Promotion for MOTAT
Make some noise with the new exhibition at MOTAT that’s all about turning up the fun!
Whakatangi Puoro Make Music is MOTAT’s brand-new, hands-on and playful exhibition full of interesting instruments and surprising ways to explore the science and technology behind sound and music. Here, making noise is not just allowed – it’s encouraged!
For the first time in its 30-year touring history, Mobiles Musik Museum brings its successful exhibition to the southern hemisphere and MOTAT is excited to bring this amazing experience to New Zealand whānau.
Come and experiment with different ways to make sound, discover unusual instruments and make some noise. Find out how sound works, why it moves us, and what makes it so special.
Little maestros can make a medley, strum sounds or break a beat with a variety of interactive and fun activities.
Read the review from a Kidspot family
Our family had the cool job of reviewing the new Make Music exhibition at MOTAT. We excitedly headed to MOTAT on Saturday afternoon, all ready to explore with kids ranging from 7 to 13 years old. Getting to MOTAT is super easy and parking is plentiful (even on a busy, warm weekend). Even before we got in, there were bubbles floating all over the sky from MOTAT as it was also the Ngā Mirumiru Bubbles weekend there. There were bubbles for miles!!
Making music
We headed straight to the music exhibition at the main site, entering into a darkened foyer where the air was filled with lots of strange sounds – but we couldn’t quite see where it was coming from. As we rounded the corner we were greeted with many interactive stations with all sorts of things to do. Some you sat at, some you stood on, some you pushed, some you pulled, some you used your voice and one you even used a jandal to hit things! There are plenty of stations for everyone to interact with, some together as a whole family and definitely something to interest all ages from 1 to 100.
Miss Thirteen enjoyed the sound effects station, where each of the microphones produced a different sound, like high or low-pitched tones or robot sounds when you spoke or sung into them. When all the kids were on it, it produced a hilarious song of sounds. They also felt like pop stars as they got to stand at the fancy microphones with headphones on. She also liked the different sound stations where everyday items like bottles with water and plumbing pipes in different setups made different frequencies. You could even make songs.
Miss Eleven liked the DJ station where she got to sing into a microphone and mix music and beats with her voice. She got to be her own DJ and hear the result over headphones. She also liked being able to use her body weight to make different tones.
Master Seven also liked the DJ stations with headphones the best, in particular the one in which you tapped the different pads of noises like sheep, wind, breathing, heartbeats and vomiting (LOL) to make weird and wonderful tunes that all others on the headphones could add to and hear.
All the kids, and the adults, happily spent time exploring individually and then playing together on the different stations. After extracting the kids, we also headed round the rest of MOTAT exploring their new science and technology centre – Te Puawānanga – getting surrounded in a big bubble, getting told off in the 1900’s school classroom, marvelling at the many fire engines and, of course, the obligatory tram ride to the Aviation Hall.
It was a great way to spend an afternoon and everyone found lots to entertain themselves in the different areas. Thanks so much MOTAT for letting us play and bring out our inner DJ skills!
Plan your visit
Make Music is on from 10am to 4pm every day at MOTAT, 805 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland.
The activities are included in your general admission ticket to MOTAT and under fives are free! A family pass to MOTAT is just $45 for a family of two adults and up to four kids and annual passes are available too. AA Members save 20% on full-priced MOTAT general admission.
MOTAT recommend parking outside the Aviation Hall and enjoying the fun and free heritage tram ride between sites.
Mobility parking is available on-site at Great North Road (please arrange in advance).
The reviewer was provided with a family pass for the purposes of the review. All views remain those of the reviewer.
This article includes content written by Kidspot with information supplied by MOTAT.
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We were lucky enough to trial the new Red Seal Toothpastes this week. I trialled them alongside my three and five year old daughters.
My family were lucky enough to be selected for the Red Seal review. We are all big on oral hygiene in our family, so we’re all very keen to be part of this! My husband, myself and our two sons trialed the toothpaste. My husband, myself and our 15 year old son loved the taste of the adult formula. Our 12 year old son felt it was a bit too minty for him, so he’s been using the kids formula. We are all very impressed! I was happy to find a Red Seal toothpaste that contained fluoride. In the past I’ve stopped using Red Seal because it didn’t. It’s on the “ok” list at the kids dental clinic, and our dentist approves! Therefore; we will continue to use it. Thank you Red Seal and Kidspot!
