Author: Robyn

The Ultimate Queenstown Holiday Accommodation For Kiwi Families

Posted on by Robyn

Promotion for Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park

Sometimes finding accommodation that is truly family-friendly can be tricky – but at Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park, kids are king!

Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier holiday destination. There is truly so much to see and do for adrenalin seekers, outdoor enthusiasts, history lovers, explorers, and relaxers. A genuine year-round holiday destination – no matter the weather – there is always lots of family-friendly activities on offer.

Kids are welcome

Back in 1952, Holiday Inn’s founder Kemmons Wilson was sick of being charged extra to have kids at hotels, so he started his own hotel company where kids were not only welcomed but they got to stay and eat for free! Holiday Inn’s ‘Kids Stay & Eat Free’ became a promise and applies today at the new Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park where kids are king!

Kids aged 12 and under stay for free when sharing their parents’ room. Up to four kids aged 12 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn on-site restaurant (terms and conditions apply).

The friendly and attentive team are ready to make your next family holiday as enjoyable as possible – and they promise to not bat an eyelid at second breakfast or dessert from one of the two restaurants on-site.

Location location

Perfectly located at the heart of the new Remarkables Park lifestyle development near the Queenstown airport, Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park has a New World supermarket within walking distance, along with a variety of other retail and service shops including women’s clothing boutiques, a French bakery, outdoor equipment and more. Just along the road are a whole host of shopping and food options, and you can also enjoy easy access to the ski fields.

Queenstown’s only indoor pool facility is nearby, as are indoor go-karting and climbing, plus you’re ideally located to get on the road to the major adventure activities.

A bus stop just down the road will get you on a bus into Queenstown – a great way to avoid the traffic and parking there – or if the kids are old enough, for them to enjoy some independence.

For book lovers, the library just down the street allows reciprocal membership (available to visitors who will be in the area for one month or less and who are members of another New Zealand library), plus they run school holiday programmes.

Your home away from home

After an action-packed day, flop on the cloud-like bed and relax in the haven of your modern, mountain-view balcony room or suite. They’ve thought of everything for you at Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park including blackout curtains (perfect to help get the kids to sleep in the long Queenstown summer evenings when it’s still light until 10pm), a mini-fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, plus the availability of a roll away bed or cot and interconnecting rooms. The suites also have a bath and separate living room.

Luxury touches are not forgotten  – you can also enjoy the complimentary fitness centre, robes, slippers, pillow menu, hairdryer and also your own air conditioning controls.

A first for New Zealand is the innovative ‘Open Lobby’ concept, designed to bring a touch of home to the new hotel by creating flow across spaces where families not only check-in but eat, drink, socialise and have fun in one inviting, comfortable and integrated living space.

Check out this great family-friendly accommodation perfectly located to explore New Zealand’s ultimate family holiday destination.

Book your holiday now!

This article was written by Kidspot with information supplied by Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park.

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How To Make A Kids Wall Flag

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content provided by Resene

Get arty with the kids by creating this fun wall flag. For more creative fun, make a series of different flag designs and display them as bunting.

You will need:

Check out the step by step instructions below.

How to make a kids wall flag

Step 1:

Cut out a rectangle piece from the bottom of the cardboard to create the flag shape.

How to make a kids wall flag

Step 2:

Paint the cardboard in Resene Ship Cove and leave to dry.

Go potty - how to make colour herb pots for kids

Step 3:

Mask out two stripes at the bottom and paint in Resene Zircon (top) and Resene Fringy Flower (bottom). Paint the tips in Resene Midnight Express. Remove the tape and leave to dry.

How to make a kids wall flag

Step 4:

Use a cookie cutter to trace the star shape onto the back of the flag.

How to make a kids wall flag

Step 5:

Cut out with the scalpel (remember to use a backing board so as not to damage any surfaces).

How to make a kids wall flag

Step 6:

Punch two holes far apart at the top and thread the ribbon through to hang up the flag. Get your kids to help you find a place to proudly display their new flag.

For more projects and colour inspiration visit Resene.co.nz.

Article provided by Resene. Styling and photography by Nikki Astwood

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Top 10 Christmas Movies The Family Will Love

Posted on by Robyn

If you’re looking to get into the Christmas vibe, there’s no better way than turning on the Christmas tree lights, popping some popcorn, and settling down with the family to enjoy a Christmas movie.

Heartwarming, and oozing with hope and redemption, the Christmas movie genre retains its appeal year after year. We’ve picked our top ten Christmas movies that the family will love.

Please note that where to watch these movies was correct at the time of publication. Charges may apply to rent or buy the movies from streaming services. Please refer to the movie listings for age ratings.

The Polar Express (2004)

On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that’s headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’s home. An animated film voiced by Tom Hanks, this is as spectacular to look at as it is touching and enchanting.

Watch on: Google Play Movies, NEON, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

The Grinch (2000)

Inside a snowflake is the magical land of Whoville, populated by the ‘Whos’. All the Whos love Christmas – except for The Grinch, a nasty creature who plots to steal Christmas away forever. Jim Carey stars in this live-action film that brings the Dr Seuss classic children’s book to life.

Watch on: Google Play Movies, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

Elf (2003)

When one of Santa’s elves learns that he’s actually a human whom Santa inadvertently brought back from an orphanage when he was a baby, he sets out for NYC to track down his real father.

Watch on: Google Play Movies, NEON, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

Home Alone (1990)

When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O’Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence and that he alone must protect the family home.

Watch on: Disney+, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

All Clara wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world.

It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip, a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger, to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world.

Watch on: Disney+, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

The Search For Santa Paws (2010)

After Santa loses his memory during a trip to New York City, it’s up to Paws, a faithful orphan named Quinn, her new friend Will and a wondering group of magical talking dogs to save St. Nick and show the world what Christmas is really about.

Watch on: Disney+, Google Play Movies, or Apple TV

The Santa Clause (1994)

On Christmas Eve, a divorced dad and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When the dad takes the reigns, he finds he is now the new Santa, and must convince a world of disbelievers, including himself.

Superstar comedian and Golden Globe® winner Tim Allen shines bright in Disney’s magical, larger-than-life hit comedy.

Watch on: Disney+, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

Arthur Christmas (2011)

How can Santa deliver billions of presents to the whole world in just one night? With an army of one million combat-style Field Elves and a vast, state-of-the-art control center under the ice of the North Pole!

So how could this incredible operation have MISSED one child?! To Santa’s young son, Arthur, it threatens to end the magic of Christmas. With retired Grandsanta, a rebellious young elf, an old sleigh and some untrained reindeer, Arthur sets out in a crazy mission to deliver the last present.

Watch on: Netflix, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

‘Tis the season for love, laughter, and one of the most cherished stories of all time! Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale.

Watch on: Disney+, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store

The Snowman (1982)

After a night of heavy snowfall, a boy wakes up and plays in the snow, eventually building a large snowman. At the stroke of midnight, he sneaks downstairs to find the snowman magically comes to life. Based on a wordless children’s picture book by Raymond Briggs first published in 1978.

