''Supernanny'' is a British

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1 ...

programme about parents struggling with their children's behaviour, mealtime, potty training, etc. The show features professional nanny Jo Frost, who devotes each episode to helping a family where the parents are struggling with child-rearing. Through instruction and observation, she shows parents alternative ways to discipline their children and regain order in their households. Frost is a proponent of the " naughty chair" theory of discipline and is strictly opposed to hitting and spanking. The programme aired on

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service ...

from 7 July 2004 to 8 October 2008. A follow-up programme titled '' Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance'' ran from 9 February 2010 to 5 August 2012. ''Supernanny'' has been adapted in other countries, including an American version (also with Jo Frost).

History

''Supernanny'' was originally broadcast in the UK on

on 7 July 2004, following the success of Channel 4's '' Cutting Edge'' programme "Bad Behaviour." ''Supernanny'' is one of Channel 4's most popular shows, reaching nearly 5 million viewers in the first series, with consistently high ratings throughout the series. The premiere episode for the third series attracted 3.1 million viewers with a 14% audience share. These values are half of those from the previous two series.

Reception

In their book ''Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment, Children and Adolescents'', Michel Hersen and David Reitman state, "With considerable skill, ''Super Nanny'' Jo Frost implements standard, evidence-based contingency management procedures, as well as heavy evidence of creating alternative positive activity structures." The show has had its critics, and not all child-care experts agree with her approach. Some people find that the children's right to privacy has been violated and that children are embarrassed when put on the "naughty step".

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media and cultural-studies lecturer Tracey Jensen believes that the format results in the mother being "shamed before she is transformed". The show, viewed by six million people in its first year, was an "instant success." Shows were created in 48 countries by 2014 that were tailored after ''Supernanny''.

Home media

A DVD release of ''Supernanny'' entitled ''When Little Kids Cause Big Headaches'' was released in the UK on 12 April 2010.

Episodes

International versions

''Supernanny'' has been broadcast or slightly adapted in other countries.

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, 0418432 2004 British television series debuts 2008 British television series endings British reality television series Channel 4 original programming English-language television shows Parenting television series Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios Works about child care occupations