A 5th birthday is a real milestone. Not only is your child becoming a school kid, their 5th birthday is probably the first party they will truly remember.…
Having an entertainer at your child’s birthday party can make a special day even more memorable. The entertainer can be the main attraction and be present throughout most…
Hosting a birthday party at a venue is a great idea, and there are plenty of places you can go on a budget. Finding a birthday party venue…
It is nice to have a theme for your child’s birthday party, but themes do not have to involve endless accessories, especially if you are on a budget.…
Birthday party loot bags should not be expensive; there are plenty of great party prizes and loot bag goodies which you can arrange on a budget. Birthday parties…
Making great birthday party food on a budget is not hard. Read here for ideas and advice for preparing party food on a limited birthday budget.
Birthday party costumes do not have to be expensive, or time consuming to make. There are plenty of birthday party costumes for kids you can make on a…
A birthday cake is one piece of the party you cannot do without, and blowing out the candles on your birthday cake is an annual rite of passage. This tradition not only celebrates the…
Getting kids to school can be a trial and transport to school can be quite a tricky decision to make. There are options! Read more in our Transport…
Choosing the right togs and swim bags for your children can be a challenge. We give you some tips for your shopping trip in our Togs and Swim…
Back to school. Time to dig out the school stationery lists but what does it all mean? Read our School Stationery article for a guide to what is…
Buying new school shoes can be a tricky business. Check out the handy guide for finding the best school shoes for your child in our buying new school shoes article.
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…
Preparing healthy school lunches requires thought and planning. Find some tips and information about nutritional needs in our School Lunches article.
It can be tough buying school clothes that are practical but cool for the playground. We’ve got some top tips for buying school clothes to help make your job…
Buying school bags is about more than just the way they look. We cover some of the more serious aspects of buying a school bag in our School…
Making the shift back into school mode can be tough for children and parents. If you’re feeling a bit nervous about making the switch, here are 5 key…
She’s a hard road finding the perfect lunch box, and let me tell you, I’ve been giving it a shot.
Print our Intermediate School First Day Checklist to help in getting ready for school.
Print off a “First Day Checklist” for when your child starts primary school in NZ. Here’s a generic checklist of items your child will need when he or…
A new school year can bring starting school and back to school anxiety. Find ideas and advice here about easing starting school and back to school anxiety you…
Yachting covers all sorts of water activities, so in a country surrounded by water, it is no surprise that yachting is such a popular sport.
Table tennis is a fast sport which is becoming popular in NZ. Whether you play for fun, or more competitively, table tennis is an indoor game for the whole…
Swimming is both a recreational activity and a competitive sport, and in a country surrounded by water, swimming is a skill that every child should learn. We overview…
Squash is a great way to encourage health and fitness in children. Face paced and fun, squash was recently named the healthiest sport in the world.
Soccer is commonly known as football around the world, but whatever the name, soccer is one of the biggest participation sports for New Zealand kids.
Snow sports are literally that – sports on snow – and no matter where you live in New Zealand, you are never too far away to play.
Rugby is one of the most popular sports for children in New Zealand. Whether you are watching or playing, rugby is a part of being kiwi. We overview…
Orienteering keeps both the body and the brain active, and because it can be enjoyed by all ages, orienteering is often referred to as a family sport.
Netball is one of our most popular sports, and as a mainstay in New Zealand schools, netball is an easy sport for children to get involved in.
Kayaking covers a range of on water sports, including kayaking on gentle rivers, white water, lakes and out at sea. Kayaking is a sport for the whole family,…
Judo is a combat sport derived from the ancient martial art of Jujutsu. Judo helps develop self defence, self confidence, fitness and discipline.
Golf is one of the oldest games in the world, and whether its serious competition or just for fun, golf can be enjoyed by all the family. We…
Cycling with kids is an easily accessible sport. As the saying goes, Cycling is as easy as riding a bike. We overview cycling as a sport for kids.
Bowls is often thought of as a game for older people, but it is a game that spans generations. Played in singles or teams, Bowls is a fun, social…
Athletics involves so many disciplines that everybody can find something to suit them. A mainstay in NZ schools, athletics is an easy sport to start for most kids.
We overview the benefits of sport, popular sporting options for kids, and key factors to consider in choosing a sport in NZ.
Tap Dancing is a cross between the Irish Jig and the African Shuffle. Originating in New York, Tap Dancing is as fun and vibrant as it ever was.
Singing can be as formal or as informal as you like. Solo, groups, shows or recordings, singing is an art that anyone can enjoy.
Highland Dance is continuously changing and includes both solo and group dances. Highland Dance is very old, but contemporary interpretations can be added.
Scottish Country Dancing is a social form of dancing. A bit like folk dancing, Scottish Country Dance is danced in groups and is lots of fun.
Jazz is a good alternative to ballet or modern dance. Performed to popular music, Jazz is fun and fast paced.
Irish Dance is hundreds of years old, evolving from a casual party-style dance to a competitive art form. Irish Dance is a fun dance for all ages.
Learn to Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a style of dance evolving from the Hip Hop culture. There are various types of Hip Hop, which both boys and…
Drama is a good way for children to develop self confidence and skills for working alongside others. Drama is a fun activity which can be started at any…
Learn contemporary dance. Contemporary dance is the name given to a group of 20th century dance forms. Contemporary includes free, modern, expressionist and post modern dance.
