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”

The danger signs of teenage depression

Posted on by Julie Lankow

More than ever before, our teens are subjected to strong influences, demands and stresses that can take their toll on vulnerable adolescents. When they are unable to cope, depression can find a way in. Dr Justin Coulson explains the danger signs to look for.

In its mildest form, depression is the most common psychological problem for teenagers. While it was uncommon a generation or two ago, we now see more diagnoses than ever, and some experts predict that depression will become the psychological ‘flu’ of the 21st century.

We usually describe depression as ‘feeling sad’, but without being aware of its other symptoms, it can be misdiagnosed.

How to know if your teen is depressed

“I hate me. I really hate me. I hate the way I look. I hate the way I feel. I hate how I do everything wrong. The world would be better off without me. My family would be better off without me. I shouldn’t even be alive.”

Depression has emotional symptoms (like a loss of enjoyment in activities that were once fun), but it also has cognitive symptoms (like pessimism and hopelessness). It has motivational symptoms (like feeling apathetic), and it also has physical symptoms (like eating and sleep disturbances).

According to the psychological model that has been used for the last two decades, adolescent depression requires a person to be:

  • Extremely depressed
  • A loss of interest and pleasure in most or all activities
  • Significant weight loss or weight gain
  • Insomnia, or sleeping too much
  • Being physically agitated and constantly moving (although some people with depression don’t want to move at all.)
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of worthlessness, or feeling guilty for anything and everything
  • Being overly indecisive, having difficulty concentrating, or not wanting to think about anything
  • Feeling like life would be better if they were dead.
  • Most psychologists would give a diagnosis of depression to your teenager if they exhibited at least five of these nine symptoms at the same time, consistently, during a two-week period.

How common is depression in young people?

Depression is relatively uncommon in pre-adolescent children – studies indicate somewhere around 1-2 percent.

Adolescents appear to experience depression at similar rates to adults. Close to 20% of us will experience depression at some point in our lives, with around 5-6 percent of our teens (and us) having a clinically depressive episode in any given year. Our daughters are particularly vulnerable, with research indicating depression is twice as likely to affect females than males.

What causes depression?

Most research supports the model that states people have a biological or psychological predisposition to depression, which combines with stressful life events (environment) to leave us feeling depressed. The stressful life events will vary from person to person, but might include loss, being rejected, failing or being humiliated. While many of us experience these things regularly with no depressive outcomes, some people (and teens) develop inadequate or ineffective coping strategies. This can then spiral into negative thinking, and depression occurs.

What do I do if I think my teen is depressed?

Some people’s natural reaction might be to tell them to ‘pull themselves together’, but this is rarely an effective strategy. Instead, I suggest the following:

  • Have a good heart to heart. If their symptoms match those listed above, suggest a visit to the GP for more advice. Then get a referral for a psychologist.
  • If depression is diagnosed, research generally suggests the best treatment is a combined pharmacological (drugs) and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach.
  • Research tells us that even if our teenagers get good help, they’ll struggle to work through their symptoms if their parents are depressed. So make sure every parent is ok, too.
  • Encourage your children to spend time with friends who help them feel good about themselves.
  • Make sure their school environment is a positive one.
  • Discourage alcohol and drug use – and be clear about it.
  • Reduce stress in their environment.
  • Encourage exercise, appropriate sleep and healthy eating.
  • Help them be good at something. Developing competence builds confidence and feelings of worth.
  • Lastly, if you spot your adolescent slipping into any negative thinking habits, talk to them about it. Build your relationship with them. Help them know how much you value them by spending time with them. Your relationship with them may be the thing that makes all the difference.

Mental health awareness

Mental illness affects one in five New Zealanders every year. To acknowledge and support those struggling with mental illness, Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) runs every year with a focus on actions which, when built into day to day lives, could improve the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and organisations.

The five actions are (click on the actions for more information from MHAW):

Where to turn to for help

1737, Need to talk? – Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor

Depression.org.nz – 0800 111 757 or text 4202

Lifeline – 0800 543 354

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat and other support options here.

Rural Support Trust – 0800 787 254

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 3pm–10pm daily.

thelowdown.co.nz – Web chat, email chat or free text 5626

Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

Supporting Families in Mental Illness – 0800 732 825.

It’s not OK (Are you OK?): 0800 456 450 : Open 9am-11pm 7 days a week : Community-driven behaviour change campaign to reduce family violence

If it is an emergency or someone is at risk, including yourself, call 111.

