Author: Julie Lankow

As a mum of two boys, I have had the pleasure of being Editor for Kidspot NZ throughout their childhood. My hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at my own jokes, accidentally revealing my age during quizzes, and never taking anything too seriously. Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”

How routines change families for the better

Posted on by Julie Lankow

By Dr Justin Coulson

Many parents are stressed out or struggling to maintain order in their families for one simple reason: they can’t seem to implement structure and routine in their home.

Some parents don’t like the idea of being dictated to by a timetable or family routine, while others don’t see how it can work in their circumstances.

But routine matters. It makes families happier. It reduces tension. It improves children’s (and parents’) behaviour. It even helps us sleep better, and our kids do better at school and with friends.

How does having a routine do all that?

5 ways routines can help families

1. Routine promotes security and stability

Children thrive when they feel safe and secure, and when life is predictable. If our kids know what is coming and when, they feel comfortable. They’re not producing stress hormones. Instead, they’re developing healthily and happily.

Family routines can also be helpful by preparing our children for what’s coming. They can look forward to story time, play time, park time, or whatever it is that falls naturally in their routine, when it is well established and predictable.

2. Routine reduces cognitive stress

Barack Obama, former President of the United States, sticks to routine to reduce cognitive fatigue. His brain doesn’t have to think about certain things, which leaves him with more brain space for other things that matter more. As an example, his morning routine always includes 45 minutes of exercise, the same food for breakfast, and the same suits to wear.

Routine can have the same effect on us and our children. As our routine becomes habitual and automatic, we don’t need to think about what else we should do. We simply move through our day, completing things as needed.

3. Routines empower our children – even with their chores!

In our home we have a simple chore chart. There are fifteen simple chores listed, grouped into four separate lists. Each day our kids have afternoon tea and then start on their chores. It’s the routine. There are no power struggles. There is no fighting. The kids “get it”. They know that after school they can have a snack and then get into the routine. Simple.

The best thing is the routine promotes responsibility and empowerment. We occasionally remind them, but rarely do we need to nag. The routine makes it easy.

4. Routine improves social-emotional health

A study published in a 2014 issue of The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics found that routines matter for our kids. Researchers examined the family routines that 8,500 preschoolers engaged in with their families. The routines they were interested in were eating dinner as a family (five times per week), singing, story-telling, reading and playing at least a few times a week. They found that, in families where none of these routines were practised, just one in ten children experienced high social-emotional health. Comparatively, when families did all five of those routines, one in four children had high socio-emotional health.

The numbers aren’t huge, and there are certainly other things that can impact on our kids’ social-emotional health, but this is still a significant difference between the two groups.

5. Routine improves sleep, school and learning

This research indicates that when our kids have a good sleep routine (meaning they go to bed within 30 minutes of the same time each night), they sleep better, learn better and regulate their behaviour more effectively.

Routine does not mean rigid

Some people criticise routines due to the fact that they require so much rigidity. Research shows that being overly rigid is unhelpful and creates stress. The routine should be a framework that supports us rather than dictating our every move to the minute. In fact, an added bonus of routines is that they give you the power to be flexible when you need to because you can always come back to the structure you need.

If your family is stressful, perhaps a new routine for your morning or evening could be just the thing to reduce stress and improve health and wellbeing.

How do routines work in your family? What things are strict and what things stay flexible?

This article was written by Dr Justin Coulson for Kidspot Australia and reprinted here with permission. Find out more here.

Continue reading “How routines change families for the better”

Mind That Child by Dr Simon Rowley

Posted on by Julie Lankow

During our lives we are privileged to occasionally come across a real, genuine hero. Not a celebrity with a big entourage or a sports star with an even bigger ego – we’re talking about real life heroes who have a profound inflence on other people’s lives, even to the point of saving that life.

A real life hero

Renowned New Zealand neonatal paediatrician Dr Simon Rowley may very well be one of those heroes. Over a professional lifetime of working with our most vulnerable, Dr Rowley and his brilliant team of expert clinicians have saved thousands of precious little lives.

Dr Rowley’s new memoir, Mind that Child (ghost-written by journalist Adam Dudding) gives us a very special glimpse into what it means to be entrusted with the most precious of responsibilities – a young human life.

Hear from his patients

It says a lot about the man that, even though this is his story, he dedicates the book to his patients:

“The babies and children who are such great teachers, and their parents, who have demonstrated true selfless devotion to their children. Their resilience and strength never fail to amaze me.” Dr Simon Rowley

And it certainly seems that Dr Rowley’s patients and colleagues think highly of the man, in return.

Prepare for a moving read

Creating a recollection of real life stories in the medical profession, especially one that involves such young, tender lives, is destined to result in a very moving tribute, not only to the amazing work done by Dr Rowley, but to the bravery of his patients and their families.

Charting his decades of medical experience, Rowley gives us a very powerful and real understanding of the life of a doctor: what they must do and decide, from the high-stakes management of tiny pre-term babies to the serious impacts of drugs, alcohol and technology on developing minds; and the depressing corrolation between poverty and a baby’s health not just during pregancy; but throughout their young life.

What’s revealed is a tender and profound portrait of a medical professional at the very centre of what matters – a doctor who always adopts a humane, holistic view and who writes openly about the personal impact of a career in the high-pressure medical world. Whilst he places his patients at the very centre of his work, there is also a good dose of dry humour throughout the book – something which is no doubt required to cope in such a position.

Mind That Child is available now, RRP $38.00. Learn more at Penguin.co.nz.

‘Simon Rowley is GOD. He saved our son. I more than encountered him, I cried on his shoulder and he hugged me with each down and we shared laughter and joy and a coffee in a plastic cup with each step up. Both Warwick and I cannot speak highly enough of him. If he asked us to jump, we would only ask how high? He’s amazing.’

Alyson Gofton

Read the first chapter of Mind That Child below …

[pdf-embedder url=”https://kidspot.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Mind-That-Child-by-Simon-Rowley-First-Chapter.pdf” title=”Mind That Child by Simon Rowley First Chapter”]

The insane school run

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Check me out … my kids have not been late for school at all this year! Also, check me out … 80% of those times I have done the school run in my PJs. Of course, I’m kidding! It’s more like 90%.

The thing is, I am not a morning person. I give myself a gold star for getting the kids out the door and off to school with at least 30 seconds to spare before the bell. If I had to do it fully dressed and presentable then stress levels would be a lot higher. And because morning traffic and school drop offs can be a touch on the crazy side, I can do without the additional stress.

The crazy world of school drop off

In June 2018, a poll by stuff.co.nz asked people, “Does the way we drop our children off at school need to change?” The resounding answer, from almost three quarters of respondents was, “Yes. Traffic around schools is a nightmare.”

Whether it’s traffic jams, double parking, cars blocking driveways, difficulty in finding a parking space, or hazardous driving from parents, a lot of schools seem to have an issue with the chaos that is the school run. There have been reports of aggression, naming and shaming, assaults, and even people threatening to run others over!

It’s not just the drop off either. The prime real estate of a parking space near the school has led some parents to arrive for the pick up after school up to an hour early.

So what’s the solution?

The solution to most of these issues is seemingly obvious – get kids out of the cars. To aid in reducing congestion, kids can:

  • Walk
  • Cycle
  • Scooter or skateboard
  • Join a walking bus
  • Take public transport
  • Travel on the school bus
  • Carpool

For this to work, there has to be a big buy-in by the parents just as much as the kids. But there are many issues around a lot of those options including safety, availability and convenience.

At my kids school a system was introduced to encourage kids to walk to school, even if it was just the final few hundred metres. Two sites with pouwhenua (carved wooden posts) were set up nearby with footpath access to the school. They were manned by students who would hand out tickets to kids who passed the pouwhenua before and after school. The tickets could be redeemed for school stationery once enough had been collected. Parents could still drive their kids to school if necessary but without the congestion at the school gate.

Has your child’s school come up with a solution to alleviate the traffic issues around drop off and pick up times? Let us know in the comments below.

As bad as your school run may be, at least it (probably) isn’t anything like this …

PS. This was just an experiment to try and solve drop off issues – it failed.

For more information on safe journeys for children, see the Hike it, Bike it, Scoot it, Skate it guide on the NZTA website. Continue reading “The insane school run”

ChildLife Essentials® Formula 3 Cough Syrup

Posted on by Julie Lankow

product trial4.29 out of 5 – Kidspot mums were pleased with ChildLife Formula 3 Cough Syrup.star rating

ChildLife® Formula 3 Cough Syrup provides effective relief to help shorten the duration and reduce the severity of a child’s cough associated with cold or flu. It combines the three most effective and well researched homeopathic extracts for safely and effectively addressing all types of children’s coughs.

  • No GMOs
  • Alcohol-free
  • Gluten-free
  • No artificial colourings, flavourings or sweeteners
  • No dairy, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, corn or yeast

Ingredients

ChildLife® uses only the highest quality ingredients:

Active ingredients: Umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides), Wild Cherry Bark (Prunus serotina), European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Inactive ingredients: Buckwheat honey, Elderberry extract, Citric acid, USP Purified water, Natural mixed berry and raspberry flavour, Potassium sorbate, Stevia, Xanthan Gum.

Suggested Dosage

  • Children 2-4 yrs: 1/2 teaspoon every 3 hrs, or as needed
  • Children 5-11 yrs: 1 teaspoon every 3 hrs, or as needed
  • Children under 2 yrs of age: consult your healthcare practitioner

Always read the label and shake well before use. Give directly or mix with your child’s favourite drink. Keep refrigerated after opening.

Warnings

Do not give this product for persistent or chronic cough such as occurs with asthma or if cough is accompanied by excessive phlegm (mucus) unless directed by a doctor. Stop use and see your doctor if cough persists for more than one week, tends to recur or is accompanied by fever, rash or persistent headache.  A persistent cough may be a sign of a serious condition.

In case of overdose, get medical help or contact the National Poisons Centre right away on 0800 764 766.

Visit the ChildLife website for more information.

We have given 20 parents with children aged between 2 and 12 years old the opportunity to trial and review ChildLife Essentials® Formula 3 Cough Syrup. Read their reviews below.

Each selected reviewer will receive:

  • 118.5ml bottle of ChildLife Essentials® Formula 3 Cough Syrup

—

Scroll to the bottom of the page to add your review as a comment.

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address on your profile. Please check your address now to ensure that it is up to date. Not registered yet? Then signup now

Kidspot Terms and Conditions: You will be required to post your review on our Product Trials page if you are selected. Your name and postal address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the product only.

See photos from our reviewers below.

How to get an extra-clean house for allergy sufferers

Posted on by Julie Lankow

If you live with someone allergic to dust mites, mould, pollen, pet hair or any one of the hundreds of allergens in household products, clean is not enough. A house needs to be extra-clean and allergen-proof  to help make allergy sufferers as comfortable as possible. The alternative is sneezing, wheezing, coughing and watery eyes, all brought on by the presence of irritants that you can keep at bay with some extra attention.

Here’s how to get on top of some common irritants at your place:

1. Use allergy-friendly products

  • Avoid using aerosol sprays as they are a common trigger for asthma sufferers. Even if you’re not standing near anyone, the high-pressure mist that the aerosol omits means the contents can spread a long way.
  • Try to use environmentally-friendly products – what’s good for the environment is often better for us too.
  • Avoid using products that contain harsh chemicals like ammonia, formaldehyde and sodium lauryl sulphate. Hunt out products that are free from these irritants or make your own natural cleaning products.

2. Keep a dust-free bedroom

It’s the dust mite droppings that many people react to (and news that there is dust mite poo in our bedding causes a reaction in the rest of us!).To keep bedding really clean, you will need to wash all bed linen regularly, preferably weekly. A man-made fibre like polyester is less likely to trap dust than natural fibres like cotton or linen.

Air out mattresses, doonas, pillows and blankets daily, hang them over the clothesline and beat them with a tennis racket to allow as much dust as possible to escape. Wash doonas and pillows at least monthly.

Use a hypoallergenic mattress topper, doona inner-cover and pillow protector and wash these at least monthly and replace them annually.

Keep stuffed animals to a minimum and wash those that remain regularly. Click here for instructions for washing fluffy toys.

Pull the bed out and vacuum underneath at least once a week, preferably daily. Don’t forget to dust side tables and vacuum underneath those as well.

3. Vacuum daily

Wooden or tiled floors are much easier to keep dust-free, but if you have carpet, a daily vacuum, especially in bedrooms, is a must. Use a vacuum cleaner made especially for allergy-sufferers – most will be fitted with HEPA filtration and powerhead.

Make sure you vacuum around the skirting boards and in crevices and vacuum around all beds at least twice. Empty canisters or vacuum bags regularly, sealing the bag well before disposal.

