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Original poster

Jo Frost (Super Nanny)

200 replies

Ifyouwantmeillbeinthebar · 10/08/2023 12:51

I’ve become addicted to watching reruns of Super Nanny UK with Jo Frost.

God, she did hand out some awful advice didn’t she?! However it’s interesting how parenting and discipline has evolved over the last 20 years.

There are so many episodes where behavioural issues and additional needs were just put down to bad behaviour, it was quite sad really.

I’ve just watched one where mum and dad had 3 girls, Megan, Erin and Gabriella and it was quite shocking, the eldest (9) had so much anger and was biting and hitting everyone including Jo. I felt so sad for her, she seemed so sad, angry and frustrated.

I was so invested that I googled the girls and where there were now. Interestingly the eldest said that none of it was scripted and the production team were really nice but the whole programme was filmed over 8 weeks and there was lot of changes to their routine to fit in with filming, meals and bedtime different to what they were used to, they couldn’t wear what they would normally wear as no brands were to be shown and not friends or family could visit because they weren’t allowed to be involved in filming and she said it really aggravated her and her sisters behaviour. She also said there was really any change after Jo left and they just behaved better as they matured like most kids.

I found it all really interesting.

Has anyone else got any episodes, UK, version that stand out and what was your opinion on the discipline and methods Super Nanny used.

OP posts:
MotherEarthisaTerf · 10/08/2023 12:55

Think Megan is the most famous episode. It's frightful to watch it now and see all that distress and dysregulation. She reminds me a little of my daughter when she's frightened and cornered. A lot of it is threatening looking back. Lots of talk about change etc.

Jo's attitudes unfortunately didnt grow up and mature as she aged. She's still controversial on issues of neurodivergency and behavioural difficulties. I'd love it if they went back over the shows with a new insight and apologised.

Wont happen though. Shame.

GigiAnnna · 10/08/2023 12:55

I found her so patronising ever since I saw her slagging a parent off over a chicken nugget.

Fraaahnces · 10/08/2023 12:58

I just wanted to punch her face every time she said “asseptabool”.

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Original poster
Ifyouwantmeillbeinthebar · 10/08/2023 13:06

Fraaahnces · 10/08/2023 12:58

I just wanted to punch her face every time she said “asseptabool”.

Haha it was quite funny in the same episode Megan was trying to correct her (albeit in a shouty, cheeky way) and she got told to stop answering back!

OP posts:
theyareonlynoodlesmichael · 10/08/2023 13:16

I will need to go and rewatch now I am a parent.

I did see a clip where she had the mum sit with her back to her small toddler while he screamed and cried and choked for her for a really long time. I couldnt stomach that at all.

I like boundaries, but I also like comfort.

LisaVanderpump1 · 10/08/2023 13:16

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Newuser75 · 10/08/2023 13:17

I don't like it when she would force kids to eat. Standing over them saying they had to eat whatever before they could get down. Sometimes they would be sitting there for ages crying. Poor kids

uuughhhshsh · 10/08/2023 13:22

I’ve also seen grown-up Megan’s many videos on TikTok about being in the series, and how she just naturally became better behaved with age. The family are still all really close and I think she has DC of her own now?

interestingly, I’ve also seen quite a few videos on TikTok of customer service/leisure/hospitality workers who have encountered Jo Frost in their line of work and say she is incredibly rude and behaved in a vile manner towards them. Perhaps she needs the supernanny treatment herself…?

WhiskersPete · 10/08/2023 13:22

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Totally agree.

CatandSpoon · 10/08/2023 13:22

The one that I still remember is an early UK one. There was one little girl of about 5 and her parents were older. Her mum was quite a tall broad woman who said she always felt unattractive. The father was the only one who loved the mum. The mum didn't love or even like the little girl, the dad was trying to act as a go-between.
I remember they promised her 10p or something to be good and this little girl was so good the dad gave her a pound. Which Jo said was a bad idea because the boundary was skewed.
I remember a shot of the mum sitting on the kerb crying and the dad putting his arm around her while the little girl was neglected again.

Does anyone remember that one? I'd like to see if the little girl is ok, my heart broke for her

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 10/08/2023 13:27

What I remember most (apart from ‘asseptable’ 😂) was the helpless, wishy-washy parents who seemed utterly unable to say No and mean it, or to follow any sanction through.

I was always a pretty relaxed parent (mine were teens by the time I ever watched it) but some of those parents did make me wonder where on earth they found them.

theyareonlynoodlesmichael · 10/08/2023 13:27

CatandSpoon · 10/08/2023 13:22

The one that I still remember is an early UK one. There was one little girl of about 5 and her parents were older. Her mum was quite a tall broad woman who said she always felt unattractive. The father was the only one who loved the mum. The mum didn't love or even like the little girl, the dad was trying to act as a go-between.
I remember they promised her 10p or something to be good and this little girl was so good the dad gave her a pound. Which Jo said was a bad idea because the boundary was skewed.
I remember a shot of the mum sitting on the kerb crying and the dad putting his arm around her while the little girl was neglected again.

Does anyone remember that one? I'd like to see if the little girl is ok, my heart broke for her

I might be thinking of a different show but I do remember one where the girl was clearly neurodiverse and her parents were openly talking about how much they hated her, tolerated her etc? I am sure the mother said something quite shocking like she wished she had killed her at birth?

