All posts by: KidsLink
Assessing learning needs
When an assessor is working with a child, they are looking for pieces of the puzzle that don't fit. They are looking for patterns - they are looking for WHY... Judith Alexander -
"I can't do it!"
"I can't do it!" ... and even when your child finally does do it, you will still hear the declaration "that doesn't mean I really can do it." It doesn’t seem to help to tell them
Diving into Dyscalculia
It’s been described as the number one cause of maths weakness that you’ve never heard of. Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability we know very little about yet it affects
How can we all get along together?
"How can we all get along together?" This phrase will resonate with many parents, children and young adults, possibly followed by feelings of frustration and hopelessness. Over
Why is arts therapy such an effective way to help children to heal from illness, trauma and emotional difficulties?
Arts therapy can help children and teens to express feelings and concerns that are sometimes difficult to communicate in words. It offers ways for young people to access their
Reading is an Absolute Foundation in Education & Life
A couple of weeks ago I covered "Letting Children be Children" A childhood should be full of wonder. One of the great access points to that wonder is books/stories. There is
Is my child being bullied - or bullying others?
It’s one of a parent’s worst nightmares. You discover that your child is being bullied – or bullying others. If only you had known sooner, maybe you could have nipped it in the
Why do Kiwis love a perfect smile?
Once upon a time, braces were referred to as “train tracks” or “metal mouth”. Now more than ever, braces are popular, with children and teens frequently wanting braces! Parents are
Letting Children be Children
I am just a touch over 50 now but I will never forget my standard 1 (Year 3 for modern types) teacher, in our open-plan classroom (MLE for modern types) informing us, with fear
Help for Kids 'local sponsors helping local kids'
'Help for Kids' Here at KidsLink, we are so proud of our 'Help for Kids' programme. By the end of 2016, we had been able to help 142 children access $45,000 worth of
Cotton Wool vs. Let 'em Rip!
Cotton wool vs. let 'em rip - is there a healthy balance? Tip number one: Let children be bored! So often we hear children say "I'm bored" and we leap in with a load of
Creating confident kids
Two of the best in the business share their top tips for creating confident kids! Dean Kent "small white guy who tried his best" It's all about habits - develop good ones!
How to engage boys into learning
WOW - what an inspirational afternoon! We were totally inspired and in fact completely blown away by the ideas and results shared with us by John, Stu and Michael! Messages
Dyslexia – not just a reading and writing problem
Most people regard dyslexia as just a reading and writing problem, and do not realise that just as importantly dyslexia can adversely affect a child’s feeling of well-being and
Becoming your own Superhero
Over the years of teaching Martial Arts there have been many children who have started martial arts classes wanting to be Kung-fu Pandas, Ninja Turtles, colourful Power Rangers and
What makes a confident reader?
Have you ever seen a child who is able to read a passage of text aloud only to be stumped when it comes to explaining what they have just read? A child’s reading development is a
Spatial Thinking – trainable skills?
Do all children think spatially and why do some children appear to have more developed skills in this area than others? “Spatial thinking concerns the locations of objects, their
Heads, shoulders, knees and toes - our top tips
How children's physical needs can impact their learning and behaviour Our hot tips Amanda Smith - Unlocking Learning Amanda's top 3 take home tips are: Language is the
Vitamins – how they can help AD(H)D
Dopamine in AD(H)D Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in regulating motor activity, attention, inhibition, behaviour, cognition, and reward mechanisms. People with
Unlock your teen's potential - our top tips!
Here are our top tips! Sue Blair - Personality Dynamics Here are Sue's top tips! It is important to understand the different personalities in your home. A preference for
Dys and That - our top tips!
Dys and That Praise for our Dys and That event "Thursday night was very interesting for us as teachers. We had a insight into services offered in our local area and came away
Anxiety and Change - our hot tips!
It is often said that the only constant in life is change! And sometimes with change comes anxiety. We asked 3 of our KidsLink experts to provide their hot tips for helping
Overcoming Maths Anxiety
It can cripple a child’s capacity to do maths and cause a lifelong fear of numbers. Maths anxiety is a well-known psychological condition, especially common among those with
The happy family dynamic
The Happy Family Dynamic - remembering to support each member of the family When we are caring for a child with challenging behavioural issues the whole family unit is impacted.
The Lumps and Bumps of Family Blending
A quick google search shows that the likelihood of living in a blended family is increasing. In fact according to a 60 minutes documentary, a third of all children in New Zealand
Working with our stress and anger as parents
When faced with the stresses of family life we can sometimes feel overwhelmed and alone. It can feel like we really have not had sufficient training or preparation for being a
You’re not the boss of me! Children who want to be in charge
“You’re not the boss of me!” Is this a phrase that sounds familiar to you? It is often hurled at a parent, by a miniature rebel, with little fists on hips, body leaning forward,
Osteopathy - An Overview
The body is a complex network of communicating cells driven by an even more complex mechanism of communicating pathways with the PHYSICAL “orchestrator” being “the brain”. The
Help!! My child isn’t learning
More time spent in the car, less walking around, and infant props such as exersaucers and jolly jumpers all mean less floor time and less movement. Physical awareness and body