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

Raising a psychologically healthy teenager

Posted on by Julie Lankow

There is a strange self-esteem paradox: If you need it (self-esteem), you don’t have it. And if you have it, you don’t need it.

Adolescence is a period of development where self-esteem can take a battering. As physical changes occur, teens become obsessed with body image. As social changes occur, relationships change and not always in ways that make our teenager feel good about himself. As personality develops, questions race around a teenager’s mind as she fights to create her own identity.

Self-esteem only becomes an issue, though, when our adolescent does not feel worthy of esteem and love. Many experts will encourage parents to build their child’s self-esteem by finding ways to praise her when she does something well. Or simply tell him that he’s great!

While positive feedback can be helpful in some circumstances, self-esteem may suffer once the kind words stop. Self-esteem can demand an incessant stream of confirmation of worth from others to stay at a high level.

Research suggests that there are better ways to build self-esteem without actually focusing on self-esteem.

Build better relationships

There is an enormous amount of research showing that when people feel as though their relationships are sound, they feel good about themselves. This is because when our relationships are positive, it indicates that we are worthy of someone else’s esteem and love. We believe that we must be good people if they love us and care for us, and so we feel good about ourselves.

If your child has low self-esteem, one of the first things you might consider to improve his self-esteem is to help him build more positive relationships with you and with his peers.

Most teenagers will resist parents efforts to improve relationships, so you will need to be creative as you work on your relationship with your son or daughter. Encouraging new relationships with friends is also an effective and important way to increase your child’s sense of worth without directly dealing with ‘self-esteem’.

Develop competence and effectiveness

One of the problems with the ‘self-esteem movement’ that was particularly popular in the 1980s and 1990s was that parents were encouraged to tell their kids how great they were, regardless of what they did! This was a problem because kids saw through the phony praise. Regardless of how much we mean it when we tell our children they’re amazing, they won’t buy it unless they are doing something amazing. Therefore, if we want our children to develop a sense of confidence and esteem, we should give them opportunities to develop competence at something.

If your child has low self-esteem, a second thing you might consider (aside from building better relationships) is to have her participate in an activity that taps into her strengths. (Even better if she has friends who do it too, as relationships and competence can both be built together). Whether it is singing, dancing, playing a sport, sewing, cooking, speaking another language, story writing, or whatever, research assures us that as we develop our competence we feel better about ourselves.

The VIA Institute on Character is a terrific resource that surveys your teenager and helps him to identify his strengths. Encourage your child to take the survey and talk about his newfound strengths. It’s free. It’s scientifically sound. And there’s even a survey for adults to discover their strengths too. Each survey takes around 30 minutes.

Increase autonomy and responsibility

Adolescence is a time of significant change for our children. They push, sometimes very hard, towards being independent. They want to do things for themselves. They want to make their own decisions.

One useful way for parents to help their children feel better about themselves is to allow them the autonomy to begin making more of their own decisions, and to be responsible for those decisions. Depending on the age of your child, it may relate to music and movie choices, curfews, school or career decisions, use of phones and computers, wearing of makeup and so on. As children begin to make their own decisions, and deal with the associated responsibility, they will feel more responsible and more competent. Their relationships with others will generally improve.

It is likely that an increase in autonomy and responsibility will result in mistakes. This is normal. It can also be painful. It is up to us, as parents, to be there, guiding, supporting, and renegotiating (seemingly endlessly) as our children become adults.

As our children develop into teens, they often begin to question themselves. Self esteem can be hurt. All of this is part of the process of developing an identity, figuring out one’s place in the world, and growing into an adult. Parents can help their children successfully navigate this challenging time by helping them build better relationships with family and friends, develop competence in conjunction with using their strengths, and being responsible for making their own decisions.

This article was written for Kidspot by Justin Coulson, Ph. D. Justin is a relationships and parenting expert, author and father of five children. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and at happyfamilies.com.au.

Continue reading “Raising a psychologically healthy teenager”

Duffy and Global Girl Save the World

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Books are the cornerstone of our children’s learning. Literacy skills help all of us to effectively learn about the world around us, communicate our ideas and impart knowledge. Therefore the value of exposing kids to books from an early age and throughout their schooling years can not be under-estimated.

The Alan Duff Charitable Foundation, known as Duffy Books in Homes, is a charity that donates brand new books to kids attending low decile schools. They are proud to provide free books to over 100,000 New Zealand children in 520 schools, three times a year. The charity also has a fantastic theatre show that tours participating schools.

