One of the toughest parts of parenting young children is dealing with sickness and illness. From the age of around 6 months to 6 years children present with…
As a parent or guardian, it can be quite tricky trying to cook family meals your adolescent kids will happily eat. We take a look at the 5 key…
It’s a child’s natural response to protest against our parental demands (on their time, space, behaviour, activities, etc.). But a child’s protests are all part of their development.…
If you’ve had a baby, you likely attended a 6-week postnatal check with your obstetrician, midwife, or GP. But you may not have had a postnatal check with a women’s…
As parents one of our key tasks is to help our children sleep so they can grow and flourish. In the early years, to this end we sacrifice…
There’s a number of physical complications that pregnancy can cause. One of these is pelvic organ prolapse. This can cause swelling, bulging, lower-back, abdomen or pelvic pain, as…
Let’s talk about SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. This commonly-recurring mental illness rears its ugly head seasonally, and affects 10% of the New Zealand population.
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…
Kiwi Families asked me to contribute reflections on wellness, coming from both my professional and personal viewpoints. I’m a family counsellor and solo Mother. Some of you may…
We really can’t cope without our Mums can we? They’re always there for us, when we need a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to bend. And…
Separation of the abdominal muscles is a common condition after pregnancy. It’s a natural part of pregnancy to allow for your growing uterus and baby. But in 2…
If you know me, then you’ll know that I am a huge fan of epsom salts! The addition of epsom salts to a bath creates a really luxurious,…
It’s common knowledge that as a baby grows, they become more interested in their surroundings and slightly more adventurous too. As parents it can be both exciting and…
Mindfulness and meditation has in recent years gained popularity; so much so that a school in the US replaced detention, with a mindfulness meditation programme; they’ve had remarkable…
As first time parents, or any time parents really, we may sometimes find ourselves sitting in front of ‘professionals’ vigorously nodding our heads in agreement with what they’re…
We took the Nestlé Choose Wellness quiz and were a bit shocked at the results. I thought we lived pretty well. But what we’re discovering is that living…
You – yes YOU – are a successful mummy Instantly, some of you will have thought “no, I’m not”. If that’s you, stop right there. That’s storytelling: a story…
Like most families, we’re always in search of health and wellness for ourselves and our children. Sometimes it feels like we’re searching for the holy grail though; we’re…
I read an article a few weeks ago in New Zealand’s Canvas magazine, in which writer Megan Nicol Reed penned: “there is something inherently nauseating about talk of…
That never-ending hunt for happiness. Do a Google search and there are countless blogs and websites on finding your true happiness and inner meaning. It’s the meaning behind…
Dreams help us to decide which actions to take next, which attitudes to shift, which people to spend time with. Dreams ebb, flow and transform over time and…
Winter is high season for colds, viral infections, asthma exacerbations and the flu, but you can reduce the risk of getting sick by making sure that you and…
According to statistics from the Health Funds Association of New Zealand (HFANZ), the health insurance industry funded close to a billion dollars in health claims in 2014.
Over the last few months I have been fortunate to try out some new exercise equipment all with different fitness benefits.
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?”
It’s cold outside but this easy to make heat bag will help keep you toasty warm. Wheat bags are so easy to make, and they’re a great DIY…
Sustainable family living means different things to different families. What I’ve discovered is that our family lives fairly sustainably, but it’s certainly not be design. I like to…
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…
It’s sometimes a big shock to find your moody, irritable teenager, who’s behind in all their assignment work is, in fact, depressed. I’ve found depressed students in a…
A young person’s world can be shaken by any number of difficult life issues, from the real shaking of an earthquake, to illness and injury, a bereavement, parental…
One of the best ways to grow a strong, happy, connected family is to take care of your health and well-being.
As a nutritionist who is passionate about food, I believe the joy of food, and a healthy relationship with food, is something all children should experience. Teaching kids…
Tired of a messy house? Looking for ideas to achieve a clutter free home? We provide a step-by-step approach of practical advice to help you declutter your home. And…
We all need some new places to visit these school holidays. Find some new and interesting places to visit in your area. Parks, reserves, playgrounds, bushwalks and more.
School holidays are a great time to ‘push play’ with your children. So let’s get physical these school holidays!
Warts – or verrucas as they’re commonly known when found on feet – are a harmless skin growth common in children, characterised by rapid growth of the top…
Hand, Foot and Mouth is a common infection among young children. We provide sound, expert advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of hand, foot &…
If clients come in with suspected gallbladder problems I always ask them if they’ve lost weight recently, been on a fat-free diet, or regularly consumer sugary drinks. By asking…
In this article we’ll explore some causes and effects of constipation, and I’ll also give you 16 natural ways to reduce constipation; a common complaint in the Western world.
Kids regularly need healthy breakfasts. The right sort of nutrition in the morning gives us fuel for the day, keeps us fit and healthy, increases brain functioning and…
Just why are whole grains so beneficial to growing teens? Well, breads and cereals provide teens with carbohydrates, the body’s preferred energy source, as well as fibre and…
Unfortunately, when it comes to our teeth, we’re not like sharks – we don’t have 3 rows of teeth and we can’t grow a new one if we lose…