 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
America's Supernanny
- Lifetime Television
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Adaptation of UK advice show is best for parents.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this series, which is intended more for adults, features moms and dads learning appropriate and effective ways to discipline their unruly children. Young children are shown spitting, kicking, biting, hitting, and engaged in other disrespectful behavior. Kids probably won't be too interested, but watching some of the children's behaviors can potentially lead to some teachable moments.
What's the story?
AMERICA'S SUPERNANNY, the American adaptation of the original British series, features childcare specialist Deborah Tillman going to different homes to help parents learn how to deal with their out-of-control kids. Each episode features a family in crisis thanks to misbehaving children and their frustrated parents' inability to handle them. After spending a day observing the family dynamics, Tillman sits down with the parents to discuss what she believes are the behaviors (or lack of behaviors) that are creating the conflict. She then spends the next three days working with both the parents and children to develop new communication and disciplinary techniques. After parents spend a day alone with the children practicing these techniques, Tillman returns to review the progress they have made.
Is it any good?
Tillman, who runs a national chain of child learning centers, offers her services to these families as a way of helping them wade through the endless amounts of parenting techniques being publicized by experts around the country. But while her advice to parents may sound unique, most of it simply boils down to: spending more time with their children, setting clear boundaries, and being consistent in the way they are reinforcing them. It also reminds parents that disciplining children now increases their ability to grow up happy and well adjusted.
It's not really for kids, but those who do watch may find some of the children's extreme behaviors funny. Some adults may find the parents' excuses for letting their kids disrespect them or run amok frustrating to listen to. But overall, it's a show that offers parents some positive child-rearing tips, and offers some food for thought about what is going on in their own homes, and with their own children.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the methods used in this show. Do you think a week is long enough to for families to overcome established patterns of behavior? How do you think these patterns began in the first place? Do you think the improved changes featured are real, or will they stop once the cameras stop rolling?
What is the difference between a child care specialist and a child behavioral psychologist? Do you think someone with a psychology or medical background would offer different advice from what is featured here?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
New kid expert takes on the same kind of families.
This show shows about troubled families. How these days there are all different kinds of families. Like gay parents, multicultural families, and even ones with 2.5 kids. Kids are affected by it and they don't know how to cope with it, so they act out. This show is about a kid expert who teaches families and parents better coping skills with the situations.
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AGE
Funny And Entertaining
Funny and entertaining show with good advice for bad parents and out of control kids. A little violent at times but still kid friendly and appropreate.
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AGE
Good show, but young kids might find it boring
I've only seen parts of 2 episodes of this show, but from what I saw, the show seems good and is, for some reason, really fun to watch. The techniques Deborah Tillman does are interesting and they seem to work really well. Young kids might be bored with the show, but kids 9 and up could get interested in the show. Good for kids 9+. Violence: Kids on the show are shown acting bad before Deborah comes, and sometimes there is physical violence (Ex. Hitting siblings, playing rough, having temper tantrums) But they never get severly hurt (from what I saw) Language: Swearing is heard, but words like "s**t" are bleeped out.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 5, 2012
AGE
Bad compared to the British version
I loved the British version. This one is just crap. Skip it, this version isn't worth watching.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | Lifetime Television |
| Cast: | Deborah Tillman |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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