Watch on: (Currently unavailable on streaming services)

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author robynWritten by Robyn Cody

Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments. 

Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”

Rustic Christmas Tree Card Inspo

Posted on by Robyn

Create some rustically beautiful Christmas cards with this simple activity. Kids from 3 years old can (with varying degrees of help) make these using easy to find items.

To make the tree you could use kitchen twine, thin ribbon, glitter glue (or PVC glue with glitter sprinkled over), twigs – lots of options!

 

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A post shared by Siân Harris (@planthephoenix)

You can make the layers of the tree as close together as you like, or keep it simple. Glue, stick or draw on decorations. Put a trunk on the tree – or not … it’s up to you!

You don’t have to use coloured card – white A4 will do the trick too.

Tip: If you are using A4 for the card, fold in half long ways (landscape) and then half again and cut down the second fold line for an A5 sized card.

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Ribbon Christmas Tree Card Inspo

Posted on by Robyn

If you want to make some stylish Christmas cards using up bits and pieces you have at home, we’ve got you!

Use paper, ribbon, strips of fabric, or wrapping paper and embellish with glitter and other bling, stickers, or anything that takes your fancy from your craft or sewing kit! You choose how plain or ornate you wish to be!

 

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A post shared by Little Wood Art (@little_wood_art)

Another simple yet effective modern tree card can be made with beads and string (left).

Tip: If you are using A4 for the card, fold in half long ways (landscape) and then half again and cut down the second fold line for an A5 sized card.

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Snowman and Tree Christmas Cards

Posted on by Robyn

If you have crafty kids, or you love doing some simple craft yourself, these two cute Christmas cards are ideal. Follow our step-by-step instructions for some festive fun.

Christmas Tree Card

You will need:

  • a colour printer
  • white A4 paper
  • red card (optional – see tips below)
  • scissors
  • glue

Instructions

  1. Download and print this pdf
  2. Cut out each element. Put all three green triangles in a neat pile and carefully cut the bottom edge into thin strips about 1.5cm high. Be careful at the edges that you don’t cut the edge of the triangle off.
  3. Cut your red card into the size of half an A4 and fold (make sure you have it in portrait orientation)
  4. Cut a piece of white paper a bit smaller than this so you have a red border
    Tip: If you don’t have red card, you could draw a red border, or just use a white card
  5. Glue all the bits on as per the picture

Snowman Card

You will need:

  • a colour printer
  • white A4 paper
  • red card
  • scissors
  • glue
  • sticky tape
  • black marker pen

Instructions

  1. Download and print this pdf
  2. Cut out each element.
  3. Cut your red card into the size of half an A4 and fold (make sure you have it in portrait orientation)
  4. Take a piece of A4 white paper and fold into half and then half again (portrait orientation). Cut along the folds
  5. Now place sticky tape along one long edge leaving some above the paper so you can now gently roll your snowman body shape and secure on the exposed sticky tape edge. Cut into three uneven lengths to form the body.
  6. Mark the eyes, mouth and buttons gently with your black marker and stick the nose on.
  7. Fold the hat brim (you might want to colour the other side of the brim black, and carefully glue the three body rolls, and slide the white part of the brim behind the head. Form the hat and secure as for the body.
  8. Glue on the stars and arms.

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Christmas Activities And Colouring Pages

Posted on by Robyn

Get into the Christmas spirit (and keep the kids occupied) with these fun and free colouring in pages.

Click the images below to print these fun activities ⬇️

Christmas art

christmas art

Christmas art

Christmas Art

Christmas Art

Christmas Art

Christmas Art

Christmas Art

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Fireborn: Twelve & The Frozen Forest by Aisling Fowler | Kids Books

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content 

Set in the snowy northern forests of an imagined prehistoric world, Fireborn is the middle-grade debut of the decade. At turns exciting, funny and heart wrenchingly sad, it marks the introduction of an unstoppable new voice in children’s storytelling.

Twelve has spoken the Pledge and now she is a Huntling. She has given up her name to train in the art of fighting monsters and keeping the peace, and she won’t get to choose a new one until she has earned it.

But when the Lodge’s walls are breached for the first time, and a little girl is taken, Twelve is the only one interested in going after a child . . .

Teaming up with Dog, the Stone Guardian of the Lodge, Twelve ends up on an epic adventure that will change her life, her name – and her entire world.

The extraordinary first book in 2021’s thrilling new debut fantasy series for pre-teens.

Watch author Aisling Fowler read from her stunning novel Fireborn: Twelve & The Frozen Forest ⬇️

Grab your copy of Aisling Fowler’s stunning novel Fireborn: Twelve & The Frozen Forest now!

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Roxy By Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman | Kids Books

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content 

From the team that brought you the New York Times bestseller Dry comes Roxy, a riveting new thriller that proves when gods play games, even love is a lie.

The freeway is coming.

It will cut the neighborhood in two. Construction has already started, pushing toward this corridor of condemned houses and cracked concrete with the momentum of the inevitable. Yet there you are, in the fifth house on the left, fighting for your life.

A chilling take on the opioid epidemic by the New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman and his son Jarrod Shusterman. Suitable for 14+ years.

Watch a video by one of the authors, Neal Shusterman, doing a Q&A on Roxy ⬇️

Grab your copy of Roxy now!

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Pages & Co: The Book Smugglers by Anna James | Kids Books

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content 

The fourth magical adventure in the nationally bestselling Pages & Co. series by Anna James and illustrated by Marco Guadalupi. Starring Milo, the book smuggler who since he was six years old has lived on board the Sesquipedalian, or “Quip,” a magical train that uses the power of imagination to travel through both stories and the real world.

Aboard the Quip, Milo lives and works with his uncle, Horatio, a book smuggler who trades in rare books.

When Horatio takes on a dangerous new job, he needs the help of Tilly Pages, a uniquely gifted bookwanderer. But when Tilly’s grandfather and Horatio are poisoned by a mysterious copy of The Wizard of Oz and fall into a deep sleep, Milo and Tilly find themselves racing against time to save them. The friends must journey to the Emerald City with Dorothy, and eventually to Venice, Italy, to find out who is behind these strange poisonings.

The fourth in the modern-classic and bestselling book-wandering series for ages eight to twelve that celebrates all that is best in life: books, adventure, friendship – and cake.

Watch a video by the author Anna James introducing the Pages & Co series ⬇️

Grab your copy of Pages & Co. – The Book Smugglers now!

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10 Elf On The Shelf Ideas The Kids Will Love

Posted on by Robyn

If you’re wanting to start a new Elf on the Shelf® Christmas tradition, or you’re looking for new inspiration, we’ve found 10 great ideas that the kids will love.

The Elf on the Shelf tradition is based on a special Scout Elf being sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. Once you adopt and name your Elf it gets magic powers that enables it to travel to the North Pole each night to update Santa on the days events. Upon return to your home your Elf finds a fun new place to spend the day.

