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.…
A Student Loan can help to finance your study at a tertiary provider and is made up of three parts:
Here’s a list of some of the common terms used in tertiary education.
“Polytechnic” is the standard term used to talk about the tertiary education sector that comprises the polytechnics and institutes of technology in New Zealand.
Deciding where to live when you make the decision to further your studies may or may not be a difficult one. There are few options available to you…
Studying beyond school can be a length and expensive process. Obviously the costs are related to a whole host of things – the course you take, the place…
As with everything new, every new step you take, some of the terms and decisions can be daunting not to say confusing.
There are all sorts of options to consider when thinking about where to study.
The end of secondary school is looming and some major decisions need to be made about what happens now with your teenager. If the decision to continue their…
Do you struggle with exams? There’s no real mystery to writing great exam essay- it’s really just like the essay process for an assignment, with only TWO significant…
Helping your child with planning their choice of school subjects at secondary school.
Everyone needs to learn mathematics. Reasons for this include it being a basic necessity in many aspects of our day to day life and essential in most areas…
English is one of two subjects that remain compulsory through to Year 11 and often in Year 12. It is arguably the most important of subjects in…
As parents getting your heads around all the subject choice your teenager will have at NZ secondary school can be daunting. There have been many additions to the…
The cost of NZ secondary school education depends greatly on the following:
The way your child learns at secondary school differs greatly from the way they have at primary and intermediate school.
How does it work? : Who supervises my chid while they learn? : What will it cost me? : Contact with teachers : Resources? Do we need to…
Secondary school is where students go to be educated once they have completed primary and intermediate school. It is also known as college, high school or grammar school.…
There are certain subjects at Level Three, in which students — principally in Year 13 — have an opportunity to win scholarship. Scholarship is a monetary award designed to recognize…
Internal assessment is the process by which the school awards grades to the student. Schools, departments within the schools and teachers themselves are skilled at managing internal assessment.…
We’ve put together a glossary of the language used when talking about NCEA. We hope it will help you to understand your child’s assessment.
NCEA is the National Certificate of Educational Achievement. It is the main qualification at all levels of senior secondary school – Years 11, 12 and 13.
Homework becomes a much more important part of education once your teenager reaches secondary school. It is likely that your son/daughter will have homework every school night until…
Schools should have well set out and organised guidelines and policies on behaviour available to staff, students and parents.
Assessment in secondary schools has been through a huge change in recent years. Chances are it is poles apart from the way you were assessed when you attended…
Mmmmmmm … “Sex Ed in NZ”. It’s a part of the school curriculum but when do our kids start to learn the nitty gritty about the birds and…
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.
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…
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…
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.
Learning to drive is an exciting part of growing up and it’s a milestone that many parents both look forward to and dread. Being on the road does…
This guide on sleep needs for children tells you about the expectations for your baby, toddler, young child and teenagers – about naps, sleep habits, overcoming sleep problems…
Parenting expert Diane Levy provides some background explanation, tips, information and advice about problems raising teenage children (girls and boys), child behaviour, and parenting teens in New Zealand.
Frustrated in your efforts with the behaviour problems and development issues of your young boy or girl? Whether it be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 year…
The only way to have a friend is to be one – Ralph Waldo Emerson How do you make new friends in your area? Some children make new…
Eleven year old developmental stages? Milestones of a twelve year old? Checklist for a thirteen year old? Growth chart for a fifteen year old? Normal sixteen year old boy? Typical…
Looking for guidelines or checklist of the developmental stages and milestones for your toddler boy or teenage girl? We provide excellent articles for Parents on the key stages and milestones in…
Bullying continues to be an awful problem for many children. Our first step needs to be to listen to our children’s story and support their feelings, although this…
Bullying is not okay. Bullying is a common behaviour problem with potentially serious ramifications such as health problems, depression, even suicide. Many schools have anti-bullying programmes and policies…
Parents are the single biggest influence on young people’s career plans and can play a significant role in helping family members to make informed decisions about their future. Here…
This article explores the combined pill, its advantages and disadvantages. How does the combined pill work? Will it be suitable for you?
This article on condoms for teenagers explains their advantages, how they work and the pros and cons of condoms. Information that all teenagers should know!
This article informs teenagers about contraception and explains their rights, options and which types of contraception are most suitable for teenagers.
If your child is a real movie lover, then here are some Movie Magic activities to keep them busy over the school holidays.
Get gardening with your children these holidays. Here are some great gardening activities, projects, and ideas to get kids started. This should keep them busy for at least a…
Teenagers need occupying in the holidays too. We have some craft activities ideas for them. Check them out in our Craft Activities for Teenagers article.
