The return of Parental Guidance is here and premieres on Channel Nine and 9Now on Monday June 5 at 7:30 pm. Building upon the success of its first season, the show is set to elevate the spotlight on parenting.
In the series, parents with twelve distinctive methods and approaches to parenting will take centre stage. The diverse range of parents brings unique perspectives, differing greatly from one another and the parenting styles showcased in the previous season. Throughout the series, they will critically examine, compare and reassess their own parenting styles with fresh eyes.
Meet the families in the new season of Parental Guidance below:
Parents: Larissa (33) and Marcus (34)
Children: Levi (8) Seanna (6) Amos (4) Caleb (2)
Hometown: Adelaide, SA
Larissa, a stay-at-home mother, and Marcus, the owner of a lawn mowing business, embrace gentle parenting for their high-energy children.
Guided by their Christian faith, Larissa and Marcus approach parenting with calmness and kindness, recognising the need for patience in raising four young children under nine. Despite the inevitable noise that fills their home, they firmly believe in the effectiveness of their parenting style, pointing to their children’s kind and affectionate nature as a testament to its success.
Larissa and Marcus aim to keep their voices calm and gentle, preferring to get close to their children and communicate effectively to prevent emotions from escalating.
Parenting style: Lighthouse
Parents: Sammy (Samantha) (41) and Jason (41)
Children: Pepper (10) Jude (6) Rory (3) Lottie (2)
Hometown: Gold Coast, QLD
Sammy, a psychology student, and Jason, a business analyst, made a life-changing decision during the midst of the COVID pandemic by opting for a beachside sea change.
Sammy and Jason embody the concept of lighthouse parenting. Like a lighthouse, they maintain a watchful eye from a distance, granting their children significant independence while ensuring their safety. The older two children are allowed to swim at the beach unaccompanied, with the parents observing from the balcony. Pepper rides her bike to school, and the older kids have the freedom to visit the corner store by themselves.
Despite promoting independence and self-direction, the children are naturally athletic and driven, displaying a competitive spirit.
Parenting style: Outback
Parents: Tency (32) and David (39)
Children: Vance (10) Wyatt (9) Clancy (7)
Hometown: Mareeba, QLD
Tency, a stunt-double horse rider and business development coordinator, and David, a FIFO worker, embrace a rugged lifestyle as they raise their three adventurous boys on a farm in tropical North Queensland. Their parenting approach allows the boys to engage in activities like shooting guns, riding horses and dirt bikes, and exploring unsupervised, where they learn important lessons through firsthand experiences.
Tency and David prioritise their children’s development of essential life skills. They encourage hands-on learning, such as fixing motorbikes, feeding livestock and fishing at the river.
In certain situations, where a child’s safety is at stake and they refuse to listen, Tency and David resort to physical discipline, understanding that there are life-or-death moments that require immediate attention.
Parenting style: Honest
Parent: Kat (49)
Children: Billy (female, 10) Jesse (male, 10) fraternal twins
Hometown: Adelaide, SA
Kat is an educator and single mother who proudly identifies as a Gen X’er. Her parenting style can be described as “no BS – just raw, honest, and straight to the point”. Kat rebels against the traditional Boomer parenting approach, where many important topics were considered taboo and children were expected to be seen but not heard. Kat also refuses to be the kind of parent that treats their children like a special snowflake.
Day to day, Kat expresses her love for her kids randomly, sharing up to 20 heartfelt “I love yous” and showering them with affectionate cuddles. At the same time, her children are well-attuned to her discerning side glance, balancing playfulness with a clear understanding of boundaries.
Parenting style: Spiritual
Parents: Kajal (37) and Deepak (45)
Children: Krishna (13) Mridula (mri-DUEL-ah) (7)
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Deepak, working in change and communications in IT, and Kajal, an early childhood education professional, live with their two children in a multi-generational home of six, including Deepak’s parents. Their lives revolve around a spiritual lifestyle rooted in Hindu traditions, which they have passed on to their children, Krishna and Mridula.
Despite their busy schedules, they prioritise family time. Each evening the Vinod family embark on a spiritual journey, commencing with moments of meditation, chanting, and prayer. They also read spiritual texts and play music. They cherish their cultural tradition of strong inter-generational bonds, so the children are allowed to share the bed with their parents and grandparents.
The Vinod family believe their children may possess spiritual wisdom beyond their years, having experienced multiple lifetimes through reincarnation. As spiritual parents, Deepak and Kajal avoid any form of shaming or judgement and address negative behaviour through communication.
Parenting style: Stage
Parents: Sarah (47) and Shane (51)
Children: Alaska (17) Xion (13) River (8)
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Sarah and Shane reside on a spacious property in the NSW Hawkesbury region. They embrace the notion that “creative people need space”, opting for a neighbour-free environment where they can freely express their “loud and crazy” personalities.
Sarah runs a theatre company and teaches singing, dancing, and acting, while Shane is a drama teacher. Their three children, Alaska, Xion, and River, are accomplished performers in their own right.
