Things I'd like my kids to see their mum doing
Everything changes when you take on the title of 'mum'. Suddenly, you’re responsible for the wellbeing of a new little …
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Smartphones - are they good or bad for us?
Smartphones – good or bad? Miriam McCaleb has discovered it’s all about context in terms of parenthood. Recent research from …
The business of motherhood
Three boys, two businesses, day jobs, and a whole lot of love – the Lardelli family sure know how to get the most of this …
Tips for parenting the different personalities in your family
There are some pretty big personalities in our family. Our three girls regularly display the full range of emotions with …
Tips for raising girls in today's world
When your new baby girl is born it’s hard to imagine them one day being a young woman, but having this end goal in sight – …
Tips for raising a resilient child
Forget helicopter parenting, teaching your child resilience will prepare him for life both mentally and physically, writes …
Parenting course: the balance between connection with your kids and boundaries
This is the final part in our three-part series introducing you to the OHbaby! Renew Your Mind, Mindful Parenting …
Parenting course: How to create a much calmer environment for your and your kids
This is part one of our three-part series introducing you to the OHbaby! Renew Your Mind, Mindful Parenting …
Make-believe: is it ok to tell your kids little white lies?
Sarah Tennant weighs up the arguments for and against make-believe. Did you know that dachshunds (sausage dogs) continue …
The perks of being the first of your friends to have a baby
Being the first of your friends to have a baby definitely has its perks – they just don't involve boys' surf trips to Bali, …
The highs & lows of having a lockdown baby
Life in the Covid era looks very different, but for some children, this is all they've known. Registered nurse and medical …
10 ways to cope with toddler tantrums
Kicking and screaming, wailing and whining, foot stamping, floor pounding, arm flapping... No, it's not performance art, …
10 ways to add some joy to your life
We all need a good dose of joy! Here are 10 ways to bring joy to your life. Try one, or try them all! 1. PLAY! Your kids …
How to transform boring routines into magical & loving rituals
Most of us are all too familiar with the daily routines that govern our lives as parents. Maybe we even rush through them to …
Lockdowns, silver linings & life lessons
Carly Thomson talks to Jo Batts, a family coach from Parenting Place, about lockdown’s silver linings and life …
Practical tips for supporting children's mental health
The rates of mental illness in our children may not be as bad as the media would have us believe, writes psychologist …
Eight things you can do that mean the world to your child
1. HUGS AND KISSES: Affection and love is so important for a child's emotional and spiritual development helping them feel …
We chat to the author of a book that celebrates kisses!
Imagine how many kisses a child receives over the course of their childhood? Kiwi author Maura Finn's book celebrates …
Why you don't have to be a professional photographer to take perfect photos
Capturing those perfectly imperfect moments is photographer Tash Stokes' forté. She explains why real life holds the most …
Sex therapist tips: how to regain your mojo
How to regain your mojo after having a baby, sex therapist Dr Allyson Waite has a recipe for sex-cess. On arriving home …
Parenting humour
Parenting is beautiful, tough, gorgeous, messy… and sometimes unpredictable. We’re sharing our parenting moments in memes. Come and have a giggle with us! …
Have you appointed a guardian for your child?
What can you do to make sure your kids are looked after if you're no longer around? We look at what's involved in appointing guardians. No one likes thinking about not being there as their kids grow up but there is a worse scenario: the kids being …
Good question: Is behaviour a result of nurture or nature?
Ratbag or model citizen? And is behaviour a result of nurture or nature? Psychologist Dr Melanie Woodfield considers these big questions facing parents, and shares tips on shaping our children into the well-rounded individuals society smiles …
10 ways to teach positive values to your kids
You are your child's first and best teacher, and when it comes to imparting strong, positive values, you have a golden opportunity to lead by example. All parents want their children to grow up with a highly developed moral compass. That is, we …
Are you going to have a second child? Or happy with one?
If you're a parent of one child, you may be feeling the pressure to start working on Baby Number Two. But what if you want to stop at one? Is having an only child really as sad and lonely as people like to tell us it is? Maree McNulty …
Psychologist explains how to help a child deal with grief
It's one of the most difficult conversations you'll ever have with your child - telling them about the loss of a loved one, whether through death, divorce, or a change in life circumstances. Most of the time, 'going away' is followed by 'coming …
Things I won't regret doing as a parent
Parents are infamous for self-condemnation. It’s time for some back-patting instead. Mother-of-three Pippa Henderson reflects on the things she’s pretty sure she got right. Investing in a good buggy We chose a red phil&teds sports buggy for …
How to have good conversations with your pre-schooler
Trying to find out what your toddler is really thinking can be difficult. Dr Melanie Woodfield explains some simple strategies that you can use to open up the lines of communication. Having a real conversation with a child of any age can be a very …
How much time should we spend interacting with our toddlers?
Modern parents are constantly pressured by expectations placed on early childhood learning. How much time should we spend interacting with our toddlers? Are our children smothered by too much attention? Angela Frieswyk looks for answers. Exhausted …
Parenting through separation
When parents separate, it can be especially difficult for children. Psychologist Pauline Ogilvy explains how communication can help to make the transition as stress-free as possible. Separation is a turbulent time for adults and children. Not only …
Are smart phones the new blankies?
Miriam McCaleb wonders if our devices have become quick-fix comforters. For a while, I’ve been running around saying “Smart phones are the new smoking”. But it has just occurred to me - today! - that Smart Phones fulfill different functions for …
Mary had a little lamb - do kids need a pet?
