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…
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,…
We’ve all been there—those in-between moments when the lesson ends early, energy levels drop, or your students just need a quick reset. You need something fast, fun, and…
The au pair experience offers a fantastic opportunity for young adults to immerse themselves in a new culture while providing childcare support to a host family. In exchange,…
School attendance is important, but truancy (that’s when kids skip too much school) is a growing problem. It’s been getting worse since 2015, and it’s something we need…
We’ve pulled together our selection of the best free Maths Games online for kids, updated for 2025. These are educational websites full of games to keep your kids entertained while…
Of all the learning difficulties, ADHD or Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is perhaps one of the most difficult for teachers to manage in the classroom and for…
If you have a child who finds it difficult to pay attention, you must first consider how the brain functions. This plays a vital role in the reasons your…
So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and home educate your kids. You’ve thought long and hard, weighing up the different options, and think that homeschooling is probably…
One of the hardest decisions we ever had to make as a family was to withdraw our 8 year old daughter from school and embark on our adventure…
Te Reo Māori is one of New Zealand’s three official languages (the other is New Zealand Sign Language) and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is a great opportunity to…
Home education, also often known as home schooling, is the term used for the practice in which children receive their primary and/or secondary education in the family home…
Of all the learning difficulties, hyperactivity is perhaps one of the most difficult for parents and teachers to manage at home.
Hi everyone, Cecilia Robinson here with a few more tips on easing the transition back to school. I hope you have all had a fantastic summer break. Funny…
Over the next few weeks there will be a myriad of emotions at the school gate. Tears glistening in the eyes struggling to be held back, excitement with…
We have all grown up with books – and most of us still do a fair bit of reading. Until around the 15th century, books were handwritten paper…
How many times have you had to say to your child over the past week *“Listen to me…” *“You’re not listening…”
An overview article on What is Dyspraxia, including signs and symptoms and what treatment is available. Dyspraxia is broadly defined as a neurological disorder of motor co-ordination that involves…
This is an overview article on what is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is defined in the Dictionary as ‘an impairment or loss of the ability to read’. It comes from…
A diagnosis of autism is perhaps the most difficult a parent can face. Many children with autism live their lives cut off from any real communication with those…
Sensory processing is the mechanism by which we receive sensory messages and turn them into responses. Sensory Processing Disorder occurs when the child either under-responds to sensory stimuli…
Rosemary Murphy overviews the various treatments for ADHD, including medication, drug free options, and diet.
If you ask any senior teacher they will invariably tell you that there are more children today with learning and behavioural difficulties than there were 35 years ago.…
Find our quick reference table of free Online Games – Science & Literacy – fun for kids. Let your toddler, preschool or primary school boys and girls learn science, literacy,…
While you still have a little say in what books your child reads take the bull by the horns. You have less and less opportunity to influence what…
When our children come home from school with school readers as homework we can feel a huge responsibility to ‘help in the right way’. Often this can be…
Check our Glossary of Reading related terms :
Ideas and strategies on encouraging boys to read focusses on their interests using magazines, websites and newspapers for older boys and series books for younger boys. Reading practice…
As a parent you are probably helping your child with reading much more than you may realise. If your home contains books, magazines and catalogues and your child…
Some children struggle with reading. The fact is that for almost 40 percent of kids learning to read is a challenge to some extent or another. There is…
Reading is one of these fundamental, must learn skills and probably one of the things that causes us as parents and caregivers the most angst while our children…
The overall aim of the Ministry of Education’s school transport policy is to “…provide assistance to students who, because of the geographic location of their home or their…
Here are the key terms that you need to understand special education.
An RTLB is a Resource Teacher: Learning Behaviour. Around schools and among students they are commonly called RTLBs. An RTLB works within schools giving support and providing assistance…
For any parent the ‘starting primary school’ phase can be an emotional and worry-filled period. There’s changes of routine, environment, teachers to deal with, new expectations of your…
An IEP is an Individual Education Programme. The terms is often used, but not always understood by those who use it.
