Aibu re marbles at nursery

[Inim]

DS has started nursery yesterday, he's recently turned 2 and the lady today said they had marbles but they also said, they had to watch him because they were playing with marble and play dough (sensory play type thing I think ) so they are obviously watching him and know its a choking risk, bug the crazy part of me is scared of choking. Its a very small nursery, 7 kids and 3 staff so they are wtachibg him all the time, he's the youngest and the second youngest is 3
Aibu to be a nervous wreck? I've never left him with strangers before so I'm worried all the time atm
It's a lovely nursery though and the staff are lovely too.

It sounds pretty safe if they have that many staff and are watching them during that activity.

I would be concerned tbh. It just seems such an obvious choking hazard-why not have other things?!

I wouldn't like that! They could have other less swallow-able things!

It's normal to worry a bit. As a child I had a friend who managed to poke his eye out with a stick whilst we were playing once, as a result I have a fear of DD somehow doing the same even if she is just drawing with crayons.

Nursery shouldn't be a completely risk-free environment imo. They had marbles there with an educational purpose (fine motor/manipulation) and it was well supervised.

It's not a great toy for nursery, but it does sound like they are paying attention so it will probably be fine.

I think the only major thing is to question is if it's a toy the adults put out of reach when they've finished the activity or if it's generally available.

I'd be unhappy with marbles because when he was about 4/5 my brother very nearly died choking on a marble. We were all in the room, it took about half a second. I remember it, it was horrible, he was went completely blue. As my dad resuscitated my brother he swallowed it. He spent over a week in hospital and eventually needed an operation to remove it as it wouldn't "pass" through. Never letting my kids near marbles ever.

I am a very laid back parent, I didn't child proof anything, cut things in half etc but even I have held off marbles and my DSs are 5 and nearly 3. They just seem SUCH a big choking risk.

I don't consider myself particularly risk-averse and I wouldn't be happy about this to be honest. Marbles are such an obvious and notorious choking hazard it seems like a draft choice when there are plenty of safe alternatives they could use.

I think as long as it is a supervised activity then it is fine at this age. To all the people who say they will never allow marbles or they have 5 year olds who they don't allow to play with them yet chances are they use them in school.
I have worked in schools for years and every one I have been in has had marbles, marble run etc from primary 1 so children of around 4 years and up to play with not closely supervised but in the general items that they can choose to play with.

I'd be worried too. It does seem a bit strange to have such an obvious choking risk, they've even mentioned it themselves. However it sounds like a good adult to child ratio so sounds like they'll be watched very carefully. Maybe just let them know you're a bit nervous about it and then they can reassure you!

The nursery I worked in for under 3s, regually had marbles and glass beads used for sensory play in each of our age groups. It was something the children loved unversally, such a wonderful resource when used with consideration. But there was a very comprehansive risk assesment in place which the manger insured was followed to the letter.

Only the key worker for each room was allowed to do the activity with their children: they knew the child best, know what stage they were at with listening to instructions and how they explored things etc. The resources had to be signed in and out of the office, and were only allowed out in certain number. The activity would only take place in certain areas, the oldest age group at the table or if using the marble run in a seperate work room, with younger ones in sensory trays in a set area of the room where the marlbes couldn't be rolled easily out of sight. Marbles counted in and out after every child used the activity and pockets of older children checked despite having the correct number. Small groups only for over 2s and 1 to 1 for under 2s, key worker always sat facing children and was fully focused on them (no writen obsevations taken, no paper work done while children were playing independently, other staff asked to take photos etc). Still a risk but managed with first aid trained staff, in five years we had no incidents, just lots of fantastic play and exploring.

You're allowed to be worried. But with a ratio of almost 2:1 I'd felt comfortable running an activity like that with 7 children with the youngest being 2. It's really good they've told you, although I'm sure it doesn't help with the worry, but they seem very awear of the risks.

It takes seconds even on a one to one basis. I don't think you are unreasonable to be worried.

People on MN never seem to understand the absolute necessary life skill taking risks is. How can a child ever make an informed decision if they don't get taught how to take safe risks?

But there are so many small objects around (not just toys, but things like pen lids, buttons can easily fall off unnoticed). It's impossible to remove them all, far better IMO to model safe play in a controlled environment so that children learn how to use things appropriately.

I fucking hate marbles - who invented them anyway...

There is no reason to have marbles in a nursery. It makes no difference if the staff are 'watching', it takes a fraction of a second for a child to pop one in their mouth.

They may be lovely but I would not be leaving my child anywhere until I was happy that no unnecessary risks were being taken. I would tell them you are not happy and would like the marbles removed from play. Why take the risk?

bee do you really consider it a necessary to let a two year old play with marbles to teach them about risk? Seems like a pretty high risk strategy to me

I agree with dobbythedoggy's post. The activity, as with almost all activities, will have been thoroughly risk assessed - if you ask the nursery they should be happy to let you view the risk assessment too.

I'm a childminder and I use marbles in some activities, I also have marble sized wooden beads that we use for threading onto strings. It's risk assessed and I watch the children while we're doing it. The child most likely to attempt to eat one (18mo) is on my lap with me helping him, the other two children (2yo and 3yo) are sat directly in front of me, facing me, and are supervised. As soon as the activity is over, every single bead/marble is packed away and put out of reach. They are never left lying around and never used except in direct supervision. If, by some chance, one was swallowed then I have extensive training in paediatric first aid and a plan in place for such emergencies.

They are quite big marbles and beads, roughly the size of a ping pong ball, as they're for use in EYFS activities and we're bought from an education resources company. I doubt even I could swallow one.

It's sounds more risky to me to have children who have never been able to use marbles in a controlled/supervised way, start school at 4 and then have completely free unsupervised access to them.

Yep, I do think its a reasonable risk to take. Given the reasons other posters have stated.

yanbu

At forest school they'd be having fires and using hammers. At our nursery toddlers had free access to scissors, and all the crockery in the toy kitchen was real pottery which could get broken into sharp pieces, even in the baby room.

It's not risk free but I'd much rather leave my child with people who are putting so much thought and effort into stimulating her. It would be so much easier not to.

That said, it will only work if you really trust the staff.