Episodes

Programme 3

Watch out Warrington! Supernanny's in town.

This week Jo Frost takes on two brawling brothers, seven year old, Louis and five year old Rhys.

They have no respect for mum Steph – or each other, but when over-bearing dad Simon's around it's a different story. Baby Lucie must be wondering what sort of a family she's been born into.

The battle to control these badly behaving boys is only half of Supernanny's challenge. She's really got problems when their body building, doorman dad Simon decides he's had enough.

Supernanny has to square up to Simon, shake up Steph and sort out the brother's behaviour problems. That's no problem for Channel 4's very own Mary Poppins.

Here are the techniques Jo used to turn around a losing team – into a winning one.

Supernanny's techniques

The penalty spot

A punishment technique for football mad kids like Rhys and Louis, this technique includes a warning system, followed by a punishment that allows the children to calm down and reflect on their bad behaviour.

It works because it's based on a system children know and understand from the real world.

At the first sign of unacceptable behaviour – in a low, controlled voice show the child the yellow card, and warn them their behaviour is unacceptable. Tell them that if they continue with any unacceptable behaviour they will be show the red card and placed in the penalty spot.

If the child continues with unacceptable behaviour show them the red card, and immediately remove them to the quiet corner.

Place the child in the quiet corner and set the timer for the number of minutes equal to the child's age.

After the appropriate number of minutes has elapsed ask the child for a calm apology, then hug / kiss the child and allow them to leave the corner.

Goal! Reward chart

A reward technique for football mad kids, this one works because it promotes consistent positive behaviour using a theme that kids recognise and enjoy.

Create a goal! Reward chart, complete with a list of all the tasks you want your child to undertake such as going to bed on time, eating all their dinner, tidying their room etc. Each time the child completes a task on the chart allow them to move their football player one step closer to the goal.

After five stages the child will have scored a goal. Add one to their scoreboard.

At the end of the week reward the child with the most goals.

Walk this way

The brothers are allowed to walk independently of mum as long as they behave and don't walk more than one metre in front of her.

If the boys play up or run up they'll be forced to hold Steph's hand or hang onto the pram.

Doting dad

Overbearing dad Simon needs to learn how to discipline without being intimidating and without losing his temper. Supernanny introduces an hour a day of quality doting dad time where he's encouraged to play with his sons and calmly carry out the penalty spot technique if trouble arises rather than losing his patience and shouting.

Bedtime

The boys sneak into mum Steph's bed every night – meaning dad Simon (who gets in at 4am from his work as a doorman) has slept on the sofa for five years. Supernanny issues mum with a wind-chime to wake her when the boys sneak in. When the wind-chime sounds, she gets up and puts them back into their own beds. When dad gets home, the bed is child free so he can sleep in his bed.

Dad hangs back

Dad is instructed to hang back whilst mum oversees a games session with the boys. When they play up, she must follow the discipline techniques without him stepping in.

For more parenting tips, read these fascinating extracts from C4' s Little Darlings booklet.