Throwing a party for your toddler or preschooler? Planning and preparation are key. Once you’ve organised the date of the party, the venue, theme and invitations, it’s time to start thinking about the party day itself. Here are 9 tips on party day planning to help ensure your little one’s party is as stress-free as possible and goes off without a hitch.

Kids parties can be stressful enough without any mishaps to spoil the special day. So here are some tips on how to avoid the most common kids party disasters so you don’t end up hosting the worst party ever!

AUCKLAND: The Albany Tennis Park in Auckland is the No. 1 tennis facility in New Zealand. Kids can come along to learn and develop tennis skills with us from a young age in our Court Kidz classes. These classes are designed especially for toddlers and preschoolers and introduce children to tennis through games and fun activities.

Baby Eden is an online baby and toddler boutique. Home to all things beautiful for your baby and toddler. From children’s toys and babies' accessories, to well-known brands and quality garments from around the world that have been made with your precious little ones in mind.

At Barefoot Kids, we open children’s hearts, minds and worlds. Our products inspire children to be kind, caring, resilient, compassionate, open-minded individuals who can think creatively, critically, and globally. Give the gift that lasts a lifetime when you sign up to our Barefoot Kids Box subscription. It’s a fantastic way to build a home library that grows with your children.

Teach your kids some basic cooking and baking skills, and with a little patience, you could soon have your very own budding Master Chef in the family! Kids love to help out in the kitchen and being able to cook is a great skill for anyone to have.

Your kids may beg and beg for a family pet for Christmas, their birthday or just because, but it is a major commitment which needs some thought beforehand, particularly around the responsibility, suitability and cost of owning one. Here are some things to think about before buying a pet.

Take your kids artwork to the next level with bubble wrap roller painting! Bubble wrap roller painting is easy to do at home and a great way for young kids to practice colour recognition too.

BAY OF PLENTY: Looking for children’s party entertainment in Tauranga and throughout the Bay of Plenty? Nana Gaye will come to your place and entertain your children, creating a special birthday party for them to remember. She’ll keep them entertained with fun party games, dancing, magic, stories and surprises! Her party entertainment is tailored to suit the ages of the children, and if you have a party theme, she can create activities around that too.

Have you ever bought a gift for your baby, toddler or preschooler and realised that it was not suited to their age? Are you not sure what to buy for them this Christmas or do you want to buy something that is not only fun, but is also educational? Here are some Christmas gift ideas that will suit your child’s age, hold their interest and encourage learning through play.

NORTH SHORE, AUCKLAND: Where the love for the Arts starts! At Dance Space, we teach the love for dance at a young age. Pre-School dance at Dance Space is a passion for our teachers and it would be a delight to teach your little one! Our Specialized Toddler and Pre-School Dance Curriculum is designed to be educational, age appropriate, fun, exciting and entertaining.

Planning a dinosaur party for your toddler or preschooler? Try these quick and easy tips and create a fun dinosaur themed party at home for young kids. Great party ideas from our friends at Pixie Party Supplies.

So when should kids first visit the dentist? Sooner than you may think! Find out at what age you should take your kids to the dentist, choosing a dentist and things you can expect from their first visit.

It may be re-assuring for those with new babies to hear that when it comes to your baby’s first Christmas, expensive gifts are not necessary! Many parents feel the pressure to buy the latest and most costly toys, but with everyone managing tighter budgets these days, parents are looking for cheaper alternatives.

AUCKLAND: Looking for something different to do! GravityNZ offers two trampoline parks based in prime Auckland locations, Manukau and Mt Wellington, covered in wall to wall tramps for the whole family to enjoy. With dodgeball, basketball hoops, foam pits, an Olympic trampoline and mornings dedicated to tots and toddlers it has everything the family could want. So turn the TV off and get bouncing!

Are you new to modern cloth nappies or thinking of using them on your baby, but not sure where to start or how many to buy?Use this helpful guide to modern cloth nappies which looks at how many reusable pocket nappies you’ll need, the cost of disposable nappies compared to cloth nappies and when to start using cloth nappies.

Small kids never sit still! In between mealtimes fuel them up with healthy snacks to give them extra energy. Introducing healthy snacks can sometimes be difficult, but persevere. Gradually try new things to see what works.

We take a look at children’s play choices and what we can do as parents and caregivers to help change gender stereotypes and encourage learning without bias.

Kid friendly cafes and restaurant suggestions and reviews from parents around NZ that'll make eating out that little bit easier with your own kids. We'd love to hear about your kids friendly cafe & restaurant suggestions too.

AUCKLAND: Kids Party Magic is your go-to for the best kids party entertainers in town. We’ll keep your kids entertained with an amazing comedy magic show, colourful balloon animals, and plenty of laughs.

Who said kids homemade paint brushes had to be boring! There are so many things you can use to make your own kids paint brushes with things you already have at home, or from your local $2 shop or craft store. Homemade paint brushes using clothes pegs and other materials allow kids to experiment and the opportunity to discover different textures and fun designs.

All kids love playing party games! So here are some tips and suggestions on fun-packed indoor and outdoor games which are sure to be a big hit.

Looking for kids party food ideas? Check out these recipes that are cheap, quick and easy to make. From pizza shapes and sandwiches to fruit skewers, fairy bread, chocolate crackles, racing cars, jelly faces, lucky dips and strawberry mice. They’re sure to go down a treat!

Kids party food needn’t cost the earth or take too long to make. So here are some tips on what you can do and what you can make with a little creativity and a limited budget. From the number of birthday party guests you invite to ensuring you have just enough food, plus ideas on budget conscious party food you can buy or make at home.