Surviving Reception & Flexi-Schooling | Parents discuss the first year of school

How has the first year at primary school been for our 4-year-old and for us as parents? A two-part double episode: half on surviving reception, and half on our part-time homeschooling experience... This is the one where Emma and Elliot chat about school admin, making friends, after-school clubs, the challenges and progress, tips for surviving, the mums WhatsApp group, and stories from the first year of reception. In particular, how we've coped, and how Lilly has coped.Plus sharing our approach to Fridays, where we do part-time homeschooling (part-time before Compulsory School Age in the UK) and the activities we've done so far on our Flexi-schooling day off. How we've found it, what we've done, and whether we made the right decision? Have our plans for the future changed?Check out our previous episodes mentioned in the conversation:Starting Primary School | Parents discuss the transition from nursery to receptionPart-Time School | Parents discuss Flexi-Schooling Plans...Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

Parenting "tangents" episode with bonus baby & toddler stories - Join Emma and Elliot for this special compilation of outtakes, full of all the bits and bobs that got cut out, and a peek behind the scenes at all the bloopers and interruptions. Our 5th episode of this type, and usually a fan-favourite! Includes expanded stories about parenthood that we couldn't fit into the main episodes. A little compilation and look back at our conversations during 2026 so far... Enjoy!Clips come from the following episodes:- Walking, Talking, Learning | Parents discuss milestones with babies & toddlers- Mini Adventures | Parents discuss days out with toddlers- Are we raising our children Christian? | Parents discuss modelling our faith- Good Cop, Bad Cop | Parents discuss being the fun one vs strict one- A day in the life with two under 5s | Parents discuss daily routines- Wet Nappies to Dry Pants | Parents discuss potty training with under 2sWatch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on Instagramwww.instagram.com/dontwakethebaby_podcastFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebabyJoin our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy conversation. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

Toilet Training from birth? Hear about our current progress with our baby weeing and pooing on the potty... This is the one where Emma and Elliot chat about their second journey with Elimination Communication - the challenges, setbacks, and differences this time around with a second child, from potty training their firstborn! This isn't to show off, but to share a more unusual approach and experience. Lilly was out of nappies by 1 year old, did we manage the same with Lola? We share recommendations for products that worked (and didn't work) for us, and share some toddler fail stories from listeners... Listen to our previous episode on this topic here:Potty Training for Babies | Parents discuss Elimination Communicationhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2221235/episodes/14463956(Season 2, episode 10)Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

A collection of our favourite "Parenting Achievements" from series 1-4 of our parenting podcast! A bonus episode packed full of funny stories and relatable moments for parents with babies and toddlers. Starting from when Lilly was 2, through to the birth of our second child, and up until Lilly turned 4 - take a journey with us through memory lane... Emma and Elliot chat about tantrums, parenting struggles, things that have gone wrong, funny moments with toddlers, the realities of having a newborn, accidents, relatable worries, those "we've all been there" situations, and more. Showcasing that we're not perfect parents!These short stories are from the opening segment of every episode. Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

What did we do yesterday with our little ones? This is the one where Emma and Elliot chat about the specifics of an average day juggling small children, toddlers, life and work. A snapshot in time: we describe in detail the mundane aspects of everyday life, currently with two daughters aged 1 and 4 - morning routines, school run, messy eating, weekly rhythms, nursery, pick up, bath time, going to bed, and more. An insight into our lives as parents. What does an average day look like for you?Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

Are you the fun parent or the default parent? Roles, routines, and playing favourites with under 5s... This is the one where Emma and Elliot (Mum and Dad to a 1yr old and 4yr old) chat about their parenting styles with babies and toddlers. The classic "good cop, bad cop" dynamic in parenting; if we need it and if we expected to embody those roles. How it shows up when you have little ones, and why you always seem to end up as the favourite. From clingy mummy phases, being rejected as dad, and the default parent load, to setting boundaries, rules, and keeping routines on track, we share our experiences of trying to find the balance.Are there challenges to being the fun one? Are there any positives to being the strict one? Is it possible to swap roles? Do our parenting styles today reflect childhood influences from our own upbringings? Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

An honest conversation about faith & spirituality as parents of babies & toddlers. This is the one where Emma and Elliot, as a husband and wife partnership, chat about our beliefs, our culture, our values, and how we navigate passing those onto our children. Which parts of our faith & spirituality do we hope to nurture with our kids, and how does it influence our parenting with babies and toddlers? We talk about church, god, other faiths, our upbringings, changing perspectives, storytelling, the bible, and how we are trying to pass on our values, even from a young age. We hope it's an accessible conversation, even if you're not a Christian or person of faith. We've tried to offer a balance of being positive and critical; hopeful and honest; embracing past experiences, change, doubt and uncertainty. Disclaimer: Obviously, we do go into some faith conversation in this episode. If that's not your thing, then that's absolutely fine. We don't speak for any church; it's just our perspective as Christians with a very liberal faith. We're not here to tell you what to believe! You do you. We're not experts or here to offer advice, just normal parents bumbling through, sharing our story and thoughts on this topic. Do you resonate?Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

Weekends & daytrips with two under 5s? Things to do on a rainy day in Yorkshire... This is the one where Emma and Elliot chat about their experiences of going on little outings with their 1 and 4 year old daughters. Including... The challenges of entertaining toddlers, kid-friendly attractions, packing the endless bags to juggling nap times, cafes, winter activities, and the difference between rural and city adventures. We vent our frustrations. Have a laugh. Share stories. And talk about how it is different now from when we were growing up. Plus, reveal all our (not so secret!) recommendations for places we visit in the Harrogate & North Yorkshire area.There's no expert advice or unique perspectives here! Just normal parents chatting about the details of everyday life. Do you resonate?Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

The adorable return of Lilly on the podcast! A very special episode where Emma and Elliot chat with their 4-year-old daughter, interviewing her about current interests and updates since she was last on the podcast 5 months ago. Including: Sisters, School, Disney, Lego, Wicked, a Christmas Panto, K-Pop Demon Hunters and much more... Discover the side story (pretend play happening in the background) of a toy doggy who refuses to eat his medicine! Recorded during Half Term, whilst Lilly was off school, with lots of laughs as she was in a silly mood! Apologies, there is some microphone scuffling, thumps, and slightly reduced audio quality in places compared to normal.Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail

Development progression in young children? Cognitive, social-emotional, language, and motor skills. This is the one where Emma and Elliot chat about developmental milestones, from smiling, sitting, crawling, waving, babbling, eating, social skills & playing to reading, writing and school academic progress. The influence of social media and the comparison to others. Worry over being behind. The difference between boys and girls. The experience of having siblings or being an only child. The impact of pregnancy, illness, or other factors on developmental progress in under 5s.We're not experts or here to offer advice, just normal parents bumbling through, sharing our story and thoughts on this topic. Do you resonate?Watch along with our arts & crafts on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@dontwakethebaby_podcastEngage with us directly on InstagramFind resources, info, links, and more on our website:www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/Join our WhatsApp community of listeners here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/communityUnwind on sleepless nights to a wholesome mix of parenting stories, quirky humour, and cosy crafting. We’re not here to provide answers but to share our experiences, explore how parenting has changed, and build an online community of parents for mutual support.A fun, honest and unscripted conversation between Emma and Elliot on non-judgemental parenting and millennial-based topics, as we relax on an evening attempting an artistic or creative activity. We are a project in partnership with The Kairos Movement and supported by The Methodist Church, of which The Kairos Movement is a partSend us Fan Mail