Now Duffy Books in Homes is pleased to present their first public show at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre during the October 2017 school holidays. ‘Duffy and Global Girl Save the World’ is an entertaining show that features puppetry and exciting science experiments! Take the kids along for some school holiday entertainment.

Duffy Books in Homes presents an entertaining and fun show to inspire children to protect our environment for future generations.

Duffy and Global Girl Save the World

The show is suitable for 5 to 12 year-olds and runs for 45 minutes. Tickets are $5 per person and under fives are free.

Book now at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre website.

Find out more about Duffy Books in Homes here including how you can help support literacy in New Zealand, fun activities for the kids and applying to be a Duffy School.

Protecting your children in today’s world

Posted on by Julie Lankow

How did we even get here? I just read an article about how to protect your children in an active shooter situation. I hate that this is even a thing!

Originally published in 2017.

The world we live in

Seemingly every day lately there has been a news report about a mass shooting, stabbing, suicide bomb or terrorist attack. France, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, Iraq, Japan, USA … all over the world. Living in New Zealand, we are far, far away from the troubles of the world – or we like to think so. I do take some comfort in the fact that our little country at the bottom of the Pacific does tend to get forgotten about sometimes. This is my ‘get out of jail free’ card when channel surfing inadvertently reveals another shocking news report to my wide-eyed children. It’s all far away. Plus, the good guys always win, right?

When it all changed

I can distinctly remember the moment I realised my children would grow up in a world that had changed. My partner and I had just returned from a two week road trip in North America. Our trip finished in New York, just seven weeks after 9/11. The city was on edge, emotional and broken. Each day we travelled through the tunnels to Manhattan we saw heavily armed police. Every time a fire engine passed by in the street, everyone would stop and stare silently, watching it go past, then go about their day, heads down. Ground Zero, still smoldering, was beyond words. We passed the thousands of messages, tributes and missing persons posters pinned to fences and walls, silent but with tears in our eyes for the families torn apart.

Just days before arriving in New York, I discovered that I was pregnant. Arriving back in the UK where we were living at the time, I can clearly recall sitting in the bedroom, staring out the window, consumed by a thought – the thought that my baby would never get the chance to live in a world that hadn’t seen the atrocities of that day.

That’s not to say that the world was perfect before that day. Far from it. Prior to 9/11, I had heard IRA bombs go off in London, been stuck in a tube train while a suspect package was investigated and kept in lockdown in an office because of a bomb exploding at the train station. It’s just that it never felt like the whole world was on a downward spiral of hate – not back then.

Lockdown

Day to day criminal activity can often impact on our children. My kids have been in lockdown at their school a couple of times. Thankfully, they were just precautionary. Whilst we don’t want to scare our kids, it is important that they always follow instructions in an emergency situation and so lockdown drills are commonplace in schools now.

A Michigan mum had the reality of active shooter situations brought home to her when she asked her daughter why she was standing on the toilet seat in the bathroom. Her child’s response was a harsh reminder of the world we are passing on to our kids.

Safety first

Although we certainly don’t have a high threat level here in New Zealand, some of the suggestions made by Rachel Norman in her article, ‘How to protect your children in an active shooter situation‘ are valid for any country and any emergency situation, including:

  • Think about what you would do in an emergency situation BEFORE it happens.
  • If a place or situation makes you feel uneasy, leave. Never doubt that mother’s instinct!
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Look, listen, and observe what is happening around you.
  • When indoors, know where the exits are.
  • Practice kid ‘wrangling’. If you had to leave where you are right now with all of your kids, could you do it quickly? Who do you carry? Who can grab your hand and run? Can older children take younger ones?
  • Know how your equipment works. Can you work like a ninja to get that five point pushchair harness off in seconds? Do you know how to quickly turn the sound off on your phone?

And most of all, teach and nurture your child’s compassion, acceptance, empathy and kindness, in the hope that one day they won’t have to teach their children how to survive a terrorist attack or active shooter situation.

her world julieWritten by Julie Scanlon

Julie is Editor for Kidspot NZ and our MVP. Her hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at her own jokes, annoying her family by asking questions about movie plots, and never taking anything too seriously. She speaks a little Spanish and a lot of Yorkshire. 

Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”

Carbon monoxide – the silent killer

Posted on by Julie Lankow

With the tragic death of two five month old triplets in the UK over the weekend, the dangers of carbon monoxide are back in the news. Whilst carbon monoxide poisoning was initially suspected in the death of Sarah Owens’ five month old boys, Charlie and Noah, police have now ruled this out. The silent, deadly gas has taken lives before though, so it’s a timely reminder to be vigilant.

Carbon monoxide is a killer

In 2015, an Ashburton mother and her three children died from carbon monoxide poisoning after leaving a car running in the garage which was connected to the house. Cindy George, was housesitting when herself, her daughter and two sons succumbed to the poisonous gas. Ms George had reportedly run the car inside the closed garage so the car battery wouldn’t go flat. The door connecting the garage to the house was inadvertently left open, allowing the carbon monoxide from the car’s exhaust to tragically move through the living areas.

The deadly gas can also be released by some heating appliances that aren’t designed to be used inside. Police believe that a Taumarunui couple who passed away in their bedroom in 2009, were likely to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning from an outdoor patio gas heater which was being used inside the room. The year before, two men died in a cabin in Ruapuke after they brought a charcoal barbecue inside to heat the cabin. Other deaths have been linked to the use of outdoor gas cookers in confined spaces.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO), is a colourless, odourless gas with no taste. It doesn’t irritate your nose, mouth or skin. If inhaled, depending on the concentration, it is capable of causing illness and even death. Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and attaches to red blood cells, stopping them from carrying oxygen around the body. The reduction in the oxygen supply can affect the function of the brain and heart.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are mild headaches and dizziness. This is often followed by weakness, nausea and confusion. As the concentrations of CO in the blood increase, victims may suffer chest pains, hallucinations, convulsions and loss of consciousness.

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, you must act quickly. Assess whether it is safe to intervene before attempting any course of action. Turn off the source of the CO, move yourself and others out of the affected area immediately (get outside) and seek urgent medical treatment. If you are unable to move others, immediately call 111 for assistance. Open doors and windows, if it is safe to do so.

Avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning

    • Always follow the instructions when operating machinery and appliances to ensure correct ventilation.
    • Ensure your heating systems (including water heaters) and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances are installed by a qualified technician and are serviced every year.
    • Do not use unflued gas heaters or portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) indoors. Always check the instructions for correct usage.
    • Never run a vehicle in the garage with the door shut.
    • Do not use portable generators indoors.
    • Have your chimney or flue inspected and cleaned every year.
    • Carbon monoxide alarms can be useful as a precaution but should not be used as a substitute for correct installation and maintenance of equipment. If you want to install one, seek professional advice for correct installation and placement.

Sources for this article include the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Worksafe NZ.

I’m scared of having a smear test

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Okay, cervical smear tests are a bit invasive and uncomfortable and it can be nerve-wracking waiting for the results. But there’s no escaping these facts: women who have regular cervical smear tests can reduce their chances of developing cervical cancer by up to 90%.

In New Zealand, women are advised to have a cervical smear test (also known as a pap smear) every five years. Cervical screening is recommended if you are:

  • a woman or anyone with a cervix;
  • aged between 25 and 69;
  • sexually active or have ever been.

Free screening is available for women and people with a cervix who:

  • are Māori or Pacific, any age
  • are 30 years and have not had a test in the past 5 years or  never had a screening test
  • require follow-up testing (for any age)
  • hold a Community Services Card (for anny age).

Smear tests help prevent cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and curable of all cancers. According to the NZ Ministry of Health, mortality from cervical cancer has dropped by nearly two-thirds since the introduction of the national screening programme.

With regular screening, abnormal cells can be found and treated early, before they become cancer.

New Zealand’s National Cervical Screening Programme offers regular screening (usually every five years). Cervical screening looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes most cervical cancers. By having regular screening and being immunised against HPV, you can help to protect yourself against cervical cancer.

Two screening options

In late 2023, HPV screening became the new method for cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPV testing looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer.

This change means that there are now two options for how your screening sample is obtained.

Vaginal swab

The vaginal swab testing can be quick and easy for a less-invasive option. You can either self-test, or your health professional can help. This may not be suitable for everyone depending on your screening history. Your health professional will be able to advise you and may recommend that you have a cervical cell sample taken. Some people may also prefer to have their sample taken as a cervical sample.

Cervical sample

A cervical sample (previously known as a smear test) is taken by a health professional. A cervical sample also tests for HPV. You may prefer to have a cervical sample test instead of a vaginal swab.

