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Original poster

Why do some nursery staff insist on overhelping children with their craft?

108 replies

Soubriquet · 16/12/2016 13:00

3 year old dd broke up from nursery yesterday and came away with a little Christmas bag full of the Christmas activities that they did

It is 100% obvious it isn't her work

It looks like they've applied the glue for her to stick or things like that

Even her name where they have to trace the dots looks like someone has helped her.

I know that because at home, when she tries, she can't do it.

I would rather have messy wonky looking crafts that are done by her, then decent looking things that have had a lot of intervention.

I thought this was frowned upon now in pre-schools and nurseries?

OP posts:
sianihedgehog · 16/12/2016 14:26

They probably switch it up a bit OP. These do look like there was a lot of adult intervention, but they probably do other projects with less. My childminder does a lot of stuff with hand and footprints to make the stuff that's to show off, but they also do a lot of painting that's completely undirected at other times. They've got to get a balance between the parents who want things to look nice and would rather their kids were helped, and the parents who just want things done entirely by the child.

longdiling · 16/12/2016 14:28

I absolutely agree that the process is the most important thing. I would ask to see the folder and would hope to see fantastic process driven independent stuff in there. Christmas arts and crafts that haven't been done independently aren't necessarily indicative of the nursery not allowing them free reign at the craft table. Lots of parents like to have something recognisable to hang on the tree, so I've certainly ended up compromising and finding ways to set up the crafts so that there is a definite end product. I may well cut out a Christmas tree shape for example but I would let them chuck the paint and glitter on it completely independently.

bumsexatthebingo · 16/12/2016 14:29

YANBU op. It's not just teens in private nurseries that do this either - I've seen highly qualified teachers in schools do this kind of stuff as well. There isn't enough guidance on art teaching imo. Kids are encouraged to copy what the teacher has done rather than be creative and if they don't do it 'well enough' it's done for them. I think it is partly due to teachers fearing the reaction of parents if they are presented with something the child has been allowed to complete themselves but taking over just encourages kids not to try things imo. I was once in a class where a boy used his mums favourite colour to paint the flower on the front of his Mothers Day card and he was told to do it again as it wasn't the same as the flower on the sample card the teacher had done and all the other cards Hmm

Original poster
Soubriquet · 16/12/2016 14:31

I think I'll ask to see her folder when we go back and see what's going on. If it looks adult led in there too, I'll try and have a polite word

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 16/12/2016 15:03

"They've got to get a balance between the parents who want things to look nice and would rather their kids were helped, and the parents who just want things done entirely by the child."

No nurseries should follow the eyfs where children learn by doing. The purpose is to have the fine motor skills and concentration necessary to cope with school. Whether the art work pleases the parents is irrelevant.

minisausage · 16/12/2016 15:14

YANBU
My DD came home with a craft Bag covered in glitter and stickers that she obviously did, with loads of crafts inside that she obviously did. She was very proud. It might look a mess to us but it's so important to them. She's just turned 4.

Primaryteach87 · 16/12/2016 15:17

If it was a normal art or craft project, I'd agree but they are just helping your child do something special for Christmas.

PineappleExpress · 16/12/2016 15:18

It does look like she probably hasn't done much. I do crafts with my charges and the 2 yr old is usually not very into doing stuff himself.
I ask him to tell me where to put the glue and he sticks things down. I'll suggest other places to put glue, but sometimes he wants big gaps.
It's always still obviously his work, like the Easter rabbit who had teeth on top of his nose and Easter egg stickers in his eye Xmas Grin
Some parents might like things to be more tidy and their child just involved a bit. I would probably speak to the staff and just explain that you like her scribble type as it is her way of expressing herself, or something like that anyway ha ha

Misspilly88 · 16/12/2016 15:20

Another qualified eys teacher here, and that's not good practice at all. Unfortunately it's what a lot of parents want.

falange · 16/12/2016 18:15

The staff are just helping. Stop moaning.

TinselTwins · 16/12/2016 18:30

Because there are more parents than you think who will and do complain if wall-hanging worthy work isn't produced.

Really.

I've been through nursery and preschool twice now with my two girls, you would not BELIEVE the things some parents complain about!

