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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be narked by 30 minutes tv time at nursery?

204 replies

HippityHoppityWho · 24/04/2018 23:36

My son starts nursery at 1pm twice a week for 5 hours. When he arrives the lights are usually off and the children are sitting and watching tv via the projector. I've been told this usually goes on for half an hour, and is so the children who have been there all day can have a chill time.

I understand that, but I'm not keen either on my son walking into nursery all excited to then sit down and watch Peppa Pig or whatever they've put on. Why can't they just let the kids chill that want to without the TV so that the others can free play with the lights on?

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

OP posts:
HappyLollipop · 27/04/2018 12:20

YANBU they should not be watching TV at nursery, I've worked in various nurseries and never have I seen them put on TV, I know they use to years ago as I remember watching Pingu when I was in nursery myself but it's very frowned upon now. Children watch enough CBeebies at home theres no need for it in an educational setting.

Dungeondragon15 · 27/04/2018 12:20

I wouldn't be that keen but that is only because of my experience with pre-school/after-school clubs. They told me that it was only on for half an hour once a week and the children's choice but my children told me it was a lot longer and that they were forced to watch it when they would rather be doing something else. It's fine if used for educational purposes but otherwise, I think it can often be on more than stated.

zzzzz · 27/04/2018 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dungeondragon15 · 27/04/2018 13:18

The thing I really wouldn't like about it is the fact that the television is on in the dark. This means that children have no choice but to watch television which many of them won't want to do. As I said, my children used go to an afterschool club that did this and it was just a way of minimising the workload of staff so they could do something other than look after the children.

Wellthisunexpected · 27/04/2018 13:33

TV at nursery? I don't know a single one that even has a TV! And we looked around loads.

I wouldn't like that at all.

greenyblue · 27/04/2018 13:37

I wouldn't like it being in the dark as it does rather force having to watch, but have picked my DD up more than once while watching a cartoon - only a couple of kids left and having a snack at the end of a long day.

That said, it would frustrate me if it was the first thing done on arrival - seems like odd timing as I imagine a number of kids do afternoons only and it's not very welcoming?

Blaablaablaa · 27/04/2018 14:00

You don't need an actual TV .... most don't have tv's ( although our nursery has one which is in a room not used all the time) but most rooms have a smart board which can be used to watch something.

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 14:03

Its watched on a Smartboard thing yes, hence why it’s dark and they shut the curtains.

It’s that which bothers me the most- he has no choice to do something else in the dark.

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 14:06

He does 10 hours per week divided into 2 x 5hr sessions. So he’s losing an hour of his education a week to tv. I just find it disappointing. On a rainy day fair enough, but to make it a part of a daily routine is weird IMHO.

Blaablaablaa · 27/04/2018 14:09

Well let's hope the rest of the time he's not in nursery is completely TV free then. It's not school it's nursery. It's 30 mins a day . It's a complete overreaction

Peakypush · 27/04/2018 14:14

I would not send my children to a nursery that has TV, I don't let them watch it at home during the week (and it's so hard not to use it for peace and quiet!) so I definitely wouldn't be happy about paying a fortune for childcare who uses it. How old is your son OP? If he's under two I'm astonished that they allow TV... you'd imagine childcare providers would have a modicum of knowledge on child development. Laziness. I'd look for a new provider as if they are lazy in this regard, what else are the lax on?

Blaablaablaa · 27/04/2018 14:17

MN is the only place I've ever encountered people who ban their children from watching TV and I consider myself to have a wide range of friends and acquaintances.

Peakypush · 27/04/2018 14:30

blaablaa didn't you say you had a PHD in a related field? If so, you're surely aware of the mountain of research out there that has found that screen time is bad for small children? Do you have young children? Many of my friends with babies and toddlers don't let them anywhere near a tv. Pretty common round my way!

Oysterbabe · 27/04/2018 14:34

I wouldn't be happy with this. Mine watch too much TV at home. I'm paying them to do a better job than me. I looked round a good few nurseries and none of them had the kids watching TV.

crunchymint · 27/04/2018 14:35

Totally agree OP. There are other ways of having quiet time with young kids.

Joy1982 · 27/04/2018 14:50

There are worst things in life, 30 minutes of TV isn't the end of the world. As long as there is plenty of activity the rest of the time is relax about it

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 14:51

@Blaablaablaa- thanks for not taking the time to read my comments on the thread but just leaving snotty comments.

I have stated MORE THAN ONCE that he watches TV at home which is why I don’t want him to at nursery. Pretty simple to understand if you’re not precoccupied with shooting your mouth off.

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 14:53

I swear some people just take an objection to TV whatever the circumstance as an attack on their choice to let their kids watch TV. 🙄

Dungeondragon15 · 27/04/2018 15:02

MN is the only place I've ever encountered people who ban their children from watching TV and I consider myself to have a wide range of friends and acquaintances.

I didn't ban my children from TV but they didn't like watching it much and certainly wouldn't want to watch it with friends around. They wouldn't enjoy sitting in a dark room to watch it and I didn't force it on them (what parent would!). I still managed to get things done so I don't really see why a nursery would need to use it. Also while 30 minutes doesn't sound long, I bet that nurseries that do this often leave them on for a lot longer. My children used to complain that their afterschool club did this and considering it was also preschool nursey no doubt they did the same thing during the day with younger children.

HeckyPeck · 27/04/2018 15:03

I might be tempted to pop back 45 mins later to make sure it is only 30 mins.

Oowatchasay · 27/04/2018 15:05

They got OFSTED outstanding last year and I’d be willing to bet my last penny they didnt include it that day.

Bea1985 · 27/04/2018 15:08

30 mins wouldn't bother me. It's not going to do any harm.

Blaablaablaa · 27/04/2018 16:57

@peaky no I said I teach on early years and childhood studies. My PhD is in education but not specifically young children.
I am more than aware of research into screen time ( academic research not what's published in the media) and know that the suggested time limits on screen time are arbitrary figures put in because it was felt there should be a time limit.

Now, we all know that allowing young children to watch TV all day isn't good. We also know that it shouldn't be prioritised over other activities but no harm will come to a child that watches 30mins of TV at nursery.

I do have young child. His nursery allows them to watch TV. On the whole it's educational and linked to activities. But occasionally it's not and I really don't have an issue with it. He watches TV at home but he also does a range of other activities. It's about balance and seriously choosing your battles.

Blaablaablaa · 27/04/2018 17:03

@oowatch no need to get arsey ..who's shooting their mouth off?? It does seem a little hypocritical though to say you allow TV at home but object at nursery.

And I really don't use other people's objection to TV to justify my choices around TV watching. I don't need to justify my choices. I do seem to have a very different approach to parenting than a number of people on MN and I've really not come across these approaches much in real life. It's fascinating

ICantCopeAnymore · 27/04/2018 17:04

Peakypush - I'd be interested to see this research. I've done similar and was not able to find much evidence for screen time having a detrimental effect on children. In fact, lots suggests the opposite.