platforms and police.
The future of school homework with AI tools is already here. What changes for pupils, teachers and parents, and how to set smart boundaries.
Why does my child lie? Learn the real reasons children lie, what it means at different ages, and how to respond without making it worse.
A practical guide to teen digital safety with clear rules, warning signs, and scripts to help parents handle social media, gaming, sexting and scams.
A case study reducing teen screen time, with what worked, what backfired, and how parents can set realistic limits without daily rows.
Learn how to support anxious child feelings with calm routines, helpful scripts, and practical ways to build confidence at home and school.
Learn how to set tween phone rules that are clear, fair and easy to stick to, with scripts, boundaries and safety checks for everyday family life.
Learn how to talk to teens about consent with calm, practical scripts for dating, parties and online situations – without awkward lectures or panic.
Practical steps for what to do if your teen is sending nudes, including calm conversations, safety moves, consent, and when to get help.
Learn how to set screen time boundaries for teens without constant fights, with clear rules, phone-free zones and scripts that build buy-in.
Learn how to talk to your child about pornography with calm, age-appropriate scripts, practical boundaries and what to do if they’ve already seen it.
A parent-friendly walkthrough of instagram safety settings for parents, plus what to say to your teen so the rules actually stick at home.
Learn the signs your child is being groomed online, what changes to watch for, and what to say next so you can act calmly and quickly.
What is sextortion and what to do: how it works, signs to watch for, and the exact steps to protect your child and preserve evidence safely.
So, my mate Sarah called me last week in full meltdown mode. She’d walked into her teen’s room to grab the laundry basket and got smacked in the…
A ring in the middle of an ordinary day. I was sweeping leaves off the porch when my phone rang. It was a simple Wednesday afternoon, the kind…
If your teen is suddenly “just hanging out” with someone they met at school, or if you’ve heard the words “we’re talking” and felt your stomach drop, you’re…
Last Tuesday, I found myself standing in the kitchen, holding a lunchbox my daughter had barely touched. Again. She’d been quieter than usual that morning, brushing past me…
It started with a phone call no parent ever wants to get. Lisa was mid-grocery run, juggling apples and mental to-do lists, when her phone rang. The contact…
If you’ve been worrying about not knowing what’s going on inside your child’s heart, don’t panic. Parenting doesn’t come with a cheat sheet for feelings, but this article…
You’re standing in the kitchen. Shoes nowhere to be seen. Bag unpacked. Clock ticking. Your kid’s moving like molasses. You take a breath, try again: “Please get ready.”…
You think you’re tech-savvy. You’ve locked down the iPad, added time limits, and installed parental control apps with names like “SafeSpace” and “KidShield.” But here’s the bad news:…
Most of us at 14 were too busy worrying about Fortnite skins, school uniforms, or awkwardly trying to flirt over Snap. But not Heman Bekele. Nah. Heman was…
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably asked yourself this: “How do I help my child grow up confident and resilient—without pushing them too hard or shielding them too…
You know that kid who walks into a room like they belong there? Who tries, fails, laughs, and tries again — without crumbling? Who doesn’t need a hundred…
If you’re raising a son—and you’re worried sometimes that he shrugs when he’s upset, or that you’re supposed to somehow “toughen him up” even when your gut says…
If you’re here because you’re worried your child could be a bully—or you’re scared they could be the target of one—you’re exactly where you need to be.Today, I…
If your child falls apart the moment they lose—whether it’s a game, a test, a turn, or a race—you’re not alone. If you’ve felt that flush of secondhand…
If your child can’t seem to stay on task without you hovering nearby… If their go-to strategy for problem-solving is “wait for Mum to do it”… If you’re…
If you’ve ever stared into the glazed-over eyes of a child who “forgot they had a test,” panic-scrolled Google for division tricks, or tried to motivate your kid…
If you’ve ever tried to comfort your child during a meltdown or a moment of self-doubt, you’ve probably said this phrase.It seems harmless—kind, even. We say it because…
Teenagers today live in a world where a swipe or a tap can open the door to a whole new social circle—but it’s not always a safe or…
It was one of those chaotic mornings every parent knows too well. My five-year-old, dressed in her mismatched superhero outfit, was attempting to use glitter glue to “fix”…
Let’s be honest: getting kids to help around the house can sometimes feel like trying to herd cats. You know they can do it; you’ve seen them organize…
Imagine this: you open a fresh journal, ready to spill your thoughts, dreams, and wildest ideas onto the blank page. But suddenly… writer’s block hits. Don’t worry; we’ve got…
Let me paint a picture for you: It’s the school holidays. You’re feeling hopeful, thinking of all the creative activities you’re going to do with the kids—baking, crafts,…
