To think supernanny doesn’t need a come back

[Inthenameoflove]

I’ve noticed that Jo Frost is on a bit of a PR wave at the moment. AIBU to think her brand of ‘parenting’ advice can stay in the 00s.

I’ve always found the idea of parenting experts without children somewhat suspect. To me it’s very different than being a teacher or working with children generally which I don’t think you need to be a parent to do well.

I don’t enjoy her lectures/rants about things I suspect she has very little knowledge of.

I also find it really morally questionable putting struggling kids on TV - immortalised in their hardest moment forever.

I don’t enjoy her lectures/rants about things I suspect she has very little knowledge of.
Nannies are qualified and knowledgeable and as a teacher of 25 years I think there is a great need for parenting classes now.

I also find it really morally questionable putting struggling kids on TV - immortalised in their hardest moment forever.
I agree with this.

Everything you said Op. Much of her approach is outdated and not based on attachment theory, or any known best practice in infant or child mental health.

Important point too about making ‘good tv’ out of kids (and parents) who are struggling and vulnerable. It’s a bit Jeremy Kyle which also can get in the bin.

Some of the most annoying 'I know it alls' are parents with a couple of kids who are exceptionally well behaved.

They seem to think it's purely down to their expert parenting.

So I'm not sure it matters whether she's a parent or not, but I do agree about not televising struggling kids for entertainment.

Although that ship has sailed with Instagram, TikTok and the like.

I don't follow most of her techniques, but she has hopefully updated them in the last 20 years. The filming is morally questionable now, but it was still normal at the time. The past is a different country and all that. Givne the terrible parenting most of those poor kids got, I hope that things improved after filming.

I never liked the concept or show but if parents put the effort in there would be no need for it but the best tips that I have had as a parent came from people without children

Same as at work I pick up things who dont do my actual job as they have an outside perspective so not being a parent doesn't worry me

I can’t see her having a comeback. But I don’t think the fact that she doesn’t have children is all that relevant.

UnASSeptable

So is taking the piss out of someone with a slight speech impediment !

I dont think having any children is a problem - I have a cousin who is the most fantastic teacher and a friend who was a nanny then worked as a play therapist for years - both amazing.

I never particularly liked supernanny but now seeing some of the parenting I am thinking if she can help families then why not. Some families dont have 'villages' around to help them and times are hard with lots of pressures on families and sometimes we lose our way. I dont think it should come from a shaming angle but one of support.

Broadcasting the children is wrong. I'm on a few groups online for parenting ND children and some people think it's perfectly fine to put up a video of their child having a full sensory overload meltdown AND publicly berate the child under the guise of needing help. You can seek help with an anonymous profile and an explanation, you don't need videos capturing faces with names and locations attached.

Erm she doesn't have a speech impediment, she just pronounces that word weirdly.

Well, I think she's brilliant and I think a huge amount of parents could do with the support right now.
There's nothing outdated about getting a good routine and consistent boundaries.

Mostly she used common sense, the situation I see at the toddler group we run demonstrates current parenting techniques aren’t working. What I don’t agree with is putting kids on tv too young to consent

The only issue I have is the kids being broadcast like that, it's something I personally disagree with but YouTube seems to be full of parents posting videos of their kids. Not to mention other apps. Until we make it 'unasseptable' to have children on media altogether, I don't think it makes a difference whether it's TV or SM.

Her methods may be outdated but says who, it's constantly talked about that children behave worse now than they ever did. She set boundaries and most importantly she empowered parents to take control.

I think her not being a parent herself is of no relevance, it can actually make her more objective and professional. So many parents think their tiny experience with 1 or 2 children makes them experts on others.

I did follow some of her advice when I had my eldest children, although I didn't ever do time out as that never seemed right.
Nothing wrong with routines, boundaries and consequences.
She's not a parent but does have a lot of experience working with children.

I always liked the show, and the kids were always happier after, instead of the chaotic bad parenting.

I agree with the last part 100%.
I don't agree with the first part, I think she gives great parenting advice and you can definitely be an expert without experience. Does a midwife need to have given birth? A probation officer be an ex-criminal? Clinical psychologist have personal experience of severe mental health?

YANBU. She recently spammed a post on an Instagram for parents of children with Autism that have PDA. I think at this point she has gone down the Katie Hopkins route, trying to attack people for the sake of the publicity.

Megan the girl who pulled her up on her pronunciation has spoken about her time on the show. Its exactly as you would imagine, exploitative and fake. I'm sure shes on tiktok for anyone who's interested.

I genuinely think she saved me from a breakdown when I was on the edge with sleep deprivation. For that I will always be grateful!

I would honestly love her to try and use her techniques on my two.
It would not work.
I’m sure for many kids it would be great, but throw ASD/adhd/pda into the mix and it would make excellent tv, but maybe not show her in the best light.
I’m not going to let my kids on tv, so there’s that.

Unfortunately I think her style of discipline and the way it was portrayed in tv shows adds to the negative view that so many spout online, that parents are basically idiots. It encourages people to criticise others when they know nothing about what that family is going through. For that reason alone, I hope it never comes back. The exploitation of kids on all platforms is abhorrent and needs to be banned.

I'm uncomfortable with children being shown at their worst too.
She has some good advice but can be nit picky.
I don't think it matters that she doesn't have children. She can look on in a more detached manner.

Do I think that SHE specifically needs to be back on our tv with the methods she used in the 90s? No.

Do I think that there are a lot of parents with basically feral children who could do with some robust parenting advice nowadays? Yes.

Agree.

I used to watch Supernanny, then I had children, and couldn't watch it anymore, it went against every ounce of maternal instinct I had.

Funny really as my childless sibling always used to give me unsolicited parenting advice. Absolutely fucking clueless.

I think a lot of people have views on how children should be raised and disciplined, I sure did. But the moment my first child was born and in my arms, my whole world changed and I instinctively went naturally into the attachment style parenting.

Agree. It would never work on my two. We did try her technique for a few weeks to get one of mine to sleep. He won. In the end we found his issue was actually medical just to make me feel doubly shit about it.