4. Use an air purifier

Even if you are taking the precautions outlined above, there will still be plenty of dust in your house – in fact some studies show that air pollution such as allergens and pollutants can be present in higher levels inside the home than outside! Air purifiers work to filter the allergens and pollutants from the air and improve the air quality.

5. Empty bins daily

The rubbish bin can omit toxins without you even realising, and they are a breeding ground for mould and germs. Empty bins every evening and disinfect with a hospital grade solution before lining with a plastic bag.

6. Beat doormats every day

Pollen and dust is tracked into our home constantly. Make sure you have a doormat on the outside and inside at every entry point to your home and shake these out regularly. Vacuum each indoor mat when you do your daily vacuum run. It’s a good idea to place a mat in the doorway of an allergy-sufferers bedroom for extra protection. Better yet, leave shoes outside.

7. Inspect for mould weekly

Mould is a common allergy trigger and it’s present absolutely everywhere. Don’t give it a chance to breed – wipe away small mould patches as soon as you find them with a paper towel and throw the paper towel in an outside bin. You can use a solution of three cups of water to five drops of Oil of Cloves (find it at your pharmacy) in a spray bottle to kill mould spores and prevent mould from growing. Make sure you test for an allergy to Oil of Cloves first, of course! Tea tree oil is also a good antiseptic against mould – a teaspoon of oil to a cup of water wiped over mould-prone surfaces should do the trick.

Other mould preventatives:

  • Air your home regularly.
  • Pour away any standing water and eliminate drips and damp.
  • Squeegee away condensation that collects on windows and in bathrooms.
  • Use mould-resistant paints where possible.
  • Use an humidifier if damp is a problem.
  • Clean the ceilings with a stiff broom at least seasonally.
  • Clean your toothbrush holder every other day.
  • Clean drains at least monthly. Try pouring a cup of bicarb soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain.

8. Clean filters in your air-conditioning unit

Make cleaning the filter in your heating or cooling system a weekly task. A quick brush outside with a dust brush should do the trick. Inspect the filters for damage and replace when necessary.

9. Look for hidden dust

It’s not just the bedrooms that we need to keep dust-free, there are lots of hidden dust traps around the home. Check for dust:

  • On electrical appliances – electronics like the TV and computer create a static field that attracts lots and lots of dust.
  • On blinds and curtains – regularly wash blinds and curtains to keep them dust-free. You can dust timber slat blinds by putting a pair of pantyhose over your hands and running them along the slats.
  • Wash ornaments regularly and brush with a soft toothbrush.
  • Vacuum books using a low vacuum setting and the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
  • Pack away clothing and bedding that is not in regular use – use dust covers for blankets and pillows.
  • Beat fabric couches and armchairs and vacuum them often – better yet, replace them with leather if you can.
  • Dust the tops of picture frames and skirting boards weekly.
  • Tackle down the side and behind your fridge at least monthly.
  • Lift rugs and vacuum under them weekly.
  • Dust your house plants monthly.
  • Pull out couches and heavy furniture and vacuum and clean behind them at least monthly.

10. Clean your cleaning tools

We get so busy cleaning the house we often forget to clean the cleaners. Germs and dust can build up in our appliances, rendering them less effective and often making them an allergy-trigger, too. Regularly clean your vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher and other appliances.

11. Keep the bathroom pristine

Bathrooms are damp, closed spaces that can become a breeding ground for all sorts of mould and germs that spell trouble for allergy sufferers. Clean the bathroom every other day, using hypoallergenic products and lots of elbow grease.

  • Wipe down all surfaces so they don’t collect dust.
  • Shake out bathmats daily and replace them weekly.
  • Replace towels every other day and dry them out thoroughly between uses (a heated towel rack is a godsend).
  • Scrub away any traces of soap scum or mould.
  • Use a squeegee after every shower to eliminate excess water.
  • Make sure you clean the extraction fan regularly so it works properly.
  • Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated to prevent mould.
  • Put some loo cleaner or straight vinegar into the toilet last thing every night and flush away in the morning.

 

12. Air your home every day

Open your home and let fresh air flow at least once a day. Even on a rainy day, the air quality outside the home is generally better than inside (unless you live on a main road or under a flight path, in which case keep the windows closed!). Check your home for cross-ventilation and call in the experts to move windows and doors if you have to. Fresh air is absolutely essential for a healthy, happy home.

This article was written by Maxabella for Kidspot.com.au and has been adapted for Kidspot.co.nz

Continue reading “How to get an extra-clean house for allergy sufferers”

Triggers for asthma and allergies

Posted on by Julie Lankow

As parents, we know that prevention is always better than a cure. But when we can’t see the things that are adversely affecting the health of our little ones, it can be pretty tough to remove them from the picture. More and more we are learning about the impact of airborne triggers on asthma and allergy sufferers. The good news is that some simple steps at home can make a world of difference to the health of your child.

Understand what you’re dealing with

The first step is always to seek professional medical advice. Once you have a diagnosis from your doctor and any necessary medical interventions are in place, learn about specific airborne triggers that can either make breathing difficult or set off an asthma attack. Some of the most common airborne triggers are dust-mites; pollen; mould spores; and dog and cat (pet dander). Of course, it’s almost impossible to protect little ones from these all of the time, but by controlling the environment at home, you can make a big difference.

Removing the unseen

Here are a few things that you can do to help your child breath easier:

Step one: Identify and understand the triggers affecting your little one: Whether it is dust mites, cat and dog allergens or other airborne allergens, start your action plan by determining what they are. As with most things, different triggers affect different people so if you are having difficulty working out which triggers are affecting your little one, book in a visit to the doctors for a prick test. Keeping a diary of your child’s asthma attacks can also help you to determine what sets them off, ie cold weather, sports day, high pollen count.

Step two: Manage your triggers:

For those who suffer from asthma attacks or allergies caused by pet dander or dust mites, keeping your child’s environment clean and dust-free can help to reduce the number of attacks. An air purification system can remove fine allergens and particles including mould and pet dander from the air. Some air purifier models are also capable of heating and cooling and in doing so providing a more healthy environment all round.

    • Consider different flooring options in your child’s bedroom. Old carpets may harbour dust mites and other allergens so hardwood or laminate flooring may be a better choice. For comfort, add some rugs which can be easily cleaned and aired.
    • Don’t forget window coverings – launder regularly to remove dust and pollen blown in from outside.
    • Asthma-friendly mattress and pillow covers are available to help reduce night-time attacks.
    • Many triggers that can set off asthma and allergies are airborne so an air purification system can make a difference in the home. Some air-conditioners can also remove particulates from the air and heatpumps are excellent at keeping humidity levels down.
    • Mould can be an issue for asthma and allergy sufferers and can pose a considerable risk to the health and wellbeing of a home’s inhabitants. Remove mould as soon as possible. Your local DIY store can offer some tips and product advice for dealing with recurring mould.
    • Do not smoke indoors, in the car or near children.
    • Invest in a quality vacuum cleaner to not only pick up dust and pet dander but also to filter the air that is returned back into the room.
    • Opt for products that are allergy-friendly, like those that are approved by the Sensitive Choice programme.

For more, see How to create an asthma free home.

Sensitive Choice

Sensitive Choice® is a community service focused programme for everyone who wants to breathe purer, cleaner, fresher air and reduce allergic reactions. The Sensitive Choice® programme is the only one of its kind in New Zealand that approves asthma and allergy-aware products or services through an independent panel of experts. You’ll find the reassuring ‘blue butterfly’ symbol on hundreds of products – from bedding to building products, from cleaning agents to carpets, from air purifiers and vacuum cleaners to the very paint you put on your walls.

You can find a full list of approved products and services on the Asthma Foundation website – just look for the blue butterfly and make a sensitive choice.

Help yourself: Download a free leaflet with helpful advice ‘Living with Asthma and Allergies – a guide to non-medical products‘

 

This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.

Continue reading “Triggers for asthma and allergies”

Period Topics To Discuss With Your Kids

Posted on by Julie Lankow

You’d be surprised how many girls aren’t prepared for their first periods and how much misinformation about menstruation they retain.

Both girls and boys have so many questions; they just may not know where to direct them. Here’s a selection of topics to consider discussing with your children:

1. Promote period positivity

Periods are normal and healthy, and if kids are told this from a young age, they will believe it. Getting your period is as important as having a healthy diet, going to the bathroom regularly, getting enough sleep and drinking plenty of water. Let’s promote it as the healthy and normal bodily function that it is.

2. Promote facts, not myths

All girls get their periods. Periods are not gross, period blood is not different to normal blood, girls can exercise during their periods if they want to, hormonal side-effects are normal and, no sharks won’t attack you if you swim during your period!

3. Starting your period prepares your body for pregnancy

A lot of the misinformation about periods is because we as a society have an issue talking about sex and reproduction in a healthy manner. Boys and girls need to understand how pregnancy occurs – if nothing else than to help prevent unwanted pregnancies – but also because it’s essential to menstrual and sexual health. The menstrual cycle works on a (roughly) 28-day cycle. If an egg is not fertilised then the uterine lining comes away as period blood – not that dramatic after all.

4. Teach kids about anatomy

Many girls believe they urinate and menstruate from the same body part. This is basic 101 stuff, but many girls are not taught about how their own bodies work. If girls think this then imagine what boys think?

5. Promote menstrual products

Education is power and being informed empowers girls to take control of their periods and manage them with dignity. There are five types of products; pads, tampons, liners, menstrual cups and period underwear. All come in different sizes and absorbencies/volumes. Have a chat about the different products and what they’re used for. A fun experiment for both boys and girls is to dunk tampons in a glass of water and watch them expand. It demonstrates the absorption properties and brings a bit of fun to the topic.

6. Promote menstrual hygiene

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is extremely rare but can be fatal. Girls need to be taught to:

    • Wash their hands before and after they insert tampons
    • Only use tampons when they have their periods
    • Use the correct tampon size to meet their flow; minis in the beginning, regular and super as the flow increases
    • Change tampons every four to eight hours
    • Shower daily, and wear clean, breathable (cotton) underwear during your period
    • Use clean towels – a high level of personal hygiene needs to be encouraged
    • Girls cannot lose their virginity by using tampons. This is a dangerous myth and one that confuses girls and boys. There is only one way for both girls and boys to lose their virginities and that’s through sexual intercourse.

What topic did you find was important to discuss with your children about menstruation? Join the chat in the comments below.

This article was written by Kelly Gregor, Chief Lunatic at Luna, an online community that supports girls through their first and subsequent periods and empowers them by normalising periods and promoting period positivity by busting myths and fighting taboos.

Continue reading “Period Topics To Discuss With Your Kids”

Boys need to be educated about periods too

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Educating girls and boys about periods is essential to promoting self-esteem and healthy body images in both sexes.

If you want your boys to grow into men who respect women, then start by teaching them about periods.

The unsympathetic response

Every woman I know has at some point been at the receiving end of a barbed, disparaging comment about periods or PMS. It’s such a normal part of our culture that we don’t even realise it’s happening – and it happens because a lot of men have no idea about periods, and the menstrual cycle.

A sarcastic joke, a belittling jibe, an unsympathetic response to a completely normal (and often painful bodily function) does nothing to promote self-esteem, gender diversity or body positivity.

And, so periods continue to be shrouded by myths and stigma, and then we’re collectively surprised when girls are too ashamed to talk about periods and would rather use bunched up balls of toilet paper than tell a teacher they’ve started their period.

Change the conversation

Our culture tends to make girls and women feel bad or dramatic when we feel sad, depressed, or weepy before and during our periods, instead of being empathetic to the surge of hormones and physical changes our bodies – especially little bodies – are going through, we receive judgment. So, let’s change the conversation.

A warm smile, a hot cup of tea and an understanding ear go a long way to making girls feel comfortable about their periods.

Let’s break down the stigma and start talking about it. Not when girls start menstruating and it’s all a bit much and awkward. Start the conversation about periods and reproduction when children are young. The Europeans do it that way and their kids grown into self-actualised and successful adults.

Both teenage girls and boys have so many questions; they just may not know where to direct them. For advice, check out topics that you can discuss with your kids about periods.

LunaThis article was written by Kelly Gregor, Chief Lunatic at Luna.

Luna is an online community that supports girls through their first and subsequent periods and empowers them by normalising periods and promoting period positivity by busting myths and fighting taboos. Luna provides a monthly subscription service that offers girls choice and control – packs are categorised according to the stage and phase a girl is in.

Find Luna online at lunaperiods.co.nz, on Facebook and on Instagram.

Continue reading “Boys need to be educated about periods too”

Mess, Guilt, Me-time: Balancing Work & Life

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Whether you’re a working parent because you choose to be or because you’ve had to, finding that work-life balance is no easy task.

You could be a career mum, a part-time working mum, or a mum working from home – each requires that we find the right equation. Yep, welcome to modern motherhood.

