This season Jo will work with numerous families with somewhat older children, in the 7-11 year age bracket, as well as families with younger children, and occasionally she will invite a special expert to help advise the family, for example, someone specializing in work with children who have autism or Down Syndrome.
In each episode of the television series, this modern-day Mary Poppins observes how the parents handle their day-to-day obstacles with their children. Once she's assessed the pitfalls, she works with the parents, instilling her tried-and-true methods for transforming unwanted behavior. Then, after demonstrating just how well the new style will work and getting unbelievable results from the children, the parents must fly solo with the Supernanny techniques. For several days they try to implement Jo's suggestions, and she revisits them at the end of the program to help keep them on track for the future.
Her simple methods stress consistency, communication and reasonable consequences for poor behavior, all delivered with loving firmness. She emphasizes the importance of spelling out the new rules of the household to children in advance, as well as explaining the consequences for infractions. She also candidly points out to parents where they need to be more decisive, more flexible or even how they may need to adjust their expectations of a child's readiness for certain behaviors. For example, graduating a child to a seat at the dinner table instead of a high chair may be long overdue and provide an easy fix to mealtime misbehavior. When parents witness Jo's results and -- even better -- achieve them on their own, they are truly believers in the Supernanny way. Best of all, children and adults alike can enjoy the lasting benefits of a more harmonious family life.
Nick Powell is the creator and executive producer of both the American and British versions of the show. Craig Armstrong is executive producer of the American version. Supernanny is produced by Ricochet, Ltd.
--ABC