All genders

Some questions and answers to help you decide whether your child needs a referral to the Ministry of Education for their communication, speech or language development.

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.

Find out how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 2. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 2 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 18 months. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 18 months. Use the language that you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Here is some information about how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 1. Below are some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 1 year. 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.

Many parents think about using complementary or alternative medicine approaches for their tamariki (children). There are some important things to think about using these approaches for your child.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for tamariki (children) with cerebral palsy is unproven and not recommended.

Scientists are developing stem cell therapies for the replacement or repair of damaged tissues such as nerves, muscle and other parts of the body. Doctors and scientists are researching stem cell therapy and looking at the best ways to use stem cells in cerebral palsy.  

Even with the best parents in the world, young people can still get into trouble. Most teenagers will experiment with alcohol and getting it wrong is not uncommon. 

Parties are part of the fun in growing up and a good way for rangatahi (young people) to be able to mix with others. Plans and boundaries help to keep your teenager safer.

Look for opportunities to talk about drugs with your teenager. Talk with your teens about ways they can so no to alcohol or other drugs, without them losing face with their friends. Be informed about drugs.

Alcohol is our most common recreational drug. Those under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking, and not drinking in this age group is especially important.