Parental Guidance: “It’s not a competition”

If Season 2 of Parental Guidance feels a tad more judgmental than Season 1 it could be because this season the parents choose a ‘best in show’ parenting style.

As contrasting parenting styles are compared, perhaps harking back to its original title ‘The Parent Jury’, host Ally Langdon explains there were format tweaks second time around.

“I guess we’ve made it a little bit pacier in places and we’ve obviously added additional parents,” she tells TV Tonight.

“There are 12 sets of parents and they go through the challenge within groups of 4. So there’s two nights where the same four sets of parents are all under under pressure. Then the other eight parents agree and vote on who they think wins the day, or whose parenting style resonated most with them, and which of that group then go through to the grand final. There’s a fantastic challenge at the end which three sets of parents and the kids undertake.

“There’s no scores, but it’s one of those ones where each parent looks at what works for them. They choose which of the parenting styles over all those challenges, handled it best. Obviously, a lot of that is swayed by your own parenting style.

“It’s not really a competition as such. I don’t feel like any of the families come in with this idea of ‘winning’. Everyone  wanting to share their parenting styles and tips. But everyone’s also open to being the best parent they can.”

Joined by parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson, the series includes parents deemed Outback / Spiritual / Gentle / Unstructured / Road School / Influencer / Stage / Slow / Honest / Lighthouse / Team and American.

“You’ve got your gentle parents. You watch them when their kids have big emotions. I think it’s really wonderful to watch, they just let that process play out and they’re incredibly patient. I do not have the patience to be a gentle parent but I love how they do it. Other parenting styles are probably a bit more strict,” she continues.

“Everyone defends their parenting style pretty well and often, you have these moments where parents go, ‘Look, maybe I do need to shift. I thought what I was doing was great’, but you can see from how it played out in the challenge that maybe we need to shift how we parent.’ I think everyone leaves the experiment a better parent.”

Challenges have again been filmed prior to the show, which are discussed and contrasted in the studio. Sometimes friction arises amongst those who disagree on the better approach to handling kids.

“Every parenting style has its moment where it’s really in the hot seat. But it’s not nasty. Most of the criticism or the comments are based on the parenting style ….But it does fire up, because everyone passionately believes in what they’re doing.”

Without conflict there is no drama, surely?

“No, that’s boring, right? It’s boring if everybody says ‘Well done’ and pats each other on the back,” Langdon agrees.

“These parenting styles are really challenged.”

This season looks at raising children in the digital age, including the rise of Influencer parenting, the dark side of online gaming and the internet, effectively managing tantrums and sibling rivalries, addressing bullying, discussing health education, and fostering a drive for success in children.

Langdon says only once did a set of parents choose to abort a challenge, which drew some comment when it was explained in the room.

“There is a point with our ‘Slow parents’, where they choose to abort a challenge, halfway through. That was then explained to the room, all the reasons why… that sort of went to their parenting style. It was interesting also to see how the room dealt with that. There were some who really felt for them. …and a whole bunch of others going, ‘Hang on, you came into the experiment, you know the kids are safe. They’re not actually on their own. They’ve got a film crew with them. Why wouldn’t you allow them to do a little bit more?'” she explains.

So with no ‘TV reality prize’ what’s in it for the parents? Is their motivation to be challenged on their parenting skills, to share their methods for the greater good -or to have 15 minutes of TV fame?

“It’s not the sense I get from any of the families. I think Season One really resonated with people and they wanted to come on the show and share, but also learn.

“What’s really interesting in the room is that every time Justin Coulson speaks, I watched other parents lean forward, and they just gobble up any information or wisdom he has to share. I’m quite distressed they didn’t do the same thing when I spoke!” she laughs.

The original series developed by Eureka and Nine has been a success with US network ABC even screening its own adaptation in December known as The Parent Test.

As to her own parenting she shares with journalist Michael Willesee, the Current Affair host admits there is always room from improvement.

“I’m so inconsistent. Thankfully, the children have my husband who’s a little bit more consistent than me. I’m strict one day … no television. But the next day out, I’ve had no sleep overnight, or I’m distracted with work stuff, so ‘It’s fine (to watch)!’ So mine needs a little bit of work and more consistency,” she admits.

“I grew up in the country so I was very much raised as a ‘free range’ style. I have two little kids and I live in the city, so while I’d like to be a little bit more relaxed, the kids are small, there are busy roads, traffic everywhere. You’ve got to keep a closer eye on them.

“But I reckon my style will change as they get a little bit older. I believe in a routine. I think maybe just with working with 60 Minutes and then certainly doing the mornings for three years the kids have a set bedtime, have their vegetables every night. That’s considered maybe a bit old school in some ways. There are definitely rules but you also try and make sure that there’s a heck of a lot of fun in there.”

Parental Guidance screens 7pm Sunday, 7:30pm Mondays and Tuesdays on Nine.