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…
I learned the word “Luddite” a few years back when someone remarked that I’m likely one, because I had this suspicious disdain for buzz-whirring gadgets and technology. Could…
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…
In today’s busy fast paced world, technology can be a godsend. If you can transact online then that’s one less thing you need to worry about right? The…
Have a quick read of this article by the Khan Academy (free internet learning) founder. While I agree with Khan’s premise that we should acknowledge our children’s/students’/own learning efforts and…
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…
Are you too busy – spending your days rushing from one activity to another? Do you feel pressured to live up to other’s expectations – or your own…
A reader contacted me with her son who was not a willing participant with potty training. I thought it might be useful to share our conversation for those…
I was at a conference recently and one of the speakers was talking about how she was doing this science experiment with her kids that involved planting a…
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…
The impact of rapidly advancing digital technologies on our families and children is something that is beginning to be analysed and questioned more and more as technology creeps…
Many parents battle with trying to cook healthy meals that their young ones will actually eat. Fussy eating is common among children and they do eventually grow out…
Nice, wooden furniture for small people is a great investment, I think. And setting up a zone for little ones to be busy at, which is safe and…
Get Rid of Bad Odours Forever. Neutradol is the world’s number one deodoriser because it does not mask bad odours, it effectively treats them. Now available in Countdown…
Love Paris? Here’s a little something to remind you of it! We’ve got a classic ‘Lettre de Paris’ Necklace from the AGATHA Paris collection to giveaway! This gold…
The heart-warming, scary and funny story of a boy’s life, told through a teddy bear’s eyes. A teddy bear comes into a little boy’s life in 1950 when…
TOMS Shoes started in 2006, when its founder Blake made friends with some kids in Argentina, and realised how desperately they needed shoes. So Blake started a shoe…
Artist Colin Thompson will have you sorting through pieces of organised mess with Cupboard Under the Stairs. Packed with the very finest details, you’ll be intrigued with the…
When a misunderstood dust-keeper fairy named Zarina steals Pixie Hollow’s all-important Blue Pixie Dust, and flies away to join forces with the pirates of Skull Rock, Tinker Bell…
It’s Penguins, Puffles and Prizes these school holidays as Disney’s Club Penguin, the number one virtual world for kids, joins the fun at Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium.…
‘Purina Pound Pups to Dog Stars’ is a touching new TV series that airs on TV ONE, Mondays at 7.30pm. The show follows the escapades of top animal…
Did you know over one thousand children in New Zealand have arthritis? Arthritis affects over 500,000 Kiwis of all ages. September is Arthritis Awareness Month and Blackmores is…
Super Power Baby Project is a photographic art book which features striking photographic portraits of its 72 subjects, taken by award-winning photographer Rachel Callander. The personality of each…
Every year, more research comes out that enhances our understanding of children’s brain development, learning and attachments. There is no doubt that the first three years of a…
To celebrate the release of The Dinosaur that Pooped the Past – we have 5 prize packs to giveaway. Each pack includes a copy of The Dinosaur that…
Mustela, the experts in baby skin care is formulated scientifically and dermatologically with natural processes and no chemicals, ensuring the highest quality treatment for your baby’s delicate skin.…
Welcome to the jungle…of fun! The cast of the animated hit comedy Rio returns — along with a new flock of all-star voice talent, including Oscar® nominee Andy…
Lascal Maxi BuggyBoards™ have received a highly recommended rating by Consumer Magazine in its September issue following a review of several buggy boards currently available on the New…