Juggle: verb & noun. Definitions: 1) Perform feats of dexterity, especially by tossing objects in the air and catching them, keeping several in the air at the same time 2) Continue to deal with (several activities) at once, especially with ingenuity.

If this dictionary definition rings a bell it’s either because (a) you read it at the start of Allison Pearson’s I Don’t Know How She Does It or (b) like millions of women, you have not read it – frankly, who has time? – but instead, you are living it: madly juggling work and kids and regularly dropping balls all over the place.

Whether your answer was (a) or (b), make these your mantra: “The Super Woman is dead. Long live the Real Woman.”  And here are seven practical ways to lead a more balanced life:

Balancing work and life #1: Weigh up the benefits of working

The term ‘opportunity cost’ is never more relevant than to a working mum. If you stay at home, the opportunity cost is less money. If you go to work, the opportunity cost is less time with your kids. But the opportunity benefit is more money, more freedom and better financial prospects for your family.

Find out what’s best for you and your family – perhaps part-time is all you need or maybe full-time suits you. Think about what you need to feel fulfilled as an individual: full-time motherhood or full-time working mum doesn’t suit everyone. You may need to try different options before finding a balance you feel comfortable with.

“See yourself as a role model to your children, and tell them that women are an important part of society, working is part of reality and you enjoy working and contributing to the family. I know I would feel more mother guilt if I was not able to provide for my family, so have never felt guilty about working, I guess it’s a frame of mind.” Samantha, 43, mother of two.

Balancing work and life #2: Resolve that a bit of mess is OK

Unless you’re a single mum, your greatest asset is your partner. Use him! Together you need to get systems in place to ensure the smooth running of a household – it may not be spotless, but it will be happy, and your kids and your partner will feel pride for contributing to the way it runs.

“Try to be organised! Have a specific day a week that you do your groceries and plan your meals ahead if you can – make larger portions and freeze some small meals for the kids on the nights you work. And ask for help! Don’t assume housework will get done when you’re not around so ask your husband and kids to help by tidying the house when you’re out. Nothing is more stressful than coming home from work exhausted and finding the house is an absolute mess.” Kellie, 33, mother of two.

Everyone’s standard of cleanliness is different, discuss this with your partner and strike a deal – you may have to compromise. Perhaps getting a cleaner in once a fortnight is an option. And ask yourself what’s more important: Having a spotless house or having more family time.

Balancing work and life #3: Don’t sweat the small stuff

So what if you’re feeding your baby food from a jar? Many babies in parts of the world don’t have any food. So what if your work suit has a bit of dried drool on the lapel? At least you ironed it this morning! Turn your negative thoughts on their head and focus on the positives – you’ll be surprised at the powerful effect it has on your overall mood.

“Does it really matter if the beds are not made every day, if your husband buys the wrong brand of wipes or if you are late to work by eight minutes? Save your energy and worry about the bigger things in life – and in the meantime, enjoy motherhood, womanhood and all the great things you are surrounded by.” Christie Nicholas, mother of two, author of The Mum Who Roared: A Complete A-Z Guide To Loving Your Mind, Body And Attitude After Baby (Exisle Publishing, $29.99).

Balancing work and life #4: Make time for ‘me time’

Don’t try and be a martyr and do it all – it will only wear you out. As a working mum, you need to recharge your batteries so you have enough energy to deal with everything else! Whether it’s a candlelit bath, a pedicure, two hours browsing the shops by yourself or a weekend away with your best girlfriend – regular ‘me time’ is crucial. Not optional – crucial. Think of it as a deposit in your work-life bank account – the more regularly you put in, the more interest you will build up and the more you can splurge on your partner and kids.

“Make sure you have something in your week that is about you. I found a gym with a great creche and go at least three times a week. These times are written in my diary like any other appointment.” Roslyn, 41, mother of two.

Balancing work and life #5: Accept that you can’t have it all

Remember how I mentioned, in the beginning, to make this your mantra: “The Super Woman is dead. Long live the Real Woman.” The days of having and doing it all are over. Get real. It takes time, but the sooner you adjust to the fact that you can’t have it all, the better. And the less you focus on what you don’t have, the more energy you will have to pour into the fruits of your labour – your precious children.

“If you are breathing, walking and have your five senses, you have it all. Everything else is secondary. Life is what you make of it so let’s stop whining and worrying and make the best of what we have.” Sarah, mother of one.

Balancing work and life #6: Let go of mother guilt

Working mums have enough on their plates without a nice big side-serve of guilt to go with it. As Michelle, a 36-year-old mum of one from Adelaide says: “Allow yourself to be upset and angry that you can’t take forever off work with your child. It is only this generation where the expectation and financial requirement has been that mothers return to work so early, but that doesn’t mean that generations of emotions where nature bounds us physically to our children disappears. Always remember you are returning to work to provide a good future for your child.”

Feeling guilty about working, feeling guilty about not working and contributing to the family, feeling guilty about not making enough homemade dinners, feeling guilty about enjoying ‘me time’ – STOP IT RIGHT NOW! This kind of thinking is a waste of energy – energy you could be using more productively. So turn those thoughts around. You are choosing to work for a reason, you are choosing to spend time with your children for a reason, you are choosing ‘me time’ for a reason – resist wallowing in guilt.

“It sounds a bit hippy-dippy, but whenever I get an attack of mother-guilt I write it down on a piece of paper – things like, “I feel guilty for not getting home in time for my daughter’s bedtime tonight” – and then I literally put it into a shoebox. By the same token, I write down those moments when I feel like a genius, such as when I get my four-year-old and 18-month-old to nap at the same time, giving me two precious hours to myself. At the end of the week, I read them all and it always makes me feel better, never worse, because it reinforces to me that I am doing the very best job I can.” Kara, mother of two.

Balancing work and life #7: Read up

If you want more guidance on how to balance work and home life, these books contain real-life stories on how other mums face the challenge.

This article was written by Karen Fontaine for our sister company Kidspot.com.au, in conjunction with Open Universities Australia, the leader in online learning.

Continue reading “Mess, Guilt, Me-time: Balancing Work & Life”

11 Questions That Teach Kids To Be Happy

Posted on by Julie Lankow

This article originally appeared on Dr. Psych Mom and has been republished here with the author’s permission. By Dr Samantha R0dman.

Are you naturally carefree and happy? If so, it’s likely a mix of your genetics (identical twins rared apart are usually the same level of happy) and your personal choices about how to live your life.

The field of positive psychology centres on the idea that people can make themselves happy just by changing how they think and act. Happiness is conceptualised as more of a habit than a God-given blessing. And while some of your happiness is biologically determined, there are many things you can do to be happier.

These 11 questions focus your children on how to make themselves happy. Eventually, your children will internalise these questions and ask them in their own heads. Then you’ll have given them the gift of happiness, which will make you so (you guessed it) happy.

1. What was your favourite part of today?

This is a good question to ask at bedtime, to help your child feel content and happy before sleep. It also instils a habit of focusing on the best thing that happened in any given day rather than the worst. If you make this part of your bedtime routine, it will become second nature.

2. What are you grateful for?

This is a good question for the dinner table. Every family member can take a turn saying what he or she is grateful for that day. There is a strong correlation between happiness and gratitude, so this one is very powerful.

3. What are you going to do about that?

When a child comes to you with a problem, ask this question in a warm and curious tone. Don’t just jump in and solve their problem; how does that help them in the long run? At least give them a chance to work it out on their own, and give them the gift of your confidence in them, which is evident by this question that implies that they can think of solutions to their own issues. If your child says “I don’t know,” you can say, “I am not sure either, let’s try to figure it out together.” Happy people are people who think of problems as surmountable, and think of themselves as effective problem solvers.

4. How did that make you feel?

At the risk of sounding shrink-y, an essential part of happiness is being able to notice and express your own emotions. If you can verbalise what you’re feeling, you can make sense of it, you can process it, and you can obtain support from others. This is a great question to ask when your child comes to you with something “bad” that happened, instead of either dismissing it (“that wasn’t that bad”) or fixing it (“let Mummy get you some ice!”). It trains your child to be aware of his feelings, and to use that information effectively.

5. What do you think he/she feels?

In any situation, you can cultivate empathy by asking your child to wonder about what someone else feels. Empathy will make your child a happier person; he or she will have stronger interpersonal relationships, feel better about himself for thinking of (and then, often, helping) others, and derive more meaning from life.

6. How can you look on the bright side?

In any situation, you can teach your child that there are positives. With preteens or teenagers, this question may be way too corny, but little kids will like it. You can also teach them the expression “making lemonade out of a lemon” and ask them how you can make lemonade out of a bad situation, like, “You fell and hurt yourself, so that’s a lemon, but you got a Tinkerbell bandaid, and that’s lemonade! Now you tell Mummy one.”

7. What part of that can we learn more about?

In any TV show, book, trip outside the house, basically any situation at all, there is something to learn more about. And look at you, Super Parent, you already have your smartphone at the ready! So this time use it for teaching your child that life is full of learning opportunities. Happy people are people who are curious and always learning. So when you watch TV and someone says “Bonjour,” you can look up pictures of France or a YouTube song sung in French. When your child realises that this question means that you’re going to whip out your phone and show them something new and special, they will ask it to you all the time. And that’s how you end up looking at pictures of real estate in Nebraska with your four-year-old. Don’t ask.

8. What do you want to do on the weekend?

Research shows that anticipation of positive experiences brings more happiness than the experiences themselves. Once your child is old enough to realise that tomorrow is not today, start instilling a habit of positive anticipation of small pleasures. A child who is excited all week to get frozen yogurt on the weekend is a happy child, just as an adult who plans a vacation six months in advance is happier during those six months.

9. What can we do to help/to make someone happy?

Bringing your child along to visit a sick relative, or someone recovering from surgery, or to volunteer at a soup kitchen is a wonderful gift that you can give to your child. Your child will feel even more proud of his behaviour if he is the one to think up the nice thing that can be done (e.g., baking cookies to deliver, drawing a card). Research shows that giving releases oxytocin and endorphins, so it’s like a high that your child can become addicted to. Also, involve your child in your charitable activities, as giving charity is a form of altruism that is also linked directly to happiness (and just to being a good person, which you also want for your child).

Incorporate a spirit of generosity into your child’s daily life. Whenever you’re out, buy something little for someone else. When you colour, make a picture for someone else. Giving things to others makes people happier than buying things for themselves, and enriches interpersonal relationships.

10. What do you want to do outside today?

Getting outside and engaging in physical activities alongside your child is a wonderful way to get him in the habit of not just sitting around. Exercise releases endorphins and is as often as effective at treating depression as medication. And the most powerful way that you can teach your child about exercise is to do it yourself. Children whose mothers exercise are more likely to exercise themselves. And sunlight can also help boost mood and regulate circadian rhythms, which means better sleep for your kids, which makes everyone happier.

11. When do you feel happiest?

If you direct your children’s attention to the experiences that they most enjoy, they will start to realise that they can choose to proactively increase their time spent in activities that make them feel best about themselves. According to researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “flow” is the state where people find an activity so enjoyable and rewarding that they become completely immersed in it, losing all sense of time and feeling completely in the moment.

If your child is lucky enough to have found an activity that makes him feel a sense of “flow,” it is helpful for you to point this out and allow your child enough time to attain this state. Note: for many kids this is video gaming, which is actually fine, since a great deal of research points to many psychological benefits of gaming. The best-case scenario is for your child to find a career that puts him into “flow,” since then, as the saying goes, he will never “work” a day in his life.

Till we meet again, I remain, The Blogapist Who Actually Does A Lot of These, So If I Can Do Them With Three Kids And Limited Patience, So Can You!

Dr. Samantha Rodma is a clinical psychologist and dating coach from Washington D.C. She has a husband, three young children and one fish. She blogs at Dr. Psych Mom.

Continue reading “11 Questions That Teach Kids To Be Happy”

How To Hygge & Why You Need It In Your Life

Posted on by Julie Lankow

What is Hygge? If the Danish are to be believed, we all need to get a bit more ‘hygge’ in our lives. The art of ‘hygge’ (pronounced HOO-ga and done with a bit of a guttural effort) doesn’t translate as one word in English – it’s more of a feeling of enjoying simple everyday pleasures, especially with other people.

It is cosiness, relaxation and good food. It is a warm glow and a feeling of gratitude and well being. It is taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things and enjoying friends and family. It is a constant in Danes lives – they talk about it, plan it, recognise it when it is happening and then look back afterwards and appreciate it.

Why is it important?

Denmark is regularly ranked number one in the annual World Happiness Report. 2016 World Happiness Report  – and they also held the number one spot in 2013 and 2014. Research has shown that high levels of gratitude are associated with high levels of happiness – so maybe the Danes are on to something here.

