The holiday season can be full of magic—but it can also feel loud, rushed, and overwhelming. Between end-of-year commitments, family expectations, and children riding the emotional highs (and lows) of the season, it’s easy for parents to feel stretched thin.

In this episode, Staying Grounded as a Parent in the Busy Holiday Season, we explore practical, compassionate ways to stay calm, connected, and centred—even when everything around you feels “extra.” We talk about managing expectations, supporting big feelings, protecting your energy, and finding small moments of presence amid the chaos.

Whether you’re navigating tired children, disrupted routines, or your own holiday stress, this conversation offers gentle strategies to help you respond rather than react—so you can move through the season with more ease, clarity, and connection.

Because staying grounded isn’t about doing more—it’s about coming back to what matters most.

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Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

Tired of “new year, new you” pressure? We’re choosing a gentler path. Instead of chasing resolutions that turn into pass/fail tests, we slow down and reflect on what actually worked in 2025. We start by celebrating tiny, meaningful wins—like a bedtime that flowed or a peaceful car ride—and use those clues to build a calmer rhythm. From there, we get curious about who our kids are becoming, naming the traits that surfaced this year so we can respond to the child we have, not an ideal in our heads.

We also turn the spotlight back on ourselves and acknowledge what we did well as parents. Maybe it was staying steady during a tantrum, protecting a helpful routine, or finding a moment of fun on a tough night. That self-credit is not fluff; it’s fuel. With that confidence, we choose what to carry forward into 2026—habits and strategies that already help—and we consciously leave behind what feels heavy, like overscheduling or guilt spirals. Letting go makes space for a lighter, more connected family life.

To land the plane, we set one to three gentle intentions for the year ahead: calmer mornings, clearer boundaries, or more focused connection. We pair each intention with support—books, podcasts, professionals, or simply a trusted friend—so change feels doable, not daunting. The result is a practical, compassionate reset that starts with awareness and grows through small, repeatable actions. If you’re ready to parent with less pressure and more presence, hit play, take a breath, and begin the year with curiosity. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a softer start, and leave a quick review to help more parents find us.

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Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

Ever feel like you’re refereeing more than parenting? We open the door on sibling rivalry in the early years and show how tiny shifts—pausing before you step in, coaching instead of rescuing, and building short daily one-on-one moments—transform constant clashes into real-life lessons in empathy, patience, and repair. Drawing on a lived story of twins, including the domino effects after an injury, we unpack the hidden drivers behind bickering: competition for attention, developmental stages, family changes, and clashing temperaments.

Across this conversation, we get practical. You’ll hear simple, repeatable tactics to fill emotional tanks with five to ten focused minutes, two or three times a day. We share specific praise scripts that build competence and reduce future fights, and we talk about setting active family values—kind words, looking after each other, repairing after mistakes—that guide choices when tempers flare. We also map common trigger windows like the after-school slump and pre-dinner chaos, using HALT thinking to prevent explosions with snacks, fresh air, duplicate toys, and calmer transitions.

Instead of playing judge and jury, we model the language of coaching: I see you’re both upset, how can we share this so everyone gets a turn, what can we try differently. When safety is an issue, we reset without shaming and return to teaching. Over time, kids learn to problem solve, negotiate, and reconnect quickly, proving that relationships can bend and not break. If you’re ready to swap refereeing for teaching and turn rivalry into a classroom for resilience, this one’s for you.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s in the trenches, and leave a quick review to tell us what strategy you’ll try first.

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Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

The moment a child starts insisting on “only Mum” or “only Dad” can upend a home. We dive into the real reasons behind parental preference and unpack why it’s less about rejection and more about predictability and safety. Drawing on our own story of twins who once demanded one parent for every cuddle, settle, and midnight wake, we map the emotions on both sides: the exhaustion of the preferred parent and the sting felt by the sidelined one.

From there, we move into solutions that actually work in busy family life. You’ll hear how to use low-stress swaps to ease new patterns into place, why social stories reduce guesswork for toddlers, and how consistent teamwork between parents helps protests fade over time. We share simple validation lines that cool big feelings, plus a daily ten-minute one-on-one routine for each parent that quietly rebuilds trust and flexibility. It’s practical, gentle, and designed for the 7 pm crunch when theory alone isn’t enough.

Along the way we include poll results from our community, showing how common this phase truly is, and we offer sober, compassionate advice for both roles: how the preferred parent can protect energy by offloading chores, and how the other parent can stay engaged without taking the behaviour personally. The big takeaway is hopeful: preference is a season, not a sentence. With steady boundaries, warm connection, and shared routines, kids expand their circle of safety and both parents find their footing again. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it today, and leave a quick review to help more families find the show.

Send us a text

Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

What if the smartest thing we can do for our kids is to do a little less? We unpack how free play fuels deep learning, confidence, and resilience in the first five years—and why stepping back can be the most powerful support of all.

I share twin-tested stories that show how different play styles lead to rich growth, even without adult direction. We explore what free play looks like at each stage—from infants exploring textures and movement, to toddlers testing limits with sand and water, to preschoolers building worlds with rules, roles, and big ideas. Along the way, we connect the dots with the Circle of Security approach: kids venture further when they feel a secure base close by. That doesn’t mean leaving them to it; it means staying present, observing, and letting them lead.

