Christmas holidays are exciting for all but can be very stressful for mums, who seem to be the busiest out of the whole family during this hectic time. Family catch-ups and traditions, school functions and gifts, the list goes on!

As much as many parents understand that processed sugar isn’t ideal for their kids, they are often tempted to use it as a reward for good behaviour or to motivate kids to do something (for example, during potty training). So how much sugar is too much?

If you’re a mama from a hectic household filled with active kids, you probably don’t get to fully relax and spend time doing what you like and enjoy that often. We often hear that busy life gets in the way or mamas are dedicated to their kids so much, they forget about looking after their needs and wants.

Many parents understand that too much screen time isn’t good for their children and that being outdoors or playing games with their siblings or friends is more beneficial.

Besides the fact that fresh air is good for health and playing with others contributes to communication skills and imagination, there is another significant reason why parents should be limiting screen time for their kids - eye health!

Cooking or baking with the kids. Some parents love and embrace it on a daily basis; for others, even the thought of it makes you cringe.

If we embrace the mess, even occasionally, getting kids involved in the kitchen can be a lovely bonding experience - not to mention educational.

As spring approaches in New Zealand, many rural schools and communities have preparations well underway for local and regional Calf Club/Ag Day events.

Little lambs, calves, goats and chickens will be hand-reared with love in the hopes of winning colourful ribbons to grace children's bedroom walls.

Every pregnancy is special no matter whether it’s first or second or third. The key here is to give your unborn baby the best start in life as they start their development journey in utero.

The first and foremost advice is to keep healthy, which means not to drink or smoke (or be around smoke), exercise regularly, avoid stress and take vitamins suitable for pregnant women. Below we go in more detail about it.

Lockdowns around the world didn't just mean a new experience for us all, but also a reset button for both nature and humanity.

A crisis can also be seen as an opportunity, as humans learn from mistakes. Many of us found their weaknesses and strengths during the lockdown, what made us tick and what didn't, so we can now take this knowledge into the next chapter of the challenging 2020 and hopefully make it better.

Many families have animals, and many don’t. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with owning a pet, but what are the benefits of kids growing up with a pet?

Keeping children active while stuck indoors whether due to lockdown, illness or wet and stormy weather - doesn't have to mean turning your lounge suite into a trampoline park.

Movement is essential for developing brains, and children are constantly learning through exploration and play, often, this learning is their gross motor skills. It is a great idea to let your children explore their limits and capabilities, as well as the health benefits of movement and exercise.

With the recent New Zealand lockdown and uncertain times ahead, many people have been forced to get used to a new environment. For families with younger children, it means having energetic kids at home 24/7 trying to keep them entertained and the whole family sane.

Good personal hygiene doesn’t just make you feel great, but also helps your body function better and can keep nasty germs and viruses away. Children must develop healthy hygiene habits like cleaning their skin, brushing their teeth and hair from the early days.

If you have a picky eater in your family, this shouldn’t be a reason for panic. There are many reasons why a child can be a picky eater. Things like their personality, sensitivity to specific tastes and smells, copying parents at eating times, social influences or power struggle can all be factors.

Once your baby turns four weeks old, midwives and plunket nurses recommend starting tummy time each day. Tummy time is when you put your baby on their tummy for anywhere from a few minutes to 15 mins and more (increasing it as you go) while you’re watching them.

December is usually a hectic month for families with young children. However, it’s also the most exciting and magical time of the year.

​Many families adopt Christmas traditions of their own and make the celebrations memorable and fun for the kids. Do you have a family tradition that you do within your family?

Many pregnant mums who already have a child at home are very aware of the change in the family dynamic which is about to happen in their household. Introducing a new baby into the family with a child can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.

We all know that brushing teeth is important from an early age; however, many kids don’t particularly like or remember doing it regularly. So it’s parents’ responsibility to teach their children how to brush teeth properly and help make it into a life-long habit.

Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is very well known for its immune-boosting benefits.

It is undoubtedly the first go-to vitamin during those times we fight a cold. We’ve all loaded up on it when feeling under the weather at some stage in our lives. Naturally, you can find this vitamin in citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, kiwis, berries and broccoli. Many people also use additional supplements to help increase their Vitamin C intake.

We often hear about colostrum and how nutritious and beneficial it is to kids’ immune system.

​From the moment children are born, mothers are told about the milky fluid that comes before their breast milk called colostrum, which is full of antibodies essential for their baby’s immune system and growth. But what about colostrum in supplements for children?

A balanced and healthy diet full of nutritional value will contribute to your child's quality of life and set them for a healthier adulthood.

Appropriate nutrition will also support your child's developing body and mind, as well as help, develop good habits they will take into their adulthood.