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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to have second thoughts nursery which has real hammers, spanners and nails

40 replies

mummabearjustgotfierce · 12/09/2016 21:34

I am sending my 2 year old dd to nursery full time next week for the first time. Me and DH have looked around a few and found one that we liked. We looked around it twice and have since paid the deposit, bought the uniform and filled in all the paperwork. We were very happy with the nursery until today. My dd had her first settling in session and she was happy when we went to pick her up. We actually saw some of the nursery staff out with some other children today who didn't know who we were and they were very nice and kind to the children. However, when we went to pick dd up, DH noticed there was a workbench which had real clawhammers, spanners, screwdrivers and metal nails. I didn't notice and it was when we took dd out that dh said to me about it. I rang the nursery back to ask and the lady said yes they do use it but only under close supervision. AIBU to feel really uncomfortable about this? I start my new full time job on monday and don't know whether to find dd a new nursery or if I'm over reacting? She has her next settling session on wednesday so I'm going to talk to the staff more in depth then about it. Just wondered if this is the new norm? If its relevant it was rated outstanding by OFSTED. Just need some advice thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

mummabearjustgotfierce · 12/09/2016 21:34

Should say about nursery in title sorry.

OP posts:

museumum · 12/09/2016 21:38

I think it sounds great. I would probably ask for more detail about how they manage it, just cause I'd be interested. I'm quite sure they won't be routinely letting the kids damage themselves or others.

5OBalesofHay · 12/09/2016 21:38

Very closely supervised I'd be really happy. Sounds fine to me (as long as the supervision really is close)

ThatStewie · 12/09/2016 21:38

Lots of nurseries do this now. It's all about learning through play and exploration and supervised access to tools means they'll be learning some amazing things.

strawberrybootlace · 12/09/2016 21:40

Sounds fine to me. I would also want to know what they mean by 'close supervision' though.

turquoise88 · 12/09/2016 21:42

Is very common for children in early years settings to be exposed to 'real life' things nowadays.

Lots of settings now have wood work type areas that are used under close supervision.

YABU to consider choosing new nursery. Complete overreaction.

PlugUgly1980 · 12/09/2016 21:42

I'd say it sounds like a fantastic nursery! My two go to an outstanding nursery and have done since 8 months old. They have an outdoor fire pit, sparklers on bonfire night, use proper scissors etc. - all of which I'd be super cautious about doing at home, but under the right experienced supervision in a safe environment it's a great learning experience. They'll have under taken thorough risk assessments. You should be pleased that your child will get to experience real world activity and not just play with plastic toys.

Purpleprickles · 12/09/2016 21:43

This is really good early years practice and in my opinion a great sign to you that this is a good Nursery. The children will be closely supervised and it will have been risk assessed to the hilt.

Original poster

mummabearjustgotfierce · 12/09/2016 21:44

I did wonder if it was a complete over reaction. I have no experience of a mainstream nursery as my dd1 has special needs and so attended a specialist nursery. Glad to see it wouldn't put some people off! i kept swaying from thinking i was being silly to panicking!

OP posts:

PurpleCrazyHorse · 12/09/2016 21:45

I think I'd be asking more questions, like what ages use it, how they're supervised. I might even say I'm concerned about it as haven't seen it before and ask about seeing a session with the equipment (or maybe some photos of it being used).

I wouldn't be concerned if it was 1-2-1 guided play with our 14mo DS, but if it was less than that, he'd definitely hit someone or himself with a hammer! However it's meant to be good at teaching them about risk and danger (there was something on the BBC at a primary school where they were doing something usually deemed risky).

Definitely find out more information. If you're not happy, look to move your DD. There's nothing worse than being at work and worrying about your child. Childcare is all about compatibility between their style and yours.

crayfish · 12/09/2016 21:45

My mind was more boggled by a uniform at nursery!

Re. the tools, our nursery is big on forest school stuff and learning to use tools, including knives, safely. I'm all for it with the appropriate supervision obviously.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 12/09/2016 21:48

Seeing my three year old head off to nursery with her own named hacksaw was a revelation. But both DDs left with all their fingers intact, so no problem I guess...

