Christmas is almost here — and while everyone else is planning outfits and presents, you’re worrying about something else entirely: how your child is going to cope.

The noise.
The travel.
The broken routines.
The big family expectations.

In this episode of DAM Parenting, host Eva is joined by child psychologist Faye to talk about what’s actually happening inside a child’s brain and body when Christmas becomes overwhelming — and how parents can support regulation without trying to control every moment.

Together, we explore:

• Why routine changes and overstimulation can feel so big for children

• How parental anxiety and guilt can quietly affect our kids

• What travel, sleep disruption, and long days do to emotional regulation

• How to handle family pressure when your child needs space

• Simple, realistic tools to help children stay calm and supported during the holidays

This conversation isn’t about creating a perfect Christmas.
It’s about understanding overwhelm, protecting emotional safety, and creating small pockets of calm — whether you’re travelling, hosting, or just trying to get through the season.

If Christmas feels like a lot this year, this episode is for you.

How do children really learn to speak — especially when they’re growing up with more than one language?

In this episode of Dam Parenting, host Eva sits down with our resident linguist Mimi from⁠ Growing up Multilingual⁠ to explore the surprisingly powerful role of play in multilingual language development. From quiet colouring moments to spontaneous storytelling, this conversation uncovers how connection, safety, and shared attention unlock children’s voices across languages.

As the Christmas holidays approach, many families find themselves navigating busy homes, travel, visitors, overstimulation, and screens. This episode offers a gentle reset: why slowing down and returning to simple, screen-free play can strengthen attachment, emotional safety, and speech — without pressure or performance.

You’ll hear:• Why play is essential for early speech and language development• How colouring, drawing, and open-ended play encourage multilingual expression• Why children often speak their heritage language when they feel safe and in control• Practical, low-pressure ways to support bilingual and multilingual kids at home• How to build connection without turning playtime into a lesson

Perfect for parents raising bilingual or multilingual children, expat families, international parents in the Netherlands, and anyone wanting to support language, bonding, and emotional development — especially during the busy holiday season.

Listen now and rediscover the power of play.

Looking for family-friendly Christmas activities in the Netherlands?

In this episode, Samira from ⁠AmsterdamKids⁠ joins us to share a wide range of ideas for things to do with your family during the festive season. We talk about Christmas markets, light festivals, museum outings, winter events, kid-friendly activities, and cozy days out across the country.

There’s so much happening this month that we couldn’t list everything in the episode — so if you want a full overview of December activities for families, visit our ⁠Instagram page⁠. You’ll find a curated carousel packed with inspiration to help you plan your festive calendar.

Tune in to discover new ways to make the season special for you and your kids.

This week, Eva takes us through the whirlwind of November–December parenting in the Netherlands — the sugar, the traditions, the cultural juggling, and the pressure to buy all the things. But instead of adding more to our already stretched mental load, this episode invites us to shift toward something simpler, kinder, and far more meaningful: giving together.

Eva shares how a Reverse Advent Calendar works — filling a box each day with small essentials for a family in need — and why it’s one of the most grounding, heart-opening activities to do with your kids this season. Plus: ways to get involved across the Netherlands, including:

Serving the City Amsterdam,

kerstzwolle.nl,

the ADRA Christmas Box Campaign, and

nationwide Kerstpakketjesactie drives.

Got others you want mentioned? Reach out on Instagram to add others to share with our communtiy!

If you’re craving a December with less pressure and more purpose, this is your gentle invitation.
Take a breath. Gather your kids. Build a box. Make a difference.

You’re not alone in this season — and neither are the families we choose to support.

Bringing home baby number two is a big moment — not just for you, but for the little one who’s about to become a big sibling. This highly requested episode dives into what parents can do to guide their first-born through the transition with warmth, confidence, and support.

Child psychologist Faye from Kerr Psychology joins us to share practical ways to prepare your oldest, strengthen connection, ease tricky emotions, and set the stage for a loving sibling bond. If you’re growing your family and want to make this change feel safe, supported, and joyfully messy in all the right ways, this conversation is for you.

Listen now to get the guidance you need for your “one to two kids” journey.

Is OPOL — One Parent, One Language — really the “gold standard” for raising bilingual kids, or just another parenting myth that sounds good on paper?

In this episode, Eva sits down with linguist and multilingual mom Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to unpack where OPOL came from, why it’s been trusted for over a century, and what actually happens when real families try it in daily life.

If you’ve ever worried about “doing it wrong,” this conversation will help you breathe easier — because your language plan isn’t fixed, it’s a living document.

Hit follow on Damn Parenting for new episodes every Wednesday — and share this one with a parent who needs to hear that “perfect bilingualism” doesn’t exist, but connection always does.

Living abroad often forces families to walk a fine line between independence and interdependence — between “I’ve got this” and “we’ve got this.”

In this episode, host Eva sits down again with Angela from the Expat Parenting Collective to unpack how couples can find balance while raising families in a new country. Together, they explore:

• What independence and interdependence really mean for expat parents

• How to share responsibilities without resentment or burnout

• Why intentional communication matters more than ever

• Ways to blend home and host cultures for a grounded family rhythm

• Practical tools like weekly check-ins, shared calendars, and outsourcing

Whether you’re parenting without a village, navigating new cultural norms, or trying to lighten the mental load — this conversation reminds you that you don’t have to do it all alone.

Listen in for real strategies, honest reflections, and encouragement for every international parent building a home away from home.

Leaving is never easy — not for those who go, and not for those who stay.
In this special episode of Dam Parenting, we speak with Erin, a fellow international parent who made the heartfelt decision to leave the Netherlands and return home. After starting her family abroad, Erin chose to move closer to her extended family — recognising what her child and her own wellbeing needed most.

Her story is one of courage, reflection, and love: the strength it takes to say goodbye, the gratitude for the friendships and community built here, and the reminder that every goodbye carries a piece of the Netherlands back with it.

For expat families, migrants, and internationals navigating life abroad, this episode offers an honest look at what it means to choose home — and why leaving is also part of the journey.

Listen to honour the shared stories of our community — and to say thank you to Erin, for reminding us how connection, even across distance, continues to shape our families and our lives.