Play ideas for kids that are sustainable, creative and budget-friendly
Ethical toy business owner & mama, Mandy Abel discusses creative, budget-friendly and sustainable play ideas that …
PLAY
I'm a little tea pot
I'm a little tea pot I'm a little tea pot, short and stout Here is my handle (hand on hip), Here is my spout (other arm out …
The power of play
In a world that often prioritises structured activities and academic achievement, it's important not to underestimate the power of play in the lives of babies and young children. For optimal development, babies and young children need …
Mindful play ideas for every season
The changing seasons can have a noticeable impact on children, just as they do on adults. By tailoring your activities to each season, you can help your child tune in and appreciate the subtle transformations that are happening not just in the world …
Nurturing your child's EQ with mindful play
Ethical toy business owner & mama, Mandy Abel shares how to nurture your child’s emotional intelligence and well-being through mindful play. Every so often, I catch a glimpse of my two boys getting lost in play – deeply engrossed in …
Outdoor Play: The many benefits for your toddler
In today's fast-paced digital world, it's more important than ever to introduce our little ones to the joys of outdoor play. Outdoor play offers numerous benefits, including the development of gross motor skills, problem-solving and social …
DIY Play Dough recipes
Play dough is so much fun for young and old. It also helps your child tap into their creativity, making all sorts of shapes and objects while enjoying the sensation of dough squishing between their fingers. Here are three recipes to try - one …
Gardening with kids
If you've ever shooed your inquisitive toddler away from touching the plants in the garden, or narrowly averted a mud pie mess, it's time to relax and encourage your child to get outside and get dirty exploring the natural world. Gardening is an …
Perfect spots for taking the family for a bike ride
Cycling is a cost-effective, fun and adventurous way families can spend time together. As a parent it can be difficult to find healthy activities that everyone will enjoy. Cycling is a great family activity that everyone of all ages can participate …
15 inspirational ways to play with your child
Miriam McCaleb gets strategic to keep the good times rolling. These ideas, honestly explored, will add more play into your home. And it’ll be fantastic! But I end by saying that all of us get a pass: you have permission to use your status as Adult …
Ten fun musical ideas to enjoy with your little one
Make music an everyday part of your familyʼs life with these 10 fun ideas from music specialist Julie Wylie. You don’t need to be particularly musical to share musical activities with your children. Singing with, not for, children will encourage a …
50 FREE toddler boredom busters
Keeping a toddler or two entertained is a full time job, and sometimes it can feel like you're all out of ideas. Here's 50+ toddler boredom busters to add to your collection, and best of all, they won't cost a cent! PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO …
Ideas for having fun in the great indoors
Keeping the whole family entertained when you can't get outside can be a real challenge. Instead of wanting to spend time together, cries of 'I'm bored!' and 'There's nothing to do!' can make you wish you were somewhere else. Keep reading for some …
Fabulous fancy dress ideas for kids
Need inspiration for a costume party, or just some simple make-believe fun? We've collected some of our favourite fancy dress ideas, from home and abroad, to inspire your next dress-up session! Snail costume, projectkid.com Sweet-as …
5 rainy day fun activities for kids
Games are so much fun! Think back to your childhood and the fun you had with friends playing all sorts of games, outside in the backyard, inside on those wet days. When it comes to fun and games, your imagination is your only limit. We've listed …
Special time ideas for your 12-24 month old
Toddlers want to explore their world, discover new tastes, textures and experiment with independence (while mum/dad are close by for security). Showing and discovering new activities with a toddler is lots of fun. Toddlers don’t expect a perfectly …
What your kids really want to do with you!