Just the other evening, I found myself in the middle of yet another classic showdown between my two teenage daughters, Lucy and Hannah. Lucy, who’s sixteen, had borrowed…
Remember your first period? If your answer is “barely, but I do recall crying in the school bathroom and stuffing toilet paper in my pants,” you’re not alone.…
It can be scary for some parents when their teen decides to go vegan. For many parents a vegan diet is quite foreign, and lots of parents worry…
In response to a reader comment on our What is eczema article, Kiwi Families reached out to our wonderful Facebook community for advice. We had such a great…
13 year old Molly Redican recently presented at Facebook Headquarters in Melbourne, and wrote about her experience exclusively for Kiwi Families.
We have thrown some cracker birthday parties over my teen’s 15 year existence and hosting them is a lot of fun albeit kinda chaotic and exhausting!
What a cruel end to a lazy, warm summer! Kids’ feet cramped by shoes; t-shirts and togs replaced with stiff uniforms, and parents girding themselves to become disciplinarians again.…
We’re flying head first into the new school year and, if you’re like us, we’re cracking into the start of another crazy year as best prepared as we can…
A common question parents ask cycling instructors is “how will my child become more confident on a bike?” Kiwi cycling instructor Marilyn Northcotte passes on her tips for parents…
You hear this said all the time, “we live in a different world these days…” Well, I’ve been thinking about things that are ‘different’… but also somehow the same,…
One of the major challenges within your blended family will be how to bond your stepchildren with your own children. We all have that ideal fantasy, The Brady…
I have been thinking about traditions, and family, and how to make the effort lately. It’s easier not to make the effort. You feel the desire not to…
School lunches… I can hear you groaning from here. They are one of those chores that causes a lot of worry and stress.
Our young teens often ‘feel’ like adults, but as parents, we habitually still treat them like kids. The fact is, they are still ‘kids’ in some respects, but they…
Do you want a change from Disney princesses and superheroes? I know as a Mum of two young kids (6 and 9) that what my children see on…
The Spirit of Adventure Trust provides one of the best and most unique youth development programmes in New Zealand.
How does your family move together? Is family time also TV/couch time? Did you know that there is an epidemic in our society that is causing sickness and…
David Stendl-Rast is a very wise man. He gave a TED talk all about happiness. It was a simple exploration of a question that dogs modern thinking. How…
Do you remember as a 7-year-old being mesmerised watching someone shoot the goal, singing in front of 1000s, or drawing a doodle on a page that looked like…
When our teens are going through a rough time it really is hard to think about anything else. Sometimes nothing is actually said but their misery or silence tells you…
Kids content on our television is in a precarious position. We just have to look at the demise of John Campbell’s programme on TV3 to see how stories…
Our home grows frequently with over energetic teenagers! They blaze into our house brimming with smiles, flailing hair, bags of clothes, giant oversized art folders, the crinkly sound of…
It’s a well known principle that including 5+ vegetable and fruit servings a day is a great foundation for your daily eating habits. 5 would be an absolute…
Children’s Day – Te Rā O Te Tamariki – provides New Zealanders with an opportunity to give time to children. It is a fun day for activities that start…
It’s hard making that decision as a parent to let your young teenager go out certain places in the first place, right! If you read my previous post…
Technology is part of our lives and it is not going away. How much you want to let it into your life and for what purpose are questions…
In an age where we literally have an array of technological devices at our fingertips, there are a high number of articles, blogs and opinion pieces espousing the…
The first mention of ‘education and technology’ tends to bring people out in a rash of raising funds for computers in classrooms, and making sure every child has…
On Friday I gave a presentation to learning support staff and some educational psychologists around transitioning young people between schools. The process of thinking about what it means…
“Mom, can I pleeeeaaase go to Regina’s* Birthday party/Sleepover on Saturday?” pleads Miss 14. “Which one is Regina again?” I reply. “Remember, she’s that new girl I met at School last…
It’s Money Week in New Zealand, and the word on the street is that we’ll need $4,000 in retirement just to spend on eggs! Time to get some…
This week I’ve seen a lot of students struggling with homework. Perhaps it’s the grey cold weather that’s making it extra hard to get the books out when…
Facebook is a huge part of many young people’s lives and it can be mystifying and quite frightening for some parents. If you’re not on Facebook, you might not…
Mothers and daughters who run together – have fun together… Well … mostly 🙂
It’s Allergy Awareness Week soon and we talk to a family where allergies are part of everyday life. Kiwi mum, Amanda, talks about living with allergies for 6 year old Amelia.