It’s up to you how you want to use your Elf – you can use it to monitor naughty and nice behaviour or simply add some fun to the run up to Christmas.

Elf on the Shelf inspiration

December is a busy month for us here in New Zealand with the end of the school year and all the events associated with that, plus Christmas and summer holiday planning, and hopefully some social catch ups thrown into the mix.

So while the Elf on the Shelf tradition is fun, it can also be tricky coming up with a new idea each day. That’s why we  have come up with 10 Elf of the Shelf set ups – they are simple, practical, and quick to create, but super fun and effective.

You can check out the official Elf on the Shelf website here.

1. Swinging Elf

Some string or ribbon along with a candy cane can quickly be turned into an elf swing.

2. Climbing Elf

Climbing Elf

If you have some self- adhesive gift bows, or buttons and double sided tape, you can create a climbing wall for your cheeky elf.
Photo credit: elfontheshelf.com.au

3. Toilet paper Elf

What kid doesn’t love a bit of toilet (paper) humour! Make a loo roll snowman and decorate if you have the energy! Unroll the toilet paper when you are using the pens as they can soak right into the roll.

4. More toilet humour

Take toilet humour to the next level with some peas!

5. Candy Cane Hunt

Candy Cane Hunt

Hide three (or however many you are happy with) candy canes for each child – download and print this note and leave it somewhere with your Elf.

You might like to name each candy cane so you can hide at different levels of difficulty, depending on the child’s hunting skills.

6. Santa Stop Here

Santa Please Stop here

Print out this Santa Stop Here poster, roll up and tie with a ribbon and tuck it under your Elf’s arm then help the children put it on the front door, letter box or fence.

7. Tall Elf

Stand your Elf with each leg in a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. Gosh he grew a lot overnight!

8. Sticker elf

Raid the kids art supplies and cover your Elf in stickers – oops!

9.  Toilet paper tree

Kids just can’t get enough of toilet jokes! This time your cheeky Elf has wrapped the tree with it. If you are short of time you could replace the tree topper with a toilet roll and pop the Elf in the tree next to it.

10. Elf snow angel

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A post shared by Helen Darren (@darrenhelen)

Quick and easy. Pop some flour, icing sugar, or cornflour on the bench and make a snow angel with the Elf’s arms and legs.

9. Toilet paper tree elf

Kids just can’t get enough of toilet jokes! This time your cheeky Elf has wrapped the tree with it. If you are short of time you could replace the tree topper with a toilet roll and pop the Elf in the tree next to it.

10. Elf snow angel

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A post shared by Helen Darren (@darrenhelen)


Quick and easy. Pop some flour, icing sugar, or cornflour on the bench and made a snow angel with the Elf’s arms and legs.

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author robynWritten by Robyn

Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments. 

Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”

Key Milestones In Your Toddler’s Eating Development

Posted on by Robyn

If you thought feeding your baby was challenging, then eating with a toddler is going to be even more amusing for you!

The good news is your little one is now well on their way to enjoying foods that the whole family eats. It is important to remember that all children are different so be patient as they explore foods and experiment with different tastes and textures.

Try to embrace the mess, keeping mealtime a fun and stress-free environment. This will give your toddler confidence to continue to learn through food and the reassurance that mealtimes are a positive experience.

Around 12 to 18 months

At this age and stage your toddler’s coordination is improving and this means they are able to lift food to their mouth more easily and drink from a cup (with some help). They can now move their tongue side to side allowing them to chew and swallow well. They may start to refuse some foods, as they begin to utilise their independence.

Because of the risk of choking, make sure you sit with them while they eat.

Around 18 months

You will notice your toddler is able to bite pieces off larger amounts of food, even if the foods are of different textures and thicknesses. They might be able to chew with their lips closed at times and will be able to hold and drink from a cup without spilling any liquid. The more practice they have at this the better they will be.

Around 24 – 36 months

Your toddler will begin to move their jaw in different ways to manage larger bites, and eat food that the whole family is eating, all by themselves.

Chewing will help develop their facial muscles that are important for speech. Table manners will start to develop as they begin to wipe their own mouth and hands, serve themselves, and pour liquids into their cup … with some spillage.

Your toddler will now know the difference between food and non-food items and start to show clear likes and dislikes of some foods.

A helping hand

If your toddler is not consuming a variety of foods, and in the right quantities, then a toddler milk may be an option to help ensure that they get the additional nutrients they need.

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Is My Toddler Getting Enough Nutritious Food?

Posted on by Robyn

As your toddler moves to more independent eating and drinking, and they experiment with different flavours and textures, it is hard to keep track of what is actually being consumed.

It might seem simple, but feeding your toddler may be more challenging than you thought! So how can you be confident that they are getting enough nutritious food?

Team work

Your job is to provide a variety of nutritious foods for your toddler, and their job is to decide what, and how much, they want to eat.

Offer a variety of nutritious foods such as fruit, vegetables, and lean meat. While you may need to encourage them to sit for meal times, you still ultimately need to let them decide when they’ve had enough.

Every day is different

If your toddler eats poorly on one day and well the next, that’s normal! Toddlers are known for erratic and unpredictable eating habits for a range of different reasons such as activity level, growth rate, general health, and metabolism.

Spread their meals over the day – three meals and two snacks is a great place to start.

Tracking their intake

Rather than focusing on how much your toddler eats for each individual meal or each day, look at their overall food and drink intake over the course of a week.

Keep a food diary if you are concerned about their eating as this is a good way to spot patterns yourself, and can also be very helpful if you see a doctor or dietitian.

A helping hand

If your toddler is not consuming a variety of foods, and in the right quantities, then a toddler milk may be an option to help ensure that they get the additional nutrients they need.

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Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World | Book Review

Posted on by Robyn

A powerful illustrated storybook for the tamariki and rangatahi of Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Māoritanga!

Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World is a collection of true stories about amazing Māori who have achieved incredible things.

Each of them blazed a trail in their own way, and this pukapuka was written to show that with your kura huna, your special gifts, YOU can make a difference too.

Featuring people and groups both historic and contemporary, who have achieved great things from land marches and language revival to hip hop and contemporary Māori fashion design, this pukapuka will fill readers of all ages, and from all walks of life, with aroha, whanaungatanga and hope for our future.

Find out more about Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World at Penguin Books.

Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Maori Who Changed the World | Book Review

Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World is bursting with stories about amazing Māori from Kupe to Farah Palmer via Māui, Māori All Blacks and Taika Waititi.

A fabulous book about Māori who have helped change the world in all sorts of different ways, both big and small. Some of the people in the book the girls (Indie aged 8 and Thea aged 6) knew but they were very interested to hear about people they hadn’t heard of before too.

Whilst the book may look large, it is written in a beautiful yet simplistic way with a mix of both Te Reo Māori and English that easily allows Miss 8 to read it. The stories are the perfect length for reading two or three at bedtime.