How to enjoy some hygge in your life

Hygge is not about spending a lot of money on luxury items – it’s more about appreciating the simple things and crafting your life in a way that celebrates hygge. The Danes express this in every aspect of their life from their architecture, which includes natural products such as wood and leather, to their room styling which includes warm, low lighting from lamps – and lots of candles (all very flattering!).

It extends beyond the physical though – spending relaxing time with family and friends is most important. Here are some ideas to promote hygge in your life:

  • Light candles and dim the lights in the evening
  • Put some relaxing music on – and turn the (shouting) on the TV off
  • Plan meals with family and friends and encourage them to stay at the (candlelit) table for long conversations.
  • Welcome friends and family in to your home (and home from work and school) with the offer of food or drink
  • Actively be grateful for what you have – at meal times encourage everyone to identify what is good in their life (especially the small stuff)
  • Bake a cake and find someone to enjoy it with (and don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect)
  • Enjoy the weather for what it offers – cold weather brings the chance for snuggling on the couch under a cosy blanket with a hot drink. Wind is exhilarating, rain is for splashing in and sun is for lying on the ground watching the clouds pass by, or under a tree luxuriating in the speckled shade.
  • Run a bath and pop in something simple like some flower petals, Epsom salts, some lavender or rosemary sprigs or even dried sage from the kitchen drawer. Don’t forget to light some candles.
  • Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas – if you have some white ones, why not have them twinkling year round.
  • If you have a spa pool – use it and encourage the family to join you.

Do you think you need to promote hygge in your life – and what ideas do you have to do so?

Continue reading “How To Hygge & Why You Need It In Your Life”

Cold Power Sensitive Pure Clean

Posted on by Julie Lankow

product trial4.8 out of 5 – Kidspot mums were pleased with the product or would purchase Cold Power Sensitive Pure Clean again.

star rating

Cold Power Sensitive Pure Clean Laundry Liquid now has a dermatologist recommended formula to deliver a brilliant clean, while being kind to skin. The formula is now even more suitable for sensitive skin as it is fragrance-free and dye-free.

Cold Power is the smart choice for your laundry, giving outstanding performance in cold water to use less energy and be kinder to your clothes as well as your sensitive skin.

  • Dermatologist recommended laundry liquid
  • Dermatologically tested formula
  • Brilliant clean even in cold water, while being kind to skin
  • Free from fragrances and dyes
  • Cold water washing uses less energy, reduces environmental impact and is gentler to your clothes
  • Suitable for front and top loaders

We have given 100 members the opportunity to trial and review Cold Power Sensitive Pure Clean Laundry Liquid. Watch this space for their reviews!

Tips to make your day easier with a newborn – click here!

Each selected reviewer will receive:

  • 1x 1 litre bottle of Cold Power Sensitive Pure Clean Laundry Liquid

Scroll to the bottom of the page to add your comment.

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address on your profile. Please check your address now to ensure that it is up to date. Not registered yet? Then signup now

Kidspot Terms and Conditions: You will be required to post a review on this page if you are selected. Your name and postal address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the product only.

See photos from our reviewers below

Essential nutrition for growing kids

Posted on by Julie Lankow

ADVERTORIAL

They’re up, they’re out the door in a flash, off to school, running around at break time, then it’s after-school activities and sports, throw in some playtime, homework, dinner and woah … it’s nearly bedtime already! Kids pack so much into a day that without great nutrition they may be left feeling a bit fatigued – then the grumps start and no parent wants to be faced with that!

If your child could benefit from a nutritional boost to help set them up for an active day and give their best, MILO with milk is a nourishing drink with a taste kids love.

MILO is made with five simple main ingredients – malt barley, milk powder, sugar, cocoa and vegetable oil, plus 8 vitamins and minerals (calcium, iron, vitamin B2, B3, B6, B12, C and D). It can be enjoyed hot or cold with milk – however the kids prefer, it tastes great!

Get more out of milk with MILO

Growing kids need a variety of nutrients to meet their body’s needs. MILO with milk can help deliver those essential nutrients. When made with milk, MILO adds 31% more protein, 65% more calcium, plus more iron (32% RDI) and more vitamin D (39% RDI). MILO with trim milk is also low GI to provide sustained energy for active kids as part of a healthy, varied diet.

Why are these nutrients so important for growing kids? Our quick guide explains more.

Protein

Protein is essential for building, maintaining, and repairing the tissues in our body. It’s required for your child’s healthy growth and development. A 200ml glass of MILO with milk has 10.2g of protein.

Calcium

Calcium is responsible for making strong bones and teeth. Eating dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese every day, will make sure they meet the daily recommended calcium intake. A 200ml glass of MILO with milk has 400mg calcium, providing 50% of the Recommended Dietary Intake, so you’re halfway there already!

Iron

Iron is essential for healthy and active kids. It supports the release of energy from food, carries oxygen around the body to our brain for concentration and learning, it helps prevent tiredness and fatigue. And most importantly, it helps support your child’s healthy immune system so the body can fight infections (making it a parent’s hero!). A 200ml glass of MILO with milk has 3.8mg iron, providing 32% of the Recommended Dietary Intake.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is not found in many foods. Our body’s best source of vitamin D comes from safe exposure to sunlight – which can be a challenge during the winter months! Like calcium, vitamin D is important for strong bones and teeth along with healthy muscles and immune function. A 200ml glass of MILO with milk has 3.9 ug vitamin D, providing 39% of the Recommended Dietary Intake.

So next time your child has a cup of MILO with milk, you can rest assured it will give them a nourishing boost to help them make the most of their day.

MILO

Information contained in this article was provided by MILO. For more information about MILO, visit www.milo.co.nz.

Find out more about the essential nutrients in MILO

The essential nutrients in MILO

Posted on by Julie Lankow

ADVERTORIAL

MILO has been a part of our lives since the 1930’s, but it’s more than an iconic Kiwi drink. MILO with milk is a nutritious formulated supplementary food. It’s packed with essential nutrients – which gives your kids a nutritional boost to get them through their day.

What’s MILO made of?

MILO

1. Malt Barley

Believe it or not, barley is a cereal grain and a member of the grass family. Malt barley extract in MILO contains carbohydrate and sugars to give active kids the everyday energy they need. It contributes to the unique and delicious malt flavour of MILO that we have loved since our own childhood!

2. Milk powder

The milk powder in MILO comes from fresh dairy milk. The water is simply removed to make it milk powder. This ingredient provides your kids with essential protein, vitamins and minerals and it contributes to the creamy flavour and texture of MILO.

3. Sugar

Sugar is a source of fuel for your kid’s active brain and body. There are three main types of sugar in MILO powder:

  • Lactose, found in milk powder
  • Maltose, found in malt barley
  • Sucrose, found in cane sugar

Add MILO to milk to give your kids a low GI drink that gives them the energy they need to run, play and think.

4. Cocoa

If you don’t already know, the trademark MILO taste comes from the cacao tree beans. The beans are fermented, roasted, shelled, and ground to make cocoa. The cocoa in MILO is UTZ Certified – which stands for sustainable farming. So farmers can grow better crops, generate a higher income and create better opportunities – all while striving to protect the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources!

5. Vegetable Oil

Nestlé only source RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) Segregated certified palm oil to make MILO. This ensures the palm oil in MILO is sustainable and traceable.

The ingredients in MILO powder help to provide growing kids with a variety of nutrients their bodies need. Let’s find out more … 

Protein and MILO

Did you know that MILO adds 31% more protein to a glass of milk? Here’s how:

  • 20g MILO powder has 2.4g protein
  • 200ml trim milk has 7.8g protein
  • A glass of MILO with milk has 10.2g protein

Why is protein important for your kids? Well, it’s essential for building, maintaining, and repairing the tissues in our body. It’s required for healthy growth and development – so yeah, very important!

Good sources of protein include lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, soymilk and dairy milk.

Calcium and MILO

You may be surprised to know that MILO actually adds 65% more calcium to a glass of trim milk! Here’s how:

  • 20g MILO powder has 190mg calcium
  • 200ml trim milk has 280mg calcium
  • A glass of MILO with milk has 400mg calcium, providing 50% of the Recommended Dietary Intake

Calcium plays the ultimate role in your kid’s development – it helps build strong bones and teeth. Eating dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese every day, will help kids meet their daily recommended calcium intake.

Iron and MILO

Here’s a little fact for you – a glass of milk does not contain any iron, but adding MILO powder to milk will make sure that it does. Here’s how:

  • 20g MILO has 3.8mg iron
  • 200ml trim milk has no iron
  • A glass of MILO with milk has 3.8mg iron, providing 32% of the Recommended Dietary Intake

Iron is essential for healthy and active kids. It supports the release of energy from food, carries oxygen around the body to our brain for concentration and learning, it helps prevent tiredness and fatigue. And most importantly, it supports your child’s healthy immune system to help the body fight infections (making it a parent’s hero!).

Vitamin D and MILO

Apart from sunshine, have you ever wondered where else vitamin D comes from? There is a small amount of vitamin D in milk. Adding MILO powder to milk will boost your child’s vitamin D intake. Here’s how:

  • 20g MILO has 3.3 ug vitamin D
  • 200ml trim milk has 0.6 micrograms vitamin D
  • A glass of MILO with milk has 3.9 ug vitamin D, providing 39% of the Recommended Dietary Intake

Vitamin D is not found in many foods. Our body’s best source of vitamin D comes from safe exposure to sunlight – which can be a challenge during those winter months!. Foods that do contain vitamin D include fish, eggs, milk, UV irradiated mushrooms and fortified foods such as MILO. Like calcium, vitamin D is important for strong bones and teeth along with healthy muscles and immune function.

So next time your child has a cup of MILO with milk, you can rest assured it will give them a nourishing boost to help them make the most of their day.

Information contained in this article was provided by MILO. For more information about MILO, visit www.milo.co.nz.

Real life Spider-Man saves toddler

Posted on by Julie Lankow

It’s a news story that highlights the best and worst of humanity. When 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama saw a small child dangling from a fifth floor balcony, he did not hesitate in clambering up the outside of the French apartment building to rescue the four year old boy. His bravery and heroism are inspiring – just like his amazing ability to climb five floors in less than a minute! Spider-Man himself would be proud!

His exploits have gone viral around the world. Mamoudou, an immigrant from Mali, has been rewarded by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, with French nationality and a job as a firefighter.

Meanwhile, the child’s father was detained by police for alleged parental neglect. He reportedly left the child home alone while he shopped and played Pokemon Go.

Watch the rescue here. It’s heart-pounding stuff!

What’s the most heroic thing you have ever seen? Let us know in the comments below.

Continue reading “Real life Spider-Man saves toddler”

Aunt Betty’s Chocolate Creamy Rice Snack with Cacao

Posted on by Julie Lankow

product trial3.63 out of 5 – Kidspot mums were pleased with the product.

star

Filling the kids’ lunchboxes can be a real chore! Finding something easy for them to eat that they really love is the trick to empty lunch boxes and happy kids. For something a little different, try Aunt Betty’s Chocolate Creamy Rice Snack with Cacao. It’s a great tasting, low fat, rice energy snack that’s ready to eat – hot or cold.

Perfect for the lunchbox, an afternoon snack or a treat at the end of the day. Aunt Betty’s Chocolate Creamy Rice Snack with Cacao has 30% less sugar than standard creamy rice, and it’s Gluten Free.

Aunt Betty’s Creamy Rice Snack is also available in Vanilla, Coconut, Peach, and Apple & Cinnamon. Visit the Aunt Betty’s website for more information.

We gave 100 members with kids aged 3-12 years the opportunity to trial and review Aunt Betty’s Chocolate Creamy Rice Snack with Cacao. 

Each selected reviewer received:

  • 2x 120g Aunt Betty’s Chocolate Creamy Rice Snack with Cacao

Scroll to the bottom of the page to add your comment.

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address on your profile. Please check your address now to ensure that it is up to date. Not registered yet? Then signup now

Kidspot Terms and Conditions: You will be required to post a review on this page if you are selected. Your name and postal address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the product only.

6 surefire ways to create calm household routines

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Every house has its own domestic rhythm and harmony – some households are completely chaotic while others may run at the pace of a coma patient. Whatever the rhythm, most of us would love to establish some kind of household routine that satisfies all family members.

Odds are you already have a domestic routine of some kind – bath time, pyjamas, brushing teeth, story time is a bedtime routine that children can come to know and count on. Perhaps you go grocery shopping on Thursdays or you bake together on the weekends. Anything that you do on a regular basis is your routine. Here are five tips to keep in mind when creating routines and establishing a rhythm in your home:

1. First things first

Pick one element to add in to your routine and work on weaving that into your rhythm before you add another. Decide what your top priority is and focus only on that. Maybe you want to start incorporating daily story time. Focus on blending the new task into your schedule before you add more.

