NZ Childcare and Parenting Articles

Welcome to our Articles page. For parents, we have created this glossary of information explaining things about the NZ childcare industry.

What is Montessori? How do I take advantage of the "20 hours free childcare" program? It's all here!

Articles on Children and Parenting

Need a new recipe for your fussy toddler??  Having problems breastfeeding??  Or need help with those tantrums in the supermarket??  You'll find all the information you need right here! 

Select a topic, or scroll down for the full list...

Fun & Activities

   Computers
      Great software for preschoolers
   Learning through play
      Choosing age appropriate toys
      Teaching the alphabet
   Reading
      Books for special situations
      Books in home programme
      Reading to your child
   Television
      The effects of 'Sesame Street'
      TV and your child
   TV free activities (2+)
      Gloop, and silly putty recipes!!
      Green day - teach colours to toddlers
      Magazine Picture Puzzles
      Recipe for cooked play-dough
   TV free activities (4+)
      Bottles and Lids
      Brochure Matching

Health

   Allergies
      Embarking on Pre-school
      Toddler’s near death highlights education need
   Illness & Injuries
      Child sickness and danger signals
      Colic - causes and solutions
      Useful contacts for parents
   Physical Activity
      15 Ways to get your child eating healthier
      Great ways to get your kids active this winter!
      Physical activity programmes for under 5's
   Wellness & Prevention
      Adjusting your baby to daylight savings
      Daytime wetting in children
      Healthy Eating for Kids
      News release - New pediatric sleep tools
      The importance of dental health
      The Long Arm Of Domestic Violence
      What is meningococcal disease?

Learning & Development

   Ages & Stages
      1-2 years - Thriving under 5 - Plunket
      2-5 year olds - Thriving under 5 - Plunket
      How do Crawlers and Walkers Learn?
      How do Preschoolers Learn?
      How do Toddlers Learn?
      How do Young Babies Learn?
      Newborn - Thriving under 5 - Plunket
      The First Year
   Assessing Your Child
      Bedwetting
      Bedwetting Alarms
      Bedwetting and Sleepovers
      What is Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis
      Dealing with Nocturnal Enuresis
      Enrol with Plunket
      Language Development
      Toilet Training
      What is ADHD?
      What is autism?
   Brain Development
      Developmental milestones of the brain
      Enhancing brain development
      How the brain develops
   Education
      How to Choose a Childcare Facility
      Homeschooling
   Language Development
      How Babies Learn to Talk (0-2 years)
      Speech and Language Development (2-5 years)
   Personal/Social
      Bullying - some questions and answers
      Coping with death....

Parenting

   Behaviour
      Attention and learning difficulties
      Bribery vs Reinforcement - do you know the difference?
      Children Who Bite
      Managing behaviour for under fives
      Parent's expectations
      Preschooler behavour: Who's the boss?
      Rewards vs. Bribes
      Sibling rivalry
      Supermarket Survival
      Tantrums!
      Temper Tantrums
   Development
      18 months to 2 years
      Developing motor skills (muscle skills)
      Four to Five years
      How children develop self esteem
      Teaching a child to share
      Newborn to 18 months
      Self Esteem
      Three to Four years
      Tiny Telly
      Two to Three years
   Discipline
      Discipline for Infants
      Disciplining Other People's Children
      To Discipline Means to Teach
   Education
      BabyWebNZ (www.babywebnz.org)
      Information on the 20 free hours ECE scheme
      The First Few Years Of School
   Fatherhood
      Some things that all dads can do!
   Financial Support
      Child Support
Looking after yourself
      Divorce
      Family issues
      Mothers Health
      Parents: Invest in your relationship
      Separating??
      What is postnatal depression?
   Solo parenting
      Becoming a single parent

Safety

   Around the home
      Avoid food poisoning
      Child safety - Thriving under 5- Plunket
      Electrical safety checklist
      Hitting hurts. So does exposure to it as a kid
      Internet Safety
      Safety checklist for babies
      Safety checklist: burns and scalds
      Safety checklist: Falls around the Home
      Safety checklist: poisons and medicines
      Water safety around the home
      Winter safety checklist
   Out and about
      Safety checklist: Falls outdoors
      Safety checklist: near the road and in the car
      Safety checklist: on bikes and skates
      Safety checklist: outdoor poisons and stings
      Sun safety

Food & Nutrition

   Baby
      Baby's beef mince and kumara
      Breastfeeding FAQ's
      Introducing solids
      Iron rich casserole
      Knobbly mince
      Lamb casserole
      Lamb soup for young ones
      Lamb's liver and vegetables
      Making your own baby food
      Meatloaf
      Mustard roast beef
      Savoury liver and bacon
   Pre-schooler
      Banana Bread
      Healthy eating programme for children
      Nutty choc chip cookies
      Vege frittata
      Zucchini muffins
   Toddler
      Baked potato
      Mince wraps
      Mini meatballs
      Mini Pizzas
      Tacos

Your Thoughts on Parenting!

   The X Family Case Files
      Part 1: First day at day care
      Part 2: First week at day care

• Finding Joy in Your Children
  Ever get caught up in challenges or conflict raising your kids?
• Interested in fostering a child? Read our FAQ on foster care...
• Inspirational Poem
  Mother Teresa hung a copy of this poem on a wall of the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. Its source is unknown.
• Children in the home business environment
  Operating a home business is seldom easy and interruptions come in all shapes, sizes and forms.
• My Child, My Hope
  A poem captures one mums hopes for her son...
• Learning to share
  A parent's perspective ...
• Food allergies - one mum's story
  Coping with food allergies and intolerances can be a battle. One mum shares her story.
  
  

If you can't find what you are looking for, or have a suggestion for a new topic, please let us know and we will try to help.

 We also welcome 'your thoughts' and experiences on bringing up children.  If you would like to contribute an article, email us at yourthoughts@childcareonline.co.nz and we will share your story with others. Please keep articles around 500 words or less.