Sarah and Shane describe their parenting style as free, giving their children freedom for self-expression. While homework and screen time are not enforced, Sarah upholds strict standards when it comes to learning lines and performing. They empower their children through stage parenting, fostering unwavering confidence and disallowing tantrums.
Parenting style: Team
Parents: Mark (46) and Leanne (42)
Children: Matthew (16) Billy (11) Ella (8) Brooklyn (6) Bobbi (4) Baylee (3)
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
One in, all in! Leanne, a teacher’s aide, and Mark, an Aboriginal and social inclusions manager in construction, run their family of six children like a tight-knit footy team. (Mark is the stepfather to Leanne’s eldest son, Matthew.) With a deep-rooted love for rugby league, they instil the value of teamwork and unwavering support in their children.
Their parenting philosophy centres on being coaches, utilising repetition, respect, discipline and teamwork as the foundation of their style. They foster a hierarchy among their children, with the eldest assuming the role of captain at any given time. Sports play a significant role in the family’s routine, keeping the kids active and engaged throughout the week.
By embracing their role as coaches and promoting communication during meals, Leanne and Mark create an environment that strengthens their family bonds.
Parenting style: Influencer
Parents: Kat (36) and Jonathan (40)
Children: Latisha (18) Deja (11)
Hometown: Gold Coast, QLD
Kat, a full-time social media influencer, and Jonathan, a mortgage broker, have been together for 16 years, after Kat became a young mother to an abusive ex-boyfriend with Latisha at the age of 17. They prioritise their social media presence and content creation while raising their daughters.
With an anti-strict parenting approach, Kat and Jonathan have few rules, particularly when it comes to screen time. Their focus is on maintaining appropriate behaviour in public, fostering respect, and emphasising communication to be positive influences on their children. Both Jonathan and Kat experienced challenges growing up in strict households due to their South African and Filipino backgrounds, which has shaped their parenting style.
Both daughters have become prominent figures on social media platforms. Latisha has even started monetising her account, while Deja, who has been active on social media since the age of nine, advises Kat on the latest trends and hashtags and sells bracelets on Instagram.
Parenting style: Slow
Parents: Philippa (40) and Chris (39)
Children: Peyton (9) Briar (7) Avery (4)
Hometown: Cairns, QLD
Philippa, a women’s health and fitness coach, and Chris, a corporate well-being specialist, prioritise family bonds through the concept of slow parenting. They value deep connections and cherish experiencing life and nature with their children, embracing a slowed-down lifestyle.
Their parenting approach advocates for boredom. By allowing their children to experience boredom, they believe it encourages creativity and social interaction among siblings. Their home doesn’t have a TV, and they spend ample time in nature to foster these qualities.
Their parenting philosophy finds its roots in attachment parenting, emphasising a sense of security and creating a space for their children to express their emotions.
Parenting style: American
Parents: Kim (51) and Nick (52)
Child: Pia (10)
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Kim, a part-time teacher and empowerment educator for girls, and Nick, the vice-president of an international recycling company, embrace the American parenting style, emphasising confidence and reaching for success.
Kim and Nick met and married in Hong Kong, where their daughter Pia was born. Pia started school at the age of two and has since excelled in various activities. She has a busy schedule by her own choice, engaging in public speaking, fluent Chinese, rhythmic gymnastics, cross-country running, and soccer.
American parenting instils in Pia a strong sense of self-confidence through constant praise and encouragement. Kim and Nick believe that this parenting style fosters well-mannered, confident and independent children. They view confidence-building as a key aspect of American parenting, allowing Pia to believe she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.
Parenting style: Road School
Parents: Amy (39) and John (39)
Children: Jimmy (12) Gus (10) Skipper (6)
Hometown: Echuca, VIC
Before hitting the road on the adventure of a lifetime, Amy worked in theatre at the local hospital, while John was an operations manager in his brother’s family business. Originally from Echuca, Victoria, the family felt time slipping away so packed up everything they owned, leaving behind society’s expectations, to call their caravan home for 18 months.
Amy and John’s decision to break away from the conventional path of life allowed them to reconnect with their family on a deeper level.
Parenting style: Unstructured
Parents: Melody (34) and Michael (37)
Children: Miller (8) Magnolia (4) Maisy (1)
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Melody and Michael, professional musicians specialising in Americana music, lead a bohemian lifestyle. As a family, they cherish the joy of playing music together.
Melody and Michael adopt a child-led approach that prioritises mental well-being over conventional measures of success. They actively involve their children in decision-making processes, allowing them to have a say in matters such as bedtimes, routines, and food choices. Rules are flexible and negotiable, granting the children autonomy in deciding what they eat, watch, and how they spend their time. The family opt to sleep together in the same bed, and screen-time restrictions do not exist.
During their music tours, the family bond over a shared love for performing. On occasion, the children join Melody on stage, showcasing their confidence in front of large audiences. Miller, in particular, has performed in front of thousands of people.
Parental Guidance premieres on Monday, June 5 at 7:30 pm on Nine and 9Now.