America’s Super Nanny has recently debuted on the Life Time Channel. The new “super nanny” is Deborah Tillman. She has little in common with ABC’s former “super nanny”, Jo Frost. Frost was British and gave off a Mary Poppins-feel and boasted twenty-one years working as a nanny as well as the author of three childcare books. Frost has often been referred to as a “child whisperer”. Deborah Tillman, on the other hand, not only has no formal nanny experience but has had a successful accounting career. She was in the midst of her career as a when she became so dismayed at the daycare system that she decided to do something about it. She opened several child learning centers; working to successfully run the business operations rather than working directly with the children. Tillman, as a mother, she is the author of two child-rearing books.
This replacement of sorts has been the source of many debates, especially online. Many members of the industry are offended that Tillman has assumed this role as the “super nanny” without any actual nanny experience or qualifications. In fact, nannies have pulled together and started a grass-roots petition to get America’s Super Nanny removed from TV. The petition can be viewed here http://www.change.org/petitions/shedmedia-take-americas-supernanny-off-the-air. The nannies who have signed this petition site a variety of reasons such as “As a nanny I don’t believe in her practices and would never recommend them to a parent and would never use them on a child” and “She lacks warmth and kindness.”
Many supporters of Tillman, however, say she is more qualified than Frost simply because she has the practical experience of raising her own child and she holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Special Education.
Regardless of your opinions on Tillman or Frost, this will most likely continue as a topic for much debate and Tillman will certainly bring a different flavor to the series. Stay tuned to see how this story plays out.
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