Family Times’ feature articles cover a variety of hot topics related to family living and parenting. From health and education to parenting tips and tough-to-tackle subjects, we aim to bring you up-to-date, relevant, informative and interesting articles.
We all know that our little ones don’t arrive with an instruction booklet, so it’s always beneficial to have the help of experts and the advice of peers from time to time. From bedtime antics and toddler tantrums through to talking back preteens, we research and source current, topical parenting issues for our parenting features.
Fitness for kids works if there is fun attached. Fitness doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive or stressful. Often, all that is needed is an outdoor safe area, a game or something to throw, ride on or chase. You can make up games or play movement games such as tag. Think about going for a …
Dads have some unique parenting challenges in today’s society. Last issue we gave some practical tips on being a single dad, and this issue we offer some practical tips for dads in stepfamilies. Dads in stepfamilies Being a stepfather can be difficult, especially if the children are older when you join the family. You may …
A spirited child is one that has a lively, creative, keen, eager and strong personality. Although these children are overflowing with fantastic qualities, they are often labelled as being demanding, stubborn, inflexible, whiny and loud. These traits are often seen as unfavourable for those that expect children to be still, wait, sit, be quiet and, …
Want to be a better parent? Knowing what your current parenting style is will help you identify your needed areas for improvement. Promoting the self-discipline and self-esteem of the children in your family often requires an emotional juggling act by you as a parent. It is not easy to be firm and demanding with a …
How can two or three children in the same family be so different? They are brought up in the same broad social environment, under a similar set of rules and an identical family value system. They also come from the same genetic pool yet they can be so different in personality, interests and achievement. While …
Founder of Triple P (evidence-based) positive parenting programme professor Matt Sanders talks about how to avoid five basic parenting traps. Do you frequently feel exasperated, ashamed, or embarrassed by your child’s behaviour? Do you find that your child often irritates you? Do you have to threaten and shout to get your child to cooperate? Do …
Picture this: you’re in your thirties and in a loving relationship with a wonderful partner. You’ve just bought a new house and run a successful business. Life is good but for one thing: you have a five-year-old stepson. You and your partner share custody, but you are struggling to form a bond with him and …
Encouraging children to get out and enjoy being active can be a real challenge for parents when they’re competing with television, the Playstation, and children who are just so darn exhausted after a big day at school. Our reporter Nikki Beecroft spoke with three well known New Zealanders about their thoughts on family fitness and …
Raising boys and girls differently, but equally, is not always easy. Here are a few tips to raising balanced, healthy sons and daughters. Girls 1) Emphasise intelligence, hard work, independence, sensitivity, and perseverance in your daughters. Encourage them in their “dressing up” and tell them they are beautiful, but de-emphasise the importance of appearance in …
In 2010 we may be raising our children in a much more modern society, where gender expectations are a lot more fluid and relaxed than they were 50, or even 20, years ago. It might be more commonplace for little girls to favour track pants over frilly dresses and for little boys to join their …