It is good to have a goal in mind of where you would like to be eventually, but create a schedule based on the way things are at this moment in time. Do what will work for your family the way things are right now.

If you know your child sleeps in the afternoon, don’t plan afternoon play dates until after naptime. Some families schedule outings for only one day a week to allow the rest of the time to remain low-key. This is the time to be realistic about your time constraints, obligations, and the ages and stages of your children, too.

2. Don’t overschedule a routine

Allow yourself to make changes if things aren’t working. Perhaps the day you chose for housework is creating stressful afternoons because there isn’t enough time to devote to it between nap time and dinner. By staying flexible you can play around with your schedule until you find a day and a time that are a better fit.

Don’t be tempted to over-schedule your days. Allow your family to have some downtime. The purpose of routines is to allow your days to run smoother so that your family can enjoy them. Don’t be tempted to fill up those spaces with more activities and commitments when things are running smoothly. Instead, enjoy the quiet and the slow days.

3. Make changes as the family changes

Families are in a fluid state: children grow, situations change, life happens. When you have babies, sleep routines are important but as they grow older, weaving in crafts, activities and perhaps cooking becomes more of a priority. Being willing to re-evaluate from time to time gives you the freedom to create a routine that meets the needs of your family.

You don’t have to do it all so evaluate what is essential and eliminate what you don’t need. Take out the extra steps and keep things basic.

4. Start Small

Lets say one of the things you want to add to your routine is to start serving your family a a wider variety of vegetables each night. Don’t overwhelm yourself by attempting a different menu every morning of the week or by preparing complex, time-consuming recipes you’ve never tried before. Seek out something simple and tried-and-true that you already know how to make well. Perhaps make it a goal this first week to serve a great meal two nights a week and then next week aim for four.

Get the basics established and once you have a solid foundation you can build on to your routine from there.

5. Make it Personal

Your family’s rhythm isn’t going to look like any other family’s rhythm. That is okay. Family routines are very personal and each household’s will be unique. The only “right” routine is the one that works the best for you for the place where you are today.

Creating routines based on your family’s personal needs means that the changes you seek to make have a greater chance of being successfully implemented.

6. Stay One Step Ahead

Once you know what is essential, do some prep work to make it easier to follow your routines. If you want to have a daily walk, create a designated place to have bags and shoes within easy reach by the door. You’ll be more likely to take a nature walk if you can get dressed quickly and easily instead of having to gather the proper wardrobe from all over the house.

If on Wednesday you want to do craft with the children, then the night before needs to be spent making sure you have all the right materials. Doing this ahead of time allows us to spend less time on prep-work during our painting time and more time on creating.

Some family routines are more structured, some are more free-form but both types of schedules provide value to the kids who count on them and find comfort in their familiarity.

Think young and playful

  • “I always suggest going back to childhood, and remembering what you liked then,” suggests Tina. “Sports? Bushwalking? Bicycling or roller skating? Swinging on the swings? Dancing around to music? There are adult versions of all these activities. When you’re doing them, notice the sights, sounds and the way your body feels, so you enjoy the moment.”
  • Try these ideas:
  • Choose three simple activities you liked as a child (such as watching the clouds, riding a roller coaster or making mud pies). Indulge in them all in one weekend.
  • Buy gum boots and jump in puddles after it rains.
  • Leave funny or romantic notes for your partner.
  • Organise a Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit ‘night in’ with your friends.
  • Invite friends over for takeaway and a night of chick flicks.
  • Relive old memories by looking through photo albums.

This article was written by Alex Brooks for Kidspot.

Continue reading “6 surefire ways to create calm household routines”

When your partner gives your teen an alcoholic drink

Posted on by Julie Lankow

‘If Mum says no, ask Dad’ can be a common refrain among teens pushing the boundaries, and when it comes to alcohol, it’s important to put up a united front as parents. Drinkwise Australia shares some advice on dealing with differences of opinion over teen drinking in your home.

A consistent message from both parents can make a real difference when it comes to teenage alcohol use. If a young person gets mixed messages from his or her parents then it’s far more difficult to develop positive teenage attitudes to alcohol.

Teens and alcohol in the home

Parents must agree on appropriate rules and boundaries for their teenager when it comes to alcohol, as well as the consequences if these are broken. It is important that once the rules and boundaries are in place that neither party ‘gives in’. Sometimes, however, this is made more difficult because parents have a difference of opinion as to whether they should give their teenager alcohol to drink. If there are differences of opinion regarding the provision of alcohol for teenage drinking, discuss them openly without placing the child in the position of conflict.

Broken relationships can make this situation more difficult as parents may be reluctant to enforce rules on their child, fearing that this may make them unpopular. As much as you may want your child to be your ‘best friend’, it is far more important to be a responsible parent. Your child only gets one set of parents but they will have many friends. There are other ways of maintaining a positive relationship with your teenager rather than giving them alcohol.

There are a number of reasons why one set of parents may have different views on the role alcohol should play in their teen’s life. It could have something to do with their cultural background, their involvement in team sports or a family history of alcohol problems, including dependence.

Whatever the reasons, differences can create significant problems for a family. It is important to try and deal with the issue as quickly as possible.

The impact of alcohol on the adolescent brain can be serious. The research is clear; teenagers that drink are more likely to have long-term problems with alcohol. The message is that the introduction to alcohol should be delayed as long as possible.

Practical tips for parents

Get the facts. Before you address your partner on the alcohol issue, ensure you’ve got your facts. Set out your argument about damage to bodies and brains and also the fact that early introduction to alcohol is linked to alcohol problems later in life. Supporting your case with the facts will make it harder for your partner to argue and is more likely to lead to a positive outcome.

Discuss this separately from the children – when the children are in bed or away from the house and choose your time carefully.

Seek professional help. If you can’t reach an agreement then it’s a big enough issue to arrange counselling through your GP or a qualified counsellor. It is important to have a plan and agree on it together. Click here to view the Parents 5 point plan.

This article was originally published by DrinkWise Australia and Kidspot Australia.

Continue reading “When your partner gives your teen an alcoholic drink”

How to talk about alcohol with your teens

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Setting boundaries with our kids can be tough. Once they become teens, it gets even tougher. And boundaries related to alcohol consumption can be some of the most challenging of all. Dr Justin Coulson offers some advice on how to handle the issue.

How do you set rules and boundaries about alcohol with your kids? Here are seven tips for talking about alcohol with your kids:

Get your relationship right

A short while ago a father contacted me for help with his teenage daughter. They were fighting – a lot. It had escalated to a point where he had hit her, and since that episode she had refused to speak to him, look at him, or even be in the same room as him.

It is impossible for us to have any influence over our children and their decisions when our relationship is consumed with contention. The kids simply shut us out.

Attention is the currency of our relationships with our teens. Even when they act like they don’t care, they generally do – and they will respond positively to a chance to spend time with us.

Get educated

What do you know about alcohol and the developing brain?

Or about how your attitude to alcohol can influence your child’s decisions about when to drink – and what to drink?

Do you know what the law is in regards to alcohol and under 18’s?

The more you know about alcohol, the more you can guide your kids effectively. Check out Cheers.org.nz or Alcohol.org.nz site for more information and resources. Or just Google ‘alcohol and adolescence’. You’ll find a mountain of information.

Be an example

I know it sounds trite. And I know it probably doesn’t even seem fair. But the simple truth is that our kids follow our example. They’ve done it since they were babies, and they’ll continue doing it into adulthood.

So now that you’re equipped with this alcohol info, take a look at your alcohol-related habits. Chances are that you don’t have a ‘problem’, but as this TV ad shows, we don’t have to be a problem to impact on our kids. Psychologists call it the ‘intergenerational transfer’ of behaviour.

Is your alcohol-related behaviour transferring to the decisions your teens might make?

Find out what your kids think

It seems that most adults expect that kids will want to drink – and find a way to do it. And for the most part, we’re generally accepting of this. But our kids don’t always see it that way (as this research shows). In fact, lots of kids don’t want to drink, but just don’t know what to do about the pressure that comes from others.

Drinkwise reports that two-thirds of 12-15 year-olds haven’t touched alcohol. And 20 percent of 16-17 year-olds abstain as well!

So ask your kids what they think. Your conversation may be illuminating.

Set boundaries together

Yes, I know that this sounds idealistic. How many of us can really sit down with our teens and have a ‘limit setting’ conversation?

Every family works differently, and teen temperaments can clash with parent personalities, but try these ideas:

  1. Get out of the house. You’ll almost certainly find the conversation will be more successful if you go out for a hot chocolate or ice-cream and bring up the things you’ve discovered – and then enjoy where the conversation goes.
  2. Ask questions more than you talk.
  3. Find out how your kids feel about alcohol-related incidents in the media. This can be a great conversation starter, and it naturally leads to discussion around personal values and limits related to alcohol.
  4. Talk with your kids about how YOU are ‘getting’ YOUR head around the research too. Tell them about how your discoveries have made you want to make change.
  5. Ask your kids what they know about alcohol and the law. And see if they understand why those laws are in place.

Remember, that when your expectations are high, your kids are more likely to delay their introduction to alcohol, and if they do decide to drink they’ll do so at lower volumes. So make your expectations clear (and high) as part of the conversation.

Stay involved and monitor

Ask the kids where they’re going and who with. Find out what they’ll be doing. Offer to drive them there and pick them up. Get to know the parents of the other kids.

The research on the importance of parental involvement and monitoring is clear: when you stay involved and show you’re monitoring things, your teens will be more likely to stick with your expectations.

Our involvement with our kids needs to be maintained the right way though – and this is where we come full circle. The quality of our relationship matters. Kids do best when they have parents who are strict and firm in their expectations, but who are also warm and understanding.

Remember, if you come down too hard, you’ll push them away from you and straight into the thing you want them to avoid – in this case, alcohol. And if you’re too relaxed, they’ll see that as your endorsement of their behaviour, which can lead to binge-drinking and other risky experimentation.

There is an abundance of evidence to support the argument that delaying our kids’ consumption of alcohol for as long as possible is best for them. And research shows that the majority of Australian parents are working at doing just that. By maintaining high expectations, setting a wise example, and keeping our relationship strong, it is more likely that our children will delay their alcohol experiences longer, and drink less when they do drink.

This article was written by Dr Justin Coulson for Kidspot Australia and has been adapted for Kidspot New Zealand.

Continue reading “How to talk about alcohol with your teens”

Vitamin B: Meet the B team

Posted on by Julie Lankow

As a group, the B vitamins are necessary for the brain and nervous system to work properly, and for the metabolising of carbohydrates, fats and proteins essential for growth. They are also involved in maintaining the health of the hair, skin, nerves, blood cells, immune system, hormone-producing glands and digestive system.

The B group, a complex of eight water-soluble vitamins, likes to work as a team in the human body so getting the right ratio of each B vitamin is fairly important.

Meet the B team

Below are the better-known members of the B team, what they do, where we can find them and the recommended daily intake (RDI), as specified by the Food Standards Code.

B1 – Thiamine

This vitamin plays a crucial part in converting sugar and carbohydrate into energy as well as being important for growth and normal function of the nervous system and heart.

Sources: meat, unrefined grains, vegetables, diary products, fruit, eggs, and legumes
RDI: 0.5mg/day (1-3 years); 1.1mg/day (4+ years)
What to eat: ¼ cup wheat germ provides 0.55mg

B2 – Riboflavin

Essential for converting carbohydrate as well as protein and fat into energy, riboflavin is also important for growth and contributes to the normal structure of mucous membranes such as the surface of the tongue, mouth, eyes and intestines.

Sources: milk, egg white, leafy vegetables
RDI: 0.8mg/day (1-3 years); 1.7mg/day (4+ years)
What to eat: 1 cup of low fat milk provides 0.52mg

B3 – Niacin

Niacin is important for releasing energy from food and normal function of the nervous system. Like riboflavin, it is necessary for normal function and structure of skin and mucous membranes.

Sources: meat, fish, brown rice, peanuts, avocado
RDI: 5mg/day (1-3 years); 10mg/day (4+ years)
What to eat: 85g of chicken breast provide 8.5mg

B6

Vitamin B6 performs a wide variety of functions, among them it’s essential for red blood cell metabolism and keeping the nervous and immune systems functioning efficiently.

Sources: chicken, fish, liver and kidney, pork, eggs, milk, and wheat germ
RDI: 0.7mg/day (1-3 years); 1.6mg/day (4+ years)
What to eat: 100g of chicken provides 0.4mg

Folic acid (folate)

This is required for formation of red blood cells. It is essential for growth as it helps to produce DNA, the body’s master plan for cell reproduction. As such, during pregnancy, folate is one of the most important nutrients for foetal growth and development.

