PREP: 25 minutes COOK: 35 minutes Ingredients 2 ½ cups chocolate chips 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt 3 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Method In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 cups of the chocolate chips and the butter. Microwave on high in 20-second intervals, stirring thoroughly between intervals, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Scrape the chocolate mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted wit ..read more

PREP: 20 minutes COOK: 1 hour 25 minutes Ingredients Cooking spray 16 lasagna noodles 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup chopped shallots 1 teaspoon minced garlic 4 cups heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 1½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 6 pieces 4 cups baby spinach 2 cups cooked shredded chicken Fresh chives or parsley, for garnish (optional) Method Preheat the oven to 190°C. Spray a large rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a ..read more

How can we nurture emotional intelligence in our tamariki? Yvonne Walus shares some ideas. What is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is the skill to identify, understand, and manage your own emotions. It’s also the ability to recognise the emotions in other people. Emotional intelligence is super important in all aspects of personal development and interpersonal relationships. There are several key components of emotional intelligence: Self-awareness is the ability to understand what you’re feeling, why you’re feeling that way, and how your emotions are affecting those ..read more

With winter approaching, many parents are looking for ways to help their children avoid and recover from the cycles of sniffs and snuffles. New Zealand scientists have formulated a new, naturally derived solution specially adapted for children to help boost immune systems and winter wellness Developed in Dunedin, Zestt Breathe+ Jnr Liquid contains a potent combination of natural ingredients. Anthocyanins obtained from organic blackcurrants and boysenberries are scientifically shown to support healthy breathing. These anthocyanins are strong antioxidants and help to promote cell repair, too. C ..read more

Coming to terms with your child’s rare disorder diagnosis can be a challenging process. Our friends at Rare Disorders New Zealand (raredisorders.org.nz) have some practical and compassionate advice. It is surprisingly common to have a rare disorder – in New Zealand it is estimated that 300,000 people live with a rare disorder, with half of those affected being children. If you have recently received a diagnosis of your child’s rare disorder, you may feel completely overwhelmed. Adjusting to a new way of life and coping with ongoing uncertainty can feel like an emotional roller coaster ride. B ..read more

If your child has missed a vaccination, it’s okay – they can catch up for free on most immunisations. Our friends at Te Whatu Ora explain what to do. Sometimes life gets busy and things get in the way, which means you miss a scheduled vaccination. Although getting immunised on time is recommended for the best protection, it’s easy to catch up. Catch-up immunisations are free for all tamariki under 18 years old. Lots of catch-up adult immunisations are also free. Just contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider and make a plan. HOW TO CHECK IF A VACCINATION HAS BEEN MISSED To find out i ..read more

It’s important to teach our children road safety from early on, explains Tiffany Brown. As adults we may feel terrified at the thought of road accidents and mishaps involving our children, but it’s important we try not to impart any sense of panic around the topic of road safety. This may disturb and distress children and make it more difficult for them to learn safe practices around roads and cars. Always use a calm, reassuring tone of voice; you’re looking for a balance between frightening them and making sure they understand vehicles can be unpredictable, and roads and driveways are not pl ..read more

You’ve probably become apathetic to the word “mindfulness”, but did you know “learning to focus” can have a profound impact on your child’s learning? Here’s how. When people think of mindfulness and its benefits, they tend to think of reduced stress and improved wellbeing. However, mindfulness also has great benefits for school and work performance, because being able to focus our attention helps us really concentrate on what we are doing. As a consequence, mindfulness helps both young and older people to learn – at school and at work – and to learn well and enjoyably. To help our children an ..read more

You may have seen an “open day” advertised for your local ECE or school, and wondered what that’s all about. Yvonne Walus explains why it’s a good idea to go along to an open day. New Zealand offers three education pathways for students: The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), the International Baccalaureate (IB), and the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). By understanding the key features, strengths, and weaknesses of each system, parents can make informed decisions about their child’s education. NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (NCEA) NCEA is the ..read more

Lots of kids are “late talkers”. Here’s when to take action, explains Suzanne Meldrum, lecturer in speech pathology at Edith Cowan University. As a speech pathologist, university lecturer and parent of young children, I often get asked a version of the following: “My child isn’t talking yet. Is that a problem? And is it my fault?” There is never a simple “yes” or “no” response, as more information is always needed. But by the end of the conversation, I nearly always end up saying, “It’s worth looking into.” The “wait-and-see” approach for late talkers – those who seem to be lagging behind the ..read more