Little Angels

Little Angels is a series on Parenting from the BBC. It shows four families with children whose behavior they are unhappy with. The second series begins on 7th September 2004 on BBC 3.

Series 1

Episode One - The Bartons
The Bartons have three lively little boys under six and the two older ones fight constantly, disrupt precious family time and make bedtime a nightmare. Dr Tanya Byron, the BBC's parenting expert for this series advise the Bartons on how to improve their childrens behaviour with simple techniques that any parent can employ. What can all parents take away from this episode?

The first technique is to not give attention for poor behavior. When the child has a tantrum they should be ignored, eye contact should not be made and the child should not be talked to. Second, when asking a child to stop doing something, us Once Nicely, Once Firmly, Time Out. Ask your child once nicely. Next time ask them firmly to stop. If they still refuse they should go for time out. This means they should be put alone in a room where they will be safe for a number of minutes. The number of minutes should be equal to their number of years, ie a a three year old would stay for 3 minutes. Dr Byron suggests that you should hold the door to ensure that they stay for the required time.

Good behavior is praised and rewarded by using sticker charts, with a reward if enough stickers are collected. However poor behavior is is given a sad face or a cross, and any reward is lost.

The results on the programme are impressive, with the children soon responding to their parents firm-but-fair approach to disicpline.

Episode Two - The Christies
The Christies eldest son Matthew is five and his behaviour is difficult, aggressive and is causing him to be sent home from school. Dr Tanya Byron shows his parents a video of their behaviour towards him, which is a salutary experience for them. They jump on him for almost every little thing, things which are quite normal for a young boy to do. They also admit later in the episode that they split up for a while which occured at the time his behaviour began to deteriorate.

As well as using all the techniques given in the first episode his parents are advised to lighten up on him! By the end they are much happier with his behaviour, and hopefully he is a much happier child. He came over as a lovely boy in the program, and it must have been hard for him feeling he couldn't do anything right.

Episode Three - The Norrises
The Norrises have two children Katie and Emily, the oldest Katie runs the household! Her tantrums rule the family. The techniques used in the other programmes such as ignoring her tantrums, using star charts to reward good behavior are employed to great effect. The main lesson, however, from this programme was the improvement in the children's sleep habits.

The Norrises were putting the children to bed with the television on, the light on and with drinks in their bedroom. Dr Tanya Byron recommended that the children are put to bed with no TV, the lights off and no drinks. From the first night the children go straight off to sleep and sleep through till the next morning. What a surprise! How is anyone expected to sleep with the TV on and the lights on?

Episode Four - The Soilleux
The Soilleux family have three children. The youngest child Emily has got into the role of family whinger, as well as going to sleep late every night in front of the television with her father. Dr Tanya Byron's video evidence demonstrates to the parents that they are giving Emily lots of attention every time she whinges. This makes it a good policy for getting her own way, so her behavior if greatly improved by using the technique of ignoring her whilst she has her tantrum.

She is also encouraged to go to sleep in her own bed by having her father stay with her in her room, moving further and further from her until she can fall asleep alone. Finally her mother has to face the fact that she is trying to keep Emily as 'her baby' rather than let her grow up. With Dr Byron's coaching mother and daughter are able to survive a shopping trip together.

This series is both entertaining and educational, with lots of advice that can be easily adopted by any desparate viewers. Recommended for all parents of toddlers.

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