Supernanny Jo Frost insists naughty step still works for ‘aggressive’ children

IT became an essential parenting hack for moms and dads around the world.

And now, Supernanny Jo Frost has revealed how she came up with the famous ‘naughty step’ concept – and why it still works to this day.

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Jo – who rose to fame in the 90s thanks to her program and tips and tricks – spoke to Jordan Piano and Jason Heron on The Parenting Tools Podcast.

And the pair, who are both fathers, asked Jo where the idea came from and whether she would “still recommend it”.

“My version of a timeout has changed from what we knew in the 20th century,” she said.

‘Put a child in the corner and ask him to turn his face into the corner. Humiliation.

“Children were neither seen nor heard.

“There was no emotional intelligence. The connection there with parent and child. I’m the parent. I’m in charge.

“I’m in control. Very authoritarian.”

But she came up with the idea of ​​the naughty step — where a child is placed on the bottom step for a set amount of time — as an “adaptation” of the original hack.

“There was no turning to the wall and isolating the child (with the mischievous step),” she said.

“The child was very present in the room or next to it, so they could see the rest of the family.

“And there were very specific steps that created a boundary.”

And that boundary is ‘the most important thing’ to create ‘better relationships’.

It is also vital if you are struggling with an ‘aggressive’ child.

“So the idea, which is basically a timeout, my version specifically with the steps, is to create a space, a healthy boundary when unacceptable behavior is shown to a parent, a sibling or anyone else, she added.

“And that space creates a moment to diffuse this heated aggression.”

People were quick to comment on the TikTok video from the podcast interview, in which someone writes: “My mother watched Supernanny when I was little and used the same techniques when I was younger.

More parenting hacks

IF you want to make your life as a new mom easier, here are nine hacks you won’t want to miss.

1. Routine charts

Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them attractive to younger children.

2. Meal planning

Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal preparation to teach them cooking skills.

3. Toy rotation

Keep some of the toys put away and change them regularly. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases.

4. DIY cleaning solutions

Make child-safe cleaning solutions with vinegar and baking soda. It is effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands.

5. Timeout jar

Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions are running high, children can choose an activity to help them calm down.

6. Educational apps

Use educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for programs that offer interactive learning on topics your child is interested in.

7. Command Center

Set up a family command center with a calendar, key hooks and a bulletin board. It helps everyone stay organized and on top of daily schedules.

8. Emergency package

Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies and a change of clothes. It is a lifesaver for unexpected situations.

9. Label everything

Use labels for clothing, school supplies and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools.

“And believe me, it works so great because I use it with my child.

‘Guess what? My child is a well-behaved and respected child thanks to Joe Supernanny.”

“The naughty step worked for my kids,” another added.

‘They would sit there of their own accord.

“I asked them why they were standing on the sidewalk and they said, ‘Thinking.’

“This was after it was founded. It also gave me time to think!”

“I used her method when my kids were both 18 months,” a third commented.

“It works. It really does.

“My children are respectful and well behaved because of consistency, boundaries and a big hug afterwards.”

“We always had to sit on the steps, we worked for us,” someone else revealed.

However, others said they weren’t fans of using the naughty step technique.

“Doesn’t work for neurodiverse children and is incredibly harmful,” one person points out.

“My daughter wouldn’t sit on it for a second,” another added.

“Never worked, my kids just ran upstairs,” sighed a third.

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