In this series of posts, we’ve been looking at some great kiwi families and some of the things that make them fab. We’ve loved hearing from families that…
My little 16 month old has been managing to half escape from her car seat by getting her shoulders underneath the straps. She leans forward, very happy with…
Callum Hunt has been told all his life by his father that that magicians can’t be trusted. So when he is tested for magical ability he intends to…
Donovans Chocolates has added two new products to its delicious one pound limited range – Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels and Almond & Cranberry Clusters just in time…
The Lascal Mini BuggyBoard™ is a compact board for a toddler/preschooler to stand on at the back of a buggy. The Mini is particularly useful for umbrella strollers…
Beloved New Zealand writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop has recently published his latest book – Teddy One-Eye. Scary, funny, heart-warming and magical, this is a story of love…
Summer time is a busy time with kids. Plenty of opportunity for outdoor fun… and bug bites… and scraped knees. Goodbye Ouch NZ Manuka and Organic Beeswax 80…
Mark loved punctuation. For starters, it looked funky, and its symbols are understood in all languages. There’s a sign for an exclamation and a question, a dollar, brackets,…
Children feel pain in much the same way as adults, but are usually a lot more vocal about it! As you’ve no doubt experienced, it can sometimes be…
Snowplanet is kicking off the ho-ho holiday season with a Christmas Festival Day! On Saturday 22 November, it will be a fun-filled day for the whole family with…
From the writer of Daddy is my Hero comes the new release, My Mummy is Magic. It weaves a tale of all the amazing things mummy can do.…
It’s one of the fastest comparisons I tend to make when I’m at a new supermarket: wander around, find familiar items, do a few calculations in my mind…
Even in summer, pain and fever can make your child feel grizzly and grumpy: teething, earache, colds and flu, not to mention the scrapes, scratches and stings of…
This is the last article in my essential style series, so it is entirely appropriate that it be on the ‘finishing touch’: How to ‘dress’ the part of…
Teddy One-eye has a rough and tumble life. He is dragged around, chewed on, loses an eye and is often left outside at night. But his many patches…
Having been married for 47 years there has always been one thing that has made me go umm…
What happens when a chameleon encounters a small wiggly creature and they engage in a conversation? In I Am Not A Worm! You will find out exactly what…
Fangks milk mixes are kids’ drinks that come in strawberry and chocolate. They’re full of vitamins and minerals and sweetened with Natvia.
Bert has been preparing for this for a long time. He is ready. Mentally and physically. But before he takes the plunge, he might need a bit of…
Wolf is an easy to read dark thriller, by popular international best seller Mo Hayder. This novel is the 7th in the Detective Jack Caffery series.
Over the next two months, Kiwi Families is featuring posts on education and technology. We are talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this…
The Lascal Maxi BuggyBoard™ is a universal attachment to put behind strollers/buggies/pushchairs, for toddlers or preschoolers to stand on.
Fangks drinking mixes taste great, have no added sugar and give milk even more nutrients to power healthy kids with its 7 vitamins and minerals. With the two most…
This book has been a popular title in France for some time, and has now been released in English. I can see why it’s a hit! 20 pages…
Beautifully Brilliant Books are a collection by Nicholas Rumble, who has long dreamed of writing and publishing books. The collection currently consists of 7 books, which are written…
Lots of people are looking for alternatives to sugar these days and Natvia Stevia and Norbu Sweetener are two great options.
The relatively new series of brightly-illustrated books on transport by Catherine Foreman is called ‘Machines and Me’. Trains is one title in this series, which also includes planes,…
Standing in line can be dull, but not when you mix tigers and frogs, sheep and skunks. But what could be worth waiting for…? From Japanese writer and…
Pom and Pim’s day is full of ups and downs, and luck both good and bad. Is eating a huge ice cream truly a good idea? Is it…
Johnsons’s Baby makes a great range of products for your baby and we’ve got two brilliant prize packs to giveaway! JOHNSON’S® Baby Shampoo 800mL JOHNSON’S® Baby Bath 800mL…
“Good morning/afternoon! How can I help you today?” I have long since lost track of how many times I’ve said this line in the years I’ve served as…
Expert Australian specialty footwear store ‘Sole Mechanics’ has opened the doors on their first New Zealand based store. Stocked with the best brands in footwear including New Balance,…
Designed by well-known artist Hiroaki Shioya, these finely detailed puzzles bring to life the vibrant and colourful 50s and 60s American settings Hiroaki loves! The Interiors 2 puzzle…
IMPROV for Kids The Improvisors Circa Theatre, Wellington 29 September – 11 October 11am (no Sunday performance) $10 per person It sounds like a recipe for disaster –…
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…