The whole family tired these products last night and overall feedback was great. The mint is a bit hot at first but then cools down. Our teeth felt clean and the kids loved the berry flavour. I was super impressed that both products have fluoride as this is important to me in a toothpaste. Thanks for letting us try these and we would buy these in our shopping
We always want to try new toothpaste as it’s boring to use the same brand/flavour of toothpaste every day. My son and I tried the two products respectively. When I saw “Mild mint” and “Berry bubblicious” on the tubes, I thought I knew what the flavors would be like. After I tried the adult one, I felt the mint flavor was not as strong as I expected, which was good! It also surprised me when I saw the toothpaste was transparent! It feels very natural and I noticed it stopped my teeth bleeding! My son says his kid’s one tastes like strawberry ice cream!
I wanted to try and review these toothpastes as looking for more natural products for my family
Have been using these product for the past 4 days now,
I was wanting to try these toothpastes for my family because we’re always looking for different ones. Finding the right strength for different kids etc.
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Seriously, what is this sourcery? A product that makes my two small humans, aged 7 and 9, actually beg to brush their teeth?! I didn’t think this product existed, but Red Seal has proved me wrong! While I couldn’t convince them on the mint one (even though that’s a firm favourite of mine, now!) they are 100% obsessed with the shiny, glittery, tastiness that is the Berricilious Kids Toothpaste! The flavour is absolutely divine but has no added sugar, and it just looks so pretty! The packaging is great, I just can’t think of anything to fault on this. My kids really are excited about their teeth brushing at the start and end of the day now, thanks so much for this magic!
My family love a toothpaste that thoroughly clean teeth and provide protection to tooth decay. My 2 years old and 4 years old tried the Red Seal Kids fluoride Berry Bubblicious toothpaste while my husband and I tried the Red Seal Complete Care fluoride Mild Mint toothpaste. Both toothpastes instantly wins the heart of our family. Everyone had fresh breath afterwards and we do feel our teeth is cleaner for a longer period of time. The texture of the toothpaste is smooth and it looks like it has some glitter in it, which attracts my kids. The kids toothpaste are not overpowering and they loved the flavour compared to Colgate Bluey kids mint gel toothpaste. The Red Seal Complete Care fluoride Mild Mint toothpaste has a lovely minty taste, unlike other overly pepperminty flavoured toothpaste like Colgate Triple Action toothpaste. Both toothpaste does not create much foam, so it does not leave much mess especially for the kids. I would highly recommend this two toothpastes!
Our whole family (2 adults, 10 year old and 3 year old) tried the Red Seal toothpaste. First the tube packaging feels like paper texture, so that was pretty different and cool. Sad thing is nothing is recyclable except that box it comes in, a bit disappointed.
My two boys loved both the read seal toothpaste, they felt the complete care mild mint left their teeth feeling cleaner, and they didn’t mind the mint flavour, it’s not too strong. We Would buy this product.
My family trialled the Red Seal toothpaste gel. My 8 year old loved the flavour Berry Bubblicious. He also tried the mint one but did not like it although he is not usually a fan of a mint flavour. My 11 year old tried the Berry Bubblicious flavour as well but disliked it immediately. She bases a lot of her likes due to texture and she did not like the texture of this toothpaste. Not even the sparkles could persuade her this time. My husband and I have been using the mint flavour. I initially found it getting used to. I found the texture a bit different to what I’m used to but got used to it over time. I’m also getting use to the mildness as I’m use to a very strong mint flavour with my other brands. I feel like it almost needs a stronger mint flavour to give my mouth that fresh feeling. I love the matte packaging and also feel good using a natural product. I have always wanted to try a natural toothpaste but was apprehensive at buying something that my family wouldn’t like so I’m grateful for the opportunity to test it. Overall I am surprised that this natural toothpaste with flouride was actually ok and if it was on special I might buy it again.
We were excited to try these toothpastes but unfortunately the kids’ one is not a hit- too strong in flavour apparently. The adult toothpaste has an unusual flavour compared to what we are used to normally, but I enjoyed it, the only issue I had was not feeling “mouth fresh” afterwards.