Overall this is an absolutely gorgeous book and one that will no doubt be treasured for many years to come – so much so that I think we will have to buy another just so they have one each to treasure. It is that good!

View Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori online

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Toy Review | Hungry Hungry Hippos Launchers

Posted on by Robyn

The Hungry Hungry Hippos Launchers game is a flippin’ fast feeding frenzy as players launch plastic watermelons directly into their hippo’s mouth. Like the classic Hungry Hungry Hippos game, this electronic game is fun for boys and girls ages 4 and up.

This latest version of the family favourite is motorized – the hippos opening and closing their mouths while players continue to fling the melons, hoping to land the most shots. It’s fun for kids to press and release the melons from the launcher, and watch each swallowed watermelon roll back down into the scorecard ramp.

Indie and Thea review

Indie (age 8) and Thea (age 6) along with their Mum Renee tried out the Hungry Hungry Hippos Launchers game and share with us their thoughts.

Hungry Hungry Hippos Launchers

A new twist on an old classic game that keeps the kids focussed and engaged for longer than your average “board” game.

The Hungry Hungry Hippos Launcher game can be played by the whole family and the best part is that everyone plays the game at the same time so, no need to wait for your turn!

Unlike the traditional version of Hungry Hungry Hippos where the game is usually over and done with in less than a minute this game lasts a whole lot longer due to the focus and skill required to launch the balls – which are actually designed as cute little watermelons – into the hippos mouths.

Hungry Hungry Hippos Launchers

Plus, the girls came up with a plan that when there are only two players you can make the game last even longer by having to get 10 balls in the hippos mouth rather than just the standard 5. Definitely one to play on the floor so that the balls don’t travel too far if you do miss the hippos mouth. Overall, it’s an awesome game that can be enjoyed by all ages and is constantly being played in our home!

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Karma’s World | Printable Colouring In Pages

Posted on by Robyn

You are never too young to make a difference.

Karma’s World follows Karma Grant, an aspiring musical artist and rapper with big talent and an even bigger heart.  Smart, resilient, and deeply empathetic, Karma pours her soul into songwriting, channeling her feelings into whip-smart rhymes with passion, courage and her signature brand of humor.

She’s a lyrically gifted aspiring musical artist juggling rap dreams and rhyme schemes, all while using her talent, ambition and heart to solve any problem. In this series, Karma is only beginning to grasp the incredible emotional power that words and music can have. She doesn’t just want to share her music with the world…she wants to change the world with it!

The animated series will feature original songs focusing on issues such as self-esteem, body positivity, discrimination, creativity, expressing  emotions, friendship, family, leadership, celebrating differences and more.

Karma’s World is perfect for children aged 6 to 9 years, and is now streaming on Netflix!

Click the images below to print these fun Karma’s World activities ⬇️

Karma's World colouring page

Karma's World Colouring Page

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Toy Review | Rolife DIY Miniature Dollhouse Bloomy House

Posted on by Robyn

Rolife have created a range of DIY miniature dollhouses that enable older children to create a dreamy world with a 360 degree stereoscopic scene. Emma (14 years) reviews the Mysterious World Bloomy House.

Emma’s mum admits, at age 14 it can be hard to find something that strikes a cord with Emma now that she has grown out of toys. The Mysterious World is like the teen/adult equivalent of LEGO but a lot more detailed and suited entirely for ages 14 years plus.

Intricate DIY fun

The easiest way to describe the Mysterious World is as a diorama where you put the entire thing together yourself.

DIY Kits Mysterious World Bloomy House

Emma received the Bloomy House which she needed to assemble into a 3 storey home. The pieces are very intricate and need to be assembled into furniture and ornaments.

It’s so detailed that there are actual working lightbulbs complete with batteries for the cute little lanterns! Some of the other pieces involve you needing to paint a letterbox and mould wire into ornate shapes.

Step by step …

To guide you on your way there’s a very comprehensive instruction manual which Emma was able to follow herself with little assistance from her mum. You also receive wire, paint, and tweezers to help put it all together. The details are just amazing and it was so satisfying for Emma to see all the pieces come together as a result of her hard work with each layer she assembled.

Creative days

Rolife DIY Kits

The whole Bloomy House took Emma around four days to complete. One of the great things about it is that you can chip away at it at your own leisure.

And the once the project is all finished, there’s a sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing you put the whole thing together yourself, while it’s displayed proudly!

Emma’s mum really enjoyed seeing Emma getting into the project and it was great to see her away from devices and into something creative during lockdown.

Would we recommend?

Emma and her Mum would definitely recommend the Rolife DIY Miniature Dollhouse Bloomy House as a fun, satisfying project for ages 14 years plus to sink their teeth into! It would make a great present and is very value-packed and a great way to also bond with your teen when assisting with some of the more detailed pieces.

Toys were provided by Farmers for this review.

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Encouraging Mindfulness In Children

Posted on by Robyn

Promotion for Save the Children

Save the Children and Peppa Pig are dedicating October to encouraging mindfulness in children with a free storybook yoga event for kids hosted by Kidspot and more than 50 free online resources to help learn new techniques. But what does mindfulness mean when you’re the mother of a four-year-old, asks Save the Children’s Elisabeth Fraser?

Parenting and mindfulness were not something that went hand-in-hand for me. A Type-A perfectionist mum and daughter combo – slowing down? Not going to happen, not for us.  However it took being plunged into Tāmaki Makaurau’s lockdown and my daughter Sophie ending up in a leg cast in week two, that made me realise, I only have to look to my daughter to learn about mindfulness.

Learning about mindfulness

Mindfulness with children is often perceived as sitting them down to enjoy some quiet time … appealing, but way too hard, right? But what I’ve learned is that it isn’t about a particular activity. It’s not about being quiet or still – it’s a state of mind, a way of thinking, and a way of responding to the world, events, and the people around you. It gives children strategies for coping with stress and anxiety. It prepares them for what is to come in life. And fostering this in the early years can create habits that last a lifetime.

When my daughter broke a bone in her foot during lockdown, my response was panic. Immediate worries were how we were going to get through the next six weeks, stuck at home with a four-year-old in a leg cast. I was horrified. But Sophie just got on with it. She adapted, she crawled, she asked how long it would be, and accepted this. One day when I was holding her hand as she hopped painfully and slowly to the toilet, I looked down at the smile (no frustration at her pace). “Wow,” I thought. “She is so present, living in the moment.” This got me wondering over the next few days that maybe our tamariki are naturally mindful, and that it is just our pace of life and expectations that erode this state of mind away.

Part of daily life

Looking back, I see how today’s children are being raised with mindful strategies as a part of daily life in a way that I was not. When my daughter was about two she suddenly stopped me in a moment of rushing. “Smell the flowers,” she said as she took a beautiful slow breath in, and “blow out the candles,” followed by a long exhale. These kinds of strategies are becoming the norm in early childhood settings and I wonder how I would have handled challenges in my life differently if I too had learned these techniques in school.