MillWood85 · 10/08/2023 13:27

Not all naughty kids have SEN. Some are just little shits - one of mine was! We had to have iron clad boundaries that we never let slip else she'd take a mile - it was exhausting but necessary.

I personally think parents are far too soft on kids these days - they grow up with no respect for anyone and thinking that the world owes them something. Co-sleeping until they're at secondary school, no restrictions on snacks/diet, given screens 24/7. Most kids you see around these days are dark circled under the eyes with absolute exhaustion and little shits because they have no rules.

VimtoPassion · 10/08/2023 13:29

My sister was a huge proponent of the naughty step and my dad was convinced at the time that it was damaging - banishing children far more harmful than a short sharp punishment in his opinion.

DSis's children seem fine, but there has been a huge increase in MH problems in young people over the last 20 years. I wonder....

francesthebadger · 10/08/2023 13:37

WhiskersPete · 10/08/2023 13:22

Totally agree.

Show quote history

Interesting.

So are you Guys, like, science-deniers, and don't believe in medical conditions that Doctors diagnose kids with?

francesthebadger · 10/08/2023 13:38

What about if they need blood transfusions or emergency surgery? Are you against that sort of medical science too?

JanieEyre · 10/08/2023 13:40

I found the predictability of it all became ridiculous. Inevitably Supernanny would go in and give the parent loads of techniques for dealing with the kids, then she'd disappear and they would be filmed, they'd get bits right but get told off for what they'd got wrong; then she'd disappear again and come back later when, virtually every time, there would have been a massive turnaround, kids would have become little angels, everyone super grateful to Supernanny. We all know perfectly well life just doesn't work like that.

HashBrownandBeans · 10/08/2023 13:43

I used to watch it all smug that my two kids were angels because I’d raised them with strong boundaries… then I had a third with SEN 🤣🤣

Startyabastard · 10/08/2023 13:43

CatandSpoon · 10/08/2023 13:22

The one that I still remember is an early UK one. There was one little girl of about 5 and her parents were older. Her mum was quite a tall broad woman who said she always felt unattractive. The father was the only one who loved the mum. The mum didn't love or even like the little girl, the dad was trying to act as a go-between.
I remember they promised her 10p or something to be good and this little girl was so good the dad gave her a pound. Which Jo said was a bad idea because the boundary was skewed.
I remember a shot of the mum sitting on the kerb crying and the dad putting his arm around her while the little girl was neglected again.

Does anyone remember that one? I'd like to see if the little girl is ok, my heart broke for her

Yes! I remember that!
Who thought it was a good idea to give a child money on order to behave? I didn't realise it was a Supernanny one.
I thought Supernanny did well with Megan's family, although I can agree with people about neurodiverse children and that one where the little boy refused to eat, to me he did appear autistic.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 10/08/2023 13:43

Probs a controversial opinion, but I think so many parents now seem to look for a diagnosis and want there to be something "wrong" with their child, because it's easier than admitting they're just a brat. 💁

Yeah, it is controversial. My dd would have been destroyed by Supernanny. She was not an easy child.

She was later diagnosed as ASD, by a senior pyschologist at a specialist ND centre. But yeah, she was just a ‘brat’ because l wanted something to be wrong with her. I’d love love for her to be NT, but she’s not. You obviously know so much about if.

holabiatches · 10/08/2023 13:45

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wizzbitt · 10/08/2023 13:45

Was Megan the one who said, "My friend told me about you and she said you're a bitch!"? 🤦🏿‍♀️😂 I'll have a google later
I used to love this show too and was totally invested in their stories. I sometimes see clips on Facebook and eye roll at the "advice" she gives.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 10/08/2023 13:46

I remember an episode with an Asian family and two very clever children. Too clever for the likes of Jo I'm glad to say.

I seem to recall one of them sitting on a kitchen counter next to a boiling pot and cutting vegetables with a knife the size of the child.

Anyway, the little girl was doing her homework and threw her hands up and cried "too much bloody fractions!", it was really funny.

Screamingabdabz · 10/08/2023 13:47

VimtoPassion · 10/08/2023 13:29

My sister was a huge proponent of the naughty step and my dad was convinced at the time that it was damaging - banishing children far more harmful than a short sharp punishment in his opinion.

DSis's children seem fine, but there has been a huge increase in MH problems in young people over the last 20 years. I wonder....

Agree with your dad. ‘The naughty step’ - what a load of faff and giving a fraught child more overload than they need. Children should do as they’re told within tolerances of routine, love, soft warnings and then a short sharp proportioned escalation to show that adults are truly in charge.

That’s why MH problems are on the rise - smart phones and social media are raising children rather than well balanced grown ups with authority.

Crossstich · 10/08/2023 13:47

MillWood85 · 10/08/2023 13:27

Not all naughty kids have SEN. Some are just little shits - one of mine was! We had to have iron clad boundaries that we never let slip else she'd take a mile - it was exhausting but necessary.

I personally think parents are far too soft on kids these days - they grow up with no respect for anyone and thinking that the world owes them something. Co-sleeping until they're at secondary school, no restrictions on snacks/diet, given screens 24/7. Most kids you see around these days are dark circled under the eyes with absolute exhaustion and little shits because they have no rules.

This is just me nonsense. Most kids I see don't have dark circles under their eyes nor are they little shits. Most children I see are confident, articulate and delightful to spend time with most of the time.
What they are not is compliant in every situation or afraid to give their opinions , nor should they be.

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