KPA - Little Angels
Little angels or little terrors - the choice is yours!
"Little Angels" is a British reality television series for parents, using actual (or 'real live' cases) of children and parents in their own home being coached by a behavioural expert or psychologist.
In all programmes, a child or children are shown behaving badly, in most cases uncontrollably and the parent(s) are unable to manage or control this behaviour. For both child and parent, life has become a real struggle. Despite clearly loving their children and wanting the best for them, relationships between parent and child and in many of the cases the parents themselves, have become strained and seemingly, irretrievable difficulties, have set in.
Each week the programme portrays a different scenario and family situation. A wide variety of parent/child relationships are portrayed including mothers and fathers parenting on their own, parents with one or several children behaving in an unacceptable manner and families where there is a child with a disability. There is bound to be a scenario parents can identify with.
The programme "Little Angels" is a valuable resource for parents. Although the programme begins with children screaming and behaving in a very "out of control' manner, (which can be very distressing and tempt you to turn off the telly), by the end, the parent with the assistance of a psychologist coaching them in behavioral management techniques, has regained control.
The tables are turned! Instead of the child 'ruling the roost' so to speak the parent is in charge and this is how it should be. Such dramatic change in a short time does seem rather incredible. In reality, it is more likely to have happened over a six-week or even longer time span. I have wondered though as you probably have - do the psychologists follow up and review the child's and parents' progress in order to ensure the changes have remained on a long term basis? Without this one could be left with the impression that the programme has just been about entertainment.
The programme "Little Angels" is more than entertainment. It not only has high ratings amongst viewers but is also highly valued amongst professionals working with families and their children. Many professionals report videoing the programme to use as a resource to reinforce the behavioural intervention work they are doing with families, thus providing an educational tool and resource for professionals working in the field.
Why then is "Little Angels" so effective and have such wide appeal? Firstly parents can easily identify with the situations portrayed in the programme. They are "real" and show parents at the end of their tether which as parents we have all felt at times. All of us have had young children throwing tantrums, being maniplutive and trying to control us. What is important in my view, is how the parent copes with that behaviour and what messages are given to the child in the manner in which the parent responds to it. "Little Angels" does this extremely well.
The psychologists in "Little Angels", who appear well qualified and competent, demonstrate and coach the parent with positive parenting methods which are not only really simple but also effective. By the end of the programme, the parent is significantly more in control, and with what appears to be more of a win-win situation between child and parent. Of course the child doesn't see this at first as they react furiously against the new behaviour regimes imposed on them by the parent, but with the persistence and determination of the parent, the child eventually learns that their (old) behaviour will get them nowhere!
In one particular programme, the parent was trying to settle the child at night, having to go in 64 times after the child continuously got out of bed. With out the support of the psychologist coach there is no way the parent would have persisted. In that particular case the child was well settled after several nights of the Dad just sticking with the new rules about bed-time.
The old 'catch them being good' strategy is also used and proves effective in creating enormous changes in children's behaviour. This involves praising or paying attention to the behaviours you like and wish to strengthen rather than always paying attention to the negative or unacceptable behaviour.
What is unique about the programme, and critical to the success achieved between parent and child, is the fact that the psychologist works alongside the parent in the home using electronic aids to coach the parent in more constructive and positive techniques to manage the child's behaviour. At points where the parent could easily give up, a supportive voice prompts them with instructions such as "Don't give up you are doing well" or "Walk away ignore the tantrum". In every day life, when you are having a bad day with your child, wouldn't that be so welcoming?
In respect of the down side of the programme, one criticism might be to do with the child's right in respect of being portrayed in a bad light or in a distressed state which could be upsetting when they are older. While this is valid comment it must be remembered that the purpose of the programme is to demonstrate positive interventions being used with a child and parent, demonstrating how these work in the interests of the child. The programme, in my view, is more about the parent's behaviour than the child's. "Little Angels" quite aptly demonstrates the belief that changes in the child's behaviour will not happen until there are changes in the way the parent responds to them.
It is also important to remember that "Little Angels" is not a substitute for parents attending a full parenting course. One only sees snippets of the behaviour as well as the behavioural strategies demonstrated to the parents. While you might see Timeout or the naughty chair being used as a technique, often the programme failed to make clear the reason given and all the steps necessary such as the importance of praise and hugs when the child eventually complies and behaves in an acceptable way.
Overall, the programme "Little Angels" has provided a valuable educational or learning resource for parents. In all of the programmes the child or children's lives would appear to be transformed. The intervention by the psychologist/coach, appears to have created a turning point in their lives. These children now seem to have every chance to move forward an all aspects of their development-educationally, socially and emotionally. Most of all, by the end of the programme the child is seen as having a happy and positive relationship with their parent(s). The whole atmosphere at home would appear to have improved, with relationships between parents enhanced and the child getting along so much better with siblings as well.
Gillian Taylor
Registered psychologist, currently working as an Advisor with The Office of the Children's Commissioner in Wellington |
