Keep your kids well this winter
While some sickness can’t be avoided, you can give yourself and your kids health the best chance by following some basic steps and paying special attention to their diet throughout these months.
No-bake trail mix cookies
These no-bake trail mix cookies have all the delicious flavours of a healthy snack with none of the baking pain. Whizz up a batch up and enjoy the healthy satisfaction of no added sugar and all fruit and seed goodness.
Beach ball race
This is a simple and fun activity to play while in the swimming pool. Kids will love racing against each other to see who is the fastest with their ball. It can be played by kids of all ages, so get them in the pool and let the fun begin!
Make homemade clay beads
This is a simple and great way to make beads. Children will enjoy painting and threading them to create necklaces
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Heads, shoulders knees and toes will always put a smile on a childs face. This interactive nursery rhyme is great for all ages of learning from vocabulary to indicating body parts.
Shortbread
Shortbread is a traditional Christmas biscuit recipe but it can also be enjoyed all through the year. The light sweet biscuit dough results in a pale biscuit that's perfect with a cup of tea.
Prawn and potato salad with avocado dressing
This prawn and potato salad has the added crunch of watercress and is dressed in a delicious tangy avocado dressing. Take it on a picnic or serve it up for a lovely light lunch.
Jam doughnut cupcakes
Love donuts? Love cupcakes? Well then, isn't this recipe a little bit of genius? In fact, jam doughnut cupcakes are just about the very best thing to have for afternoon tea.
Traffic sign colouring pages for kids: Traffic lights
Next time you're out for a walk with the kids, teach them about what the different road signs mean and why they're there. This activity will remind children that the signs they see everywhere around them have meaning. Get kids to colour in these free printables.
Gnocchi with tomato, garlic and basil
Buy some gnocchi and ready made sauce then boost the flavour with a couple of your own ingredients. Add a side salad and some garlic bread. Your guests will be none the wiser and you will have a meal on the table in under 20 minutes.
Four Aces Magic Trick
This simple card trick is a fun way to improve your child's maths skills and cognitive thinking. Teaching kids how to do magic tricks can also improve their confidence and self esteem.
Sleepy koala sandwich
Ever had a koala over for lunch? Well, now you can! This super cute koala sandwich will delight the kids - and maybe even entice them to eat it all up!
How to talk about bullying and cyber bullying
Here are some tips on how to talk with your children about bullying.
Textured painting
Keep the kids entertained with this brilliant piece art work. Mixing textures in with your paints will create a 3D look of textured paint worthy of fridge display or even a frame.
Pumpkin, pear and ginger loaf
This pumpkin, pear and ginger loaf is a delicious alternative to boring banana bread. It is packed full of healthy ingredients and makes a perfect partner to a cup of tea! Top it with some tasty lemon curd for a special treat.
All-in chicken leg bake
Try this simple baked dinner when you want juicy chicken and tender roast veggies but don't fancy the washing up! This recipe uses just one baking dish which gives you all the flavour with none of the mess. Enjoy!
BBQ beef san choi bao
A classic Chinese dish if ever there was one, this san choi bao is made with beef and smokey Chinese barbecue sauce. Low in fat and big in flavour, it's always a favourite at dinner time.
Lucy Lockett
Nursery rhymes are a fun way to teach your children about music, rhyme and language.
Easy pear cobbler
This lovely fruity dessert is great for a cold winter's day when you want something to fill your tum. Use tinned pears or fresh - whatever you have to hand because this is all about the easy!
Lemon sherbet
Lemon sherbet is an all time delicious sweet. This activity gives you all the instructions you need to be making it with the kids at home any time of the day.
Chicken and corn soup
Chicken and corn soup brings two delicious flavours together. In this recipe, strips of chicken breast are poached in chicken stock before creamed corn is added. Using only four ingredients, this is an simple dinner recipe your family will love.
Banana cake with passionfruit cream
Adding a passionfruit icing to the top of this moist banana cake takes it to new heights of tropical delight! Absolutely delicious as a summery bake when you want to make something special.
Natural Birth
A natural birth means a vaginal delivery without drugs or medical interventions such as an epidural, pethidine or a caesarian. Find advice and information on giving birth naturally with support from a midwife or birthing partner. Kidspot New Zealand
Pumpkin and cumin soup
Spice up a bowl of pumpkin soup with the gentle hint of heat that comes from cumin. A yummy lunch for a cold winter's day.
Social skills for children with autism
Children with Austism Spectrum Disorder need guidance when it comes to social skills at school. Get advice on dealing with autism in education and schooling.
Healthy mushroom stroganoff
Made with lovely big field mushrooms in a light sour cream sauce, this healthy mushroom stroganoff is not only super-delish but it's very healthy too! Whip this dish up in 20 minutes, for a tasty mid-week meal that the even the kids will love.
Mushroom soup with garlic croutons
Rich and hearty, this mushroom soup is a real winter warmer. And topped with some freshly toasted garlic croutons, its a complete meal for lunch or dinner any day of the week.
Hold the spaghetti! Different ways to use bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is SO yesterday. It's time to beef up everybody's favourite meat sauce, and take homemade bolognese to new heights.
Sweet potato frittata
A variation on a traditional recipe, this frittata uses sweet potato as well as regular potatoes. This frittata is a great lunch option and can be served either hot or cold with a salad on the side. Also great for lunch boxes!
Whizzing balloons
This is a great party game for children of all ages to enjoy. Children will love watching their balloons rise and will be eager to see who will win.