'America's Supernanny': Playroom of Horrors (VIDEO)

In most households lucky enough to have space for a playroom, it's usually an area where kids can store their toys and play safely. However, on "America's Supernanny" (Tues., 9PM ET on Lifetime), Deborah Tillman encountered one that she described as being "like a house of horror."

As she looked around the foul-smelling, damp-looking basement playroom, Tillman discovered that not only were there dirty clothes piled in the middle of the floor, but that those clothes were infested with fleas from the family pets. And as if that wasn't bad enough, one corner of the room was covered in the dog's urine and feces.

Deborah's professional opinion? The playroom "symbolizes what this family looks like. It's unorganized, there's no respect for anything." Let's hope she can help this family get organized.

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Comments

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

12:01 PM on 12/15/2011

You guys are just being prejudiced about the nanny because she's black.She just has a teaching style that is more direct and hits the nail on the head. These kids will love this nanny because of her no nonsense approach.

[ChangeNeeder]

03:32 PM on 12/15/2011

Noooooo, she's not a nanny. She doesn't work as a team with the family which is what professional american nannies would do without putting people down. If it was that bad she had an obligation to report them to the children's services of the area where they live.

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

11:51 AM on 12/15/2011

It's really important that young children get a sense of order in their early years. When their is too much stuff cluttering the environment, sensory overload occurs. This child can't appreciate any of her toys because she has too many and they're all jumbled in a heap. Storing and rotating toys every 2-3 weeks allows children to re-discover a toy they'd forgotten about. Also putting out organized learning activities on trays that can easily be put back in its proper place helps a child's sense of organization. Parents can incorporate dog walks into a child's activity day by going on a few nature hikes or urban adventures. having them collect twigs ,stones etc. for artwork or insect collecting. Most young children are fascinated with bugs. Catch a cricket and have them decorate a cricket condo and do cricket experiments. Children are so creative at this age. If you set the organized stage they'll amaze you with their findings.

[Jenlv]

04:56 PM on 12/15/2011

Well if they don't they could go the route that I did and LOATHE any kind of clutter!! I'm a bit OCD, but that's probably because I used to have to "duck" when opening the fridge for fear something would fall on me when I was growing up. My mom is an awesome person, but just a centimeter away from being a horder!! I can't even visit for a couple days without having an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia from all the stuff!

[TeriA1]

05:38 PM on 12/15/2011

ROFL! Had to duck when you opened the fridge! Sounds like you turned out ok in any case.

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

08:28 PM on 12/15/2011

Is yur mum a teacher?

[Rayma Allaby]

07:46 AM on 12/15/2011

she isn't supernanny...she isn't even a nanny..bring back jo

[rmca028756]

09:55 PM on 12/14/2011

I don't like the new nanny.

[see-ellen2001]

09:15 PM on 12/14/2011

Where does this family vacation? A toxic waste dump? Might be safer for the kids.

[DaveRhodeIsland]

07:00 PM on 12/14/2011

It's so sad - the little girl deserves better than that. I can't get over how in our country you need a license to drive a car or own a dog, but any two id.i.ots with the right set of genitals can have a child.

[JFaye]

06:41 PM on 12/14/2011

"Where you play at?" How about behind the preposition at...

First, this child is living in squalor ... call Child Protective Services. What direction are the creators or producers taking the show?

[Basil08]

02:22 PM on 12/15/2011

Yea, because you have never made a grammatical error in casual conversation, right?

God grammar Nazis get on my nerves....

[elblanc0]

04:26 PM on 12/14/2011

You realize that these shows are completely not reality, right? The idea for SuperNanny was created in Britian and then the producers cast Jo Frost from hundreds of applicants for her personality. It's not like she was some famous child care guru who they just had to put on TV.

Same for the new one, Deborah. She started out as an accountant and started a small chain of preschools. The fired Jo and needed a quick replacement so they cast her. Why am I even bringing this to your attention?

Because my wife has friends who watch the show like it's 100% real and all the challenges you face raising kids can be solved in 60 minutes and every show has a positive resolution with a nice, tidy bow.

It's fake, people.

[GeeBee]

05:13 PM on 12/14/2011

They fired Jo? My son's friend works on that show and said she was a really cool lady who was always nice and down to earth with the crew. She even gave a group of the guys money to go have some fun when they were doing an episode in Vegas.

I think most people who watch it know it's not 100% real. no more real than any other "reality" show. But it does provide a bit of useful advice, and a satisfying level of "Wow, at least ours weren't that bad".

[jcbigg]

06:18 PM on 12/14/2011

ELBANCO, Jo wasn't fired, she left to start her own family. If you have to explain that this stuff is fake, just let them watch and enjoy. The networks make a ton of money from these shows and pay very little in production costs.