Another moment that stands out is a few months ago when my daughter was becoming frustrated that she couldn’t kick her ball into a ‘goal.’ Witnessing things unfold, I went to intervene and offer some support to my red-faced, screaming, stomping girl and she stopped. In a low breath she said, “Take a moment, take a breath, make a plan and try your best.” Eyes shut, she visualised what she needed to do. She opened her eyes, breathed again, and calmly kicked the ball into the goal. Wow!

Fostering mindfulness

Mindfulness Walk with Peppa Pig

Download a Mindfulness Walk

So how can we foster this? Give children time to engage in mindful moments – one size doesn’t fit all.

What activities help your child stay present and focussed, and facilitate mindfulness? For some it will be collecting interesting objects from the garden, for others it will be getting lost in a book, some it will be dancing or drumming, painting, laughing.

The new Save the Children Education Hub has some great resources developed by our partners at Twinkl. What brings a mindful moment will be different for everyone.

Think aloud when you are dealing with a difficult situation so that your child can see your thought processes, and model enjoying the small things and talk about these moments at the end of your day. A new lockdown ritual that works for my daughter and I, after we have switched off the lights at bedtime, is to tell each other what we are grateful for in our day. Her answers vary from hearing a tūī, to eating an ice-cream, to seeing her family. And I share mine, which is good for both of us.

Part of us

The last few years have been quite a journey, not only in becoming a mother, but battling chronic illness and the pandemic, where anxiety and adrenaline seems to take over. I wonder how I would have responded to these events differently if mindfulness habits had been a part of my education and upbringing; but for now, my daughter and I learn together.

Written by Elisabeth Fraser for Kidspot NZ. Elisabeth is Save the Children’s Child Youth and Schools Engagement Co-ordinator, teacher and mother to Sophie. 

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Peppa Pig Practices Mindfulness Storybook Yoga

Join children’s yoga expert Michaela Sangl, of YogiKids, for a fun and interactive storybook yoga session like no other, as she journeys to find Peppa Pig – and meets many friends along the way!

Gather the little ones, tell your friends and whānau and join us for a YogiKids ride through our beautiful Aotearoa, learning breathing and yoga techniques that you can practice at home with your tamariki.

Register for this free virtual event and receive an exclusive downloadable Peppa Pig colouring book to help support your child’s mindfulness journey.

Register now for FREE!

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Toy Review | LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village

Posted on by Robyn

Based on an iconic scene from the latest Marvel movie, this LEGO set features a dragon with a buildable, articulated body, plus iconic minifigure characters to inspire epic role play and imagination. Read Jaxon’s review of LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village.

Jaxon (age 8) has been dying to see Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings but, eight weeks into what feels like a neverending lockdown in Auckland, we of course have not been able to get to the cinemas to see it.

Luckily, as a very close second to actually seeing the movie, the LEGO Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village set was a great distraction for this disappointed kid, whose eyes lit up when he saw the box.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village

LEGO builders, assemble!

He got started on it right away and was able to get the first part of the build underway on his own. The box says it’s for age 8+ and Jax is a pretty experienced LEGO builder but he did need Dad’s help the further into the build he got. This was a really nice way for him and his Dad to spend time together as they put music on and worked on it together, having lots of laughs along the way.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village

Working as a team, it took Jaxon and his Dad less than hour to complete the build. And the finished result was spectacular! The dragon has an articulated body so that it can twist and turn when its being played with, and even though Jax hasn’t seen the movie and isn’t that familiar with the characters, he got into some great imaginative role play with them and the dragon. There is a detachable water base for the dragon to sit on when the battle scenes are over and this makes it a great display set too.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village

Would we recommend this LEGO set?

This is a fantastic gift for any LEGO fan and is quite different to some of the other sets we’ve had in the past. It would make a great Christmas gift, and it’s available at the Farmers Toy Sale for an unbeatable price at the moment.

If you know a kid who loves super heroes and LEGO, then LEGO Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village is a winning combination!

Toys were provided by Farmers for this review.

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Kids Book – Mallory, Mallory: Trick or Treat by James Norcliffe

Posted on by Robyn

From the magical pen of James Norcliffe, and with fantastical illustrations by Emily Walker, comes Mallory, Mallory: Trick or Treat – a spooky tale of time travel, intrigue, and people getting their (un)just desserts.

Mallory wants candy – as much as she can grab – and she’s prepared to play some tricks (and kick a pesky black cat) to get it. But when she and her reluctant sidekick Arthur tangle with the owner of a spooky old house, the trick is on them. In the beat of a bat’s wing, they’re a century back in time with a mission to find that slippery cat, or Mallory will change shape forever …

Also don’t miss Mallory and Arthur’s first hilarious misadventure Mallory, Mallory: The Revenge of the Tooth Fairy!

Read what our Kids Reviewer thought about the book and grab your own copy ⬇️

Book review by Ella & Katie

Ella (8) and I have started reading “Mallory Mallory: Trick or Treat”. This is the first book we have read by James Norcliffe, and so far, we are really enjoying it.

The story is about Mallory and Arthur, who go trick or treating late on Halloween. Mallory, who is bit of a bully, is not happy because they aren’t being given any candy and is playing tricks on all the houses they are visiting.

Arthur who is a wimp (according to Mallory) is not happy and wants to go home but Mallory managed to persuade Arthur to go to one more house. The last house they visit looks a bit odd and scary. An old man answers the door and he threatens to play a trick on Mallory and Arthur. I think he is trying to teach Mallory a lesson about manners.

The old man plays a trick on Mallory and Arthur – they are transported back in time. If Mallory and Arthur want to go home they have to complete a task for the old man, one which seems simple but is not. Is the old man still playing a trick on them?

This story follows the adventures of Mallory and Arthur trying to get back home again. This is the second book in the “Mallory Mallory” series, but you don’t need to have read the first to enjoy this book.

After we have finished this book, we will be going out to get the first story to read as my daughter Katie has really enjoyed Mallory Mallory: Trick or Treat – in particular the time travel aspect of the story.

Buy your copy now!

Written by Kidspot NZ with information supplied by Penguin

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Suckies Activity Sheets Made For Little Humans

Posted on by Robyn

Get the ​li’l ones creativity flowing with these fun, free and printable activity sheets from Suckies.

Suckies are fresh probiotic yoghurt and fruit pouches that have been created by The Collective specifically for li’l ones. They’re easy to pop into a lunchbox, or to grab one as you’re heading out the door. They’re also high in probiotics and have no added sugar – instead, they’re sweetened with fruit and come in 7 different flavours: Strawberry, Blueberry, Vanilla, Raspberry, Banana, Boysenberry, and Mango – so everyone is sure to find one they love. Smiles all round!

The pouches are fully recyclable, so rinse them out and pop them in your local soft plastics recycling bin. You will find Suckies in leading supermarkets nationwide.