I would like to review red seal tooth paste. I wanted to try as more of a natural toothpaste. I have used red seal tooth paste in the past.
Had wanted to try this product for my 2 kids with both of them trying to miss out on bedtime brushing routine by being lazy at night times particularly the little one. I had expected both of them to be fans of berry bubblicious but surprisingly my older one seems to enjoy the mint one while the little one loves the berry one as thats her type. Hopefully they can keep up with the night. I tried the mint one and have been using it since 2 days and night and I find it very refreshing and not too strong like some of the other mint ones that make your mouth burn which is really good. Found it very pleasant to have tried something to colgate and oral b which we have been using for a number of years so would switch it up in the future as well as this is such a great alternative. Thank you kidspot for the oppurtunity to try it otherwise would have never found out about it
My family tried 2 Red Seal toothpaste products over the past week. We wanted to try something different as we use the same brands and never think to sample new brands or flavours. Hubby and I enjoyed using the Complete Care toothpaste, we were surprised as thought the herbs would be overpowering but the mint still came through but it was very mild so needed quite a large amount of product to feel clean. The texture was a more gel like and less foamy than we are used to but not unpleasant, would try it again.
We were lucky to review Red Seal Complete Care Mild Mint toothpaste and Red Seal Kids Berry Bubblicious toothpaste.
We were lucky enough to trial these red seal toothpaste.
My 10 year old daughter was very excited when this toothpaste arrived and wanted to try the berry one straight away. She was surprised it was clear but she liked the taste but said the texture was strange. She then got her 13 year old brother to try it and he wasn’t a big fan of the taste. So she is the sole user of the kids toothpaste but loved the change from the normal mint flavoured one we get.
My kids were so excited to receive this product for review – it’s so nice to have something that seems like a treat but is good for their teeth! My younger 2 kids were split on the verdict of the Berry Bubbalicious toothpaste- the 4 year old loved it and my 6 year old didn’t like it all. My 4 year old love the colour and taste and packaging and I’m very satisfied with the ingredients! My 9 year old loved the complete care product. I’m so happy that red seal are including fluoride in their toothpastes now so I would happily purchase this now knowing that it’s enjoyed by some of my children!
We were lucky enough to be able to review the new Red Seal Digest Kids Melties which was perfect timing after a round of antibiotics for one of my daughters. We trialled the green apple flavoured melty for my two eldest daughters who were very excited as they look forward to their daily multivitamin gummies they have each night.
I was super pumped about giving the Kids Melties Defence a whirl, as it feels like my kids have barely been at school this year, it’s just been bug after bug after bug in our household!
Red Seal Melties Multi with Iron
Thank you for choosing us to review Melties. We tried the Sleep with Magnesium Melties and so far I’m really impressed all round. They are a lovely strawberry flavour that really does fizz and melt in your mouth which means it’s a very easy way to get magnesium into the kids. Of course, as mum, I had to try one myself (for quality control purposes of course) and OMG, I love them too. I have real trouble taking the larger magnesium tablets for adults and wondered I could get enough magnesium taking these too 😉
My son (7) has been taking the Kids Melties Multi. He regularly takes multivitamins, to fill any gaps in his diet, so I thought it would be good to try a new one. I like the fact that these are chewable, and the dise is one a day. He likes the ‘lot of blackberry’ taste. He said they feel foamy on his tongue, which he thinks is fun. It’s probably too early to judge their impact in terms of energy etc/how they compare with other multivitamins. Whether we continue with them will partly depend on the cost. He is happy to continue taking them.
Kids Melties Multi with Iron
Miss 6 absolutely loved the Defence Melties! She said they were yummy like an orange and they fizzed on her tongue which made her laugh. She happily asks me for one every morning since it tastes like a lolly, so Mum is very pleased that she is willingly getting some extra Vitamin C and Zinc in her diet. We usually buy gummy vitamins so a melting tablet is a fun change for her, I wanted her to try out something new and was lucky enough to be selected. The packaging is cute and bright orange so stands out, I feel 60 is a convenient pack size. I would highly recommend the Defence Melties to other parents and we will definitely try the other types / flavours, we will be using all 60 and hope this extra dose of vitamins will boost her immunity from the bugs lurking around school.
