Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is dangerous at my DS nursery

31 replies

stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 08:44

Dropped my D'S off to nursery just now. He is in the middle room for toddlers. We have to walk through the pre school room to get to his. As we walked through this morning, there were two children with scissors having a scissor fight.
I looked at the workers and the room manager was on the tablets not paying attention. The other was answering the door to all the parents. As I walked back through to go one of the two still had scissors and she finally looked up and told him to put them down as it weren't good behaviour.

I know they are childrens scissors but if they poked each other in the eyes or fell on them. I don't understand why they are freely out for them to grab. In the mornings the two rooms play together for an hour so my DS could wonder into that room and grab them or get caught up in a "scissor play fight".

AIBU to think that they should be put away in a cupboard firstly. And secondly she shouldn't be on the tablet when she's suspose to be watching the children.

OP posts:
Original poster
stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 08:51

Or am I being precious?

OP posts:
lilyboleyn · 15/05/2018 08:53

Metal scissors or plastic paper ones?

If plastic paper scissors YABU, if metal YANBU

Original poster
stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 08:53

Metal scissors

OP posts:
IIIustriousIyIllogical · 15/05/2018 08:54

So tell them, not us.....

Pickleypickles · 15/05/2018 08:56

When i worked in a nursery stuff like glue scissors pens etc. had to accessible by the children at all times. I would be concerned that no one was supervising though.

Masonbee · 15/05/2018 08:56

Well it's not ideal (depending on type of scissors as pp said). I probably would have said something either to the children myself or one of the members of staff so they could intervene.

As it seemed to get resolved without any major issues, I probably wouldn't worry unless there often seemed to be times the children weren't closely supervised or were constantly play fighting

Treaclepie19 · 15/05/2018 08:56

Well, yes one person should be supervising.
However I'm assuming they're 3? They should have access to child friendly scissors and the staff were most likely doing observations/paperwork on the tablets. Not just playing around.

As above, tell them. They'll sort it sharpish.

Inkspellme · 15/05/2018 09:12

A preschool room should have access to scissors. Toddlers should be supervised with them so yes the question should arise when both children have access to the resources then youngest group dictate the guidelines used. That would be the case in Irish early years settings. Supervision prob should have been a little better but I imagine the staff using the tablet was using it to get morning paperwork done. Not excusing it but it is something that has to be done and if the other staff is doing a different role then supervision would have to be done as well (ideally between them).

I would recommend though you look up the benefits of risky play for children. I sometimes wonder about all the health and safety that both the UK and Ireland are caught up with. I look at the Scandinavian countries with preschoolers in Forrest schools - using proper tools and lighting fires etc and yet their health and safety record is good.

I work in a crèche and have parents want to protect their kids and I get that. It’s a parents job but I would like to see more risky play opportunities being the norm for children. It sometimes feels that health and safety dictates too much.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/05/2018 09:15

"Risky play opportunities" my arse. No way would I let little kids in my care have a scissors fight. They need to be learning to use things safely.

Inkspellme · 15/05/2018 09:28

Of course I'd have stopped it - a scissor fight isn't on. But the rest was a bit of a rant about health and safety which is a regular pain in the arse in my setting. It seems to control everything - no matter how big or small the risk. Apologies for any derailment!

OneStepSideways · 15/05/2018 09:33

If they are scissors with blunt rounded tips I don't see how they can do much damage. Lots of toys are dangerous if a child falls on them or pokes someone's eye. My friend's child fell on a plastic dinasour and had cuts on her chest from the spiky bits on it's back!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/05/2018 10:11

But it's also about enforcing the idea that scissors are dangerous things you don't poke at people, because sooner or later they will be handling sharp pointy ones.

Original poster
stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 17:30

The age of my D'S room is from 18 months so the hour in the morning they all get to run around between the room. Surely an 18 month old shouldn't have access to metal scissors blunt or not? I get maybe 3 year olds having scissors but like a PP said under supervision. The scissor fight must have been going on a good 5 mins before I came back through and she had only just said something because she looked up when I walked past her.

OP posts:
iloveroastpotatoes · 15/05/2018 17:42

Scissor fight unacceptable. Scissor use should be supervised. Common sense however, had I have been you, I would have stopped walking and spoken to the children before they hurt themselves; alerts nearby staff to the situation and I act responsibly.

MrsSnootyPants2018 · 15/05/2018 17:46

Why are you moaning about this on MN? You're just as bad for spotting it twice and saying nothing.

Original poster
stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 17:48

Bloody hell I had a crying toddler in my arms. They are not my responsibility either.

OP posts:
MrsSnootyPants2018 · 15/05/2018 17:52

You said you saw it again on your exit route. Surely you had no child with you then.

Original poster
stripesandspots10 · 15/05/2018 17:55

No I didn't. And as I was coming through the door I saw it and started walking I saw it again and then she said something. So there was no reason for me to then say anything.

OP posts:
iloveroastpotatoes · 15/05/2018 17:59

I'm sorry but I'd deal with the safety of two children before a crying child.

Pengggwn · 15/05/2018 18:05

Toddlers shouldn't have free access to things that could easily have an eye out. I echo what someone else said upthread: 'free play my arse'.

Pengggwn · 15/05/2018 18:05

Sorry: risky play!

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 15/05/2018 18:09

Ex nursery worker here. They should of been supervised. You are not being precious.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/05/2018 18:10

They weren't playing though they were fighting which could have resulted in one of them being seriously hurt.
Also we could play the "Why are you asking us game on every thread, couldn't we so Thats just a stupid statement.

sharonith74 · 15/05/2018 18:13

Omg that is disgusting my ds is in reception and all the scissors are locked away until a teacher is sitting at a table with them.
This is there job to protect your child not to put them at risk.
Just ensure you show your little one how to hold them pointing down in her hand.
You have every right to feel the way you do.

helpfulperson · 15/05/2018 18:18

The chances of them injuring themselves with nursery scissor is very low so I don't think it as necessary for the OP to instantly intervene.

However they should not be being allowed to have scissor fights. At this age the foundations of safe behaviour are being laid. And children this age dont really differentiate between 'the scissors we use at nursery' and 'the big sharp scissors in the house'

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.