The school holidays are over, and it’s time for children and their parents to brush up on dental health routines.

Spanking kids can lead to developmental damage in the long run and may lower IQ, says a Canadian study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The number of parents who deliberately choose not to immunise their children is steadily dropping.

A study by Newcastle University has found that attitudes to food and fitness are largely fixed by the time individuals reach the age of 10.

Fonterra has announced that it will run a pilot scheme next year called 'Milk for Kiwis' that will supply milk to Northland schools. If successful, the scheme will be introduced around the country.

An Australian study has found that kids with fathers that smoke have 15 per cent more risk of developing leukemia.

Rewarding kids may encourage them to eat more vegetables, says a new study of 3- and 4-year-olds. Verbal praise, however, was not found to work so well.

A new study has concluded that there is no more risk than usual for women to undergo gallbladder and appendix surgery when they are pregnant.

The Meningococcal C Vaccination Programme enters its final week, more than 30,000 children and youth across Northland have been vaccinated against this serious disease.

A premature baby girl, the size of an adult hand, was born in the back of an ambulance to Kaeo woman Kataraina Hape.

Feeding your baby nutritional elements such as iron, iodine, Omega 3 and vitamin D can increase their intelligence, say scientists from Australia and New Zealand.

Santa Claus’ elves have been busy learning a special skill this Christmas – how to write letters to children in braille and large print!

Children from a lower socio-economic area in Wellington, Wainuiomata, are 11 times more likely to be exposed to cigarette smoking in cars than in the wealthier suburb of Karori, according to recent research.

A study by the University of Helsinki has revealed that very premature babies score lower in memory, attention and mental skills as adults.

A study published in the British Medical Journal has found that there is a higher risk of complications for first-time mothers who have a home birth.

Six Hamilton schoolgirls from Fairfield College were taken to hospital after taking ecstasy pills at school yesterday.

A study published in the Lancet has found that 8 per cent of teenagers harm themselves by cutting, burning or other methods. The study suggests that while self-harm is common in the teenage years, it usually ceases by late adolescence without any intervention.

US paediatricians are recommending that children between the ages of 9 and 11 have their cholesterol checked to improve heart health and decrease the risk of future heart disease.

Plunket is urging people to have their child car restraints checked before the busy Christmas holiday season.