The procedure is quite quick but, yes, it does require inserting a speculum into the vagina to allow the person doing the test to see the area of the cervix where they need to sample the cells.

The cells are gained by rotating a sampling spatula or brush over the cervix. You may feel some dull pressure while this is being done. While some women can feel a little embarrassed by the procedure , it’s worth remembering the for the person doing the test, it’s part of their everyday work.

What if it hurts?

While a cervical sample test can be uncomfortable, it should not hurt. There are various ways to make the procedure more comfortable.

Some women find using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, guided visualisation or meditation useful. If you’ve had problems in the past, talk to the practitioner about your difficulties and discuss what may make the process more comfortable for you.

Each woman is the best expert on her own body, and any information you can share with the test provider will help them in making the experience more comfortable for you. Factors that may make the procedure more uncomfortable include:

  • vaginal dryness, particularly in post-menopausal women
  • anxiety, which can cause tensing of the muscles
  • a retroverted (tilting backwards or upwards) uterus, which can make the cervix difficult to reach if a woman is lying in a particular position.

Worried about the results of your test?

If you do a vaginal swab test and HPV is found, you may be required to have the cervical sample as a follow-up test, or referred directly for further investigation.

While about one in 10 smear results will come back with a comment attached or an indication of a problem, this doesn’t necessarily mean cancer. It just means that something requires a re-check or some action.

According to the NZ Ministry of Health information site, Time to screen, results may include:

Normal Results

No atypical or abnormal changes were detected.

Unsatisfactory results

Unsatisfactory results mean that the test could not be read at the laboratory because not enough cells were on the slide, or blood or mucus hid most of the cells. In this case, you will need to have another smear within three months.

Inflammation or infection

Occasionally your smear may show that inflammation or infection is present. Discuss this result with your smear taker or doctor. Often no treatment is required.

Atypical changes

These changes are borderline between normal and abnormal. They are called atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US).

Mild (low-grade) changes

These mildly abnormal cells are called low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). This means changes in the surface cells of the cervix. LSIL is the lowest grade of change. If have atypical or mild (low-grade) changes, your smear taker may advise you to have another smear in 6-12 months. Quite often, the next smear will be normal. You may be referred to see a specialist (colposcopist). If you are over 30 years old, your smear taker may recommend you have an HPV test.

Moderate to severe (high-grade) changes

These more serious abnormal cell changes are called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). In some women, they may develop into cancer if they are not treated. You will be referred for colposcopy. It is important that you attend your colposcopy appointment. Your smear taker will discuss with you having an HPV test, if you have had a high grade result.

Glandular cell changes or adenocarcinoma-in-situ (AIS)

Although the cervical smear test is not designed to detect glandular cell changes, such changes are sometimes found. You will be referred for a colposcopy, and it is important for you to go to your appointment.

Cancer

If your smear test shows any changes suggestive of cervical cancer, you will be referred to a specialist. The sooner this is treated, the better the chances of success. It’s important for you to go to your appointment.

Doctor’s tips

Jean Hailes GP, Dr Amanda Newman, says no matter how long it’s been between smears, it’s “better late than never”. She says doctors are not there to judge you or reprimand you for not maintaining a regular schedule.

“Just make having a pap smear your top priority today. It’s one of those great tests because it’s simple and so highly effective at detecting even the smallest changes within cells on the cervix,” she says.

Dr Newman says the smear is also a great chance to book in a full health check with your doctor or nurse. “Just make sure you schedule a double appointment,” she advises.

Related women’s health articles

This article was written by Fiona Baker and edited for Kidspot New Zealand. Sources include The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health and Time To Screen (NZ Ministry of Health)

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

Updated February 2024

Five fabulous nit-proof hairstyles

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Nits. Lice. Head lice. If you have a school-aged child, chances are you have already experienced the hell of head lice. If not, it’s only a matter of time. But take heart, contrary to schoolyard folklore, nits do not mean you are dirty. In fact, my most fastidious (about cleanliness) friends have all experienced the nit curse in equal measure to me (I am not so fastidious.)

But girls are more susceptible – probably because they tend to socialise with each other in a physically close way. That is, they tend to sit in groups, talking or playing games that require them to lean into each other to listen and talk; heads bumping together is also what allows lice to crawl from one head to another.

Boys don’t do this so much. (If you have boys, worms will probably be your thing … ew, sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.)

The topic of nits and head lice is enough to send everyone into a head-scratching frenzy and certain mistruths seem to fly around when people go into a frenzy.