GSE (Group Special Education) is the abbreviated term used for the Ministry of Education, Special Education.
Choosing a school for our precious children to attend can be an unnerving experience no matter what. Add to that angst a child with special educational needs and…
Communication between parents and the school becomes more important as your child gets older. We give you some ideas about who to make contact with at intermediate school.
It can be confusing trying to understand how your child will be learning at intermediate school. Read an overview about the Intermediate school structure, NZ curriculum, and educational goals.
Going to intermediate school can mean quite a change in the way your child learns. Find out more about this crucial stage in our introduction to intermediate article.
No matter how in touch you are with what’s going on at school, school reports will give you the most detailed and accurate ‘snapshot’ of how your child…
There’s a new buzz on the streets and roads of New Zealand towns and city’s…the buzz of the walking school bus.
There is huge emphasis placed on our children coming away from school at the end of their ‘education careers’ as literate and numerically capable beings, for want of…
Assessment of your child forms a big part of their education from now on and along with assessment comes more terms and acronyms to understand. We’ll give you…
Homework plays a very important part in your child’s learning and is given to them for a reason. While it’s not compulsory, most teachers will give students homework in…
Reading Recovery is a programme designed to help improve the reading ability of children who are struggling. Read more in Reading Recovery.
Dr Maria Montessori founded the first Montessori community in 1907 in the slums of Rome, Italy and an educational philosophy grew from her work with these fifty poor,…
Correspondence School is an education choice for some and necessity for others at primary level. Find out about Primary Correspondence School here.
When your child goes to Primary School there are many roles you can play as a parent. Find out what some of these are our Role of Parents…
Your child will be taught a core set of subjects when they go to Primary School. Find out what those are and some further basics in Core Primary…
Your child is about to go to Primary School and you’d like an overview of the what, how, when, whys. Read our Primary School System Overview to find your…
The Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf movement recognises that schools should be truly comprehensive: open to all girls and boys, with a curriculum for all pupils which is as broad as…
Giftedness is having a natural gift for something. We’ve all heard children refered to as “intelligent”, “genius”, “advanced” or “accelerate”. Often what we mean, without realising it or…
Trying to figure out how to transport your child to and from a new school can cause some problems. Some students are entitled to School Transport help.
It can be scary and daunting to find your child needs special help through their education. Find more about what this all means in Special Education Overview.
An independent school, more commonly known as a private school is another education choice available. Find out more in our Independent Schools article.
There are lots of different types of schools you can send your child to in New Zealand. What are they? How are they different? Find out more in…
OSCAR stands for Out of School Care and Recreation. OSCAR programmes aim to meet the needs of children during out of school hours in a safe and fun…
Home schooling is basically just that, educating children in their home rather than in a school environment. Home schooling in New Zealand is also referred to as Home Education.
A glossary is always helpful. Here in our education glossary you can find explanations for all those education terms and anagrams you have heard and read.
Enrolling your child in school is not always simple, there are school enrolment and school zones issues to consider. Learn more in our Enrolment and Zoning article.
Deciles and decile ratings are two terms we as parents hear a lot but what do they mean? Find out and learn what deciles mean for your child’s…
Te Kura (formerly The Correspondence School) provides distance learning for students of all levels in New Zealand. Learn more about Te Kura and how it works.
Choosing a school for your child to attend can be difficult. There are all sorts of you need to know. Read more in our Choosing a School article.
The Board of Trustees is in charge of running the school and making any major decisions. Learn more about the Board of Trustees in our article.
Check out our checklist of the key points in Before School and After School care in New Zealand you’ll need to consider. We list the important issues, the things to watch out for,…
What is the B4 School Check? What does School Ready mean? How do I know if my child is Ready? Check the essentials to prepare your child for…
I enjoy the holidays but with 4 boys at home I have definitely run out of ideas to keep them busy and active without depleting all our financial…