Sources: green leafy vegetables, cereals, fruits, grains, legumes, yeast extract, and liver
RDI: 100 micrograms/day (1-3 years); 200 micrograms/day (4+ years)
What to eat: 1 cup of raw spinach provides 54 micrograms

B12

This vitamin’s essential role is releasing energy from food and metabolising amino and fatty acids. It also plays a role in keeping skin and hair healthy.

Sources: meat, liver, fish, eggs and dairy products
RDI: 1.0 micrograms/day (1-3 years); 2.0 micrograms/day (4+ years)
What to eat: 1 cup of low fat milk provides 0.9mcg

What is RDI?

Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals.

Being vitamin B deficient

B vitamin deficiencies cause a variety of disorders ranging from the severe but uncommon deficiency disease, beriberi, through to the more common conditions, dermatitis and anaemia.

Interestingly, research has found that B vitamin deficiencies are often found in psychiatric patients and may contribute to depression and other symptoms.

Vitamin B and making babies

Shortly before conception and in the first trimester at least, folate is vital – and the body needs a lot to make new cells. It’s now known that having plenty of folate just before and during the early months of pregnancy can reduce the risk of a group of abnormalities called neural tube defects in your baby. As it can be hard to get sufficient from our diet alone, it is recommended that women take a folate supplement.

Meanwhile, vitamin B6 has been linked with reducing morning sickness in some women.

B vitamins and vegetarian kids

The one B vitamin that can be more elusive in the vegetarian diet – and non-existent in a vegan diet – is B12 which is essential for children’s growth and development. This is because the only reliable source of B12 is in animal products like meat, eggs and dairy.

Parents of vegan children are advised to seek out foods which have been fortified with B12 and to be very aware of how essential this vitamin is for making blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy.

Breastfeeding and the B group

The Vitamin B group is all-important for breastfeeding mums because it helps provide energy and is associated with relieving stress. And the most important B vitamin as far as your nursing baby is concerned is B12.

Vitamin B12 is essential for your baby’s brain development. If you are a vegetarian and you do not have at least four serves daily of eggs, dairy foods or Vitamin B12-fortified soy products, you will need to take a Vitamin B12 supplement while you are breastfeeding.

This article was written by Fiona Baker for Kidspot Australia and adapted for Kidspot NZ.

5 tips to get the kids up and moving

Posted on by Julie Lankow

In just one generation we have seemingly gone from carefree days spent playing down the street or at the local park, when we wouldn’t come home until the street lights came on, to a generation of children who are becoming much more sedentary.

As well as improving their wellbeing, getting kids up and moving can help kids learn about social skills, develop imagination and creativity, build confidence and independence and increase strength and fitness. The key to encouraging kids to increase their activity is to find ways to make it fun.

Fun ways to get kids moving

1. Get up and dance

Instead of putting the TV on for ‘background noise’, pop some music on. It is amazing how it gets everyone moving! Musical statues is always a favourite for little kids and older kids can show off their talents in a dance-off. If you just can’t get them away from YouTube then have them hunt out some ‘how to’ dance videos and record their efforts. Learn to ‘whip nae nae’ or, try the latest crazes, ‘the floss’ and ‘hype’. Show your future hip hop stars the ‘running man’ or the ‘sprinkler’ for a good laugh!

2. Create an outdoor toy box

It may be an oxymoron, but doing a bit of preparation beforehand can encourage kids to engage in spontaneous activity. Setting up an outdoor activity toy box will give the kids easy access to some equipment they can use in energetic play, ie hula hoop, skipping rope, balls, rackets. Let’s face it, if the kids have to go hunting for the things they want to play with, they are more likely to just plonk down in front of the TV instead! You can also use the box as a ‘homework recess’ – an incentive to work through a set amount of homework before having some time out.

3. Game on!

Do you have a family movie night, sat for a couple of hours with a bucket of popcorn? Why not change it to a fun activity with the added bonus of getting everyone moving? Try mini golf, ten pin bowling, laser tag, paintball, roller skating or ice skating. Keep an eye out for local events too. If you want to stay home, Nerf wars, scavenger hunts, karaoke, Twister, bowling, and even charades involve plenty of movement, especially if you really get into it.

4. Video games … no, really!

A lot of kids these days (OK, now I sound like my mother) are very involved with video games. When they’re not playing them, they’re watching other people play them – what’s that about? Rather than removing the games altogether, encourage them to spend most of their gaming time playing games that require movement. The gaming world may have moved on from playing tennis or ten pin bowling with a controller strapped to your wrist, but these old school games are still great fun. New VR technology unleashes another dimension of movement-initiated gaming.

5. Let’s walk

If the kids are the competitive kind (is there any other?), consider a steps challenge. There are various activity trackers available, including the popular Fitbit, which will give you a daily steps count. Whoever gets the most steps for the week, decides on an activity for the weekend. Encourage kids to use the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, walk to school or the local shops, walk to after-school activities, or park at the far end of the parking lot. Entering into fun runs/walks, kids’ triathlons and training for school cross country or athletics days also gives the kids something to aim for.

Continue reading “5 tips to get the kids up and moving”

Keeping Kids Active During Winter

Posted on by Julie Lankow

When it comes to keeping the kids active, summertime is a breeze here in New Zealand. The great outdoors, beaches, rivers and activity opportunities are in abundance. And who doesn’t want to be out in that awesome sunshine? In fact, you may find that you have to schedule the kids some downtime so they don’t wear themselves out or burn to a crisp! Winter … not so easy.

Apart from organised sports, it can be challenging to keep the kids active during winter, especially when the weather is cold and wet. It isn’t impossible though and just requires a bit more imagination to get the kids moving … and possibly a few more clothing layers!

Because the New Zealand weather doesn’t always play nice, we’ve included both indoor and outdoor activity ideas.

5 indoor activities

1. Create an obstacle course

In fact, the kids can make one themselves! Take ‘the floor is lava’ concept to a whole new level and create some obstacles and challenges that would rival Survivor! Try creating a “laser” maze using wool – criss-cross the wool at various heights and angles between several weighed down chairs and challenge the kids to get through without touching them.

2. Get into yoga

Yoga is great for helping kids to develop flexibility and is also perfect for mindfulness. It doesn’t require too much space and can be done almost anywhere without heaps of equipment.

3. Get pumped up with balloon games

Balloons are often just used as party decorations. But there’s actually an immense amount of fun to be had from them too. Our ideas for balloon games aren’t just for parties – they can get kids moving on indoor play days too. For a simple idea, blow up two or three balloons and see how long the kids can keep them in the air – add extra balloons for older kids.

4. Change up an activity

Take something as sedentary as reading a favourite storybook or playing a game of Jenga and add a movement element.

Storybook: Choose a favourite book that has a repetitive nature. Choose a word and every time that word is read, the kids have to perform a new exercise, ie jumping jacks, running on the spot, hopping. This is great for little ones.

Jenga: Using a pencil, write an activity on each Jenga block, ie pushups, yoga poses, squats. Play the game as normal but every time a block is removed, everyone has to do the movement written on the block.

This concept can also be used for other games (ie, pick-up sticks – assign an activity to each colour). Try to come up with your own ideas for your favourite board or card games.

5. Go out

Isn’t this the indoor section? Yes, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay home for activities. Indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks are a great way to burn off a big chunk of energy. Ice-skating is a great winter activity but if you can’t stand the cold, rollerskating venues offer hours of fun. Try indoor rock-climbing, lasertag, or head to the heated indoor pools.

5 outdoor activities

1. Walking

I can hear my kids groaning just at the mere mention of the “W” word! But walking can be made into fun exercise. Get the kids to walk the dog, or if you don’t have one of your own, offer to walk the neighbour’s. Head out and explore local bush trails (just remember to take some weatherproof clothing), go geocaching, or rock hunting.

2. Get on your bike

Bike riding is superb exercise for the whole family and a fantastic skill for kids to learn. On dry winter days it’s also more enjoyable than sweating under the helmet on a hot summer’s day. Check out different trails in your area. Some local parks also have bike tracks for kids that are set out like a real road with crossings, roundabouts and signs.

3. Fly a kite

The perfect activity for the windy days of winter! Kites come in all shapes and sizes from simple single line kites to sport kites that can perform amazing manoeuvres.

4. Take to the trees

Climb a tree – yes, we said it! Don’t ban the kids from clambering up the backyard trees. Instead, teach them about limits, finding secure footholds and handholds, how high is too high and how to safely test branches for sturdiness.

5. Layer up and get outside!

Throw on some beanies, gumboots and gloves and a warm jacket and before they can utter the words, “I’m bored”, teach them a few games from your childhood to enjoy in the backyard:

Continue reading “Keeping Kids Active During Winter”

Cycling with Kids – a recipe for fun

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Good weather and school holidays or weekends are an ideal chance to dust off your bikes, pump up your tyres and go for a ride. Bikes and kids go together, usually with huge smiles of exuberance and joy. It’s hard to beat the sense of fun, freedom and adventure that we feel when riding a bike. It’s a great way to show your kids how to stay active and healthy, and creates more vibrant and connected communities. This is something you can do with your kids, and once you are set with bikes and helmets it is good, free fun.

So, grab your bikes and enjoy fun family time, get outside, explore new places and boost your health. Whether you are heading off on a big adventure or cycling around your neighbourhood, here are ten key ingredients for creating fun and safe biking memories.

Bikes & Helmets

It is important that you have bikes that are suitable for your size. Although it is tempting to put kids on a large bike that they will grow into, the most important consideration is safety. A child on a bike that is too large may not be properly in control and more likely to come unstuck. For both adults and kids, the right size and set up is essential to safety and comfort. Your local bike shop can help advise on size. The second-hand marketplace is a great option for moving through the bike size range for your kids. It is advisable to get any second hand bike safety checked by your bike shop. Before each ride check your tyres and brakes, and make sure your helmet is on your head and fitting well.

Check out these helpful safety tips from the NZ Transport Agency:

https://www.bikewise.co.nz/sites/default/files/seven_point_safety_check.pdf
Fun Kids struggle with mind over matter, and sometimes need some help so they don’t get caught up in ‘this is too hard’ thinking. We’ve found singing songs together works for my daughter, and for my son, storytelling works magic. Now he is older he tells the stories, and our ears get more worn out that our legs! Our friends turn their bike ride into a computer game, complete with characters, levels, points and challenges. And few kids will turn down the opportunity to race their parent and win!
Humour Bringing your family sense of humour along is essential. Things don’t always go according to plan and it will help if you can relax and laugh about it. What a great life lesson!
Curiosity

In New Zealand we are lucky to have biking trails in places of great historical interest, natural beauty and interesting attractions. This is where you can remind yourself it is about the journey not the destination. Stop and explore, see the world through a child’s eyes. Read the signs, play ‘Pooh sticks’ off the bridge, ride through the tunnel a few extra times, explore side tracks. Ride quietly for a time and listen to/spot the wildlife. Talk about what you are seeing, hear their ideas about the world. Tell family stories. Connect to the place you are in.

Check out some of NZ’s Favourite Places to Cycle here – https://www.bikewise.co.nz/bikes-riding/nzs-favourite-places-cycle
Strategies Remember they are kids. As kids they have a lot going on in their bodies and minds (like growing!) and some days will be tougher than others. Your primary goal is to have fun, so go with the flow and adjust your plans as needed. Choose small adventures to begin with – the dairy or the local park may do nicely. If possible save the downhills for the way home, and try for a tailwind on the homeward leg. And never underestimate the power of a hug and some empathy, because, yes! you know this is tough for them.
Manners Chances are, you will not be the only people out using your route. Walkers, farmers, livestock and other people on bikes are all likely to be out there too. So here is a brilliant chance as parents to teach your kids about manners, courtesy, sharing, treating others with respect, returning and giving friendly greetings, engaging in conversations with others, dog-safety, leaving gates as you find them (open/closed), respecting fences and boundaries and of course, taking your rubbish with you.
Skills

Teach your kids how to ride safely. Mostly, riding safely means riding predictably, with awareness and control. So no cutting across others, swerving or suddenly slamming on the brakes. Know how to hold your line (not swerving around the place). Call out when you are passing someone (a friendly hello will usually do, although you can try “passing”). Ensure you are visible. Avoid headphones. Be confident in handling your bike in tighter spots and varying surfaces. Have a bell on your bike to warn other trail users. Carry a mobile phone so you can call for help. Arrange regrouping points if your group is splitting up, and ensure everyone rides within eyeshot and earshot of at least one other person.

Speaking from experience here, it is important to have some skills and experience for riding safely on the type of surface you will be on. Loose surface riding requires different skills and awareness than riding on a sealed path. You need to know how to brake and steer smoothly and to avoid the deeper areas of loose gravel where you will have less traction.

Cycle skills training is available for all ages around the country.

