CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Toddler Tips From Supernanny Jo Frost That Totally Work

save article
profile picture of Shannon Guyton
By Shannon Guyton, Contributing Writer
Updated March 2, 2018
little girl holding smiling and holding hands with nanny
Image: Tang Ming Tung

There were times in new motherhood I was desperate and drowning — in questions, exhaustion, and insecurity. And just when I thought I couldn’t make it one…more… minute, someone rescued me.

There’s a woman, a goddess really, who got us through years of toddler behavior issues and trying times. I could turn on her show, Supernanny, and feel like it wasn’t all that bad. We used her advice so often the term “Supernanny” became a verb in my house. “Just Supernanny him,” we’d say.

I was thrilled to get a chance to speak with release years of pent up groupie adoration on Supernanny Jo Frost, who is as passionate about helping families as ever. Oh, and I got the best toddler advice from her new book,  JO FROST’S TODDLER RULES: Your 5-Step Guide to Shaping Proper Behavior, too. Here are the top tips that worked in our house.

The Marble Jar

“Parents shape behavior. You’re teaching your kids how to communicate with you,” Jo teaches. To encourage good behavior, give a marble and praise every time you see your toddler doing something awesome. For example, if you’re working on saying “please,” give a marble every time he does. He’ll love being immediately recognized (and the sound of the cling! as it drops in his special jar). In my house, we created a chart (I had my kids help draw the circles), and when the chart was filled, they got a prize. I love how this tactic reminded me to praise my kids, and it’s also a learning experience to count the marbles!

This Bed is My Bed

Sometimes it’s like the bed is a trampoline and when the kids finally go down, they just pop right back up! Following Jo’s advice, the first time they got up we got what they needed, explained bedtime is for sleeping, and not to get up again. The second time, we talked and made eye contact less (a simple “it’s bedtime now, love”). The third time, even less. The fourth time and every time after that, we took them back to bed without talking or making eye contact. After a few nights, my kids got so bored with the lack of interaction they stopped getting up. “You can’t just use one parenting style. You need to be a disciplinarian sometimes, passive other times, and be able to recognize when different styles will work,” Jo says.

Related Video

The S.O.S. Method

You know when you catch your kid doing something completely insane, like ripping a toy out of his sister’s hands, and you jump in and try to take control of a situation based on what you saw in a split second? Do this instead:  “Before you react, S tep back to see the whole picture, O bserve your kids and look around for clues as to what’s really going on. Then S tep in with a decision to fix the problem with resolve,” Jo advises. “It might take time at the beginning, but trust me, by now I’m stepping back and observing in the two seconds I’ve taken to cross the room!” she jokes.

You can get all of Jo’s toddler tips in JO FROST’S TODDLER RULES: Your 5-Step Guide to Shaping Proper Behavior , follow her at @jo_frost, or visit her at http://www.jofrost.com/

What are your go-to toddler taming tips?

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mother and toddler daughter sitting on the couch reading a book together at home
How to Tell if Your Toddler Is Smart
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
father talking to toddler daughter while playing at home
Early Childhood Parenting Style Could Influence ADHD Severity in Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
toddler painting on bathroom door
Toddler Discipline: Why Toddlers Act Out—and What You Can Do About It
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
7 Weird Toddler Behaviors That Are Actually Normal
7 Weird Toddler Behaviors That Are Actually Normal
By Jenna McCarthy
baby sucking thumb while sitting in stroller outside
Why Babies Suck Their Thumbs—and When to Curb the Habit
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
toddler girl knocking behind glass back door
How to Deal With Your Child’s Separation Anxiety
By Rachel Morris
father holding baby's hands while walking
These Are the 13 Best States for Babies to Get a Strong Start
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler sitting on couch and having a temper tantrum
Toddler Tantrums: Why They Happen and How to Cope
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
close up of baby's eyes
Signs of an Overstimulated Baby (and How to Calm Their System)
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
toddlers playing side by side
The Different Stages of Play and How They Help Kids Learn
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
millennial mother talking to toddler at home
73 Percent of Millennial Moms Share This Parenting Style
By Wyndi Kappes
baby playing alone with toys on the floor
Why Is Solitary Play Important for Babies and Toddlers?
By Lisa Milbrand
toddler touching head in pain
Is Head Banging in Babies and Toddlers Normal?
By Cindy Hovington, PhD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby lying on pink blanket with tongue out
Pediatrician Goes Viral After Sharing These "Secret" Baby Milestones
By Wyndi Kappes
toddler hugging smiling mom
10 Ways Toddlers Say ‘I Love You’—Without Actually Saying ‘I Love You’
By Lauren Barth
baby with two smiling moms reaching for pet dog
5 Research-Backed Ways Dogs Can Benefit Baby
By Wyndi Kappes
entrance of chuck e cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese Snubs Black Child in Latest Incident of Mascot Racism
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
three proud and confident children smiling outside
How to Raise a Confident Kid
By Nehal Aggarwal
Praise From Parents May Improve a Child’s Persistence, Study Says
Praise From Parents May Improve a Child’s Persistence, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
mom toddler son washing dishes in sink
Asking Kids to Be 'Little Helpers' Actually Makes Them Less Likely to Help, Experts Say
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List