So here’s some nit facts:

  • Lice do not fly.
  • Lice do not jump.
  • Lice do crawl from head to head.
  • Lice do not discriminate.

Dirty hair, clean hair, long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair – they don’t care. As long as it’s a warm and there’s access to blood (via the scalp) they are as happy as a pig in mud.

But the news isn’t all bad –  there are two main things you can do to reduce the risk of contracting head lice.

1. Use the conditioner and comb method to regularly check your child’s hair for lice.

Conditioner doesn’t kill the lice, but it stuns them for about 20 minutes, which means they stop moving around and you can comb them out.

Cover your child’s hair in conditioner. Then use a fine tooth comb, (or a special nit comb) to comb through the hair from scalp to the ends. Work through each section methodically and clean off the comb with a tissue as you go. If you find lice, repeat the process the following day and each day until they are gone. Even when there is no longer any sign of lice, do a comb-out after 7 days (when the eggs you missed the first time will hatch and create another ‘crop’).

Combing the critters out is the best defence. And vigilance. Once a fortnight, do a nit check and comb-out.

2. Tie back your child’s hair

This is the good news! It means you can go a bit ‘Barbie Fashion Face’ with your little girl and experiment with some groovy new hairstyles.

So how many ways are there to tie back long hair? A million. A new hairdo is as good as a holiday! Are we having fun yet?

Here’s five of the easiest and grooviest hairstyles

1. How to do a sock bun hairstyle

Back in the ’90s I used to covet this hairstyle. I didn’t realise there was a very simple trick to it. Watch the video to discover the sock bun secret.

2. How to do a French braid

A French braid is the ultimate nit-proof hairstyle. It involves sweeping up small sections of hair into your main braid and it leaves no wisp uncaptured!

3. How to do a Pheobe Buffay pineapple bun

Phoebe was the flaky one in the TV show Friends. She had long hair and always wore it in some kooky new style. This was one of the best. It’s easy as. The perfect school morning hairdo that looks more complicated than it actually is.

4. How to do a fishbone braid

This is another one that will sweep up all those pesky flyaways.  You may need to spritz the hair with water spray to make it more manageable while you’re braiding. As with all hairstyles, this one is easier with hair that hasn’t been freshly washed.

5. How to do the perfect ballet bun

If you’re looking for the nit-proof hairstyle, look no further. This perfect ballet bun requires lots of hairspray but will gather the hair in a neat, tidy, nit-proof bundle on top of the head. Nit off!

This article was written by Penny Flanagan with editing by Kidspot New Zealand.  Thanks to Kidspot Australia for the creating the instructional videos.

Sources include: Department of Health, Victoria and Department of Education and Early Childhood development head lice management toolkit.

Learning Te Reo Māori

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) is about raising awareness around one of New Zealand’s official languages (the other two being English and New Zealand Sign Language).

Te Reo Māori

The Māori language is used in many ways in New Zealand. As a nation, we have adopted many individual words and phrases into our everyday life, eg

  • Kia ora (informal greeting)
  • Koro (grandfather or elder male)
  • Kai (food)
  • Ka pai (good)
  • Hangi (food cooked in the earth)
  • Whanau (extended family)
  • Haka (we all know this one!)

According to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, (the Māori Language Commission) about 130,000 people had conversational fluency in te reo Māori and 300,000 were learning the language at school in 2017.

Pronunciation is key

The Māori alphabet contains five vowels and ten consonants. The vowels are: a, e, i, o, u, and are pronounced quite differently to English (see below). Vowels with macrons have a longer sound: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū. The consonants are: h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w and there are two digraphs: wh, ng (two letters that combine to form one sound).

Te Reo Māori

For assistance on pronunciation, visit https://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/en/learn/pronunciation/

Using Te Reo Māori

Here’s some simple words and phrases that you can use in your everyday life, and that you can teach your children.

