TV Details
Starring
Genre
More details
See more TV reviews

Take Home Nanny (TLC)

common sense media says

Parents learn hardball lessons with a soft touch.

parents & educators say
See 2 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the children in the show's featured families exhibit behavior that just about anyone would recognize as over the top, including hitting. The good news is that the show is about correcting that behavior, but scenes of tantrum after tantrum can be grating. Overall, this show will probably have more appeal for parents than kids.

Positive messages: Parents are encouraged to actively parent their children and get good, solid tips and tools for effective discipline. Firm-but-loving limits are encouraged.
Violence: Some children do hit other people, but it's made clear that they're misbehaving.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The adults drink wine with dinner.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Take Home Nanny

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how reality shows are made. Do you think that scenes are ever staged if the producers want to capture a certain event and/or someone didn't get it "right" the first time? Families can also discuss the kids' behavior and the parents learn to work on it. Were the strategies successful? Do you think parents will be able to keep them up?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In each episode of TAKE HOME NANNY, professional nanny Emma Jenner visits families with young, out-of-control kids to help them restore order and good behavior with rules and discipline. After observing the family, Nanny Emma demonstrates how to turn things around with practical tips and suggestions.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The show is mostly pleasant and offers a lot of good information, even if most of it isn't terribly new. The parents even talk a little bit about how they know what they should be doing, and the show makes a point of sympathetically acknowledging many parents' feelings of shame when their kids get out of control.

But the show's biggest selling point is Nanny Emma's soft-touch way of playing hard ball. While she doesn't let the parents off the hook for their role in their kids' bad behavior, she manages to correct them in a way that isn't condemning. She also manages to stay firm without yelling at the kids, going so far as to pick up one 3-year-old mid-tantrum and gently depositing her in her room until she's calmed down and is ready to listen. All in all, if you can get past all the scenes of screaming children, this is an interesting way to add a few tools to your parenting tool box.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: TLC
Cast: Emma Jenner
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: TLC
This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
 
 

Review It

 

Review Take Home Nanny

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see Take Home Nanny?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more TV
About our rating system
ON: Content is 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
Our child development rating guidelines