Gear On short rides you won’t need much more than a bike and a helmet. On longer rides, along with food and water, you may wish to think about carrying: spare tubes, pumps, puncture kits, tyre levers, rain jackets and a basic first aid kit.
You Chances are your kids love you! They want to be with you and look to you to be their example. Here is a chance to tick all those boxes and create some amazing family memories and tales to tell. Take photos. Chill out. Be the coach, the mentor, the entertainer, and the cheer-squad, but most of all, be there. Ignore your phone and forget your to-do list for a while. These moments won’t come again.
Food & Drink Kids’ fuel tanks empty faster than ours. Make sure they’re well fed when you head out for a ride. On longer rides, carry water and snacks so you can refuel. Active kids need very frequent snack breaks, more than you might think. Make sure food is nutritious and a good source of lasting energy. Think like you are feeding an Olympic athlete. Sandwiches, bananas, muesli bars, apples, and crackers are great. On longer rides include some lovely treats like biscuits, lollies and ice cream as some extra motivation when energy levels drop. Make sure you have lots of water to drink. And since this is not a race or training session you won’t need sports drinks. 

More info on cycling with kids

www.cyclingwithkids.co.nz (authors website)

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-you-can-do/children-and-families/cycling-kids

https://www.bikewise.co.nz/bikes-riding/cycle-safety (cycling safely and bike & helmet safety)

Bikes in Schools – Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust

Cycle Skills training

Community programmes are available throughout New Zealand, helping people develop and improve cycle skills, enabling them to ride safely and confidently. Courses range from beginner through to intermediate and advanced. There are also programmes which visit schools. To find out what is available locally check out:

BikeAbility (national directory): https://can.org.nz/bikeability

Pedal Ready – Wellington: http://pedalready.org.nz

Cycle Safe – Christchurch: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/transport/cycling/skills-programme/cyclesafe

Bike Safe – Auckland: https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/cycle-training-and-events/

Biography

Jo Clendon, aka ‘The Cycling Mum’ encourages more families to use their bikes via her blog www.cyclingwithkids.co.nz. She spoke at the 2WALKandCYCLE conference in Auckland. Whether your bike ride is a trip to the dairy or a multi-day adventure, she’s happy to answer your family biking questions, provide information and inspiration.

 

How to motivate your family to be active

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Time constraints, interruptions, lack of motivation – it’s all too easy to come up with an excuse for why exercise is off the agenda, especially for busy parents. But when you stop thinking of treadmills, rowing machines and gym memberships as your exercise essentials and move your mind-set to footy in the park, going for a bike ride or taking in a bushwalk with the kids, then you start to enjoy the chance to get your heart pumping and your lungs working.

Both kids and adults should be active each and every day. To help get your family motivated, we have brought together some ideas to encourage the whole family to get up and move.

Turn off the screen

This an obvious one but probably the hardest habit to break – for kids and adults. Health organisations recommend that children should reduce sedentary activities like watching TV, playing on games consoles or using the computer to a total of less than two hours per day. Rather than trying to get the kids to turn the TV off, you may have more success by having them not switch it on in the first place! If the kids have a tendency to flick on the TV as soon as they walk in from school, change the routine and break the habit. Stop at the park on the way home from school, go for a bike ride or head to the local pool or beach for some active fun and you’ll find that TV and video games don’t even get missed.

Join in

As much as we always pretended that our parents were ‘lame as’ when around our friends, we will freely admit now that it was the time spent playing with our parents that are some of the best memories from our childhood. Kids love having their parents join in with their play. Go throw a frisbee, go on a bike ride with them or play some backyard cricket. It’s not only great for them – it’s good for you too!

Think outside the box

When was the last time you played a party game when there’s no party? Musical chairs, treasure hunts and silly balloon games are just as much fun with only a few kids (and even more fun with parents thrown in too!). Set up an obstacle course in your back yard, have a trampoline challenge or train the dog – think of new ways to enjoy being active with your kids.

The basics

You don’t need expensive sports equipment to have fun. Kids are notorious for getting more fun out of the box than the toy that came in it! With just the basics like a ball, skipping rope, pavement chalk and a bit of imagination the kids will come up with a hundred different ways to play.

Keep it fun

Nobody’s perfect! So they don’t kick the ball straight or haven’t managed to get the basketball in the net after 48 attempts – so what! Offer your child assistance to help them learn but don’t nag them into getting everything perfect or they won’t want to play any more. Also, there’s nothing funnier than mum or dad failing at something the kids are great at, so have a go too!

The gift of play

Got a birthday coming up? Buy gifts that encourage activity, like rollerskates, a bike, a hula hoop, flippers, riding lessons, sports tuition, or an activity voucher.

Continue reading “How to motivate your family to be active”

Meditation and yoga: improving your family’s wellbeing

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Our lives move quickly, and we’re all very, very busy. So making time to slow down is essential to make some peace with your life. Meditation and yoga can be just the thing our busy bodies need to calm down, relax and bust the stress in our lives. Here’s some information about yoga and meditation and why they can be so good for you.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a simple form of exercise that’s been around for centuries. It’s a gentle way of focusing on the body and calming the mind. There are a wide range of yoga practises available, suitable for anyone from beginners to advanced. Yoga can be practised by any age group – from toddlers to the elderly – and has a wide range of health benefits for the body and the mind.

Yoga benefits include:

  • increasing flexibility
  • increasing body tone and strength
  • improving mental clarity
  • stress relief
  • improved fitness

The most commonly practised types of yoga include:

Iyengar yoga is the purist form of yoga, where you can use blocks, straps, harnesses and incline boards to help perfect positions. This type of yoga is suitable for all people, from beginners to advanced – simply adapt as you progress.

Hatha yoga is a gentle, basic class focusing on physical poses. It’s quiet, gentle and meditative and perfect for anyone who needs to slow down and focus on calming the mind.

Bikram yoga is also known as Hot Yoga as it’s commonly practised in a room heated to between 37°C and 40.6°C which is said to help warm the body’s muscles and blood – helping to protect the body and allow for greater flexibility.

Ashtanga yoga focuses on creating a balance between the body and the mind. There is a focus on posture and breath in Ashtanga Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga is a practice involving the eight limbs of yoga and is a series of movements and breaths that is deliberate and controlled.

What is meditation?

Meditation is a way of focusing the mind and practising calm, gentle focus. It’s a great way to relieve stress and help improve your mental wellbeing.

Why is meditation good for you?

Meditation has a range of proven health benefits. Meditation can:

  • help reduce stress by decreasing levels of cortisol
  • improves study by helping concentration and improving the memory
  • it can reduce the symptoms of colds
  • it helps you sleep better

How do you meditate?

Meditation doesn’t have to involve sitting in the lotus position and saying “Om”. Meditating is actually simply the practise of taking time out to turn the mind’s attention and focus onto one thing. You can focus on a feeling, an image or an object – just so long as you focus on one thing, forcing your mind to pay attention and focus.

While 20 – 40 minutes of meditation can bring great benefits, as little as five minutes will benefit anyone. Simple sit or lie in a comfortable place. Turn off any television or music, switch your phone to silent and close your eyes.

  • Focus on one thing. If another thought comes in to distract you, acknowledge the thought, then dismiss it.
  • Focus on your breathing, breathe in through your nose and feel the breath fill your lungs and then your stomach. Slowly breathe out. Repeat.
  • Start with five minutes once or twice a day and slowly build up to 20 or more minutes
  • Mark your meditation time on your calendar, and accept no excuses for missing it.

Now before you say, “Oh, I can’t possibly meditate, my mind’s too busy!” then you’re exactly the person who should be meditating. Meditation and yoga are a simple way of making time for yourself and to take some time out of a hectic day. Try it.

Yoga and meditation for kids

Kids can really benefit from simple yoga and meditation. It helps them relax, focus and boost their wellbeing. Kids are naturally really good at yoga, their flexible bodies adapt readily to the poses. Practising yoga can benefit children of any age, but starting at pre-school age can be a great way to help them adapt to the changes that school brings, along with the ability to concentrate and focus. Look online for a kids yoga class near you, or buy a DVD or book for the family to practise together.

A family affair

Taking 10 minutes out of the day to relax and bond through meditation and yoga is the perfect exercise in winding down before bed – or a great way to kickstart the day. Here are some tips:

  • Make time for quiet time – everyone sits in a circle and concentrates on breathing until the alarm gently sounds (start with a few minutes a day and move up to 10)
  • Do a pose a day – kids love yoga poses such as Downward Dog, The Tree Pose and the Cat.
  • Get outdoors for your yoga or meditation – taking your practise to the water adds another element of relaxation and peacefulness to it.

Making time to slow down and give your body a rest through yoga or meditation can be the best thing you can do for yourself. Make it a family fun thing, or, set the alarm 30 minutes earlier in the morning and start the day off in a gentler way.

This article was written by Linda Drummond for Kidspot.

Continue reading “Meditation and yoga: improving your family’s wellbeing”

What The Parenting Books Don’t Tell You

Posted on by Julie Lankow

One of the greatest things about the internet is our ability to connect with people just like us who tell it like it is.

If I’m booking a hotel, I don’t take the brochure’s word for it – instead I log onto Trip Advisor and see what people who have been there have to say about it. Ditto for restaurants, make-up brands and clothing; I always prefer to get the lowdown from people who have been there before me.

The golden advice you don’t read about in books

Nowhere is this feature of the online world more useful than when it comes to parenting advice. While parenting books have their place, nothing beats connecting with another mum or dad who is on the front line, giving it to you straight. Regardless of whether you’re a co-sleeper or a controlled-crier, a bottle or breast feeder, a helicopter parent or a free-ranger, you can find someone a little further along in their parenting journey who’ll tell you what you need – although not necessarily want – to hear.

It was the theme of a Reddit thread, where parents were asked: ‘What do they leave out of the parenting books?’

The answers varied from the sublime to the ridiculous, and we collated some of our favourites – as well as some pearls of wisdom from Kidspot parents – for you to enjoy.

The funny bits of parenting

Parenting without a sense of humour is like getting a root canal without anaesthetic – not recommended and painful as hell. Here are some of the funniest bits of advice …

  • [They don’t tell you] just how awkward it is when your son/daughter befriends someone at daycare whose parents you can’t stand. Many dilemmas ensue because of this.” – johnrichmondman
  • Or when an ex-girlfriend (dated for three years) is your kid’s teacher. And the ex thought you were getting married until you dumped her.” – The_tall_goofy_doc
  • …hate to admit the number of times I recognise that the thing I just said to one of my daughters will most likely be repeated on a therapist’s couch someday.” – Mormon_Buddhist
  • “They don’t mention that you will be so tired that one misaligned grow-suit press-stud might either send you postal or ‘Gwyneth-getting-an-award’ emotional.” – Rebel Wylie

The gross/awkward/weird bits of parenting

It would seem that parenting brings with it just as many awkward situations as funny ones – and bodily functions you never knew existed.

  • “Your daughter may menstruate in her first month. Never mentioned in anything I ever found, three days home from the hospital in the middle of the night and there’s blood in my daughters diaper. I freaked the f#?* out and had to call and wait for a callback from my doctor, for him to just be like ‘Is it coming from her vagina? Yeah, that’s normal, some babies menstruate as they are coming off the hormones from your blood stream’. Thanks for never ever mentioning that as a possibility.” – Anonymous
  • “There is such a thing as blowouts … my mother tells me a story of how I was a bit under one year old and I was sitting in my car seat in the back of our car. She turned around to check on me and I was sitting there with a very stern look on my face and all of a sudden sh*t just started pouring out of the neck of my onesie and down my front. She pulled over as fast as possible because she was laughing and crying and freaking out at the same time.” – EmergencyTaco
  • They don’t mention all the stickiness. There’s some unmentionable and awkward ‘personal stickiness’ just before they get here. Then they are sticky … their initial nappy contents are grossly sticky. All the lotions and crap that are associated with babies are sticky. If your boobs leak, you are sticky. Then they start moving around and everything they touch is sticky. You find all sorts of unidentifiable sticky messes EVERY. DAMN. WHERE.” – Anonymous
  • Parenting books don’t tell you about fanny farts after childbirth. Most disconcerting.” – Anonymous
  • “You won’t go to the toilet by yourself for the first three years and after that they’ll stand outside and ask you what you’re doing.” – Margaret Rafferty

The practical bits of parenting

The best thing about having contact with parents who’ve made all the mistakes before you is that many of them have devised genius methods of avoiding them in the future.

