Routines for pre-teens — how do parents establish healthy habits that stick?

Gareth and Toby speak with Greg and Sophie Sharples about the importance of family routines for children approaching adolescence. They discuss how routines evolve as children grow, the challenges parents face in maintaining consistency, and practical strategies for mornings, mealtimes, and screen time. The conversation also emphasizes the significance of family connection through shared activities and meals, and the value of grace and adaptability when routines don’t go as planned.

Greg and Sophie share personal reflections on what they would do differently, offering insight for parents seeking to help pre-teens develop responsibility, independence, and confidence while maintaining strong family bonds.

We’d love to hear from you — email hello@famalampod.com or DM us on Instagram @famalampod.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please like, share, comment, and subscribe!

About Famalam:

Famalam is a Christian family & parenting podcast hosted by Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy, and Toby Robinson. We explore Christian parenting, raising kids, faith at home, discipleship, family challenges, communication, boundaries, discipline, tech and screens, mental wellbeing, friendships, church engagement, Christmas traditions, and real-life family dynamics.

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @famalampod | Email: hello@famalampod.com

Routines — we all need them, but how do families build rhythms that actually work?

In this episode, Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy and Lucy dive into the importance of establishing healthy family routines and the impact these daily habits have on children’s character, responsibility, and long-term wellbeing. They explore how parents can model the behaviours they hope their children will adopt, why flexibility matters as kids grow, and how family meals, chores, and shared rhythms strengthen connection and communication.

The conversation highlights the role of routines in helping children develop confidence, understand expectations, and contribute meaningfully to family life. Gareth and Lucy share practical ideas, personal reflections, and the small wins that keep routines moving forward — even when life gets messy.

We’d love to hear from you — email hello@famalampod.com or DM us on Instagram @famalampod.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please like, share, comment, and subscribe!

About Famalam:

Famalam is a Christian family & parenting podcast hosted by Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy, and Toby Robinson. We explore Christian parenting, raising kids, faith at home, discipleship, family challenges, communication, boundaries, discipline, tech and screens, mental wellbeing, friendships, church engagement, Christmas traditions, and real-life family dynamics.

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @famalampod | Email: hello@famalampod.com

New Year, new start — but what does that really look like for families?

Gareth, Lizzy, and Daisy are joined by author and speaker Jo Saxton to explore how parents can help children say goodbye to the past year and step into the New Year with honesty, hope, and faith. Together they reflect on family life, modelling repentance, growth, and change, and creating space for kids to talk openly about grief, loss, and transition.

Jo shares thoughtful insight on the difference between New Year optimism and Christian hope, helping parents guide their kids through endings and beginnings without pressure to perform, but with grace, gratitude, and trust in God’s work in their lives.

For more from Jo Saxton:

• Website: josaxton.com
• Books: https://www.josaxton.com/books
• Instagram / Threads: @josaxton
• A Cup of Jo Newsletter / Substack: https://substack.com/@josaxton

Additional Hello Goodbye resources:

• Website: https://www.leadstoriesmedia.com/hellogoodbye
• Podcast series: https://leadstoriespodcast.com (or wherever you get your podcasts)

This episode will encourage Christian parents to think carefully about how their own habits, language, and faith practices shape how their children understand change, resilience, and spiritual growth.

We’d love to hear from you — email hello@famalampod.com or DM us on Instagram @famalampod.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please like, share, comment, and subscribe!

About Famalam:

Famalam is a Christian family & parenting podcast hosted by Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy, and Toby Robinson. We explore Christian parenting, raising kids, faith at home, discipleship, family challenges, communication, boundaries, discipline, tech and screens, mental wellbeing, friendships, church engagement, Christmas traditions, and real-life family dynamics.

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @famalampod | Email: hello@famalampod.com

In this festive episode, the Robinson family talk openly about Christmas stress and managing expectations during the busy holiday season. They share personal reflections on their own Christmas experiences, including the joy of opening stockings, decorating cakes, and laughing together, as well as the pressures families often feel at this time of year.

The conversation highlights the importance of family, joy, and shared traditions, encouraging listeners to focus on connection rather than perfection. This episode offers reassurance and practical perspective for families wanting to create meaningful, memory-making Christmas moments without the overwhelm.

We’d love to hear from you — email hello@famalampod.com or DM us on Instagram @famalampod.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please like, share, comment, and subscribe!

About Famalam:

Famalam is a Christian family & parenting podcast hosted by Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy, and Toby Robinson. We explore Christian parenting, raising kids, faith at home, discipleship, family challenges, communication, boundaries, discipline, tech and screens, mental wellbeing, friendships, church engagement, Christmas traditions, and real-life family dynamics.

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @famalampod | Email: hello@famalampod.com

In this episode of the Famalam podcast, Gareth and Daisy interview Mal and Seannah Calladine on a Daddy–Daughter Double Date, exploring the significance of family traditions at Christmas. Together they discuss how traditions help shape family identity, support faith-based discipleship, and create lasting memories for children.

The conversation explores ways to engage children in Christmas traditions, incorporate cultural elements, and balance spiritual and non-spiritual practices. Mal and Seannah share their own family traditions, the role of food and celebration, and how to keep traditions relevant as children grow older.

This episode encourages families to create meaningful Christmas traditions that centre on the story of Jesus, foster unity, and strengthen family connections.

Watch the Calladine Christmas Eve video via https://youtu.be/H99up4ulzPA?

We’d love to hear from you — email hello@famalampod.com or DM us on Instagram @famalampod.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please like, share, comment, and subscribe!

About Famalam:

Famalam is a Christian family & parenting podcast hosted by Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy, and Toby Robinson. We explore Christian parenting, raising kids, faith at home, discipleship, family challenges, communication, boundaries, discipline, tech and screens, mental wellbeing, friendships, church engagement, Christmas traditions, and real-life family dynamics.

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @famalampod | Email: hello@famalampod.com

Today is a special episode which is all five of us being interviewed by the lovely Lydia Bennett from Premier Christian Radio, discussing the background to the podcast.

If you like our behind the scenes videos on Instagram then think of this as an episode full of conversation, talking about the whys and wherefores behind the Famalam podcast.

The conversation highlights the importance of open dialogue within families, the dynamics of family roles, and the shared experiences that shape their lives

As ever if you enjoy the podcast we’d love for you to like, share, comment to help support others in building their family lives around Jesus.

In this episode, Gareth and Daisy engage conversation with Lindsay Melluish, a family therapist, about boundaries in parenting. They explore the nuances of discipline, the fears parents face in setting boundaries, and the importance of communication and listening in building respect within family relationships.

Lindsay shares practical tips for parents on how to maintain control and calm in the home, emphasizing the need for flexibility and collaboration in parenting styles. The discussion also highlights the importance of modeling behavior and the role of logical consequences in effective discipline.

How do families get boundaries (or discipline!) right? In this episode, Gareth, Lizzy, Daisy, Lucy and Toby discuss their experiences of discipline, boundaries, and emotional growth throughout their childhood and teenage years. They reflect on the importance of communication, the role of consequences, and the balance between discipline and connection.

We mention the article from https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/more-and-more-parents-are-sending-timeouts-to-the-naughty-corner-for-good/news-story/f0c25127f7a16f1a416aec5466a19772?