TV in rooms age 2 and up - what do you think?

[Pinkveto]

I'm just starting to look round nurseries for my DD to go when she is 9 months.

One emporium (they have 2 nurseries in the vicinity) has a TV in the 2-3s and 3-4s room.

They tell me that they only use it for 15 minutes morning and afternoon, and try to keep it educational but "we do let them bring in DVDs from home".

I dont know what to think about this particularly in light of the recent recommendation of no TV under 3.

I am concerned that 15 minutes on a rainy day, when the children are all a bit whingey, could stretch to much longer. A friend looked round about a year ago and was told that it was limited to an hour and a half a day - she didnt send her little boy there because of this.

I also have the slightly surreal image of children bringing in video nasties, or the PGA golf DVD for general viewing, (although of course its going to be non stop Disney drivel!)

Are they being pragmatic using TV in short bursts? Am I being overly middle class being worried about it?

It is the best nursery Ive seen so far, which makes it even more difficult to evaluate.

Mumsnet opinions please.

[hana]

I thik there is a atime and palce for tvs - certainly on rainy days it helps ( we sometimes use one at school for raisny breaks or lunctimes)
I would be concerned if it's any longer than 20 or 30 mintues to be honest and certainly not everyday

[CrispyNoodles]

Not sure about it being needed on every day, tbh, but if it is only at the very beginning and very end of the day, maybe I'd go with it.

[BabiesEverywhere]

Any DVD film brought in from home will be a minimum of 90 minutes long. Do they really play 10 minutes and then turn off Shrek mid film I would be very surprised if they could do so without mega meltdowns.

Why pay for child care, if they stick the kids in front of the TV, even for 30 minutes a day. What are the carers doing for that 30 minutes ? Do you get a refund for that time when they are ignoring your kids

Sounds dodgy to me.

[CountTo10]

The nursery we use has a tv and it's used after lunch when some children are sleeping and last thing during the day whilst they are waiting to be picked up. It's never longer than 20mins and its always kids programmes that they have their or have as a group walked to the library to choose. They usually choose things either like peppa pig which are short and sweet or things like Hi 5/wiggles they can sing and dance along to. I have never had an issue with it as we allow ds to watch tv at home. If, however I thought they were sitting them down in front of it for hours or using it instead of activities then i would complain.

[sparklesandwine]

If they are using it as they say they are for educational programmes then it wouldn't be a major problem, but only a couple of times a week certainly not every day twice a day. Also if children bring things in to watch from home then you have no control over what they are going to watch it may be something you feel is unsuitable for your child.

TBH i've never heard of a nursery having tv's in any rooms round here, i used 2 different nurseries when i worked and neither of them had a tv in any rooms they used 'play' instead on rainy days. You could always ask them to let you know in advance what they are going to watch but i really don't think that nurseries should have tv's to occupy the children i think they should be finding other ways to engage them when it's rainy

[rattyfraggle]

Hi I am a manager in a nursery. god strike me down...we have a tv!

We have it on at luchtime when the children watch roughly 20-25 mins. We have dinner in two sittings so while one half has lunch the others sit quietly and then swap. not one of our parents has ever complained-we do not have progs from home and we certainly NEVER use disney. Its usually bob, thomas, angelina, etc. short programmes absolutely suited to the age of the children watching it. Never for the under two's. no one propped up in a high chair, and if any child does not want to watch they can play puzzles, read, anything quiet and calm. if you trust your nursery, then trust that they have the right intentions where the tv is concerned. Would you take your child out of primary or secondary for watching tv? My 15 yr old has just told me that they are watching Dr Moreau, by HG Wells and how terrifying it is, but i am not going to phone the school tommorrow as i trust that it is relevent. If you have any questions talk to your manager. BTW, we dont use it when its raining as we plan our days, if it rains, we do inside physical activities. Sorry for ranting, but i watched tv before i was 3, so did my girls who at 12 and 15 are in the top classes for all of their subjects, and it hasnt affected any of us!!!

[rattyfraggle]

sorry me again, just to add, we do not keep the tv in the nursery, its in the office, and only got out when being used.