Making your own pizza with kids is easy! Too often we perceive making things by scratch to be difficult and end up spending way too much money to buy a…
What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut, doctor or maybe an All Black? Perhaps like me, you’ve yet to decide…..
Teen car crashes have decreased dramatically since New Zealand implemented the graduated driver’s license system in 1987. Unfortunately, car crashes are still the number one cause of death for…
Here are two lovely and simple Valentine’s crafts to brighten someone’s 14th of February. These little boxes hold a Hershey’s chocolate kiss… it’s quick to make them in…
Since 1999, young people in New Zealand have been able to buy alcohol from the age of 18. And as we all know, loads of under 18s get…
Christmas is just around the corner. I’ve always loved Christmas and after becoming a mum last year I think I love it even more! I love everything about…
Hey it’s Vanessa here, I decided to jump on the recycling band wagon and upcycled some used milk formula tins simply by painting them, and planting herbs in…
Exam time can be a stressful time of year for the whole family. Mum and Dad may be working flat-out preparing for the closedown of business over the…
Combining games night with a family meal is one way to have a lot of fun. You can get dressed up, divide family members into who is responsible…
This time of year typically means rather changeable weather and often clear windy days where I live, so what better thing to make than a kite? And what…
Prying older kids away from television, phone and computer screens can be a difficult task at times; especially when you’re trying to do it so they will participate…
What better reason could there be to celebrate the wonderful dads in our families than Father’s Day? Dads come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s someone…
As I am writing this, outside my window it is a beautiful crisp clear Wellington morning – the perfect day for an outdoor adventure with the family. If…
It’s probably fair to say that family is where most people lay down the foundations for all later interactions in their lives – one of those interactions being…
This post looks at how to make family fitness fun and why it’s a worthwhile investment. We all know that physical activity is good for our bodies, inside…
It’s winter again – cold, dark, and occasionally wet and/or snowing, depending which bit of New Zealand you live in. So how can you keep the family active…
‘Sport’, says Spencer Willis, in his recent study for SPARC (now Sport NZ) ‘should not be viewed as an activity that is only about winning’.
A vegetable garden is a fabulous way for a family to work together to achieve something amazing. As luck would have it, the time is right to get…
We often think of change as something scary; something to be avoided at all costs in some cases! Whether you are adjusting your child’s daily routine, testing a…
I was contacted recently by a parent who is concerned about how his 4 children access the internet. He told me that his kids are growing up and…
Children are constantly grappling with increasingly new amounts of information, environments, activities, expectations, people and so much more. Helping children to adapt to change, and to become more…
Combining craft with making lasting, visual memories is a fantastic way to bond together with your children. If you’ve never tried scrapbooking before, it doesn’t have to be…
It’s the weekend between two long weeks of school holidays. It might be time for dad to take the kids for a day (or part day) if mum…
Awesome treasure hunts do not have to be difficult to organise or especially time consuming… but they can be if you want them to be!