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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to make a complaint to nursery

81 replies

JarethTheGoblinKing · 24/12/2011 23:07

I know it's Christmas, but all the other threads are about stockings and presents and MILs, so thought's I'd interject with a non-festive thread Xmas Wink

Rightho...

DS was a preschool on Friday. When I picked him up his key worker told me they'd been watching films all day. They watched at least 3 films (I think it was 4 but unsure. Definitely 3+) and some peppa pig. Apparently they didn't do anything else all day.

When I queried this, she said 'Oh, they were all chilled, it's a treat... last day before Christmas and everything'.

Xmas Hmm

Now. I am NOT averse to TV at preschool. They watch TV for 20 mins or so after lunch and dinner, and that's fine as far as I'm concerned.

6 hours of TV in one day though? Was v perplexed about it tbh. She kept insisting that they kids didn't want to do anything else? Um...well 4yo DS would watch CBeebies all bloody day if I let him, but I don't.

So..1 or 2 films on last day of term would have been fine with me. 4 equalling entire day is not. Do I complain or not?

OP posts:
ageperfect · 25/12/2011 00:11

OP-I would be upset too!!!!! All day-not in my books.... Yes,it can be a treat ,one film-perfect but 3 or 4-no.... If they wanted "fun and chilled" last day,maybe one film,bit of playing games,listening nursery rhymes...etc...I realy don't like when kids are being just dumped in front of tv in the nursery/school....maybe ok at homeGrinGrin but NOT in the school....hth

Original poster
JarethTheGoblinKing · 25/12/2011 00:38

Regardless of whether he watched it all or not (which I know he did) the tv was on for the entire day.

Which one if you is going to say that's ok?

OP posts:
RomanChristingle · 25/12/2011 00:40

For 1 day that is perfectly ok. The kids would be getting up and down and chatting amongst themselves. They weren't chained to the floor where they?

maryz · 25/12/2011 00:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drcrab · 25/12/2011 01:29

I wouldn't fall out with them but I would have a word or more. I don't pay over £40 a day for the dc to sit in front of the tv. All day.

jubilee10 · 25/12/2011 13:13

I wouldn't be happy. Occasionally I pay for ds3 (5) to go to holiday club for a day to give me a chance to get things done a bit of peace. I could leave him sitting in front of the tv and throw food at him occasionally but I pay so that he is kept occupied by a range of exciting activities assisted by professionals. This means that if I have to resort to tv on occasion I don't feel bad.

MidsomerM · 25/12/2011 13:42

I wouldn't be happy about TV all day either. One or two films is fine, but it should be interspersed with other things - stories, some playing, dancing to Christmas songs etc. TV all day is what we do with our own kids when we're ill or they're I'll or we're extremely busy with something. I wouldn't expect it from a nursery who should be fully staffed and operational. I think a pre Christmas wind-down is good, but as I say it shouldn't be all TV.

Having said that I probably wouldn't complain unless it was becoming a very regular problem. It's not worth the aggro over one day, especially as I assume your son will be leaving in a few months?

LifeIsButtercream · 25/12/2011 14:09

I wouldn't be happy if I'd paid sometimes upwards of £40 so that my child could be plonked infront of 6hrs of TV.

I know that it's a one-off, so I probably wouldn't make a formal complaint, but YANBU to be a bit annoyed.

skybluepearl · 25/12/2011 14:15

I wouldn't be happy at all. My nursery did lots of lovely festive things - xmas dances, xmas cooking, xmas cards for people, xmas stories etc

Binfullofgibletsonthe26th · 25/12/2011 14:23

Was the staff christmas party the night before? Xmas Grin sounds like the staff wanted some peace to get everything wrapped up for the year.

I have to admit my ds, due to a combnation of excitement, a 10 week mon stop term and very busy weekends in December probably would have sat and watched a test card for 8 hours on Friday wthout moving!

YANBU a little craft activity with some music would have been nice...i would mention it when you get back.

Still reckon the staff were hungover.....

SilentBoob · 25/12/2011 15:30

I'd be cheesed off with that. I like to get my children back from nursery tired and happy. A child who has done nothing but slump in front of the telly all day is not going to be either of those things. Bedtime would be a right pain.

Chandon · 25/12/2011 15:37

not ok. at all.

Lazy staff!

G1nger · 25/12/2011 15:53

Yanbu. I wouldn't make a formal complaint, but I would discuss my concern with the manager.