Conversation:

  • Kia ora – hi
  • Haere mai – welcome / enter
  • Whenua – land / homeland
  • Mōrena – good morning
  • E noho – sit down
  • E tu – stand up
  • Whakarongo – listen
  • Koha – gift / present
  • Aroha – compassion / love
  • Iti – small, little
  • Nui – large, big
  • Hei aha atu – don’t worry
  • Karakia – prayer
  • Meri Kirihimete – Merry Christmas
  • Matariki – beginning of Māori New Year

People:

  • Whaea – mother
  • Tamaiti – child
  • Tamariki – children
  • Whakapapa – genealogy / ancestors
  • Kaumātua – elder or elders, senior people in a kin group
  • Tama – son, young man, youth
  • Tamāhine – daughter
  • Tāne – man/men, husband
  • Wahine – woman, wife (wāhine: women, wives)
  • Kaumātua – elder of group

Days of the week:

  • Rāhina / Mane – Monday
  • Rātū / Tūrei – Tuesday
  • Rāapa / Wenerei – Wednesday
  • Rāpare / Taite – Thursday
  • Rāmere / Paraire – Friday
  • Rāhoroi – Saturday
  • Rātapu – Sunday

(Either version is suitable)

Our body:

  • Waewae – foot / feet, leg / legs
  • Ringa – hand / arm
  • Niho – teeth
  • Māhunga / upoko – head
  • Manawa – heart
  • Puku – stomach / belly

Numbers:

  • Tahi – one
  • Rua – two
  • Toru – three
  • Whā – four
  • Rima – five
  • Ono – six
  • Whitu – seven
  • Waru – eight
  • Iwa – nine
  • Tekau – ten

Our world:

  • Awa – river
  • Moana – sea
  • Wai – water
  • Motu – island
  • Maunga – mountain
  • Ngahere – forest
  • Āniwaniwa – rainbow
  • One – sand

Sport:

  • Whutupōro – rugby (union)
  • Rīki – rugby league
  • Whana poikiri – soccer (association football)
  • Neti pōro – netball
  • Pahiketepōro – basketball

Food:

  • Kai – food
  • E kai – command to eat
  • Inu – drink
  • E inu – command to drink
  • Hua whenua – vegetables
  • Miraka – milk
  • Tīhi – cheese
  • Rīwai – potatoes
  • Ika – fish
  • Ika me te riwai – fish and chips
  • Heihei – chicken
  • Āporo – apple
  • Ārani – orange
  • Panana – banana
  • Kapu – cup
  • Pune – spoon
  • Pereti – plate
  • Hiakai – hungry
  • Kei te hiakai au – I am hungry
  • Hiainu – thirsty
  • Kei te hiainu au – I am thirsty
  • Toa hokomaha – supermarket
  • Toa hoko miraka – dairy
  • Whare kīhini – kitchen

Out and about:

  • Pahi – bus
  • Tereina – train
  • Motuka – car
  • Paihikara – bicycle
  • Hīkoi – walk
  • Oma – run
  • E oma – to run

Where you live

Ever wondered what your town or city’s name means? Check out this guide to 1,000 Māori place names: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names

The first step is to have a go

Te Reo Māori

Sources: http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words and http://www.tewikiotereomaori.co.nz/

Kupu app

The Kupu app translation app is a great place to start your te reo journey. Simply take a picture and Kupu will provide the Te Reo Māori translation for the object.

Happy kids, happy holidays

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Holidays are a time for excitement, adventure, fun, laughter and relaxation. Unless you’re a kid that forgot to pack their favourite toy! Then it’s the worst day of their life! Due to unfamiliar surroundings and different routines, you may find that the kids need extra assurance, to help them settle into the holiday. First impressions can make or break a great family holiday. Get everyone off to a great start on that all important first day of a family vacation and you set the tone for the remainder of your trip.  Happy kids make for happy holidays all round!

Research conducted by Booking.com of over 12,000 parents from 25 countries worldwide, reveals how parents cope in those make-or-break first 24 hours of a trip. From food snack packs to travel games and other insider tips, parents reveal the necessities they rely on to keep kids happy on holiday.

Happy holiday ideas from Kiwi parents

When Kiwi parents were asked how they best prepare for the first day of a holiday, they cited the two most important things to pre-empt disaster were to bring travel games and books to occupy their little ones as well as having an emergency food snack pack to hand (both 51%).

The full results were as follows:

  • Packing an emergency food snack pack (51%)
  • Bring travel games and books to occupy them (51%)
  • Packing key items (e.g. swimming costume / ski gear) separately or at the top of the case (44%)
  • Cover them in mosquito/insect repellent / sunscreen (38%)
  • First aid kit on hand (38%)
  • Ensuring they’ve bought comforts from home so the space doesn’t feel too alien (33%)
  • Packing travel adapters and chargers at the top of the case (30%)
  • Scoping out the quickest route to the beach / ski slopes (28%)
  • Enrolling the kids in advance into kids’ club (9%)
  • Renting a buggy/baby stroller (9%)

Yet as two in five parents (41%) believe that the first 24 hours of a trip can be memorable, it’s sometimes the trials, tribulations, excitement and drama that are the things which can really make a holiday special.

