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13th May 2024

“We’ve always wanted a big family,” Joe Wicks explains to Tiny Happy People – he and wife Rosie have three young children and a fourth on the way.

Joe is undoubtedly a keen dad, excited for a new baby this summer - joining five-year-old Indie, four-year-old Marley and 19-month-old Leni – and more than happy to chat through his style of parenting. But, like many parents, time is the thing he worries about most.

At an exciting point in his parenting journey, we spoke to Joe about bedtimes, family wellbeing, nurturing a healthy lifestyle and how his partnership with Rosie brings out the best in him…

Having a new baby

Understanding “little brains” is an important part of being a dad for Joe. It’s something he talks about a lot – reading books and putting ideas into practice with his three children. But as his family grows, having the time to spare is a concern…

“The biggest challenge I'm worried about is having time with each one. They really need their own one-to-one time.

“At bedtime for example, we might do a joint story time, but they really want their own little cuddle. So, I do worry about that.”

“I think, ‘how can I do it all?’”

Another challenge in bigger families is sibling rivalry, which Joe explains can sometimes leave him feeling like ‘a referee’.

“Being patient, understanding and compassionate when they’re fighting, that's the hardest part for me. That's kind of difficult at times. So, the more I read about parenting and understand my child, the better I can react and interact with them.”

However, Indie, Marley and Leni are “very excited” about having a new baby in the family. Indie and Marley have already risen to the occasion as older siblings. “They're really nurturing to Leni. They love cuddling her.”

Partnership with Rosie

Joe and his wife Rosie welcomed Indie to the family in 2018. Since then, their parenting journey has seen them through lockdowns, Joe’s rise in the public eye and, of course, two further additions. Joe tells us that it's been key to learn from each other’s strengths as partners.

“Rosie’s naturally patient. She's really calm, whereas my default setting is to get a bit more worked up. My fuse isn't as long as hers.

“Watching her as a role model, she can stay so calm in stressful situations. Why can't I? I can be more patient. I can choose to respond differently.”

I definitely think, over the years, I've learned to react differently and be more gentle with parenting. It is hard because I grew up in a house which was all shouting and swearing and that's all you know. So I'm trying to untrain myself in that respect.

And, in turn, Joe recognises the effect that has on his children…

“If you mirror that, you're showing them the same behaviour - it's about helping them regulate their emotions. Rather than scream and shout, take a breath.”

Finding time for one another can be tricky, but maintaining a close relationship has been an important part of nurturing family wellbeing, says Joe.

“Well, luckily I've got my mum. She had me at 19 - she's a super young grandma. And because of that I can have a night out or I can have a couple of nights here and there to be with Rosie and connect.

“I can sit with my wife at dinner and I can't get a word in with her and the kids, you know, we can't talk about anything. So sometimes having that evening out or a little weekend away every few months is really important to reconnect.”

Screen time and keeping active

As is the case for almost all parents in 2024, Joe has had to ask himself questions about screens – phones, tablets and TVs - and how they affect his children. Gentle activities are a must before bedtime, he says.

“We do a lot of basic non-screen activity - I see how much it calms them down. I think reading together is the nicest way of doing that.

I mean, I'm still the worst… I get them really relaxed and then start tickling them and getting them all worked up again, but I think a lot of dads do that.

Getting outdoors and moving with his family is where Joe feels he comes into his own. How does someone who champions an active lifestyle introduce one to his young kids?

“You've got to be a role model, because if all they see is you sitting down on your phone or your laptop and you're not active, it's really hard for those children to be inspired.

“When I work out, I do get the kids involved. They see me in the gym and they see me in the garden and they'll come and ask me, ‘Can I take part?’ And I never say no, no matter what I'm thinking, whatever mood I'm in.

“It's really important if they're showing an interest in something. I sometimes want to go for a run around the block and they say, ‘Can I come with you?’ And I know they're going to slow me down, but we go together for one lap.”

Kids in the kitchen

Along with helping the nation keep active with his online workouts, Joe loves to spread the word around healthy eating. Much of his advice is around getting into the kitchen and making simple, easy recipes using a few ingredients. Do his kids love cooking as much as he does?

“Bringing the kids into the kitchen and getting them cooking, is a really powerful way of getting them to enjoy food and be adventurous.

“Indie loves cooking because she's watched me cook. I've taught her to make an omelette and steak. She's so skilled in that department because I put the time in.

“Just being in a kitchen and watching is important for the first few years and then from the age of about three, I’d let Indie stir the porridge or add her berries at the end, then stepping up to things like cutting up a bit of cucumber with a blunt butter knife or cutting some grapes.

You don't have to just give them ‘kids’ food’, you can give them lovely, really interesting food. If they helped cook it, they're way more likely to try it themselves.

“You could do it once on a weekend, commit to learning one recipe a week. You'd have 52 recipes by the end of the year that you and your children can make together. It's an amazing skill.”

Mental wellbeing

This month, Joe is supporting the ������̳'s Mental Wellbeing season by showing ways movement can enhance your mood. You can find some stretches and simple workouts as well as loads more advice for parents in the collection.

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