Wiggle Talk - A Podcast For Parents

You’re tired, busy and usually being climbed on by a small child - so where exactly is exercise supposed to fit?

Big Strong John joins Simon and Lachy to share how becoming a dad changed his routine, why a workout doesn’t need to take an hour and the small changes that can make moving more achievable. He also puts the boys through a five-minute workout you can try at home - no gym or equipment required.

HOSTS
Simon ...

They only want to help. So how have you ended up refolding the washing, rewiping the bench and cleaning flour off the floor?

Simon, Lachy, Caterina and John compare notes on toddlers who want in on absolutely everything - and how they keep them involved without completely losing the plot.

To submit a question for the ‘Dear Wiggles’ segment, email us at podcast@thewiggles.com.au or send us a DM on Instagram.

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The idea of a family pet is lovely. The reality depends very much on the pet, the timing and the family bringing it home.

Veterinarian, TV presenter and much-loved pet expert Dr Katrina Warren joins Simon and Lachy, with her border collie Chilli, to unpack what life with pets and young children can really look like - including the things families often don’t consider until the animal is already part of the household.

HOSTS

Few things test a parent quite like hearing those dreaded words: “My tummy hurts.” So how do you prepare for a bug you cannot entirely prevent?

When your child’s speech is difficult to understand or seems behind other children their age, it can be hard to know whether to give it time or seek support. Speech pathologist and occupational therapist Kate Broderick joins Simon and Lachy to unpack the milestones parents should know, the signs worth paying attention to and why early support can make such a difference.

Alfie loves musical theatre - but being one of the only boys in the room is starting to get to him.

Lachy walks into the studio with an idea, and Simon is trying to work out whether it’s brilliant, ridiculous, or a bit of both.

What happens when your toddler is falling apart, your partner is away, and you’re the only parent in the room?

Watching our kids struggle can bring out every protective instinct we have.

Fitness looks a little different once kids come along.

Before this is a conversation about grief, it’s a conversation about love.

Bedtime is meant to be the calm part of the day. So why does it suddenly involve one more book, one more cuddle, one more drink, the other teddy, the blanket fixed, and a very specific sock situation?

The iPad is quiet. The YouTube video looks harmless. The game seems age-appropriate. But what is your child actually learning online?

What do you do when your child starts lying about the small stuff - brushing teeth, making mess, or sneaking tiny treasures home from school? This week on Dear Wiggles, Simon and Lachy talk about those everyday moments when children test the truth, and how to call it out without turning it into a big shame spiral.

Few things land harder than your child coming home and saying, “No one played with me today.”

When a four-year-old discovers old black-and-white photos of Grandma and Grandpa, it sparks the big question: did the world used to be black and white? This week on Dear Wiggles, Simon and Lachy talk childhood photos, grandparents who were once little, TV you couldn’t pause, landline phones, DVD players, Game Boys, Blockbuster trips and the very strange feeling of realising your own childhood now looks ancient to your childre...

Sibling fights can start over anything - a toy, a look, a birthday, or someone breathing too loudly in the back seat. Returning Wiggle Talk favourite Gen Muir, parenting educator and mum of four boys, joins Simon and Lachy to unpack why kids so often fight to pull parents in, the moments that do need a firm boundary, and why “go and check on them” can be more powerful than “say sorry.”

Your toddler can hear a snack packet open from the other side of the house… but the second you say “stop”, “come here” or “we need to go”, suddenly it’s like you’re speaking another language. This week on Dear Wiggles, John and Caterina join Simon and Lachy to talk toddler selective understanding - why little kids seem to hear everything except the thing you actually need them ...

Boys aren’t born less emotional - so when do they start learning to hide it? In this episode of Wiggle Talk, Simon and Lachy are joined by clinical psychologist and men’s mental health expert Dr Zac Seidler for a powerful conversation about raising boys who are kind, confident and emotionally connected.