Parental Guidance: Everything you need to know

When it comes to modern-day parenting, none of us are nailing it, but we all have an opinion on how it should be done. Channel Nine’s new series, Parental Guidance, premieres Monday, November 1, at 7.30pm.

Ally Langdon and Australian parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson put opinionated parents, with diverse parenting methods, to the test through a series of challenges in the search for Australia’s best parenting style. 

Every episode the challenges escalate in difficulty, pushing families to their limits to discover their strengths and the areas they can improve. Here they’ll laugh at their fails, share advice, and most importantly celebrate their successes, even when the parent in question can’t see it for themselves. 

Parental Guidance hosts Dr Justin Coulson and Ally Langdon

How It Works

The Parent Panel

First up, Justin and Ally bring 10 sets of parents into the Parents’ Lounge, where they are split into two groups: five Focus Parents and five Parent Panel Parents. All 10 sets of parents, moderated by Ally and Justin, watch as the Focus Parents (Group A) go to work demonstrating their parenting style with their family through a series of challenges which escalate across the week.

The Parent Panel review, react and discuss styles with Ally and Justin in the Parents’ Lounge, and then nominate their parenting style of the day, ie. the best parenting style so far. A final vote by Parent Panel for two best parenting styles will decide who proceeds to Crowded House from Group A.

After this decision, Group A and Group B swap. Four families will head to Crowded House.

Crowded House

Four families as voted by Parent Panel move in together. Each parent gets 24 hours in charge, including managing a Bucket List Event created by them – the other three sets of parents watch on and compare.

At the end of their time in the house, Ally and Justin choose the top two parents based on who has taught us the most and proven themselves to send to the ultimate parenting test: The Wilderness Challenge.

The Wilderness Challenge

The top two parents, with their families, go on a wilderness camp for 48 hours to see their parenting style stripped bare. 

Afterwards, all 10 sets of parents plus Ally and Justin reunite in the Parents’ Lounge to review the final journey and see the parents vote on whose parenting style has proved to be the best.

The Families

Taking part are:

• Strict parenting style: Andrew and Miriam from NSW
• Nature parenting style: Liadhan and Richard from SA
• Attachment parenting style: Lara and Andrew from VIC
• Routine parenting style: Brett and Tony from VIC  
• French parenting style: Yann and Donna from NSW
• Tiger parenting style: Kevin and Debbie from NSW
• Home school parenting style: Deb from QLD  
• Helicopter parenting style: Rachel and Sam from QLD
• Free range parenting style: Penny and Daniel from NSW  
• Disciplined parenting style: Rob and Sioux from SA 

See More: Parental Guidance: Everything you need to know about the families

Parental Guidance premieres: Monday, November 1, At 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9now