All About Kids Expo 2013

Less than a month to go until the All About Kids Expo 2013!

Don’t miss out on this year’s event on 10 March at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington from 9am – 4pm.

If you haven’t attended before, the All About Kids Expo is THE one stop shopping destination for parents/expectant parents. With over 80 carefully selected stall holders under the one roof, 2 cafes, a chill out zone, lots of entertainment for the kids, the infamous goodie bags and huge prizes up for grabs, this is the one kids’ related event you do not want to miss!

Now in its third year, the event is expected to attract over 7000 attendees - making this the biggest child related event in Wellington in 2013!

You can buy your tickets on the day at the door - $8 per adult, under 12’s free. We’re also giving away 2 tickets each to 5 very lucky winners who enter the Under 5s competition before 28 February! More ...

It’s the perfect event for the whole family to attend. The All About Kids team has thought of everything for both parents and kids! Including:

• Dedicated baby changing and baby feeding facilities
• Aisles wide enough to push your prams around (although front/back packs and the use of the secure pram park are encouraged)
• Expo only specials and deals and;
• The chance to have your photo taken for the Little Treasures Magazine!

Under 5s is also very excited to be sponsoring the main Cafe in the Expo Hall area this year with delicious food and drinks catering for the whole family. There’s entertainment for the kids too throughout the day with storytelling, cute and cuddly animals, face painting, a crafts corner and Springfree Trampolines!

The Expo would not be complete without the infamous Goodie Bags filled with great samples from the exhibitors. There’s 1000 to giveaway throughout the day.

All Expo attendees will also have the chance to win the huge Expo Grand Prize – so make sure you enter your details on the day to go in the draw!

This year’s All About Kids Expo is shaping up to be the best ever! Be sure to head along and remember to tell your friends.

For more information about the event, visit the All About Kids Expo website and join them on Facebook to keep up to date with Expo developments, pre-Expo specials and giveaways – including the chance to win 1 years supply of Treasure’s Nappies!

Kids Scooters - buying guide and safety tips

There’s no denying that small kids love learning how to ride a scooter! Starting with a three-wheeled scooter and building up to the first two-wheeled scooter.

Before you rush out and buy their first scooter, check out our buying guide and safety tips to ensure your kids stay safe whilst out scootering.

What should I be looking for when buying my kids first scooter:

• Check that the scooter you’re buying is age-appropriate for your little one. Don’t buy one meant for older kids hoping they’ll soon grow into it.
• Scooters with 3 wheels are a great way to start your little one off from a balance perspective, before they progress onto the 2 wheel kind when they older.
• Look for a light weight design, a scooter that’s not too heavy for your child to push themselves or pick up if they fall over.
• A scooter with adjustable height handlebars will let the scooter grow with your toddler.
• Make sure the scooter is easy to assemble when you get home, if it’s not assembled already at the shop or online.
• Buy a helmet at the same time as you buy their scooter and insist they wear it every time they go out for a scoot. Head injuries are one of the worst childhood injuries. Knee and elbow pads are an optional extra.

Some useful scooter safety tips to help kids on their way:

• Start them off on flat ground and slowly progress to them scooting up and down slopes and hills.
• Teach them to be street-wise and to ensure that if they’re scooting along the pavement that they get into the habit of stopping at driveways and kerbs to ensure no traffic is coming their way.
• To help prevent injuries, encourage your toddler to wear sturdy shoes whilst they’re scooting, in case they kick the pavement and stub their toes.
• If you can, dress your little one in brightly coloured clothes before they head off scooting, so that they’re visible to others walking on the pavement and to motorists.
• Regularly check that the scooter's brakes are working and that the tyres are firm. Many scooter companies offer replacement parts if required.

  
Article written by the team at www.under5s.co.nz. Check out some of our other fun activities for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
 

Cooking for pre-schoolers

Do you have the next Masterchef on your hands? 

Kids love to help out in the kitchen. Start by teaching your little ones easy cooking tasks to help build up their confidence and create an enjoyment that will last them a life time.

Let them have a go at some of these easy tasks:

• Whisking eggs in a bowl
• Sieving flour
• Rubbing in butter and flour for a crumble or pastry
• Peeling vegetables with a vegetable peeler
• Mashing potatoes with a potato masher
• Mashing bananas with the back of a fork
• Kneading and rolling out dough using a rolling pin
• Grating cheese
• Decorating fairy cakes or biscuits
• Cutting soft fruit such as a banana with a non sharp knife
• Cutting pastry or dough shapes out using cookie cutters
• Crushing garlic in a garlic press
• Crushing biscuits for bases in a plastic bag with a rolling pin
• Cracking eggs into a bowl
• Buttering a slice of bread

Article written by the team at www.under5s.co.nz. Check out the cooking & baking products & accessories from IQ Toys.

Image source: Dreamstime

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Article written by the team at Under 5s www.under5s.co.nz


 

Baby Clothes Size Chart

Buying clothes for babies isn't always as straightforward as you might think! 

Use our baby clothing size chart to help you buy the right sized clothes for your little ones, especially when you're buying online.

It can often be a bit of a mind field with each brand and each country appearing to have its own size guidelines which are not always converted into NZ sizes. One size doesn’t necessarily fit all!

Perhaps the best indicator to help buy the correct size clothing is to go on your baby’s height, rather than their weight or age. If in doubt, it’s always best to go a size bigger than you think you need. Babies grow fast!

Baby clothing size chart

Age	Size	Weight	Height
Prem	00000	Up to 2.5kg	Up to 47cm
Newborn	0000	Up to 4.0kg	47cm - 55cm
Up to 3 months	000	Up to 6.0kg	55cm - 60cm
Up to 6 months	00	Up to 8.0kg	60cm - 70cm
Up to 9 months	0	Up to 10.0kg	70cm - 75cm
1 year	1	Up to 12.0kg	84cm
2 years	2	Up to 14.0kg	92cm

 
Don't forget to also check out: our guide to Measuring Kids Feet and Fitting First Shoes


Article written by the team at Under 5s www.under5s.co.nz



 
  

Gorgi.co.nz - Garage Sale

Gorgi.co.nz is the 'Home of All Things Gorgeous'when it comes to babies and kids bedding and bedroom accessories.

Check out their Garage Sale with up to 70% off while stocks last. It's a chance for you to get your hands on a piece of Gorgi that might soon be history. 

They're clearing stock to make room for new collections coming soon. For some items, this is the end fabric so those pieces won't ever be remade! Sale ends 8 February 2013.

Take a look at the Gorgi baby and kids range too featuring bedding and accessories in contemporary, creative and vintage designs using high quality woven, printed and plain fabrics. 

A wide range of their interior products are designed to work beautifully together, including fabric for purchase by the metre for soft furnishings such as drapes and roman blinds - and a made-to-measure service for customers who require a particular item to be designed and made for them.

February competitions - out now!

It's hard to believe it's February already, but our latest competitions are out now and ready to go go go! 

This month we've got some great prizes on our Competitions page from:

• All About Kids Expo 2013
• Bee My Baby
• Birth Power
• Duck Twaddle
• Ecobubs
• Hilton Brown Swimming
• Mini Sports Club
• Mybaby
• Punk Baby Clothing
• SleepDrops
• Yum Yum Kids

Subscribe to the Under 5s newsletter and be in to WIN! Remember you can enter more than one competition during the month. Tell your friends too!













Article compiled by the team at Under 5s www.under5s.co.nz