Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Children watching TV at preschool?

44 replies

2kidsnopets · 19/05/2018 19:15

My son attends a preschool which is part of a school. Not private.

He has told me they watch tv every day after they finish their lunch. I do believe that he is telling the truth, he is able to describe programmes in detail that I know he's never seen at home and he can sing the theme tunes to some cartoons that I'd never even heard of.

I feel this is a bit wrong. I'm not sending him to preschool so he can watch TV.
Also, as the school have never made any mention of this I had no idea be was getting screen time at school, or how much. I thought he was getting very little at home but turns out he might actually be watching quite a bit if it's on every day at preschool.
AIBU to think this is a bit wrong?

OP posts:

RubiaPTA · 19/05/2018 21:47

Don't make you kid technophobic or they won't be able to function in the real world

FullOfJellyBeans · 19/05/2018 21:55

I think if the child was only there for 3 hours and spent half an hour watching TV that would be excessive, 10-15 minutes during a whole day session is no big deal. I assume we're talking about 3 year olds plus here? You do need to remember that it's incredibly difficult to run preschools with the amount of funding they get. What with staff needing time for lunch themselves there's probably not a free moment for them to properly tidy up morning chaos before the afternoon chaos starts.

DoJo · 19/05/2018 22:03

I can sort of understand it at nursery when kids have a long day, but if your preschool is one where the kids only go from 9-3, I do think that watching TV needn't be scheduled into every day.

I am involved with the running of a preschool and we don't have a TV - the staff clear up from lunch while the children play and if one of them needs a bit of downtime they have a quiet corner. I LOVE TV and my kids probably have more screen time than many of their peers and I would be happy with them watching it occasionally at preschool, but not as a daily thing. I know they are capable of entertaining the children for 6 hours without screens and I would rather they were engaged in activities that can't easily be replicated at home (social interaction, group play etc) than something that I can do myself for minimal effort.

hazeyjane · 19/05/2018 22:05

Bloody hell, no child is going to be 'technophobic' from not watching TV at preschool, don't be daft.

Tidying stuff away and putting out new resources can be done whilst children are there, with their help. Staff can have lunch when children have lunch. Sitting them all down to watch a cartoon isn't necessary.

hazeyjane · 19/05/2018 22:06

I know they are capable of entertaining the children for 6 hours without screens and I would rather they were engaged in activities that can't easily be replicated at home (social interaction, group play etc) than something that I can do myself for minimal effort

Exactly

Original poster

2kidsnopets · 19/05/2018 22:20

I'm not outraged, in my OP I said that I feel it's a bit wrong.
They don't even watch it on TV, they are watching it on a massive screen with a projector, so it's unlikely that any child will choose to sit down with a book while that is on.

I honestly don't feel that my son is likely to become a technophobe from not watching fireman sam.

OP posts:

CalF123 · 19/05/2018 22:31

Yes, they could be weaving lentils. Yes, they could be baking vegan cookies. But, it's 15 minutes a day- they have the whole rest of the day to do those other activities. It's going to cause no harm whatsoever- some of you need to get a grip and focus on the important things in life.

Yukbuck · 19/05/2018 22:46

Sorry but I think YABU. If you don't want your child doing things you seem wrong then keep them at home. Inevitably, they are going to be exposed to things you aren't always in agreement with if you choose to send them to school.

Fruitcorner123 · 19/05/2018 22:52

I definitely did not watch tv every day in primary school.

No me neither but i think times have changed though and its much easier now for teachers to use screens. If you feel strongly don't let them watch it for 15 mins at home. my DC watch it a primary school too for down timw at the end of the day. It sometimes annoys me. I dont think theres nuch I can do.

if they have a parent questionnaire at the end of the year I would mention it on there or just speak to them.

hazeyjane · 19/05/2018 22:54

Jinkies CalF123, calm down! Playing with other kids, building Lego, doing crafts, playing in the home corner, looking at books....all totally normal preschool activities, no-ones saying they have to be making dream catchers.