[elblanc0]

10:05 PM on 12/14/2011

The 'left to start her own family' put out by the network was a cover story that Jo has now refuted. She wanted more money and the production didn't want to give it to her and that was that.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/11/28/supernanny-jo-frost-on-deborah-tillman-i-am-not-happy/

[Rayma Allaby]

07:47 AM on 12/15/2011

your wrong..she didn't leave to start a family....she left because they refused her a pay raise...why don't ya do a little research before flapping your yap

[patardugno]

01:53 PM on 12/14/2011

Are we supposed to actually believe that someone would call a "Supernanny",....knowing they will be on TV & their home filmed, ...& have it a pig sty like that, when the issue is supposed to be about how to interact constructively with your children to get the best results of the children's behavior?! PULEEEEEAZE!!!
The dog pees & ppos in the basement?!!!! & the basement is the child's playroom & the washer & dryer are down there?! Get Real!!!!!
They stage that TRAMA!!!

[ralphieandrita]

12:29 PM on 12/14/2011

Seems like this program is taking a turn down a twisted path. It used to be about 'naughty' children, and how 'Supernanny' instructs the parents on how to better handle the child. Now it seems like it is about 'naughty' parents and how their abysmal behavior is affecting their children. Along comes Supernanny to discover these miscreants, and then she fixes it all.The whole premise is then passed off as entertainment. No thanks...

[loreli48]

12:49 PM on 12/14/2011

I hear you. I don't understand how these people allowed their home (if it is that filthy) to be ob national television. Do they not care about possibly loosing their children?

[Phaedra Opielski]

01:49 PM on 12/14/2011

They're probably so used to looking at it that it doesn't bother them anymore.

[floodberg]

12:17 PM on 12/14/2011

There's only one 'Supernanny,' and Tillman ain't her.  She's just a Michelle O look-alike.

The real supernanny would have had CPS on the phone in a heartbeat.

[loreli48]

12:49 PM on 12/14/2011

True.

[floodberg]

02:10 PM on 12/14/2011

Loreli48, I hope to heavens most folks would make that call; they're children and it's everyone's obligation to make sure they're safe, properly cared for and hopefully cherished.  I made a call to CPS when I was out of college and never regretted it.  If you want to see the story, it's in my answer to Misiz7, right below.

[mislz7]

01:47 PM on 12/14/2011

Only an attorney would have CPS on the phone in a heartbeat. Obamalicious.

[floodberg]

02:06 PM on 12/14/2011

Misiz7, when 'only an attorney' has more compassion than you, you might want to rethink your position.

When I was fresh out of college and working (1979-81, during the hostage situation with Iran), I had a neighbor couple from Iran (muslims) who never socialized with anyone but seemed nice.  The husband worked, the wife knew zero english (she was totally isolated) and had a 3yo badly handicapped child (still in a walker.)  I'd never turned in anyone to the authorities, didn't want to be a bad guy, but I couldn't let some 3yo go without medical support when I can do something. 

I called CPS, explained the couple's situation, mom's isolation and the heartbreaking child, asked if they had a translator and could go see her and maybe offer some help.  They did just that; the mother got volunteer language lessons and was less isolated, and the child got strong medical support and began to make obvious progress.   I finally met the husband; after a short conversation found out he'd at first been angry, then very pleased with the help to his wife and child.  I told him I'd made the call because I'd been concerned and couldn't catch him to talk, and he actually thanked me. 

About a year later, they left when the Iranians were expelled; but for a year I slept a little easier knowing the child was being treated.

[rkeeeballs]

12:10 PM on 12/14/2011

so the parent's are filthy vermin and slobs to boot, but they can afford a nanny ?..Sounds like the lazy type with plenty of ca$h......just pay someone to do what we are too lazy to bother with... housework, lawn care, child care, and dinner at a different cafe every day...with the company credit card....I know quite a few of these people..........they will never be quite like the rest of us that work it !....but they will tell you a different story....money = convenience .......do you buy that ? $

[angry mom]

12:54 PM on 12/14/2011

They probably can't afford a nanny. The TV show payes for to go there to entertain the rest of us. For all I know, they let the place get really bad so it would be more sensationsal.

[ms04121966]

01:01 PM on 12/14/2011

It's not about affording a nanny. They call the show to help them learn how to be parents, generally because their kids have become out of control brats because they wanted to be cooler than their own parents and not raise their children with rules and punishments for breaking the rules.

[Theresa Weaver]

12:06 PM on 12/14/2011

Last week they had parents who locked their small children in their bedroom at night. Then this week, they have parents who basically make their kids play around fleas, urine, and feces. Where do they find these people? They don't need a nanny; they need CPS.

[nativesigrl]

11:40 AM on 12/14/2011

And sooo...are any child protection services going to follow up? This is a case of child neglect..pure and simple.Dog feces and urine, flea infestation, squalor?

[KRTaylor]

01:00 PM on 12/14/2011

Unfortunately, you've just described the typical housing project. CPS would have an impossible task if they were to try and tackle every home where children were subject to such filth. Don't think you'll ever see Supernanny in those places though.

[nativesigrl]

08:59 AM on 12/15/2011

I know, I work in the field myself, my husband is a fireman, and sees this everyday, as he works in Brooklyn, in the projects. It's enough to turn your stomach, and the kids have no choice in the matter.I lose sleep at night worrying about these poor children....

[crp767]

11:38 AM on 12/14/2011

She should turn this over to the offices that could do something. This child should not live like this, or the animals.