Learn to dance ballet for kids. Ballet is an art form that can be enjoyed from a very young age, and like other types of dance, learning ballet…
Learning any performing art is a great way to encourage confidence and self expression in your child. The performing arts are about passion and creativity.
Learn to play Violin. The violin is a fun instrument for children to learn. As they develop they can play the violin in orchestras, solo, or as the…
Learn to play Piano. Learning the piano is a tradition in some families, but nowadays, there are more ways to play the piano than ever before.
Learn to play the the Keyboard. Keyboard is a fun instrument for beginners, with one keyboard sounding like an entire band.
Learn to play the Drums? When it comes to choosing an instrument, drums have an almost rock star status for children, but drums have a sensible side as…
The clarinet is a lovely instrument for children to learn, and in time they can play the clarinet in an orchestra, concert band or jazz group.
Learning music of any sort is a way for your child to develop skills intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Music truly is a gift that lasts a lifetime, because…
The Spanish language is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, with 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
The best way to understand the Korean culture and way of life is to know their language. Korean is spoken by millions of people around the world.
Japanese is a practical language to learn in terms of global society. Currently there is not as many Japanese speakers, as there is demand for the language.
While Italian seems less important than some languages in the global economy, Italian holds a special place in our hearts for its links with art, fashion, music and…
German is the most widely spoken language in Europe, and learning German can open up a whole world of opportunity.
French is a very practical language to learn. French is the official language of a large number of countries and is spoken by many as a second language.…
Children who learn to speak Chinese will enjoy a rich cultural experience as well as economic advantages. Chinese is a rising language in the global economy.
Teaching your child a second language not only stimulates their brain, but learning a second language can open up opportunities in their future.
Sea Scouts is an additional programme offered to Scouts aged 11 – 16 years, and has an emphasis on water-based activities.
Scouts is a fun club for boys and girls aged 10 – 16 years, and is a part of the scouting movement. Scouts come after Cubs and before…
Girl Guides is a club for girls aged 10 – 14 years, and is a part of the scouting movement. Girl Guides comes after Brownies and before Rangers.
Cubs is a fun club for boys and girls aged 8 – 10 years, and is a part of the scouting movement. Cubs comes after Keas and before…
Brownies is a fun club for girls aged 7 – 10 years old, and is a part of the scouting movement. Brownies comes after Pippins, and before Girl…
When you first start scrapbooking, everybody will give you lots of tips. The key is to find your own scrapbooking style, and use tips and techniques that work…
When you start scrapbooking you will hear all sorts of terms and jargon, and it will feel like scrapbookers speak in another language. Don’t worry – after a…
You can do more with scrapbook papers than simply scrapbooking; there are heaps of craft ideas where scrapbook papers can really be put on show. Whether you are…
There is no right or wrong way to lay out your scrapbook page, but there are some basic guidelines that will help ensure your scrapbook layout is the…
Scrapbooking does not have to be done in traditional albums; you can make a scrapbook album out of just about anything. Altered art is the term used for…
Create Craft Memories by Scrapbooking. Scrapbooking involves collecting, storing and displaying photographs in a way that tells a story. Scrapbooking is more than making a photo album, it…
There are many different types of painting, but when you are thinking about young children, acrylic painting is the most common place to start. Acrylics are the easiest…
Mosaic is the art of creating pictures and designs using pieces of tile, ceramics or glass. Kids of all ages enjoy making mosaics, and you can adapt any project…
If you are a jewellery making beginner, it is sometimes hard to know where to start. These tips and tricks for beading beginners, whether kids or adults, will…
Making your own jewellery? Are you unsure about how to start making your own jewelry? When you first start making jewellery you will hear all sorts of terms…
Jewellery making is not the only thing you can do with beads. Beads can be used in lots of craft projects with kids. Here are some great arts…
There are several forms of jewellery making for kids, and all are lots of fun. The most common form of jewellery making involves threading glass beads onto flexible…
Cardmaking is quite literally making cards, however there is more than one style of cardmaking and hundreds of different techniques. Originally card making gained popularity with the introduction…
Paper mache is a fun craft for kids, and there are plenty of paper mache projects they can enjoy. Read here for great paper mache ideas.
Getting messy is a part of being a child, and art activities tend to be messy. By making art activities a time when it’s okay to make a…
Making mobiles is a craft activity that can be done by children of all ages, and you can make cool mobiles from just about anything. So pull out…
Fabric painting is such a fun activity for young children, and fabric paint is so cheap and easy to use. Kids of any age can turn ordinary things…
There are heaps of great craft ideas using play dough that children can make, and they can play with it for hours. Go here for playdough recipes.
Children love to play with clay, and there are some great craft projects that kids can make. Read here about types of clay, and ideas for clay creations.
Boys like arts and crafts just as much as girls, in fact boys love to make and do. These art and craft ideas for boys are a great…
Young children love to paint, and there are so many different art activities they can enjoy with a pot of paint. Art activities are supposed to be fun,…
Arts and Crafts is a general term used to describe anything creative, and usually refers to arts or crafts that do not fall into a particular category. Arts…
The expense of lost gear can really add up, so labelling children’s clothes and belongings is a great cost-saving measure. Read tips about naming different items in our Labelling…
Schools and kindergartens are very aware of sun safety for children in their care. Read more about keeping your kids safe in our Sun Safety article.
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…
Head lice, or nits, are an age old problem – they have always existed in human communities and they can only be tackled by a community approach of…
Find great kids’ clothing retailers here.