Travel games like car cricket and 20 questions can make those long trips bearable. Try some of these road trip car games and activities the next time you’re…
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!
Holidays can be really expensive, so finding some free activities for the children is great. Once you start thinking about it, there’s actually lots of 100% free holiday outing…
Information sharing on periods can be tricky – this information sheet on periods can be used to help explain periods to young people.
When should mums and daughters talk about periods, what advice should we give them and how can we do this effectively?
This article describes the uncomfortable condition of sinusitis, including some valuable advice on relieving the symptoms of sinusitis.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD as it is commonly known, is described here, as well as common signs and possible treatments for those winter blues.
This article covers the signs and symptoms of pneumonia, the treatment and the complications that can occur in children with pneumonia.
This article on influenza – or flu as it is commonly known – explains the common symptoms of flu and how to care for your afflicted child.
This article on colds is full of great advice on how to ease the symptoms of the common cold, including traditional and natural remedies.
This article explains the cause of cold sores, how to prevent the spread of them and the treatment available for cold sores in New Zealand today.
This article on chapped lips contains great information on how to prevent and treat chapped lips in adults and children.
This article covers the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis, the treatment and the complications that can occur in babies with bronchiolitis.
Building immunity is vital as we are all more susceptible to colds and flu in the winter – building your immunity can help you to stay well.
Giardia is a common NZ parasite. Kiwi Families has provided helpful articles on giardia and explains the signs and symptoms, treatment, risks & complications of the giardia stomach…
We provide information on gastroenteritis and explains the signs and symptoms, Treatments, Risks and Complications of this bug and the special considerations for children with gastroenteritis.
Read on to find out all about campylobacter, we explain the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of the stomach bug and how to prevent the spread of campylobacter.
We provide information about Scarlet Fever – the causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, risks and complications and advice on how to help your child at home with scarlet fever.
We provide information and advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of rubella or German measles – most importantly the potential complication for pregnant women.
Chicken pox is a highly infectious disease characterised by a fever and rash. We provide information and advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of chicken…
Meningitis is inflammation of the layers covering the brain and spinal cord. It is an illness that can be caused by a virus, fungus, parasite, bacterium, medical condition…
Kiwi Families have provided information about the cause of glandular fever, the spread of the disease and how to help your child with glandular fever.
This article explains fever, the signs and symptoms in children and some great tips on how to manage fever at home.
This article on conjunctivitis covers the common symptoms and the necessary prompt treatment to prevent the spread of conjunctivitis throughout the family.
This emergencies checklist provides invaluable advice on when it is a medical emergency and when you can routinely visit your doctor.
This article on acupuncture provides parents with great tips on the benefits of acupuncture and how it can help your family.
This article discusses the emotions that surround sexual behaviour and relationships and including them in sexuality education for children and teenagers.
This article discusses sexually transmitted infections (STI) or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) as part of sex education for teenagers in New Zealand today.
What sex education do children and teenagers need and when? Sex education is a very emotive topic, but we also need to deal with the practicalities.
When is the right time for parents to start sex education with their children? This article discusses attitudes and styles of sex education for kids.
This article explains what whooping cough is and how it could affect your child. There’s some great advice on the signs and symptoms, treatments, and how to help…
Strep throat is a common condition – read about the signs and symptoms and how the doctor will treat a strep throat.
This parent friendly article covers the signs and symptoms of sore throats, the treatment and complications that can occur in children with sore throats.
This Mumps article give parents concise information on the signs and symptoms of mumps and how to care for a child with mumps at home.
This article explains the types of ear infections in toddlers and young children, the signs and symptoms to look out for and the treatment for ear infections.
The majority of smokers try quitting smoking and yet many fail – here are some tips for smokers and their families to successfully quit smoking.
Smoking is widely practised around the world. Find out about tobacco smoking and why so many people — adults, parents and teenagers alike — smoke, despite the known…
Dance parties and drugs are often linked together. Make sure you know about the effects of drugs before taking any chances at dance parties.
The dance party culture has developed world wide. Read about teenagers staying safe at dance parties in New Zealand.
Class A Drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine, get a lot of press. Why are class A drugs so dangerous and what do parents and teenagers need to…
Cannabis is the third most widely used recreational drug in New Zealand. Read more about the effects of cannabis and tips for safety in teenage years. Cannabis is…
Alcohol at parties can be great fun, but alcohol at parties can also spell disaster. Here are some great tips for your parties.
Alcohol is readily available among teenagers and pre-teens in New Zealand. For NZ parents we overview some key facts on the abuse of alcohol and the effects of alcohol on…
This article on progesterone only, or mini pill, explains the advantages & disadvantages of the progesterone only pill as a contraceptive choice.