You’ll walk away with simple, high-impact strategies: protect unstructured time, curate a few open-ended materials (yes, the humble cabbage box is magic), create a zone where mess equals learning, reduce background noise and screens, and acknowledge effort over outcomes. We also dig into dispositional learning—curiosity, perseverance, creativity, and independence—and how these lifelong strengths grow best during self-directed play. Expect practical tips, warm encouragement, and a reminder that you don’t need to micro-manage to raise capable, confident kids.

If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs permission to put the Pinterest board down. Subscribe for more grounded parenting ideas, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us your favourite messy free play moment—we’d love to hear it.

Send us a text

Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

Ever wonder why children typically say "Dad" before "Mum"? It's not favouritism—the 'D' sound is simply easier to master! This fascinating tidbit is just one of many insights shared as we explore the remarkable journey of communication and language development in children's first five years.

The COVID years created unprecedented challenges for our youngest learners, with many children now entering school with diminished communication abilities. But there's good news: supporting your child's language development doesn't require expensive apps or flashcards. The most powerful tool is already in your possession—your voice and presence during everyday moments.

We unpack how language development follows common patterns while honouring each child's unique timeline. From those precious first babbles to the explosion of vocabulary in the preschool years (including the endless "why" questions!), every interaction literally builds neural connections in your child's developing brain. This "serve and return" process—where children initiate and adults respond—creates the foundation for lifelong learning and connection.

For bilingual families, research confirms that maintaining your native tongue at home provides children with cognitive advantages and cultural connections. And for all parents, simple strategies like narrating daily activities, reading aloud slowly, following your child's interests, and creating quiet spaces for undistracted communication can significantly boost language development.

The most powerful language-building moments happen during ordinary times—washing apples, reading bedtime stories, or chatting in the car. These unhurried conversations weave the invisible threads that strengthen your child's communication network. Listen now to discover how you can support your child's language journey through the power of everyday interactions. Share your experiences or questions with us—we'd love to hear your child's language development story!

Send us a text

Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

Remember your first day of school? That mix of excitement, fear, and confusion? As parents, we often worry about preparing our children for this milestone, focusing heavily on academic skills. But what if I told you that recognising letters and writing their name might be the least important aspects of school readiness?

Through my professional experience and personal journey with my twins, I've discovered that true school readiness revolves around social and emotional development. When I speak with new entrant teachers, they consistently emphasise the importance of self-help skills, emotional regulation, and social capabilities over academic knowledge. Can your child manage the bathroom independently? Do they know how to ask for help when their banana goes mushy in their lunchbox? Can they wait their turn or try again when something's challenging? These practical skills form the foundation for successful school experiences.

In this episode, I share why I chose to send my twins to school at six rather than five, despite outside appearances suggesting they were "ready." I explore why play remains the most powerful vehicle for developing school readiness skills and provide practical strategies for supporting your child's development at home. You'll learn about the five key areas to focus on: self-help skills, social capabilities, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence-building. Remember, school readiness isn't a checklist to complete—it's about nurturing your whole child and recognizing that you have both the time and tools to support their journey. When we focus on emotional groundwork rather than academic pressure, our children truly thrive.

Send us a text

Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.

Autonomy isn't just a fancy concept—it's the foundation of raising children who feel confident, capable, and safe in who they are. This thoughtful exploration delves into why allowing children moments of independence and appropriate risk-taking is crucial for their development.

What happens when we step back instead of jumping in? When we allow the mess, embrace the slowness, and let our children try things for themselves? These seemingly small moments become powerful building blocks for our children's sense of self and their place in the world. Are they people who can make decisions and trust themselves, or are they always waiting to be told what to do?

The episode breaks down five practical approaches parents can implement immediately: offering choices with limits, allowing time for children to try things themselves (even when it's slower), embracing natural consequences, praising the process rather than the outcome, and creating opportunities for safe risk-taking. Each strategy is explained with relatable examples for different age groups, from babies to preschoolers.

For parents who sometimes struggle with letting go, there's a reassuring reminder that supporting autonomy isn't about getting it right all the time—it's about doing what you can when you can, and recognizing those small moments where stepping back might be more valuable than stepping in. After all, we're not raising perfectly obedient children; we're raising humans who will need to think, choose, fall down, and get back up throughout their lives. Join our parenting community at Caboodle if you'd like to continue the conversation about nurturing your child's independence.

Send us a text

Welcome to the Kebudel Parent Podcast—your no-nonsense, fun-filled guide to parenting, straight from the experts who really get kids (and parents too!).

Brought to you by experienced early childhood educators, we’re here to dish out practical advice, laugh at the messiness of parenting, and share our insider knowledge to help you thrive. From decoding tantrums to sparking your child’s love of learning, we cover it all with a healthy dose of humor and zero judgment.

Why listen? Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with expert-backed insights, a little sass, and a whole lot of support. Let’s navigate this wild ride together—one episode at a time.