  • “You will not be raising children. You are raising adults. Don’t forget this. It is so easy to confuse ‘taking care of’ your children with ‘doing everything’ for them. Even very young toddlers can do many things for themselves. They can carry their own bags to pre-school. They can set their own table (if you keep their plates and cups in a low cabinet). A four year old can spread her own butter on toast. You are raising an adult.” fletch-
  • “There are so many books on how to prepare for a baby but none that I know of that tell you about the nursery not being needed immediately. All the fancy trimmings in the world won’t make a scrap of difference to the kid. Also, babies are very forgiving little things. They will get over ‘it’ as fast as they were annoyed by ‘it’ and you may never know what ‘it’ was despite trying everything to fix it.” – Jo Lewis
  • “You really need to make some time for yourself and your partner. It is so easy to get consumed in taking care of the baby that you put yourself and your partner last. I’m having this problem now. I don’t make any time for myself or my husband and were having a rough patch right now. You’re not a bad parent for taking an hour or two for yourself, it’s took me a couple of years for this to get through my head.” – queenmother
  • “Don’t be silent when the baby is sleeping. Talk at normal volume so that they can sleep when there is noise, you will thank me …” I6skittles
  • “Maybe I missed the section that explained it in my books but I wasn’t aware you had to rotate the way the babies head lays each time you but them down to sleep. My daughter’s head started to flatten on the back and we freaked out at the paediatrician’s, talks of helmets to reshape and all that. We just kept her out of her baby seat and rotated her each time she went down (had to put a barrier behind her bc she was use to sleeping on her back). She is nice and round headed now, my little rotisserie child.” – BaileyDM
  • “This too shall pass’ – good phases, bad phases. And although there’s no guarantee that one phase will be better than one before it, the overall trend, as the months and years pass is ‘It. Gets. Better.’ – Alexandra

The bits that make it all worthwhile

The overwhelming love that comes with becoming a parent makes everything else pale in comparison. And while it’s something that can’t really be described, these mums and dads do a pretty good job of conveying just how special a job it is.

  • “That despite all that there is still nothing better than little hands around your neck giving you a hug and telling you that they love you. And that being told, ‘You’re the best mum in the world,’ will make you feeling simultaneously proud as punch and deeply ashamed for not deserving such accolades.” – Margaret Rafferty
  • “The people that you surround yourself with are your village. They are just as important if not more important than your flesh and blood. You will share experiences with and go through the same stuff TOGETHER and it will bond you for a long time to come.” – Jennifer Cheung
  • “That there will be moments where you feel so in love that your heart feels like it’s going to explode – like actually physically burst. I have to hug the crap out of my son when this happens and I can feel his squirmy body saying, ‘enough already Mum!’” – Lana Hallowes

What advice do you have that isn’t in the parenting books? Let us know in the comments below.

This article was written by Bek Day for Kidspot.com.au and has been adapted for Kidspot.co.nz.

Continue reading “What The Parenting Books Don’t Tell You”

Oat the Goat: the digital story against bullying

Posted on by Julie Lankow

A new online story aims to help children learn the power of kindness, providing parents with a tool to help combat bullying. Oat the Goat or Oti te Nanekoti is a free interactive bilingual story aimed at children aged 4 to 7 years old. The story highlights the importance of being kind to one another.

“Bullying affects children’s health and wellbeing and contributes to poor education and life outcomes. Tackling it as early as possible is the most effective way to limit its damaging impacts.” Associated Education Minister, Tracey Martin.

Bullying-Free NZ Week

The Oat the Goat digital story is one of several bullying prevention initiatives aimed at children during Bullying-Free NZ Week. The Ministry of Education supports schools with resources via the bullyingfree.nz website and a Bullying-Free NZ School Toolkit, including a pack for parents, a guide for Boards of Trustees, training modules for staff, and a series of interactive classroom posters.

“This is another resource parents and teachers can use to talk to their children about bullying,” Tracey Martin says. “It’s cute and presented in an animated way which will appeal to children.”

Meet Oat the Goat

Cute may not be a term often associated with bullying but this story is more about kindness than hate. Beautifully illustrated and featuring native New Zealand scenery, quirky characters and familiar Kiwi-influenced wording, Oat the Goat can be read, listened to or watched. We highly recommend watching the first time, just to hear the narration by New Zealanders David Fane (Sione’s Wedding) and Piripi Taylor (Te Kāea present and the Māori voice of Māui in Moana). There’s even music by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Oat the Goat is a beautiful story that your children will want to hear and read over and over again – and with an important message behind it, you will enjoy reading along too.

Oat the Goat

Read Oat the Goat: www.oatthegoat.co.nz

Read Oti te Nanekoti: www.otitenanekoti.co.nz

For more information, visit Bullying-Free NZ.

Continue reading “Oat the Goat: the digital story against bullying”

Wild Ferns Honey Babe

Posted on by Julie Lankow

product trial4.60 out of 5 – Kidspot mums would purchase Honey Babe skincare range again and recommend it to their friends and family.

star rating 5

Whether you’re a seasoned mum or you’re new to the parenting game, we know that you always want to be using the best products on your little one. The team at Parrs Products Ltd know this too, so they have created a great range of products that have been developed with your bub in mind.

Why use Honey Babe skincare?

  • Contains Manuka Honey 80+ with all it’s amazing benefits.
  • Ingredients are chosen specifically for baby’s delicate skin. Baby skin is still developing in the first year so it needs products that are gentle, nourishing and soothing.
  • Free of harmful chemicals. No parabens, mineral oil, SLS.
  • 100% natural perfume certified to comply with the COSMOS (European) standard. This confirms that all ingredients used in the fragrance are from natural sources. (NB natural perfumes can still have allergens).
  • The Honey Babe range is 95% or higher in natural ingredients.
  • Made in New Zealand.

Some ingredients used and why

  • Manuka Oil: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and healing for the skin. Fantastic for the treatment of eczema and cradle cap.
  • Aloe Vera: Incredibly gentle and high in Vitamin E, makes it a great soother for baby’s dry skin.
  • Calendula: Nourishes and hydrates, especially great for baby’s sensitive skin.
  • Rose water: Cools, soothes and is an anti-inflammatory. Balances the natural pH of skin.
  • Sweet Almond Oil: Hydrates the skin, high in vitamins.
  • Avocado Oil: Reduces inflammation and softens the skin.
  • Coconut Oil: Nourishes and moisturises.
  • Rosehip Oil: Like a multivitamin for the skin. Hydrates, nourishes and repairs.

Wild Ferns® Honey Babe Skincare originates from Parrs Products Ltd, a family business that has been making quality products for over 60 years. All available nationwide in selected pharmacy, gift and souvenir stores and also online at www.wildferns.co.nz

Honey Babe Barrier crème – 99% natural

Protects and soothes – RRP $24.95

Contains premium certified New Zealand Manuka Honey 80+ renowned for its moisturising and healing properties, enriched with avocado and coconut oil and gentle essential oils of calendula and rosehip, to soothe and rehydrate baby’s tender bottom. Natural beeswax provides a protective moisture barrier to help prevent soreness and irritation. Apply as often as required.

Honey Babe Massage Oil – 100% natural

Relaxing for both Mother and Baby – RRP $24.95

Contains the soft fragrance of Manuka Honey in a blend of naturally soothing and moisturising sweet almond, clendula, chamomile and coconut oil to condition baby’s skin during massage. Helps calm a restless baby, also ideal for use as a relaxing massage oil for a tired mother. Apply oil onto hands then gently massage baby’s body.

Honey Babe Shampoo & Wash – 100% natural NO TEARS formula

Gentle ‘no tears’ formula – RRP $16.90

Contains premium certified New Zealand Manuka Honey 80+, manuka oil, aloe vera and calendula to provide gentle moisturising and natural cleansing. Produces a softly scented lather to keep baby’s skin and hair beautifully soft and clean. Apply to dampened skin, massage into a lather, then rinse off.

We’ve selected 50 members to film video reviews using the Wild Ferns Honey Baby range. 

* The reviewer who posts our favourite video review will win a Honey Babe hamper! *

Each selected reviewer will receive:

  • 1x Wild Ferns® Honey Babe Shampoo and Wash 100ml
  • 1x Wild Ferns® Honey Babe Barrier Crème 100gm
  • 1x Wild Ferns® Honey Babe Massage Oil 90ml

Scroll to the bottom of the page to add your comment.

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address on your profile. Please check your address now to ensure that it is up to date. Not registered yet? Then signup now

Kidspot Terms and Conditions: You will be required to supply a video review if you are selected. Your name and postal address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the product only.

Watch our favourite review from Latesha and family

Plus reviews from our other trialists

Why Meditation Is Great For Kids

Posted on by Julie Lankow

When you think about meditation, do you imagine a 70’s-style hippie sitting cross-legged and chanting “Ommmm”? Well, a few years ago, you wouldn’t have been alone, but we’ve come a long way in the past decade and meditation is becoming much more commonplace. So what’s behind this growing interest?

Meditation teacher, Tom Cronin, thinks part of the growing interest in meditation is a reaction to the all-pervading connectivity of our digital world.

“As a society we are getting to saturation point with the amount of information that we process. The availability of digital media means we have it at our fingertips all day long. Now we are processing so much that it has become overwhelming. We are seeking ways to shut off from this for short periods each day in the form of meditation,” he explains.

Science might also have something to do with it. With more and more research showing how meditation can help with a whole range of disorders, it’s perhaps not surprising that more people are giving it a go.

What exactly does meditation do?

While some people still equate meditation with the exotic and esoteric that’s not really what its about. Meditation advocates come to it from a range of different backgrounds and while some are certainly religious, that’s not necessary and anyone who practices meditation will gain benefits: you don’t need to change your religious beliefs to do so.

Simply put, meditation helps you relax your body and calm your mind. It helps you to focus better, become more self-aware and has been linked to improved physical, emotional and mental health.

But how does it help kids?

As an adult, you probably have at least some stress in your life. Worries about work, finances, relationships or health can sometimes overwhelm us and meditation can be one tool to help with that. But surely our kids don’t need help with that kind of thing?

Not so, says Tom Cronin. “You see so many kids who are over-stimulated. They spend every waking moment with their head buried in an iPod or computer or tablet.” Tom says that kids as young as three can benefit from learning to meditate. “If you can get kids meditating every day for one minute for each year of their age you’ll be able to see benefits.”

And it seems research from around the world backs him up. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Applied School Psychology showed that mindful awareness exercises helped children in years one to three improve school performance and reduce anxiety. In a 2005 Canadian study, students in years four through to seven experienced improved optimism, attention and behaviour through mindfulness exercises.

It can also help kids with ADHD. An Australian study found that regular meditation at clinic sessions and at home helped improve children’s ADHD behaviours, self-esteem and relationship quality. Better sleep patterns, less anxiety, less conflict and the ability to concentrate better at school were all recorded. What’s more, the parents of these kids, who also participated in the study, reported feeling happier, less stressed and better able to manage their child’s behaviour.

Getting started

It’s not hard to meditate. You don’t need special clothing or equipment and there are plenty of online resources to help you get started. Alternatively, look around your local area for classes – many are free or relatively inexpensive.

Tom suggests that simple mindful breathing can be a good way to begin. “Teaching your children to bring their awareness to their breath moving in and out of their nostrils for a few minutes a day is very good at calming things down inside their head. When doing this, prepare a space beforehand so they know they are entering into a special time. You can light a candle, and sit in a nice corner of the house with them just for a few moments each day in quiet time.”

If you can’t get your kids to sit still, they can still practice their breathing in other positions – why not try out an easy yoga pose that little ones (and first time meditating mums) can master.

We teach our kids to wash their hands and brush their teeth in order to stay healthy… Doesn’t it also make sense to teach them to do something that will give them better physical, mental and emotional health for years to come?

This article was written by Margaret Rafferty for Kidspot – New Zealand’s most comprehensive parenting resource.

Continue reading “Why Meditation Is Great For Kids”

Mother’s Day Breakfast In Bed Menu

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Have you put your order in for your Mother’s Day breakfast? While it may be that ‘the thought counts’, burnt toast and cold coffee is not the ideal way to start your morning.

Use our handy printable to place your order with the family, then direct your loved ones towards our breakfast recipes so you can simply roll out of bed (or stay in it) and enjoy breakfast in the comfort of your PJs.

Mothers Day

CLICK HERE to print your Mother’s Day breakfast menu, circle what you would like, pop it up on the fridge (or in front of that screen!) and direct everyone’s attention to it … regularly … until Mother’s Day!

Breakfast recipes

Continue reading “Mother’s Day Breakfast In Bed Menu”

Kidspot New Zealand is all about simplifying the search for kid related fun, activities, sports and related trappings. It makes it fast and easy for kids and their parents to identify things and places of interest leaving more time for all to enjoy!

Please contact us with new ideas and suggestions on how to make this a reality for you and your family.

Stay in the loop

Stay in the loop with all things family and fun! Subscribe to the Kidspot Catchup and receive a weekly does of parenting tips, tasty recipes, and exciting activities for the whole family.

About Kidspot

Contact Kidspot

Advertise with Kidspot

Kidspot Terms and Conditions

close

Join the Catch Up

Join our community of parents and let the Kidspot Catchup be your guide to creating unforgetable family moments.