Television at nursery - what should I do?

[openskies]

Would you be unhappy if your child's nursery had television on? What would you do if you were?

DS is 20 months old and has been at his nursery for 7 months. We absolutely loved the nursery when he was in the baby room, but about a month ago he moved to the toddler room and we are still adjusting...

Today when I picked him up I noticed that there was a television playing in the background. We make a point of not having television on at home when he is around and I feel fairly strongly that I don't want him watching it until he is at least 2. When that time comes, I would prefer that he sat down for a (short) period of time and solely watched the TV, we talked about what he was watching etc - I don't want it to simply be on in the background (appreciate that many others feel differently about this and this is absolutely fine! - this is just the way that I feel). But, given that we don't have TV on at home (even though sometimes it is tempting!), I really don't want to be paying £80+ per day for him to watch it at nursery. Am I being unreasonable?
I don't know how often they have the TV on (at the end of the day on rainy days? at the end of the day every day? during the day every day??) as I have hardly been inside the toddler room. We are generally expected to wait at the front door and nursery staff bring the children out to us at pick up (the nursery is set out over 4 floors in large Victorian house and I think they want to avoid traffic jams on the stairs) so I really don't have a very good feel for what goes on in the toddler room!

What should I do if I am unhappy about this? Should I try to talk to the staff in his room about it, or go straight to the manager? I really don't want to come across as difficult, but also don't feel particularly comfortable about how he is spending his days now. Would love some advice!!

[SuperFox]

I would be looking for a new nursery!

[insancerre]

That does not sound good
There is never a good reason to have TV on for small children in a nursery
Sounds like they don't want the parents on the building which is a massive red flag
What else are they hiding
I run a nursery and we have an open door policy. Parents ate welce in the nursery any time. We wouldn't dream of making parents wait outaide- that's not conducive to forming and maintaining close realationships with parents.
We don't have a TV and would never have one

[Busymumto3dc]

I always think it's not right when a parent cannot go into the room and see their child playing. It rings alarm bells for me.

As for the tv. I have worked in 4 nurseries. Only one of these had a tv. It would go on from 5-530 each night in our 2-3s room while staff tidied up. It helped us. But as a parent I wouldn't be happy I don't think

[Sirzy]

Why not start by asking them? Did you not notice a tv when you looked around?

[MisForMumNotMaid]

I would ask to go and visit the toddler room. If they are resistant look for a new nursery.

I'd ask when the TV goes on.

At DS2's nursery it used to go on 5.20-6. They used it because the children, when tired, could become quite upset by their friends leaving and it kept them calm whilst the disruption of others putting coats on etc was going on. I didn't like the idea of TV as a baby sitting service but actually when the nursery manager talked to me about it, I preferred the idea of DS being glued to TV for a few minutes than being distressed 'where's my Mummy' in the minutes up to me arriving for his collection.

[oohdaddypig]

Agree. Not allowing parents in the room - whatever their excuse - would be a red flag to me too. Even more than the TV (which I would hate too)

[openskies]

Thanks all

Sirzy - I'm sure there wasn't a TV there when we first looked around. I'm not sure i would have chosen it if there had been... It's run on Montessori principles and in general they use natural materials, minimal plastic etc, so I was fairly taken aback when I saw the TV.

As you've all highlighted, I do feel uncomfortable about not feeling welcome inside the building. Because of this I don't feel like I know the staff and it's difficult to have much of a conversation with them - I feel like they need to get back inside the building to the other children, plus DS is desperate to get moving once he's outside! We were always welcome in the baby room (which has a different entrance), but it's a different story now. None of the other parents I see seem remotely bothered by it though...!?

MisForMum - that's a good point and I agree that I'd prefer the TV than him being distressed.

I'll talk to the manager and see what she has to say about it all

[adsy]

£80 a day??!!!!
Sweet lord

[Teladi]

I would not be happy about this but the explanation MisFor posted would seem plausible. However I would definitely not be happy about not being able to go into the toddler room. I love going in and catching a tiny glimpse of my DD playing before she notices me! I also love dropping her off in the morning, helping her with her shoes (she finds this reassuring) and seeing what she is going to be doing for the first little while of the day!

[BlahBlahYackedySmackedy]

I am also having the same concern. I picked up DD today and was I informed they had put frozen on the computer for her to watch...

[user1469376681]

My children's nursery have tablets and once in a while when they have all been good they are allowed to watch things like Mr Tumble or Julia Donaldson films and something called The Wiggles (they are only allowed to watch that if they join in with the actions or so they tell me) but if it was all day every day I would not be happy
Once a week even seems too much to me

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

Why do people never find interesting zombie threads to revive?

Like you could have a really cool super-fast brain-eating zombie thread about an in law who turns out to have a really shady past, or a work colleague surreptitiously putting laxatives in the office tea round, but no. This zombie thread is like the easy-kill zombie that shuffles along and is allergic to brains and probably only has like half of one arm so it's the one that drags itself along on the floor and the hero whacks the hatchet into its head in the first ten seconds.

[user1469376681]

Wow
I'm sorry for being new to the forum today and not fully understanding how it works
Sorry I'm not as rude and bitchy as you either
Sorry for being a nice person and trying to help

[LilacSpunkMonkey]

[Andbabymakesthree]

There's huge zombie warning highlighting that it's an old thread before you post on it. Pretty simple!

[user1469376681]

Again
I'm sorry for being new here and not knowing how things work

Is it hard to understand that or do you just have to be horrible to each other?

[WhatTheActualFugg]

Welcome to Mumsnet user1469376681

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

user1469376681

You are forgiven.

[KP86]

Something called The Wiggles made me chortle. They are an Australian kids music group worth millions and millions and millions.

[user1469376681]

Oh really I had never heard of them until recently haha

[TiggyOBE]

The Wiggles (Wiki)

"They have earned several Platinum, Double Platinum and Multi-Platinum records, as well as sold 23 million DVDs and 7 million CDs, and have performed, on average, to one million people per year."

[user1469376681]

Wow!!
They must be good haha
I might look them up for home!

[Dripdrop]

I know this is a zombie thread but the person that revived it is clearly on the mobile app which I don't think has zombie warnings.