Children's health

Children with parents who smoke are much more likely to get sick, be admitted to hospital, and start smoking when they... read more about Advice for smokers who don’t want to harm their children»

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Children with asthma can usually exercise and do the same things their friends do, as long as you manage the condition... read more about Asthma in children»

Kidshealth has heaps of articles and resources on all sorts of children’s health topics, including (but not limited... read more about Being healthy from birth through the teen years»

What you eat can make a huge difference to your health and wellbeing. Choosing healthy foods can lower your risk of... read more about Eating for good health»

Childhood injuries are common. Thankfully most of these are minor. But every year in New Zealand children are badly... read more about Eight of the most common ways kids get injured»

The Well Child Tamariki Ora programme is a series of health visits and support that are free to all families for... read more about Find a Well Child Tamariki Ora provider in Canterbury»

Looking after your child’s baby teeth can help ensure their adult teeth come through healthy and strong. The Ministry... read more about Five steps to protect your child’s smile»

Feeling… blah? We've all been there! As well as sapping our energy levels, feeling a bit flat can start to take... read more about Five ways to wellbeing»

The Ministry of Health funds free hearing checks for children. If your child has a hearing loss, finding it early is... read more about Free hearing checks»

As the saying goes, you can sit a child at the table, but you can’t force them to eat. But you can encourage fussy or... read more about Fussy kids? Here’s how to get them eating»

Dental care is free up until you turn 18, so get it while you still can! The Community Dental Service provides free... read more about Get free dentist visits while you can»

There are people and organisations that can help you. If you, or a child you know, needs help to cope with a family... read more about Help for children whose parents have a mental illness or addiction»

If your child's sleep is disturbed at night, it makes it harder for them to function during the day. It also raises the... read more about Help your children get a good night’s sleep. Here’s how»

All kids and teenagers in New Zealand can get free dental care up until their 18th birthday. The Ministry of Health has... read more about Here’s how to get free dentist visits»

It’s important to enrol your child with a general practice at birth or as soon as possible after that. Being enrolled... read more about How to find a doctor for your child»

The B4 School Check is the final Well Child Tamariki Ora free health and development check for your 4-year-old. If your... read more about How to get a free B4 School Check for your child»

All kids in New Zealand get free dental care up until their 18th birthday. Adults can also be eligible for funded... read more about How to get free dentist visits»

It's important to talk to your children about puberty. Try to start talking to them before signs of puberty develop so... read more about How to talk to your kids about puberty»

Immunisation is the best way to protect yourself and others from infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health funds a... read more about Immunisations: Get them now, get them free»

The evidence is clear: Immunisation is safe. It protects your child from some serious diseases and helps to stop those... read more about Is immunisation safe for children?»

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ramon Pink shares some advice about keeping yourself safe during... read more about Keeping yourself safe during COVID-19»

Watch a Ministry of Health video about three whānau with kids under five years old, and find the answers to common... read more about Kids’ health: The first five years»

It’s easy to keep your smile looking good. The Ministry of Health has put together some facts and simple tips on how... read more about Maintain that killer smile»

Serious allergies can threaten your child’s life. Starting school can be a particularly scary time for a parent,... read more about My child has a serious allergy. What can I do?»

There are some simple things you can do to reduce your chances of getting the Big C. It’s up to you how many of these... read more about Reduce your cancer risk»

Make your GP team your first call 24/7. Unless it’s an emergency (when you should call 111), always make your general... read more about Safe swimming water in Christchurch and Canterbury»

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides support and services to people with lasting impairments after... read more about Serious injuries and disabilities»

These videos pull together useful, practical information about managing anxiety for parents.  They are based on the content of Te Whatu Ora Waitaha's Parenting Anxious Children Education Sessions.

read more Supporting Young People with Anxiety – Strategies for Parents»

You and your child will need lots of help and support in the first few years. Find out about health services for your... read more about The most important health services for you and your child»

Excessive sugar is one of the biggest risks to our health, and fizzy drinks are jam-packed with the stuff. Find out... read more about The truth about fizzy drinks»

Yes. Physical activity is an essential part of life for all children and young people. Children usually want to play... read more about Wait, kids need MORE exercise than adults?»

ACC RugbySmart’s “Warm up, strength & conditioning” programmes are designed to reduce injuries among male and... read more about Warm up plans for rugby players»

Well Child Tamariki Ora is a free programme providing a series of free health visits and support for families with... read more about What is Well Child Tamariki Ora?»

Bullying happens in all age groups, but it is not a normal part of growing up. You should feel safe at school, at home,... read more about What to do when your child is being bullied»

All children under 14 years old can get free doctors’ visits and cheaper or free prescriptions. To take advantage of... read more about Zero doctor fees for under-14s»