If you have young children it’s really good to meet other parents. You can support each other and make friendships. Plunket is an organisation that looks after babies and small children. Parents Centres support families and have courses for couples who are expecting a baby. In many towns there are New Mothers groups where you can meet other mothers with babies and small children.

In New Zealand there are lots of opportunities for young children to mix with other children and learn social skills before they reach school age. Many children go to playcentre or kindergarten from about the age of three until they go to school at the age of five. Or they can go to a kohanga reo, which is like kindergarten but uses the Maori language.

 

You’ll be very welcome if you want to help at a playcentre or kindergarten and it’s a good way to meet other parents.