We were lucky enough to get the defence orange flavoured melties to try. My 3 oldest children aged 9, 7 and 4 loved the flavour and the fact that they melted on their tongues (to them it was such a novelty). I liked the fact that it was immune support that they loved the flavour of, and that it was packed full of goodness and very minimal sugar. So for our house it was a win/win and we would definitely buy them again.
These were a big hit for my 4 and 6 year old who preferred them to generic vitamin c. My bigger kids preferred the normal vitamin c tablets.
Red Seal Kids Melties – Multi
We were lucky to be selected to review the Kids Melties – Sleep with Magnesium by Red Seal.
Wow! How easy are these to get the kids to try! Very fun container. Captured my kiddies attention for sure. They thought the fizzy was a little weird at first and then grew to like it.
Written by Julie Scanlon
tried Blistex before and was amazed as soon as I applied it to my lips. Immediately they felt moisturised and softer. The scent was lovely too. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting softer, moisturised lips.
With such welcoming packaging I knew we would be in for a treat with one of Blistex’s great products. We were not disappointed. Miss 8 gets dry lips running around at school and we live in a very windy area. Once applied, you could feel the lip balm working its magic. Our lips were both left feeling tingly and moisturized. She used it again after school and said her lips felt “delightful”. I would highly reccommend and have added it to our grocery list
Myself and my 2 daughters who are always slathering something on their lips – all loved this! Pleasant fragrance (the cocoa butter), very smooth application on lips – and excellent sized pottle – perfect for the pocket. Great for summer tennis and at the beach too. Plus a good price point too. Will def pick a couple more up so we can have one each – thanks Blistex. Great product all round
I was lucky enough to receive a trial Blistex and was very appreciative as this is a product I have sworn by for years but I hadn’t yet tried it on the rest of my family.
We wanted to review this product because it is dry lip season- a combination of the Wellington wind and the cold. My 14 year old had the worst dry lips when the product arrived, so she was the lucky one to trial this. It worked well. She says they feel much more comfortable, and I can tell that the conditioner worked just by looking at her. She had been using Vaseline, and noticed an improved difference between blister lip conditioner and Vaseline The packaging was easy to read, and had clear instructions for recycling- both pot and packaging – that’s a very good touch. We would recommend this, if anyone was talking about lip products, and say it was fit for purpose and good quality 
Thanks Kidspot and Blistex for the opportunity to try this lovely product!
We are a busy, outdoorsy family who live in the lee of the Southern Alps, so we always get dry skin, and in particular, lips. We have tried quite a few lip balms, but are always on the lookout for something to protect our lips from the sun as well. For both of these reasons, I was really keen to try Blistex Lip Conditioner with broad spectrum spf 30, and our family was thrilled to be able to put it through its paces.
I love blistex and their lip balms they never disappoint.
In 4 days my lips have dramatically improved! They have stayed soft and aren’t cracking anymore. The weather here has been cold/cold/hot/cold and very very windy, which would usually give me sore dry and cracked lips but not this time. And no weird film like most lip balms leave behind. Pleasantly surprised.
What a fantastic product! Conveniently packaged in a small container that would slip easily into any pocket and the paper packaging can be recycled as well.
Thanks so much for allowing our family to review Blistex!
Best lip balm my daughter and I have been using it as we both suffer from dry lips works perfectly for us
Thank you for the opportunity to trial the Blistex Lip Conditioner. We were wanting to trial this product as my 4 years old and I both have dry and cracked lips. The product came in a good amount size with wide mouth opening, which makes it easy to obtain the ointment over a surface. Also, my 4 years old finds it easy with opening and closing the lid. Besides, it was helpful that it came in a mini tub size, instead of like a stick form, as this is more hygienic and can be shared between the family. The light coloured tub has a little shine to it, which makes it easy to find in a darker environment too i.e. inside a bag. I really love the SPF in the product as it acts like a multitasker that protect against UV damage while nourishing the lips.
I wanted to try this lip conditioner as an avid lip balm user, a fan of Blistex and as our family has been experiencing dry lips in the Wellington wind.
We were excited to try Blistex as a family, especially as the weather has been so changeable lately and we di a lot of winter sports.