Mum-of-two Hannah Corbett takes note of her kids' true desires. I looked up at the tightly packed rows of flashy toys at the local department store, and fell silent. Partly because half the contents of the nearest shelves were now on the floor as …
Fun activities to do in Autumn
AUTUMN IS A SECOND SPRING WHEN EVERY LEAF IS A FLOWER ~ Albert Camus Embrace the season with these ideas that celebrate cooler weather and changing colours. Pumpkin pie-scented playdough you will need:1 cup plain flour ½ cup salt 1 Tbs …
Fun science experiment to do with your kids
Magic milk 1. Pour some milk onto a plate. 2. Add some drops of food colouring to the milk. 3. Squirt a small amount of washing-up liquid into the centre of the plate of milk. 4. See what happens! (But don't drink the milk afterwards!) ■ …
Fun things to do now the weather is getting warmer
7 fun and down-right clever ideas for hijinks now the weather is warming up! GET ARTYGet arty with some chalk on the footpath. The kids will love it (and so will the neighbourhood walkers). Draw a maze for your child to walk through. Draw a …
Play: best toy suggestions for each age and stage
Play forms the building blocks for life. Miriam McCaleb shares what to expect for each developmental milestone and the best toys for each age and stage. As our children grow and their brains increase in complexity, they undergo enormous …
5 ways heuristic play will benefit your child
Toys that do less, actually teach more, writes Bianca Jukes. Children are surrounded by loud, colourful, active toys – but these toys lack the sensory and heuristic properties critical for supporting creative thinking and problem-solving skills. …
Preschooler activities for those cold & rainy days
The doldrums can soon set in when the weather is persistently grey, cold and rainy. With just a little extra effort you can send the blues packing. Get grooving With winter rain and gloom on the horizon it's too easy to sit around inside doing …
Remember these games we played as kids...
Games are so much fun! Think back to your childhood and the fun you had with friends playing all sorts of games, outside in the backyard, inside on those wet days. When it comes to fun and games, your imagination is your only limit. We've listed …
Reading aloud: It's all about having fun!
There's no wrong way to read to babies and toddlers - it's just a matter of doing it in a cosy, fun environment. We talk to "baby geek" Miriam McCaleb Learning to read doesn't just start after your child turns five and goes to school - the …
6 tips for learning through free play
Kym Gibson of the Creators Educational Trust, shares six tips for bringing back free play. One of my favourite childhood memories is building huts in the living room. We would drag old woollen blankets out of the hall cupboard and hang them between …
Six tips to help your child learn to ride a bike
The outdoors and cycling are key features of a kiwi childhood, but with the number of electronic toys now in the market, it can also be something that is seen as too hard for many busy parents. Marilyn Northcotte passes on her tips for parents to …
How to cultivate a love of gardening
Follow Mary Searle Bell’s advice for cultivating a love of gardening in your little one. It’s almost never too early to introduce your child to the fun of gardening. It involves just about everything they love – dirt, water and assorted creepy …
Summer outdoor activities
Summer Outdoor Activities Summer is a great time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Kids love simple activities such as kicking a ball around on the back lawn. Here are some more ideas to help keep your kids occupied outdoors this summer. Hit …
Winter warm-up activities
Kids love to get outside, whether it's a trip to the local park, a walk around the block, or just a run around in the back yard. But as the weather gets cooler and the rain sets in, you may very well find yourself housebound and wondering how on …
The power of musical play
A simple song can help soothe and regulate kids’ emotions, explains Musical Play Therapy pioneer Julie Wylie. Since the beginning of time, and in every culture, parents have instinctively rocked, patted and sung to their children – to calm …
Playing is child's work
Got a toddler who can't seem to keep herself amused for more than 10 minutes? Ruth Brown schools up on the right way to get kids playing. Play is child's work. It's how they develop their skills, exercise their young minds and give their …
5 more household items that make great toys
You don't have to spend up large on expensive toys! Christine Stride offers up 5 more safe household items that, with a little creativity, make great playthings. …
Tips for taking tiny tots to the movies
When the latest animated flick hits the big screen it’s tempting to take the whole family for a weekend treat but how old does your child need to be to avoid a stressful situation at the cinema? We’ve consulted a bevy of mums for their top tips so …
