The Webb Family

The Webb Family is the second episode of Season 2 of the American Supernanny show. This Episode features Jo dealing with Down Syndrome.

Episode summary
Jo visits the Webb family of Cathy (42) and Arthur (42) in Richmond, Virginia. They have three children: Josef (6), Paige, who has Down's Syndrome (5), Madison (2 1/2). Josef feels left out and is aggressive and rude towards Paige. Paige has an issue with communication skills and is picking up Josef's Behavior. Madison is demanding and clingy.

With Arthur's job as a management consultant causing him to travel from Sunday to Friday night, Cathy is left alone to take care of the kids along with juggling a full-time job as well.

Observation
Arthur leaves pretty much as soon as Jo shows up. The kids are engaged with technology while Cathy does the housework. There are five or six television sets in the Webb family home. Jo asks Josef what he does when he is not on his computer, watching TV, or playing video games. Josef does not do as it is apparently all he does.

When Madison gets sick of TV and tries to get Cathy's attention, Cathy sends her away. Cathy tells Jo that Arthur is lazy before finally engaging the girls in coloring. Cathy admits that she does not have much time to work with Paige, who has Down Syndrome. Josef and Paige fight a lot. Arthur returns from his errand five hours later. After unpacking groceries, he goes downstairs to take a three-hour power nap while Cathy bathes the kids.

Cathy struggles trying to get the kids into bed. They all come out of their rooms constantly. She keeps putting the girls to bed while Arthur's in bed. Cathy tells Jo that this can go on until 11.30 at night (their bedtime is 8.30). But Jo doesn't stick around that long. She leaves at 10.30.

Parents Meeting
Jo calls Arthur out on his laziness.

Teaching
When Jo puts up The Routine, Arthur becomes Resistant and argues about it, saying he doesn't want to get Up at 7:00 in the Morning.

When Josef begins to yell inside the house, Jo walks her through the Naughty Chair technique. Cathy has to constantly put Josef back on the chair. Jo ends up having Cathy take the chair in the kitchen so she can go on making dinner. With his time out still not done during the girls' bathtime, Cathy brings the chair in the bathroom.

Jo brings in Dr. Lynn Koegel to help Paige with her speech. Cathy is impressed with the progress Paige makes within just a 15 minute period. Jo introduces the shared play technique. She tells Josef that we need to show Paige and Madison how to play, which seems to please him.

At bedtime, Jo introduces her Stay In Bed technique. The kids repeatedly come out of their bedrooms as soon as Cathy puts them back in. Jo decides that she needs to use more drastic measures with Josef. She takes away his video game console and tells him that if he doesn't go to bed, the Television and the computer will be next. Josef gets the message and goes to bed.

Family Test Run
Josef slaps and hits Paige, so Cathy sends him the Naughty Chair for seven minutes. Seven minutes later, Josef apologizes to both Paige and Cathy. While playing Hide and go Seek with the kids, Josef takes a net from Paige and Arthur firmly taps him. Cathy involves Arthur in the bedtime technique, but he is not a believer.

DVD Meeting
When Cathy sees the tap on DVD, she points out that Josef should have been sent to the Naughty Chair, but Arthur does not believe in the Naughty Chair. He would rather use a firm tap when he is with the kids alone. He says that just one tap eliminates issues for the rest of the day.

Jo explains that the Naughty Chair would work better if both parents practiced it. Arthur Admits he will still support Cathy's use of the Naughty Chair when they are all at home together, but Does Say he'll still use his Firm Tap When she's away.

Reinforcement
Jo feels like Paige does not always understand the concept of Stay in Bed while Josef and Madison do. She suggests that Madison be placed in a different bedroom so Paige does not get her riled up. Arthur is not pleased by that idea but does it as a gesture to his wife and kids.

Jo has Arthur try the Stay in Bed technique. Josef comes out once, Paige stays in bed and doesn't get up, but Madison continues to get out of her bed. Arthur gives up after 30 minutes, because "Now it's turned into a game." He goes downstairs to watch TV. Cathy steps in and Madison finally stays in her room.

Cathy admits to Jo that she will miss her. They tear up and hug. Arthur says he is pleased with the routine Jo has set up for his family and if Cathy can keep up with the routine, it will give him peace of mind when he is on the road. Jo now leaves the Webbs forever.

Family Members
Arthur Webb

Cathy Webb

Josef, (6) (born December 14, 1998)

Paige, (5) (born May 19, 2000)

Madison, (2 1/2) (born January 8, 2003)

Trivia

 * This is the first episode where Dr. Lynn Koegel appears to help a family.
 * This is also the first episode that has Jo helping a family with a disabled child the other ones were The Facente Family, The Goins Family, and The Prescott Family
 * Arthur is not well liked by fans due to him being resistant with the techniques. This makes him the first parent in the entire series, to be against Jo’s techniques. Although, he did show support of the naughty chair during the DVD meeting. The other two parents to have disagreed with the techniques or turned on Jo, are John from The Nitti Family and Holly from The Tafoya Family
 * This is the first episode where Jo helps an African American family.

Pop Culture
The game Cathy, the kids, and Jo were playing was Crocodile Dentist

Transcript
The Webb Family/Transcript

Behind The Scenes
This episode was filmed in July 2005.

Cathy had an ear tumor during filming. She has had dizzying spells as a result of it.

Events Post-Supernanny
According to an article on a website called "Diary of a First Time Mom" published in December 2012, Paige does well in school and loves swimming, reading and playing tennis.

Cathy is part of an organization called "Shining on Down - African American Children with Down Syndrome" which brings awareness to African American children who have Down Syndrome.