TinselTwins · 16/12/2016 18:31

A common on is any mess on clothes, or a messy room at the end of the day

To me, messy clothes and a messy room means lots of fun was had, but a lot of parents hit the roof if that's what they find at pick-up!

TinselTwins · 16/12/2016 18:31

"over helping" is necessary for the kids who must be collected looking immaculate.. unfortunately..

Namechangeemergency · 16/12/2016 19:04

I agree with you OP.
I think its down to parental pressure and lack of training and experience for staff.

I have been on a thread like this before and loads of posters thought it was necessary for staff to direct small children in craft activities. Properly tell them and show them exactly where to put things.

I want to see what stage my kids are at not the handiwork of a 22 year old.

I don't blame the staff though. I expect they would get far more parents moaning if their kids came home with substandard reindeer and snowmen.

Shine387 · 16/12/2016 19:05

I find some of these comments really judgemental tbh, I'm a level 3 qualified nursery nurse/nanny and once worked in a private nursery. Those places are NOT all run by teens, everyone has to be either qualified or students learning the skills needed. One aspect of my course was dedicated to child development and theorists, and we used this throughout the other 20 odd modules too, so it's a bit naive to think that nursery nurses know nothing of how children develop. So what if they helped her make something memorable? Children learn a lot through mimicry. Or it could have been that she wasn't that interested in the activity and they needed to help her along before whatever the next thing was in their timetable. If it's such an issue, speak to them about taking a more hands off approach.

EvenTheWind · 16/12/2016 19:19

Why couldn't she have done the tree? Isn't that just run a couple of lines of pritt stick over a pre cut template, throw glitter on and shake it off?

I doubt the bag is intended to look like the kids did it, though I suppose the oldest ones might have stuck bits on.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 16/12/2016 19:21

I didn't call my child incompetent either btw. Just thought she was a little behind for her age and was helpfully corrected which eased my mind

OP posts:
Original poster
Soubriquet · 16/12/2016 19:22

Why couldn't she have done the tree? Isn't that just run a couple of lines of pritt stick over a pre cut template, throw glitter on and shake it off?

She wouldn't just run it across in lines Grin

It would be big dab here and a big dab there and a small line somewhere else. It's what she does

OP posts:
EvenTheWind · 16/12/2016 19:29

Ah!

Maybe she got someone else's tree Xmas Wink

longdiling · 16/12/2016 19:29

When it comes to glitter, I have had young kids who just want to shake the glitter on and have no interest in or understanding of why they need paint or glue to be applied first! Rather than battle with them over a paintbrush or glue stick I'll just quickly plonk some on myself and let them glitter away to their hearts content.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 16/12/2016 20:11

Maybe Even

Suppose it's possible...but they have wrote her name on it.

OP posts:
crashdoll · 16/12/2016 20:37

YANBU.

As someone said, early years settings shouldn't be pandering to parents who don't want their DC to get messy or get upset if their DC don't produce excellent artwork, they should be following the EYFS.

PineappleExpress · 16/12/2016 20:41

It would be big dab here and a big dab there and a small line somewhere else. It's what she does

This sound like a great tree. Who cares if it's not traditional lines of tinsel. They should just let her do it her way

Helloitsme87 · 16/12/2016 20:42

I'm a nursery practitioner and we always make loads of crafts around Christmas. Some of it is free and some adult led. Mostly I let the kids get on with it but I do sometimes provide some direction. Never with name writing though. As that is basically a lie. But some children are incredible with their fine motor control and others need some prompting just to sit down and write. Perhaps your DC actually did it herself.
With one of our crafts, I chose to cut the felt as the children were struggling (ages 3 and 4) with the material, and not one could do it. So we spoke about what snowmen wear to stay warm and chose the colours the would like for their hats and scarves. I made the individual items and they glued them down. Just enjoy and realise that some degree of learning and skill went into each craft

Helloitsme87 · 16/12/2016 20:43

Also I sometimes apply glue, otherwise the things wouldn't stay stuck and it would end up being a blank sheet of paper. So I re apply where the child had initially wanted the craft to go