Animals, particularly the small and furry kind, fascinate children. As soon as kids can talk, they're clamouring to bring home a cute baby rabbit or woolly lamb from the latest farm visit. But the question for all parents is how much extra work and …
Recalibrate your stress levels
Parents with young families often find their stress levels rise hugely over the holiday period. Kids are tired, routines are out-of-kilter, parents are busy and holidays can actually be a time that many parents start to dread! In this extract from …
Journalling - tips & ideas
Use the power of writing to record your memories of the past and dreams for the future. The blank page There’s something eternally optimistic about opening a brand-new notebook or journal. There’s the smell of it, the blankness of it, the …
10 amazing things my partner did for me after baby was born
As parents we often read stories about the wonderful prince charming, the brave knight in shining armour or the superheroes who saved the day. But what about the superheroes in our own home? Here are some of the wonderful things my brave husband did …
An education: five tips for parents who are studying
‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ - Benjamin Franklin. Getting an education, or extending your eductation, is rarely something you’ll regret, but when you’re a parent the commitment to study comes with a huge list of …
How to really help a new parent
You’ve got to know to understand. But unless you’re a parent yourself it can be difficult to decipher what a new parent actually needs. Pippa Henderson serves up some food for thought. Space and support New parents need oodles of both, which can …
How parenting is like the Olympics
Parenting can be a little like the Olympics, if you think about it. Christine Stride finds similarities between the different events and life with little ones. Spending all day at home looking after the kids can be a bit of a marathon. Attempting …
Five tips to give your newborn the best start in life
'All you need is love’ – so goes the song, but we all know that caring for and providing for a newborn requires a lot of practical stuff too. Here are five things you can do that could set your baby up for life. 1) Build your …
Ten things your new babysitter needs to know
Whether it’s for work or play, sometimes you need a break from your house and kids, and a paid babysitter is often the only way to make this happen. If you’re new to leaving a babysitter in charge, this can be nerve-wracking for you and a little …
Why women need more sleep than men
At last, there’s science behind something that women have probably always known: a study has shown that the female brain works harder than a male’s! But wait, here’s the best part: because of that, women, especially mothers, need around 20 minutes …
Weird things mums do when we're sleep-deprived
Have you ever poured milk onto your toast? Put your phone in the fridge? Decided to bake bread in the middle of the night? Walked into a room then wondered why you were there? Chances are, you've got a new baby! Christine Stride examines the …
How to ask other people to look after your kids
Why do we feel uncomfortable asking others to help with our kids? Blogger Rebekah Hoeft shares her strategies for what works best when asking for help. There’s an odd stigma attached to parents leaving their children with other people, which …
How my parents entertain my baby (but it's really for them)
Philippa Wintle suspects that her parents enjoy babysitting games more than her baby does. I looked forward to, but also dreaded, my maternity leave. I’m not naturally maternal, and generally find other people’s kids challenging. That has changed …
10 things no one tells you about being a parent
We love our kids to bits but there’s no denying they're the gateway to a life less stylish. Here are some of the lesser known outcomes of raising kids: 🍪 1. You’ll gain five kilos from eating leftover fish fingers and the Goody Gumdrop ice-cream …
5 ways parenting has changed my reactions
Mum Fiona Roberton shares five ways she reacts to things now as a parent, as opposed to when she was child-free! I have lowered my standards As a mother I have had food thrown at me, been spewed on, and regularly get toothpaste on my clothes as my …
How to help your child feel understood
Steps to help you communicate understanding to your child to help her navigate negative feelings. The key to helping your child feel understood is to acknowledge his feelings. Follow these steps to get more in tune with your child: Label the …
Does your child have nature deficit disorder?
Many children are missing out on getting in touch with nature and the consequences could be dire for the rest of us, finds Rochelle Gillespie. Before we get any further I want you to take a moment to think about a time in your childhood when you …
Tips for moving house
Moving house is a mission. Moving house when you have small children can seem like Mission Impossible! But with the right preparation, a well thought out action plan, and some deep breaths - it can be done! Here are our top tips based on the …
Which personality traits does your baby show?
The key to a harmonious home life is recognising individual personalities and parenting accordingly. Allison Mooney looks at four common traits in babies and pre-schoolers. Watch children playing and it takes only minutes to see their individual …
Korero Maori Tamariki Ma
Give your little kiwis an introduction to Te Reo Māori with basic greetings and vocab that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Not only is being exposed to more than one language great for cognitive development, but using Te Reo honours our …
My traumatic miracle
Bronwyn Bay's powerful story of a shocking but life-changing experience. It was a stunning, crisp winter day in May 2013. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and yet a storm raged inside of me. I was in the depths of post natal depression where I …
Are all your ducks in a row?
Leaving behind dependant loved ones is not something we like to talk about, but planning for the unforeseen means you can relax and enjoy today. Most of us expect to live well into retirement but sadly a surprising number don’t make it. In 2013 …
The make up debate
DEBATE:Should we allow our kids a dash of lippy and blusher for fun, or is it really the thin end of the wedge? Liz Breslin and Laura Williamson take sides. Down with make-up By Laura Williamson I hate to be one of those "when I was young" …
Birthday parties: big, small or not at all?
All partied out by Liz BreslinI'm all for kids feeling special on their special days. And a birthday is pretty much the only day that is all about you (unless your mother was inconsiderate enough to give birth to twins, as I was). But I'm not sure …
10 ways for calmer days
Parenting young children can feel a lot like you’re constantly juggling, running late or looking for lost socks. Try some - or all - of our life hacks, simple ideas to simplify life. 1. Make the bed as soon as you get up. Sorry for being bossy, …
The first time I took my baby to daycare
One hot summer’s day, after an excruciatingly long episode of standing at the end of my driveway opening and closing my letterbox, to my baby's delight, I was happy in my decision to enrol him in daycare. My letterbox had become a source of intense …