CalF123 · 19/05/2018 22:58

@hazeyjane

They have at least 5hrs 45mins to play with other kids and build lego- 15 minutes watching TV in between isn't going to cause any harm.

hazeyjane · 19/05/2018 23:02

And they've got, potentially another 6 or 7 hours a day to watch tv, not watching tv for the 6 hours they're at preschool doesn't mean they are going to turn into Luddites

Happinesssquared · 19/05/2018 23:10

For what it's worth OP I think contrary to the other responses YANBU. I'm fact really surprised at the responses. I definitely wouldn't expect tv at preschool as a given. I'd expect to be told if tv was going to be used. That doesn't make me (or the OP) anti technology, it just means it's one of those useful things to know so you can adjust what you do at home. If my kids preschool said they used tv it wouldn't make me not send them but might make me think about how much / what tv i showed at home.

Also those comments about not watching t.v. turning kids into technophobes who won't be able to function in the real world are a bit overblown. It's also quite insulting to say that wanting to know about screen time means you think children should be 'weaving lentils'. Things aren't all so binary, just because you might want to limit screen time a little doesn't mean you think tv is the devil and you 'weave lentils' as you put it. Sorry, but the whole trope that not giving toddlers technology will somehow permanently scar them is getting a bit tired.

Fatted · 19/05/2018 23:19

I am honestly surprised at the idea that 30 mins TV a day is too much for a 4YO. I won't bother to tell how much my 3YO and 5YO watch telly some days but it's more than that! They are also out at school and nursery. We do lots of outdoor activities and days out, I do reading and writing every day with them. It's all about balance.

It's obvious that they get to sit down and chill out with a bit of telly after dinner because they don't want them outside with the bigger kids at lunch time. So I don't think they're really missing out on anything educational, more just an opportunity for fresh air and time to run around.

Boredandtired · 19/05/2018 23:20

I've only had experience of it in a nursery setting and I was not happy! My eldest did not watch tv at all until he was 2 and I was unhappy to find out nursery used tv. Since then (I have chilled out at home lol) no preschools ive used have ever used tv. They only have them short days and I'd be pretty shocked if they couldn't manage them without tv for the relatively short time they have them. We are all different and you have the right to decide which programs your child is allowed to watch. I've never been keen on peppa pig and topsy and Tim is awful!! I think you should be told if this is part of their day, and told what they are watching as I'm aware school watch programs that support learning (newsround etc) but if it's just random cartoons it's not necessary or acceptable really.

Blaablaablaa · 19/05/2018 23:24

Oh god this again?!? Seriously, there are more important things to worry about. A realtively small amount of tv will not harm your child.

Hermagsjesty · 19/05/2018 23:31

YABU. A small amount of TV at preschool won’t do any harm. As long as kids aren’t being left to veg in front of screens for hours, I think its actually positive. In terms of what they are “getting” from it, even programmes that aren’t overtly educational can help kids into a world of stories, imagination and empathy. I also think there’s something positive about watching a small amount of TV as group - it’s giving a shared, communal, cultural experience which they then often use in thier role play - in fact, the very fact he’s telling you about the shows in detail and singing the songs shows he’s engaged and interested.

DoJo · 20/05/2018 15:53

I don't think anyone who objects to regular TV at preschool does so because they think it will harm their children. I certainly don't.

E5t · 27/04/2024 01:33

I am honestly gobsmacked. The comments here are completely appalling. "Oh a little TV won't harm them" there is no way everyone here is this deluded right? SMH. Go and spend 10 minutes googling "academic paper TV is not so bad for kids", I challenge you to actually find ANY research that doesn't come to the conclusion that it's basically ALL bad, I TRIED to find biased research to make myself feel better, something written by the makers of paw patrol maybe! But even the research that sets out trying to put parents at ease, trying to say oh it can't be that bad, STILL ends up admitting more than 30 mins a day has appalling affects of development.

I NEED that 30 minutes a day!! I am not paying PROFESSIONALS to use up that time! Lol!

Seriously the comments here are terrifying.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread