Ah, the teenage years! If you think navigating the toddler stage was a rollercoaster, just wait until you experience the wild ride of adolescence. I remember the first…
If you’ve ever sat back and watched all the changes happening in your pre-teen, you’re not alone! I remember the day my eldest daughter, now nine, came home…
Ever find yourself staring at your kids in disbelief, wondering how they’ve gone from tiny, helpless bundles of joy to full-blown little humans with opinions, preferences, and—dare I…
When we talk about child behaviour, it’s easy to picture a toddler throwing spaghetti on the floor or a teenager rolling their eyes (again!). Just the other day,…
When Reddit user u/RodneySquirrel said “I just saw the best handled temper tantrum in Wendy’s yesterday”, it sparked over 500 responses sharing their insights on handling tantrums. Here…
Understanding how to get a 5-year-old to listen can be a challenging but rewarding aspect of parenting. At this developmental stage, children are honing their skills in listening,…
In kid’s sports, there’s no doubt parents are essential – they’re the free ferry service, the half-time orange supplier, and the local cheer squad. But when it comes…
At this time of year, families are entertaining their kids by painting pictures or having an impromptu dance party. While these activities are fun, art and dance movement…
I never maintain to have all the answers, in fact I spend a lot of my time helping parents realise they already have the answers, deep down inside…
The importance of talking to young children, sharing memories with real intent, has never been more important. Researchers have found that quality memory sharing in early childhood creates…
Most parents are equipped to get through the inevitable tantrums and meltdowns of little kids. As children grow they gain patience, develop more skills, learn problem solving and…
There is no denying the level of emotions that accompany biting. Whether your child is biting or being bitten, the emotions can be intense. If you find yourself thinking how…
Most children can learn self-control if they’re given the right help. In this article we dive into learning self-control in the field of life.
Ah, the toddler… a fully mobile being with virtually no common sense! With the exception of their afternoon siesta, toddlers can be active all day long! Toddlers are…
‘Why does the moon change’, ‘why do clouds float’, ‘why does wind blow’, ‘Why? Why? Why?!’ is repeated incessantly by children between approximately 3-5 years old, sometimes to…
In response to a reader comment on our Nightmares and night terrors article, Kiwi Families reached out to our Facebook community for advice. As always, we got some amazing…
Ever find yourself in a situation where your toddler is nearing meltdown mode, hyperventilating, panicking, losing all control? Teaching your toddler deep breathing may be the answer.
Dealing with challenging behaviour from 6, 7 and 8 year olds is hard work, and can be very emotionally draining on parents. Here’s 4 key tips for managing…
Having a child with behavioural issues can be extremely challenging for families. It can affect all areas of a child’s life and also the family’s as a whole. Stuart…
When I see the words ‘sustainable families’, I think of families that last the distance. What is the secret ingredient that helps some families last the distance? My…
All children have moments of aggression. Aggressive behaviour in children is a fairly natural emotional response. But no parent wants that sinking feeling of realising their child has…
Has your cute and cheeky child suddenly turned into an argumentative opinionated kid with an attitude to match? Do you find yourself saying yes to things just to prevent…
Anger in children can be pretty frightening or upsetting for the adults around them. We may feel overwhelmed in the face of such strong emotions, or unsure how…
For our children, just the same as it is for us, there are times when they have their big difficult feelings that really need loving attention. No matter…
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…
A little squabbling between siblings — brothers and/or sisters — is, in all but the most extraordinary families, inevitable. We all have “war stories” from growing up.
Ever feel like you just blinked and your baby turned into a full-blown toddler? Those early years fly by in a blur of growth and change. If you’re…
As we confront the daily challenges of child behaviour, child development, discipline, and raising children, let us calmly pause to remind ourselves of the ‘big picture’ as parents.…
Thank you to all the lovely people who have sent me “real” questions about their daily lives as parents. I will answer them in the order they arrived.
Are you seeking effective parenting methods for raising your kids? Family therapist and renowned author Diane Levy provides 5 key strategies to improve child attitude and behaviour —…
Super Granny Diane Levy talks to Kerry Burridge about her books and her work with families.
Sometimes, when I give a seminar that involves teaching our children to do as they are told, a question comes up early on. I have just got as far…
Mark Leishman’s had a long and varied career as a New Zealand radio and TV broadcaster. Here’s his ten top tips for developing respect and assertiveness in our…
About seventeen years ago, I read a book which impressed me greatly and turned upside down my thinking about how to raise children. The book was called “The…
Many of us hark back to a distant memory. It may be of our family, it may be of someone else’s family, it may be of a mythical…
I know that many of us dread the kindy and school holidays. Weeks without a break from the kids. For me, I always see it from a different…