How to: ride a bike
Learning to ride a bike is a childhood rite of passage but some kids find it easier than others. We asked the experts at Mocka for their advice on helping little ones to find their balance and get moving. Balance bikes teach kids the key skills …
Bubbles
Bubbles You will need: 2/3 cup dishwashing soap 12 cups of water 2 to 3 tablespoons of glycerine Mix the above ingredients together in a plastic tub. Then dip your bubble wand into the mixture and wave it around slowly, or blow gently. See who …
Fingerpainting fun
Fingerpaint You will need: 1 cup cornflour 1 cup cold water Some boiling water Some food colouring Mix together the cornflour and cold water, then add boiling water until the mixture goes 'goopy'. Separate into little bowls or yoghurt pottles …
Ways to make exercise a fun family habit
You’re not just a family, you’re a team! Renée Vincent shares a few ideas on how to get active with your whanāu this summer. As the days get longer and the trees burst with new life, we naturally start to feel more like heading outside and getting …
Toddler activity: fizzy fun for everyone
Engage curiosity with this creative concoction from Bright Ideas for young minds, a new book compiled by Kiwi early childhood educators and experts. ERUPTING CHALK ICEThis activity creates a sense of wonder as your child experiments with icy chalk, …
Toys for the whole family
Play - it's good for all ages! And kids love it when grown-ups join in their playtime. Here are our top five toys for timeless fun across all generations. 1. Lego While away a rainy weekend afternoon with a big pile of Lego and young and …
Preschoolers at play
Preschoolers at play are busy on many levels, most of which are incredibly valuable for their development. Miriam McCaleb explains. There’s a weird thing that happens when we examine the world of childhood play. It’s a bit like admiring the …
Easy Peasy Play Dough
Watch our kids make easy peasy play dough! Click here for further play dough recipe details. …
12 tips for making the most of craft time
The crafty ladies of What'sUpMoms have come up with these 12 awesome ways to make the the most of craft time by reducing mess, keeping supplies neat, and teaching your little ones the proper techniques to make their "messterpieces"! …
5 household items that make great toys
You don't have to spend up large on expensive toys! Christine Nikiel offers up 5 safe household items that, with a little creativity, make great playthings. …
Get outside and play whatever the weather
Nature invites us to come outside and play and, as Catherine Tafto explains, it’s an invitation worth accepting –whatever the weather. Lukas is scared and he doesn’t want to do it. Cassandra gently tells him that here, at Outdoor Explorers, they …
Essential Summer Holiday Bucket List
While the 'Bucket list' is tradtionally reserved for all the things one wants to do before they 'kick-the-bucket' the idea of a Summer Holiday 'Bucket list' is around the things you and the kids want to do before the season of summer …
The staple in any child's fun book - bubble mix recipe
Bubbles You will need: 2/3 cup dishwashing soap 12 cups of water 2 to 3 tablespoons of glycerine Mix the above ingredients together in a plastic tub. Then dip your bubble wand into the mixture and wave it around slowly, or blow gently. See who …
5 ways with a cardboard box
Cardboard boxes are often way more interesting to kids than whatever was inside. Check out these fabulous ways to make a box even more exciting! …
Sesame Street
The word on the street Behind the scenes of one of our most beloved Kids' show. Ernie and Bert, Grover, Big Bird and Cookie Monster have been with us seemingly forever but in fact, the creative spark that led to Sesame Street came out of sheer …
Wet weather activities
It's wet and cold outside for the fourth day running and the kids have resorted to tormenting the dog for kicks. So what do you do? Go hard Dance aerobics: Throw on a kids' aerobics or dance DVD if you have one and get down for half an hour of …
Meet Doc McStuffins
what's up, doc? Ever wondered who's behind some of your pre-schoolers' best loved TV cartoon characters? We talk to 13-year-old Kiara who stars in a new series on Disney Junior - Doc McStuffins Kiara Muhammad is just 13 years old yet she's …
Dora The Explorer Reigns Supreme
Of all the screen queens on kids’ TV, Dora the Explorer reigns supreme. She’s a bouncy, brightly coloured seven year old in bobby socks and sneakers but she’s also a world-beater on preschool TV. Dora is absolutely everywhere. In New Zealand one …
Peppa Pig - Meet The Creators
Meet the fun-loving fellows behind the ever-popular Peppa Pig. If you’ve ever watched Peppa Pig— and international viewer figures suggest you probably have — you’ll have noticed the kids’ style cartoon drawings, simple story lines and a childish …