The holidays are on and so is the mess in our lounge. I have got a great way to keep the kids busy and inspired and the mess,…
Sand by Hugh Howey is a science fiction novel about a world buried under sand with survivors eking out their existence by diving through the sand to salvage…
Rufus is a bear who just wants to enjoy a cup of tea in the sun. But this is not as easy as you might think! Rufus and…
Kids at a loose end these holidays? Bored with being stuck indoors all winter? With an action packed line up of free entertainment, from Cup Cake Workshops to…
Bear Grylls – he’s a hero of sorts. He chose to live his life on the edge after being inspired by a number of other heroes, and this…
Tottie and Dot are two little girls who live side by side. Life is very peaceful until one day the girls begin competing with each other to create…
Best Mates is a story about three school friends who go to war together. One is killed and buried at Gallipoli, the other two survive and remain friends,…
From their website: Learn about and be inspired by the sculptures on Wellington’s waterfront. Experiment, learn and have fun with shapes, patterns, prints, colours, new materials and ideas…
Key Word Kids is an educational therapy app designed to help children with language development. While created specifically for children with language delays or English as a Second…
All human beings are born as natural scientists with the desire to make sense of their immediate environment. Research shows that young children learn and think in a…
To celebrate the release of the new Treasure Hunters book from James Patterson, we have a family pack of Patterson titles to give away! There’s something in here for all…
Anna and Roger Wilde are a Nelson couple with a passion for eating healthy, delicious food. All the meals in Real Fresh Gluten Free Food are gluten free…
In The Year my Life Broke, Josh and his family are forced to move to a small town because of a change in their financial situation. Josh goes…
So your baby is well and truly into the puree phase of eating, and soon it’s time to move onto chunks and whole foods…
Exposure is the fourth book in the popular ‘Virals’ series starring Tory Brennan, niece of Temperance Brennan (‘Bones’, to those who watch the popular TV series). It is…
To celebrate the upcoming release of Disney’s PLANES FIRE AND RESCUE on September 25, we have 5 prize packs to give away. Each prize pack contains the following…
How to Build a Girl is a vaguely autobiographical coming of age story. Johanna Morrigan completely embarrasses herself on national TV, so she decides to rebuild herself as…
Rusty goes to the department store with his mother and Henrietta and Toby. But his nose soon leads him astray and on a new adventure. Where is Rusty?
Hanspeter Nüesch has done an admirable job collecting a huge variety of information to present in this book, which is essentially about the love story between Ruth and…
Great for keeping kids’ feet warm, the Kids Oxford boots are cosy for small people. They are made from the quality sheepskin and a sturdy sole that keep them…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post we…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post,…
Tiger wants to bake a cake. A chocolate cake. But rabbit has a weakness for carrot cake. Monkey wants a banana cake. Dog is licking his chops thinking…
I’m sure those of you who eat a gluten free diet will agree that it’s hard to find an exciting gluten free cookbook. Well you’ll be thrilled with…
When you’re juggling a busy life, the last thing you want to do is get slowed down by having to deal with light bladder leakage.
Poor little Rabbit doesn’t want to go to school…
Rollie is a vertical grill designed to cook eggs (and other things) in minutes. The egg pops out in a sausage shape and is super easy to chop…
Sealord is delighted to be part of New World’s Little Shop and to celebrate has made two little fishing boats just like the real ones, just a bit…
To celebrate the Baby Show, Protect-A-Bed is giving away 3 x fitted cot mattress protectors worth $34.99 each. The Protect·A·Bed® cot mattress protectors are super absorbent, machine washable…
Rotavirus is a very infectious tummy bug that is extremely common in babies and young children and it can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea and lead to hospitalisation.
