Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Communication skills are strongly linked to the development of reading and writing. The better a child's conversational skills now, the easier it will be for them to understand what they read later on.

Find out about how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 5. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 5 years. Use the language that you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Find out about how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 4. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 4 years. Use the language that you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Find out about how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 3. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 3 years. Use the language that you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Hearing is a critical part of a child's communication development so it's important to identify any loss as early as possible.

Rewards can really motivate a child to improve their behaviour. They work best when given soon after the behaviour, not days later.

Tamariki (children) with restless legs may feel discomfort in their legs when trying to fall asleep. If your child has restless legs, find out how to manage it.

Night terrors are scary to watch but usually harmless to tamariki (children). The most important thing to do when your child has a night terror is to keep your child safe.

If your child feels anxious about sleep or staying in their bedroom, the 'checking method' might help.

If your child is anxious about going to sleep, the ‘camping out’ method may help. Sit on a chair or camp bed next to your child’s bed and gradually move further away as your child learns to fall asleep on their own.

For tamariki (children) who find it hard to stay in their bedroom or who call out, a bedtime pass may help.

Putting tamariki (children) to bed when they are not tired can lead to bedtime struggles. For some tamariki, it helps to start with a bedtime close to when they usually fall asleep, then gradually make it earlier.

Vitamin D helps our bodies use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Pēpi (babies) and tamariki (children) can choke on food at any age but those under 5 are at higher risk, and especially tamariki and pēpi under 3. Watch a video about ways to reduce the choking risk.

Your child's hearing and vision will be discussed with you at various Well Child checks before your child turns 4 years of age. If your child does have a hearing or vision problem, finding it early is good for their learning and development.

Show your child that you are interested in what they say, not how they say it. Help your child learn how to say tricky sounds by repeating them correctly as naturally as possible.