Click the images below to print these fun activities ⬇️

Suckies

The Collective suckies

The Collective suckies

The Collective suckies

Written by Kidspot NZ with information provided by The Collective.

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Fun Craft Ideas Using Repurposed Household Items

Posted on by Robyn

Upcycling, which is repurposing old household items, is a great way to entertain and educate kids about the principles of recycling while still having fun.

Here are some fun ideas to craft your way to helping the planet!

Self-Watering Seed Starter Pot Planter

This self-watering seed starter pot planter reuses 2-litre bottles.

You will need:

  • empty 2-litre bottle
  • potting mix
  • seeds
  • scissors or knife
  • vegetable oil and paper towels

Self-Watering Seed Starter Pot Planter

Step 1: Clean and cut the bottle in half

Remove any labels and leftover glue from the bottle.

Using scissors or a knife, cut the bottle in half about 12cm from the bottom.*

* Be careful when using sharp objects.

Self-Watering Seed Starter Pot Planter

Step 2: Make holes and add potting mix to the top

Puncture approximately 8 holes around the neck of the bottle and then nearly fill the top with potting mix. 3/4 fill the bottom half of the bottle, then gently lower the top, neck down (lid on), until it’s resting inside the bottom.

Self-Watering Seed Starter Pot Planter

Step 3: Plant seeds, water, and wait

Plant some seeds in the potting soil and lightly water. Now all you’ve got to do is keep an eye on the water level at the bottom, but also note that when seedlings are small with shallow roots, they may continue to need watering from the top.

Juice Carton Bird Feeder

There are plenty of household items kids use on a daily basis, like milk and juice cartons, that are great foundation pieces for teaching kids about recycling.

We’ve created an easy guide for you and your kids to follow, so you can take what was once a carton of sweet juice and recreate it into a friendly, bird feeder. So finish up that last bit of orange juice, rinse out the carton, and get to making your recycling craft!

Things you’ll need:

  • used juice/milk carton
  • red paint (enamel)
  • knife
  • (2) large plastic bottle lids and (2) small white plastic bottle lids
  • black permanent marker
  • (2) popsicle sticks
  • hot glue gun
  • clothes peg
  • bird seed

Juice Carton Bird Feeder

Step 1: Clean And Paint Your Carton

Using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* and a few cotton balls, remove any packaging and branding stickers from the surface of your carton. This will allow your paint to dry more evenly later on.

Paint your carton – enamel paint is ideal because it’s waterproof and will withstand rain.

Have some fun with the colours you choose, and make your bird feeder unique to you. Make sure to paint a couple coats to help the colours be vibrant and even. Let dry.

* Always remember to wear protective clothing while working with rubbing alcohol.

Juice Carton Bird Feeder

Step 2: Make wings and eyes

Using your knife, cut out the center of the front side of the carton ensuring it is big enough for a bird’s head and upper body to fit in and reach the food inside the carton. Next, use your knife to cut two flaps on each side of the carton to make wings.

Glue the bottle caps on where the eyes will be. Use black plastic caps first, then smaller white caps on the inside. Take your permanent marker and draw in pupils on the white caps. Using scraps from the carton cutouts, add a little bird beak underneath the eyes.

Poke two holes under the center cutout and glue two sticks and then pour in some birdseed, hang your feeder outside, and watch all the birdies flock to their generous friend.

Written by Kidspot NZ with information supplied by GLAD.

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Easy Ways To Make Your Kitchen Practices More Sustainable

Posted on by Robyn

We know we need to make more environmentally conscious decisions, but our busy lifestyles combined with the sometimes overwhelming number of rules and advice can make it hard to know how to get started.

Because so much of our time is spent in the kitchen, we thought we would take a look at some simple ways to make our kitchen habits more sustainable.

There are lots of ways you can make a difference, so whether you want to draw a line in the sand and make wholesale changes or feel that making small changes over time is more manageable and realistic for you, the good news is that they all add up to make an overall positive change.

Buy wisely

The easiest way to start sustainable practices in your kitchen is at the purchasing phase.

  • Factor the amount of packaging used into your purchasing decisions – this will send a signal to producers that we want less packaging.
  • Look for items that have been made using recycled material.
  • Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables as it will likely have been produced locally, be fresher, last longer, and not have been transported long distances using non-renewable energy.
  • Where you can, choose organic. Look at the ingredients and choose those that are the most environmentally friendly.
  • If you only need a small quantity of an ingredient, instead of buying a whole packet check with your friends if they have some you can use.
  • When replacing appliances check out the energy efficiency ratings and factor that into your decision making.

Use the food

Leftover and unused food accounts for a huge amount of waste but there are some ways you go can easily reduce waste.

  • Donate non-perishable items to your local community food pantry or through your local Facebook community
  • Meal planning is a great way to ensure you have just the right amount of fresh food available and therefore reduce waste.
  • Try and use as much of your food as possible – the broccoli stalks are fine to eat, as are the mushroom stalks. Give potatoes a scrub and cook with their skins on, and if you are roasting pumpkin, the skin, as well as the flesh, is edible plus it’s super tasty. Some recipes call for lemon zest, so if you are using just the juice consider zesting it first then freezing that for use next time. Leftover pepper (capsicum), corn, celery, and much more can be frozen to be used another time as can anything that came in a tin. Chicken bones can be used to make stock.
  • Store leftover food in the fridge and reinvent it for another meal. Leftover food can be used as fillings for individual pies, a pasta bake or a frittata.

Kitchen practices

  • Recycle as much as you can. Take some time to understand what can and can’t be recycled so that you don’t inadvertently contaminate the recycling truck and cause the whole load to be dumped instead of taken to the recycling centre.
  • Find out if your local area has collection points for soft plastics recycling.
  • If you don’t have a compost bin, consider starting one or add to your neighbours.
  • Freeze food items that you don’t think you will eat before they spoil.
  • Turn eggs regularly to extend their shelf life.
  • Make your own cleaning products – equal parts of white vinegar and water plus the addition of some lemon rind make a great all purpose cleaner. Baking soda and water in a spray bottle is a deodorizer while a paste of these is an effective stain and spot remover.

What do you do to make your kitchen practices more sustainable?

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author robynWritten by Robyn Cody

Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments. 

Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”

Gluten Free Howler Hotdogs – Kids Review

Posted on by Robyn

Kidspot review

Finding appealing food for kids with allergies can be challenging so when I discovered that Howler Hotdogs have a gluten-free range I was overjoyed – finally something “fun” that my boys can eat without any worries!

My two boys (5 and 7 years old) both have allergies, and are anaphylactic to some foods, so it’s always been a challenge for me to find nice things for them to eat. I often feel like they miss out on a lot of tasty and “fun” foods (especially when they go to birthday parties and I have to pack food for them that they can actually eat without getting allergic reactions).

Gluten-free Mini Munchers

Howler Hot Dogs - Gluten Free

We tried the Mini Munchers which were a great size for small hands. The box says you can cook them in the oven or deep fry them, but I actually popped them in my air fryer and they were ready in under 15 minutes.