You may be familiar with the original version of Gavin Bishop’s The House that Jack Built and this is a te reo Maori re-release of this popular book.…
It’s that time again – the Baby Show is back again for 2014, so make sure you save the date! With great exhibitors showcasing a vast range of…
New in Dave Gunson’s children’s wildlife pictures books is NZ Plants. With 24 pages of full colour images that explore our native and common flora, it is a…
One of my new favourites, Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas is a lovingly told tale about Elizabeth the elephant seal, who swims down Christchurch’s Avon River and refuses…
A collection of recipes from New Zealand’s favourite bakers, Sweet Treats to Share is a beauty of a book. Those who lend their pen to this collection include…
Treasures nappies have been proudly made in New Zealand for over 30 years and feature characters from the kiwi classic Hairy Maclary™ stories, including super cute Zachary Quack…
I’m not really a very technological person but I was interested to see how the ASUS T100 Tablet computer compared to the iPad that I’m used to. It’s…
Many kiwi kids have the privilege of growing up near the sea everyday. My two year old regularly loves a trip to look at the ‘crabbies’ on our…
Baby Online is one of the leaders in the disposable nappies market in New Zealand and one of the leading suppliers of environmentally friendly nappies! They also have an…
As parents, our job is to protect our children and support their development; so one day they can stand on their own two feet, and support themselves. Part…
Got a Peppa Pig lover in your house? There’s one in mine! Well, we’ve got a family pass to Peppa Pig Treasure Hunt to give away in each…
For the first time on DVD – it’s the original Sleeping Beauty. When a new princess is born to King Stefan & his wife, the entire kingdom rejoices.…
Know a child who loves Jake and The Neverland Pirates? Well, we’ve got three DVDs to give away. Complete with ‘interactive’ elements, this DVD is another gem from Disney…
This awesome pack from Cheeky Wipes contains all you need to clean your baby’s bum. The kit includes a 2 ltr pail with a secure lid, 20 soft…
This is a baking book with a romantic feel, offering sumptuous recipes with stunning images. With classics that have been honed to perfection amongst creative recipes and many…
Disney On Ice is a whistle-stop tour of some of your favourite Disney characters. With the added excitement of being an ice-skating show, this is good fun for…
Each year, APRA selects some of the best New Zealand kids songs of the year and creates an album. And we have 5 copies to give away! This…
There’s no telling some people how much parenthood will change you. My little boy is four years old now, and in this time with him – we spend…
The newest title in Diana Noonan’s Best-Loved Bear series is The Best-Behaved Bear. It is a gorgeous, original story illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller. Kiwi children have been reading…
Storylines Festival Family Days are and always have been free for children and their families. There are now six of them round the country and every year thousands…
If you watch TV at the moment, you will have seen one of the many cooking programmes, which make cooking careers look amazingly glamourous. There is a vast…
Profoundly moving, eye-opening and heartrending, Another Mother’s Love is the story of Karen Scott and her family who take in a New Zealand foster child. Despite battling the…
Many readers will be aware of Beale’s earlier novel I am not Esther; this new book – I am Rebecca – is the recently released sequel. I am…
SO many embarrassing things happen when you’re a parent. As you pass through the years of parenthood, your resilience grows – or at least I’ve found I’ve learnt…
The seasons are changing again and the time is right to set in motion the birth of a multitude of wee babies. The responsibility is huge. I do…
“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…
They were first noticed swooping in and out of the garage. Checking it out to see if this would be a safe home. Very quickly Grand-daughter aged 8,…
I’d like to share with other solo mothers two of the practices that I developed that served me and my child well. Being on my own while pregnant…
Congratulations on becoming a mother, how exciting! It is a brand new chapter that is exciting and full of changes. It is also a time when we feel…
Children and snacking is something that many parents worry about. Are my children snacking too much? Is it ok to snack between meals? What sort of food should…
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…
Sadly over the first week of the school holidays, I found myself lying in bed for 10 days with Influenza. I have gone nearly seven years without any…
Every new born is different; some cute and bald, others with a full head of adorable Elvis styled hair! Each is born with amazing abilities. You may think…
I work supporting teachers to comprehend and manage children who find school difficult to understand and work in. Of late, I have been working to assist teachers to…
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…
Pregnancy is a major life event, and therefore a great time to reflect on your health and what you eat! Now is the time to consider incorporating the…
Not content with ‘just’ having preschoolers and deciding more children was not a happening thing, our wee family decided on a new addition. The question was-would this fifth…
6 steps to fabulous wardrobe planning, it all sounds so wonderful doesn’t it? A great personal style filling you with energy and confidence!
As many mothers know, one of the most significant questions you will face as an expectant parent is: “How will having a baby change my life?”
Over the next two months, we’re going to looking at pregnancy and babies and talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post, we…
I am a planner. I love to plan. I think it started off with my enjoyment of a good daydream. Throw in my need to have control, plus…