SmethwickBelle · 25/12/2011 16:12

YANBU I'd complain or at least say I really would want notice if they're planning on just parking them in front of films or telly all day because I can do that for free at home.

I know childminders who have pulled this stunt and its inappropriate for toddlers and lazy and irritating for older children and what's more it pisses me off - I'd never park my own child in front of the TV all day, not even as a "treat" it isn't a treat, it just makes them bored, antsy and belligerent in my experience.

It's a treat for the staff.

RedHelenB · 25/12/2011 16:46

I imagine that as it is their last day at work they needed to clear up, clean etc ready for January?

When I paid my childminder I couldn't have cared less if she had sat in front of the tv all day as long as my children were happy whilst I was at work.

As you said, it was a one off end of term occasion. All places of work have down times.

specialagentmeh · 25/12/2011 17:01

Yanbu - I'd be annoyed. And my toddler would happily watch 7 solid hrs. Whenever bored she wants telly. That's why she goes to pre school - to stop her getting bored & wanting TV!

leeloo1 · 25/12/2011 18:02

'I imagine that as it is their last day at work they needed to clear up, clean etc ready for January?'

Agreed! Most nurseries run on low budgets, so the staff have to do much (or all) of the cleaning. If they hadn't done it on Friday the staff would have had to go in yesterday - that'd be nice for them!

So I guess you have to weigh up having a tidy, clean nursery in January against a day of dvds.

But YANBU, it wouldn't have killed the staff to have had other limited activities running - with 1-2 staff members and most others cleaning etc? Or taken them all outside for a run round. It'll have been a managment decision, so do take it up with them if you're not happy - or at least find out how often they plan to do a 'nothing but tv' day - if its only once a year then (whilst its not good practise, then its) maybe not too bad in the scheme of things?

ReshapeWhileDashingThroTheSnow · 25/12/2011 18:52

Can't believe the number of people here who think this was ok! Hmm Even 'just because it's Christmas'. Clearly, last day of term, staff are either catching up on paperwork or maybe even taking it in turns to dash off for last-minute shopping, and they thought this would be a no-brainer 'treat'. And the OP pays a considerable amount of money - she pays for her child to be occupied and to learn and to play constructively. Not to be sat in front of the telly for hours at a stretch. Hmm

I'd be bloody pissed off too, Jareth. Bog of Eternal Stench for all of 'em.

budgieshell · 25/12/2011 19:32

I have read the whole of this thread and agree watching TV all day is not OK no matter what day of the year it is.
What I do not understand is how they all sat and watched TV for so long. Some children would I'm sure given half a chance, but a lot soon get bored with the choice of film and will wonder off and play in a sand tray, water tray, paint, dress up, Look at a book or just go outside for a run around. Do they have a different room for the TV?

The important thing is choice, if that is what he choose to do that is one thing, if he had no choice then that is very worrying.
I would do nothing yet, but keep a close eye on how much TV is being watched, for how long and do they have to watch.
If you are still concerned talk to the manager.

malakadoush · 25/12/2011 19:49

It's not ok and I would be pissed off too. If you think tv is being used to entertain too much generally then I would certainly mention it.

pantomimecow · 25/12/2011 20:27

Likw the poster above I very much doubt all the 4 yos would sit for 6 hours watching films.I am guessing they got bored after 15 mins of so and switched film.

Hippymum89 · 25/12/2011 22:13

IMO the part I would be Pissed Off about is that you are paying for childcare not watching telly all day!!
Yesss last day and all that, but I think they should have warned you that was the plan (and that it would be all the 'kids' working that day, give you the option to find alternative and not pay Xmas Grin
IMO a treat for little ones would have been a little trip to the park or stories and dancing...

SOOO No, YANBU x

RomanChristingle · 25/12/2011 22:52

I have NEVER met a four year old that would sit for 6 hours straight and do anything. Including watching tv. If I take dd to the cinema she's getting restless by the end of the film.
What harm exactly is going to come to a child if they spend one day not doing entirely 'worthy' activities?

Original poster
JarethTheGoblinKing · 27/12/2011 22:26

Then you've never met DS.

OP posts:
Cherriesarelovely · 27/12/2011 22:33

My DD would have been exactly the same as your DS OP. She would be a telly addict if we let her. I am in total agreement with you. This is lazy, lazy, lazy on the part of the staff. I am a teacher myself (of little ones) and cannot stand the "Stick a video on" mentality. There are a million things you can do around Christmas time, no excuse for telly on all day and no other activities on offer.