6 Parenting Tips From Mary Poppins

Hi friends! Have you ever watched movies titled Mary Poppins? It is a musical movie that tells the story of the magical nanny. The nanny takes care of two children in the Banks family, Jane and Michael. This movie reminds me of Nanny 911, a television series that shares many parenting tips. As much as I love to share many things about the movie, I want to share 6 parenting tips from Mary Poppins in this article. Happy reading!

Parenting Tips From Mary Poppins 1: Find the fun!

Mary Poppins successfully created fun activities for the children, including during the chores. When she asked the children to tidy up their toys, she turned them into games. She sang and told the children that there is happiness in everything we do. We have to find the fun. There is a song which expresses those feelings in this movie, A Spoonful of Sugar. The lyrics, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” and the description of how birds toot and bees buzz while working shows the importance of having fun.

Through the song, one of the crucial points is that children will work better on activities when they are fun. Why do children love to play games? Because it’s fun. It’s their nature to have fun and be cheerful. Similarly, they will love learning, going to school, or doing chores if those are fun activities. Instead of pushing them to do less interesting activities, let’s help them find the fun in them.

Parenting Tips From Mary Poppins 2: Kind, yet firm

Indeed, Mary Poppins is cheerful and friendly, yet she is also firm and disciplined. For instance, when the room is messy, children must tidy it before doing other activities. She also firmly asks the children to stop playing and follow the schedule that has been made, like bedtime. So, her cheerfulness and kindness do not make the children become undisciplined or behave impolitely. They are happy but still have boundaries.

I am kind but extremely firm -Mary Poppins-

Parenting Tips From Mary Poppins 3: Teach about consequences

Have you ever worried your child or child you care for will get sick when playing in the rain? Are you afraid that they will fall while running? Worry is a natural thing and form of affection, although try not to overdo it and still give the child freedom. In Mary Poppins’ story, she allows Jane and Michael to explore. However, she introduces the consequences of their actions.

For example, when Jane and Michael’s clothes are wet from the rain, and they show flu symptoms, Mary Poppins asks them to take medicine. Like most children, Jane and Michael refuse the medicine given. Mary Poppins said, “Children who get their feet wet must learn to take medicine”. This phrase can be interpreted as saying that we must learn to accept the consequences of our actions.

Parenting Tips From Mary Poppins 4: Reverse Psychology

There is a scene where Jane and Michael refuse to go to bed after playing all day. Mary Poppins doesn’t force them to sleep but instead asks them to stay awake with a song. The song’s lyrics “Stay Awake” contain sentences that persuade Jane and Michael not to sleep, such as ‘Stay awake’, ‘You’re not sleepy’, ‘Don’t lie down’, and the like. As Mary Poppins softly sang the song, Jane and Michael forced their eyes to stay open. But eventually, they fell asleep.

Reverse psychology can be used in parenting methods to deal with children’s tendency to ‘defy’ their parents. For example, when parents say not to shout or do A or B. Children tend to do it. Therefore, not showing an attitude that prohibits is expected to be able to prevent children from doing it. However, parenting experts say that reverse psychology in parenting must be carried out by parents responsibly and must not harm children, either physically or emotionally. In my opinion, introducing the consequences of actions is safer and more effective than using reverse psychology. However, this must also consider the child’s characteristics and developmental stage.

Tips: Be honest and don’t make false promises to your child

Honesty in educating is essential. For example, when a child does something good, praise them. When a child does something bad, emphasise that what they did was bad. However, adult actions must still consider the child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Sometimes, we lie to our children to make them happy. However, it is important for children to learn to accept criticism and suggestions from others as well. It can start from the family environment. Mary Poppins doesn’t even want to promise to always be with Jane and Michael because she knows there will be a time when she has to leave the Banks family. She doesn’t want to promise something she can’t keep.

Tips 6: Build good communication between parents and children

There is often a misunderstanding between the intentions of parents and the child’s perception of their parent’s actions. In the film Mary Poppins, parents and children are guided to get to know each other better. For example, Mary Poppins suggests to George Banks (Jane and Michael’s father) that they take Jane and Michael to his office so that they understand what their father does. On the other hand, Bert (Mary Poppins’ friend) gives Jane and Michael a different perspective on their father’s love. When their father is angry, maybe their father needs help and doesn’t know who to ask.

You have got your mother to look after you, and Mary Poppins, and Constable Jones, and Me. Who looks after your father?

Parents should also be willing to accept criticism or comments given by children to them. Because maybe, parents do actions that are not liked or not right for children, but do not realize it.

Sometimes a person we love, through no fault of his own, can’t see past the end of his nose

Parenting is indeed an educational act carried out by parents towards children. However, children are individuals who are also involved in every action. Communication and mutual understanding between children and parents are crucial for educational success. Thank you for reading! What do you think I should write next? By the way, you can also watch the brief video here.

Revised on Feb 20, 2025