Share your tips below for happy holidays with kids.

 

Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a nationally representative sample, provided by Research Now. In total 18,496 respondents were surveyed (1,000+ from the UK, US, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, India and Russia and 500+ each from Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand and Taiwan), which included over 12,000 parents. Respondents completed an online survey between 27th April and 15th May 2017.

Booking.com – the world leader in booking hotel and other accommodation online. Guaranteed best prices for any type of property and no booking fees.

Wrap Up For Winter School Holiday Fun

Posted on by Julie Lankow

Cross your fingers as much as you like for some great weather during the winter school holidays but Mother Nature will no doubt have other plans.

Kidspot has a treasure trove of fun activities, games and crafts for kids to enjoy indoors, but when the weather does break, there’s plenty to do out of the house too. So, wrap up warm and take a look at our ideas for winter fun.

Visit local attractions

When was the last time you took the family to the local zoo, museum, aquarium, art gallery or historic house? During winter crowds tend to be smaller as you’re not competing with quite so many overseas tourists and holidaymakers. Many attractions also have activities for the kids including crafts, hands-on interaction and activity sheets to complete as they make their way around (these are great for keeping the kids occupied, giving you a few moments of peace to explore the exhibits). To avoid quivering bottom lips, be sure to check the times for any special activities and if you need to book ahead.

Get your skates on!

Even if you’re not in an area that sees a lot of fluffy white snow during the winter, the kids can still enjoy some winter fun. The whole family can experience the fun of ice-skating at pop-up rinks which are becoming popular. There are also a few permanent rinks around the country. Skate hire is usually available as well as helmets for the little ones and ‘seals’ or similar apparatus that help the novice skaters to keep their balance! Keep an eye on one-day deal and voucher websites for offers.

Become one with nature

The nights and mornings may be cold but we do tend to benefit from some beautiful sunny days in winter. Grab some warm clothing and sturdy shoes, pack some snacks and drinks and head out for a short bushwalk to clear the cobwebs and get some much-needed fresh air. Do your research beforehand to make sure you’re not taking on the Everest of all bushwalks and choose one that little legs will manage OK. Added attractions like waterfalls, lookouts, bridges or dams can increase the interest factor. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you head out.

Even just a stroll around the park to the playground, seashell spotting at the beach or a kick-about with a ball, will put everyone in a better frame of mind. When you arrive home, forget the five-minute showers for one day and warm up those little toes and fingers with a long warm bath full of bubbles and bath toys.

Making the most of the darkness

Being on the ‘other’ side of the world means that sometimes our traditions don’t really match up with our weather. Christmas in the middle of summer is great for beach BBQs, but not so much for seeing the full glory of Christmas lights. Firework displays for Guy Fawkes and New Year’s tend to start rather late while waiting for the sun to set. In the dull and dreary winter there’s no such problem! So make the most of the earlier darkness with ‘after dark’ activities like night sky planetarium shows, after dark experiences at zoos and nature reserves, mid-winter ‘Christmas’ fairs and night time events that won’t keep the kiddies up too late. Check your local what’s on guide for events.

Make a splash

Let’s face it. We are Kiwis. We love the water. But without a wetsuit or a good dose of bravery, we’re not heading out for a swim at the beach any time in the next few months. Indoor pool complexes and aquatic centres not only boast heated pools, they also often have saunas or spa pools for the adults. Bring your partner along and tag-team so you both get some time-out. Ask at your local pool about school holiday events including fun inflatables, movie nights and specials.

School holiday programmes

There’s an abundance of school holiday programmes to choose from offering everything from horse riding and snowsports to foreign language and music classes. Even if you don’t need childcare throughout the holidays, many school holiday programmes are flexible enough for you to sign the kids up for just one or two days, enabling the kids to have a great day out doing something fun with their peers. For a more budget-friendly alternative, local libraries often run school holiday activities with the added benefit of encouraging a love of reading. Don’t forget to sign out some books while you’re there for some quiet time at home.

Movie time

Whether you’re heading to the cinema to escape the cabin fever or having a pyjama day at home with a DVD, movies are a great way to entertain the kids. You can also use the movie as inspiration for other activities like crafts, colouring-in, role play or puppets.

Read more:

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.

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