[nurseryvoice]

we have a tv in our dining room/split into two with a comfy side.

it is used every day for 15 mins between 1215 and 1230 this allows the very boistrous children to sit down and let their lunch settle.

babies go straight back to their own room.

we watch noddy, rosie and jim, postman pat etc

i would not allow tv in the rooms, as i am sure that it would be left on for long periods.

[foxcub]

I think its a slippery slope allowing Tv in the kids room when they're that young. Its addictive like computers and how will you manage it - by popping in and monitoring whether its turned on or not?

I can't really see the need for Tv's in young children's rooms TBH. Surely having a TV is linked to the semi independence of an older child, who you can trust to do all the stuff they need to get done (homework etc) rather than just watch TV. Maybe your Dcs are different to mine, but my three (6, 3 and 3months) would stare at the TV all day if I let them. There is not way I could trust them not to turn it on if it was in their room!!

[Pinkveto]

Thanks rattyfraggle and nurseryvoice - good to hear from the other side. I think it is well intentioned tv use, but it is actually in the rooms, as this nursery doesnt have a separate dining room.

I think Ill go back for a second visit, and ask some of the questions raised. (What indeed does happen if you turn off Shrek after 15 minutes? Can children spontaneously combust with rage?)

We dont really watch TV at home - the odd bit of sport, or a film, so I dont really want DD to become used to watching it every day out of habit.

[Hulababy]

DD's first nursery had a TV in the toddler room. It was used at the end of the day, around pick up time - so about 5:15-5:30. And then very very occasionally after tea if the weather wasn't dry.

They would watch children's DVDs - normally CBeebies type plus other educationally ones. Every so often they would stop the DVD/video and do Q&A with the children about what they were watchig/learning.

I thought they actually made really good use of the TV facilities and it was used in an educational way - just another learning tool.

I have no problem with 30 minutes DVDs like this at all. TBH I wouldn't if it was just watching a programme from CBeebies, without the Q&A, as I know if DD was at home she'd have watched some TV also some days.

[GroovyChic]

I asked this question a few months back when I was looking for a nursery for my ds. I decided not to go with the nursery with the tv as ds would have been attending 2 afternoons a week and this particular nursery watched edu prog 40 mins every afternoon, so a large chunk of his time there.

Would your DD be going full time?

[Highlander]

When DS1 started nursery for 3 mornings/week (he was nearly 2) I formally complained about the use of TV at lunchtime and evening. I cited references that TV was not recommended for the under 3's.

They don't use it on the days that DS1 is there, but were quite open that they wanted to use it just before lunchtime when the kids are coralled when hot food is brought in. Understandable, but still not acceptable.

[BirthdayBabe]

I would run away from that nursery personally. We pay them to look after/entertain the children, not to stick them in front of the tv.

[MadamePlatypus]

Don't understand what the point of a TV is at a nursery? Even setting aside concerns about children watching TV, I would imagine that it would just wind the children up - if they want quiet time, whats wrong with a story, or even a story tape?

[jellybellie]

NO TV in the nursery that we use either - for "quiet time" they all sit down and listen to a story. I think if TVs are kept in the rooms then it would be too tempting for staff to overuse them in order to keep the children quiet instead of entertaining them themselves (which is what they are paid to do!)

[LazyLine]

I use TV at home to get a few minutes of peace whilst I do something else.

This is not necessary at a nursery, IMO. There are several staff there to entertain the wee uns and they have each other to play with. Do not see why they would need a tv unless they are using it instead of playing with the children.

[nurseryvoice]

I've already said we have a TV in our dining room (on the comfy side) and I allow my nursery children to watch a video after lunch. nice and short educational ones 15 mins....
Have you ever tried reading a story to 22 wound up 3 and 4 year olds? Its fine with a couple or even 10 but not that many.
It ensures they sit down and let their lunch settle before going back to their rooms, they can lay down if they wish on the comfy chairs.
I think it is nice to have a change and not be in the same room all day.(some of whom have been there from 0730 and will be there until 6pm)
The children also take it in turns to choose a video.
I have also said I would not have a tv in the nursery rooms as it is too much of a temptation to put it on for longer periods. (which I have also seen)