PaulAnkaTheDog · 12/09/2016 21:50

My nursery was like this when I was little. I loved it. No accidents either

IAmAPaleontologist · 12/09/2016 21:53

The fab nursery my lot all went to used to get real tools out too. They'd have hammers and nails and screws and something softish to bash them in to so they could work out the difference between nails and screws and feel how they went in. People would give them broken electronic stuff so the kids could take it apart and try to put it back together again, they loved "fixing" things! As they got older then they would work on sensible use of things like sharp scissors (not super sharp just not the shit toddler ones that don't even cut a bit of paper) to get to the point that they could use them freely rather than having to be closely supervised. That bit did go a bit wrong when they experimented with texture and cutting fabric so ds2 decided to cut all the way up his sleeve . Staff were terribly apologetic and at pains to point out he hadn't been left completely unsupervised but I just though it was funny.

thewavesofthesea · 12/09/2016 22:03

They had this at my son's nursery (just left) and it was great! They also had bonfires on occasion. One of my son's favourite activities was taking apart a toaster to see what was inside. Not plugged in, obviously! Only once did he accidentally hit his own finger with a hammer; when he wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing. Got a small blood blister. No big deal. No injuries, close supervision.

Original poster

mummabearjustgotfierce · 12/09/2016 22:12

Thanks for all your comments. My DH is still unsure and anxious but I'm starting to warm to the idea and I'm seeing its a lot more common and normal than i realised. I am going to go there on Wednesday and ask more about the supervision as that's whats concerning DH. He said he saw another child pick up a spanner and walk away with it. Its so hard when its your child to know when you are being OTT or precious or just a concerned parent!

OP posts:

5OBalesofHay · 12/09/2016 22:17

Why not get dh to get some tools out, play hammering nails in etc and see how it goes and then how he feels and go from there?

JaniceBattersby · 12/09/2016 22:18

There's honestly not all that much damage you can do with that stuff when you're little. Children don't have all that much strength to hit the nails in so if they do hit their own finger probably going to do much damage. I guess the danger is more a child using a hammer to wallop another child with. But TBH if they're going to use something like that as a weapon there are plenty of other heavy tots they could also use.mmy child hit another with a spinning top when they were both too. He gave him a black eye

FourForYouGlenCoco · 12/09/2016 22:20

Totally understandable to be a little taken aback OP but you are being a bit OTT (and I mean that nicely!) my DD's preschool also had a workbench with hammers, nails etc, all the kids bloody loved it and there were never any serious accidents. It sounds like a fab nursery. Good luck to your DD for next week!

Original poster

mummabearjustgotfierce · 12/09/2016 22:25

Thank you all so much. You all have really put my mind at ease. I was ready to pull her out of the nursery this afternoon and now I can see how OTT that would have been . In a lot of ways i feel like a first time mum with dd2 and think i have been very overprotective of her as i only have dd1 to judge her against. It really was a very good nursery and I think it will do her the world of good as she is very outgoing and bright.

OP posts:

puglife15 · 12/09/2016 22:27

The thing is, the more we try to protect our kids from stuff like this, the more bloody clueless (and useless at practical stuff) they become. If we don't let children take risks they won't learn what their limits are and could end up really hurting themselves when they're bigger / stronger..

YANBU to be a bit taken aback as it's not like the sanitised, plastic place we have come to expect.

My DC's nursery is totally feral. I was a bit apprehensive at first but think it's utterly brilliant now.

puglife15 · 12/09/2016 22:28

X post - glad you're feeling better about it. Hope she settles in really well.

OwlinaTree · 12/09/2016 22:34

Woodworking is considered good practise now. this chap did a talk on it at training I attended recently.

If you are concerned about supervision, you could ask to see the risk assessment maybe?

Gatehouse77 · 12/09/2016 22:37

I wouldn't even question it. In fact, it would make me look more favourably on the nursery.

But I let my toddlers use sharp knives under supervision - no lost fingers here.

Willow2016 · 12/09/2016 22:37

My kids did this in nursery and my eldest is 14

They loved it, it was supervised and they made all sorts of things. It teaches them dexterity and gross/fine motor movements as well as working with tools and natural substances.

They also took old video recorders etc apart to see how they worked.

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