The boys loved these – it was great to see them enjoying something new that I know contain few allergens (they do contain soy and sulphites). Taste clearly hasn’t been compromised as between two hungry little boys, the whole lot disappeared in record time.

Hot dogs on the go!

We will definitely have these stocked in our freezer from now on – they make a great meal on the go, and I can see them becoming a staple in our house for both boys’ birthday parties and other celebrations.

Howler also have full sized gluten-free hotdogs which would be great for an easy meal night.

These are a total win in our house so if you’re struggling to find great gluten-free options for your family then take my word for it – Howler Hotdogs won’t disappoint.

Find out more about the new breed of hotdog, Howler Hotdogs and find a stockist near you.

Howler Hot Dogs provided Kidspot with some of their Gluten Free Mini Munchers for this review. All views are those of the writer.

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6 Party Food Treats For Kids Birthdays

Posted on by Robyn

There’s a lot to sort out when you’re planning your child’s birthday party but getting the food right is a priority! We consulted the fiercest critics* and can now share with you the top six birthday party treats. (*kids)

Delicious and easy, these top party treats are guaranteed to be a huge success!

1. Cookie Monster Cupcakes

Cookie Monster cupcakes

Cute and super easy, these Cookie Monster Cupcakes are perfect party food. Using a simple vanilla cupcake recipe (or your favourite), and blue butter icing, plus chocolate chip cookies, marshmallow and a wee bit of black icing, you can bring the Cookie Monster to your party!

Top tip – if you don’t want to pipe the fur, just pop a blob on and rough it up with a knife. You can make the eyes with black icing, or cut some licorice to shape.

How to make Cookie Monster Cupcakes

2. Fluffy Egg-free Marshmallow Cones

Fluffy egg-free marshmallow cones

Fun take on ice-cream cones without the melty mess! It’s easy to colour the marshmallow to match your party theme.

How to make marshmallow cones

3. Tiny Teddy Cars

Tiny Teddy Cars

Ready. Set. Go!

There’s no need to cook with these Tiny Teddy Cars – just assemble using bits you can get from the supermarket! Maximum effect for minimus fuss is what we like.

Serve the cars on a plate, or for extra fun draw a racetrack on a paper runner down the centre of the party table.

How to make Tiny Teddy Cars

4. Fairy Bread

Fairy Bread

An all time classic, Fairy Bread is so simple to make. The only trick is that the bread can quickly dry out, especially in summer, so it’s best to make it just before it’s needed.

To change it up, you could use a chocolate and hazelnut spread instead of butter, or use another sort of sprinkle. If you have some cookie cutters, instead of cutting into the classic triangles, you could use them to create fun shapes.

How to make fairy bread

5. Mini Pita Pizzas

Pita Pizza

Make your own Mini Pita Pizzas and top with the kids favourite toppings – we all know pineapple DOES go on pizza!

You could get a range of toppings ready and get the kids to make their own to taste. Top tip – good old tomato sauce might be more popular for the tomato layer as it’s a bit sweeter. Also the kids will find it easier to spread the tomato layer with the back of a teaspoon rather than a knife.

How to make mini pita pizzas

6. Jelly Boats

Jelly Boats

This one requires a bit of pre-planning, but the novelty factor is well worth it!

These Jelly Boats are made  in orange halves, with any flavour of jelly you like. Cut the oranges vertically not horizontally as this makes getting the flesh out with a spoon easier (use the spoon with the thinnest edge).

You can make a delicious orange cake with the leftover flesh.

How to make Jelly Boats

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author robynWritten by Robyn

Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments. 

Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”

Grab And Go Snacks For Kids

Posted on by Robyn

Busy lives and hungry, growing kids mean healthy snacks and lunches that will provide energy and nutrition are a necessity.

Whether it’s snack time at home or the kids are heading to school, sport, our just out and about, a quick and nutritious snack will give them a boost, and keep the hangries away.

We take a look at some of the most convenient, healthy, and full-of-goodness snacks and lunchbox fillers that you can have ready for your kids when they need a nutritious snack.

Storage made simple with MAGBAG

MAGBAG

MAGBAG are brilliantly simple, reusable storage bags with a magnetic seal that snaps shut effortlessly every time – no fiddly zips or clips required. That magnetic closure locks in freshness, making them perfect for storing snacks, leftovers, lunch ingredients, or bulk food while camping, at the beach or in your pantry. They’re freezer- and fridge-ready, and fold flat for easy packing, so you can save space, reduce single-use plastics, and stay organised all summer long.

Shop now

Grab what’s in the fridge!

If you have some leftover chicken and a few salad ingredients, Thai Chicken Rice Paper Rolls are quick and easy. Simply soak the rice paper in water for 30 seconds, fill and roll. Even easier is a Rice Noodle Salad – make a big batch and it will keep for a day or two.

Leftover meat can be popped in a wholemeal roll or sliced bread along with lettuce, cheese, a slice of tomato, and grated carrot for a tasty and filling sandwich.

If you have some old bread rolls, some bacon and cheese you can make some Cheese and Bacon Rolls ready to eat in just 15 minutes.

Pastry is your friend if you have left over chilli con carne or bolognaise  – simply pop the leftover meat in a pastry circle, brush with egg and seal and into the oven. Add some cheese for extra protein.

Dinner double-ups

If you have a few spare minutes while you’re cooking dinner keep the oven hot and make a batch of Bacon and Egg Mini Pies. For a less crumbly option you could make Bacon and Egg Cups. These can be eaten cold and are packed with protein.

If you’re cooking baked beans, reserve some for Mini Baked Bean Muffins as a great savoury lunchbox option with lots of protein. While you’re chopping the veg for dinner, pop some aside for Mini Capsicum Quiches. They’re simple to make thanks to a bread base instead of pastry. Add some chopped spinach for added vitamins and minerals.

Easy favourites

Banana Bread is another easy snack and this recipe uses wholemeal flour for added fibre. You can reduce the amount of sugar if you like too. It will keep in the fridge for ages, or you could slice and pop in a container with small pieces of baking paper between them to make them free flow, then pop in the freezer.

For a wheat-free snack, Toasted Quinoa and Oat Bars are super tasty and can be stored in the fridge for more than a week. Add a drizzle of chocolate for extra appeal.

Other easy snacks on the go include

  • hard boiled eggs
  • Nut-free Trail Mix
  • beans
  • carrot sticks
  • celery sticks
  • salami
  • crackers and cheese
  • cherry tomatoes

If the kids like to dip their veggie sticks, add a small pottle of hummus.

This article was written by Kidspot 

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author robynWritten by Robyn

Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments. 

Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”

Go Potty – How To Make Colour Herb Pots

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content provided by Resene

Give old pots a new lease on life with funky colour. Then fill them with herbs to add extra zest to your family’s meals!

You will need:

Go potty - how to make colour herb pots for kids

Step 1:

Clean pots if necessary first. Seal with Resene Waterborne Aquapel inside and out. Use different sized brushes to paint stripes around the pots. Leave a gap between the colours (you’ll paint this next) so that they don’t run together. Let the first coat of paint dry.

Go potty - how to make colour herb pots for kids

Step 2:

Finish painting the stripes round the pots, and let them dry. Draw a design onto the stripes with pen or pencil, using simple shapes like crosses, bars, hearts, spots, wiggly lines, vertical stripes, checks, diamonds, circles or ovals.

Go potty - how to make colour herb pots for kids

Step 3:

Paint the designs onto the pots. Choose contrasting colours for extra impact. Let the paint dry.

Go potty - how to make colour herb pots for kids

Step 4:

Pop a stone over the hole in the bottom of each pot, then half fill with potting mix. Remove the herbs from their containers and loosen the earth round the roots. Place them in the pots to decide what looks good with what. A mix of heights, colours and leaf shape works well. Once you’ve decided, place them in and fill in the gaps with more potting mix, so each plant is well supported. Water gently and place in a sunny spot outside.

For more projects and colour inspiration visit Resene.co.nz.

Article provided by Resene. Styling and words: Helena Dunn. Pictures: Mark Heaslip

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Make Your Own Aceball Court

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content provided by Resene

Bounce to it and prepare to be challenged with this fast action game. Get step by step instructions on how to paint your own Aceball court.

You will need:

To get the look: If you want to further protect the paintwork apply two coats of Resene Multishield+ satin (now Resene Concrete Clear), allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

How to play

Number of players: 9.

Additional equipment: Large ball.

How to play: Each player stands in one of the numbered squares. The player in the Ace square is the first to serve by bouncing the ball in their own square and hitting it with both hands facing down so that it bounces into any other square – the player in this square then has to hit it in the same way so that it bounces into another player’s square.

The rally continues until a player is out. A player is out if they miss the ball, hit the ball on a line or outside the marked area, fail to hit the ball with both hands, hit a ball that has bounced in someone else’s square, or hit the ball without it first bouncing in their own square. If a player is out, they move back to square 1 and all other players move up a square. The object of the game is to get to the Ace square (and stay there as long as possible!).

More ideas for play: If numbers are limited, simply use the four squares in the top right hand corner to play a mini version of the game.

Aceball

Step 1:

Using a tape measure, mark out a square measuring 4.2m x 4.2m and mask off with duct tape.

Aceball

Step 2:

Apply one coat of Resene Concrete Primer and allow to dry for two hours.

Aceball

Step 3:

Using a wide paintbrush, mark out the inner and outer edges of the nine squares (each measuring approx 1 .4m x 1 .4m) with Resene Trinidad, as shown. Leave for two hours to dry. Apply a second coat and remove the duct tape before the paint dries.

Aceball

Step 4:

Use a roller and tray to fill in the outer squares with two coats of Resene Trinidad, as shown, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Aceball

Step 5:

Mask off the alternate squares with masking tape, as shown, and apply one coat of Resene Curious Blue. Allow two hours to dry.

Aceball

Step 6:

Apply a second coat of Resene Curious Blue and remove the masking tape before the paint dries.

Aceball

Step 7:

Using an artists’ brush, paint in the odd numbers on the blue squares with Resene Trinidad. Allow to dry for two hours and apply a second coat.

Aceball

Step 8:

Using an artists’ brush, paint in the even numbers on the orange squares with Resene Curious Blue, and paint ‘Ace!’ on the central square. Allow to dry for two hours and apply a second coat. Wait 48 hours before playing the game

For more projects and colour inspiration visit Resene.co.nz.

Article provided by Resene -Resene Ground Games with Mark Rayner – Project 03

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Keeping Your Kids Occupied At Home During Lockdown

Posted on by Robyn

Spending time at home at lockdown Level 4 can be a challenging time for families, especially when parents and caregivers are trying to work from home (or as an essential worker), supervise online learning, as well as parent.

We’ve brought together a range of at home activities that will help keep your children occupied with little or no supervision, and that can be done using things you are likely to have on hand at home.

Plenty of printables

If you have a printer, some scissors, glue or sticky tape, and coloured pens and pencils, we have a great range of fun activities for all ages.

For the younger ones there are dot to dot activities, plus hundreds of colouring pages and other printable activities. If you don’t have a printer, you could make your own dot to dot, and find some spot the difference activities to complete on the screen.

For older children, a more complex printable is making a pop-up paper village.

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Crafty kids

Even if your craft supplies only consist of some paper, scissors, sticky tape, and the contents of your recycling bin (plus some lids), we’ve found fun crafts for your kids to make at home.

Egg cartons can be used in endless ways including for an educational maths game, a cute turtle, or you could use the egg shells to make a mosaic.

Add in some empty cardboard rolls to make an octopus garden, or use some milk bottle lids to make wheels on an egg carton bus.

If you have a balloon, an egg carton, and some paper, a paper mache piggy bank is a great time filler. If you don’t have glue, you can make some using just flour and water.

For kids who like challenges, we have ten of the best paper plane designs for them to try.

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Experimental science

If your kids have done the good old vinegar and baking soda volcano trick they could extend that to make a bag explode or inflate a balloon!

Vinegar has other magical qualities – did you know you can use it to clean coins, knot bones together, and make plastic from milk?

Some experiments that take a bit longer include making stalactites, or crystals and colouring celery. A variation on the celery experiment is the walking water experiment. You could also set older kids the task of working out how to play a simple song on a bottle flute.

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What are the at home activities that keep your kids most occupied?

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Hattie + Olaf by Frida Nilsson | Kids Book Review

Posted on by Robyn

Sponsored content 

The audacious and captivating Hattie and her best friend Linda navigate the social politics of their first school years in this funny, illustrated chapter book.

Hattie wants a horse more than anything. Her friend Ellen has three ponies. When Hattie’s father finally comes home with a horse trailer, Hattie is ecstatic. But instead of a horse, out stomps Olaf – a donkey. Now Hattie not only has horse fever, she suddenly catches lying sickness as well.

Inclined to emotional storms and exaggeration – always with the best intentions – Hattie is an audacious and captivating character. This warm-hearted chapter book channels the spirit of Pippi Longstocking.

Watch the video about Hattie + Olaf below ⬇️

Read what our Kids Reviewer thought about the book and grab your own copy ⬇️

Hattie really wants a horse but instead her father comes home with a grumpy donkey. To fit in with the horse girls at school, Hattie tells a big lie. She says she has three white horses at home. Hattie has to keep lying about the horses but then she grows to love Olaf the donkey. Hattie + Olaf is a funny novel, and will appeal to girls aged eight or older whose parents won’t buy them a horse, and to those who have horses too. I loved this book. It reminded me of Pippi Longstocking.

Grab your copy of Hattie + Olaf by Frida Nilsson now!

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