To think a childminder shouldn't have kids watching films on the telly?

[5footMama]

A childminder in my village says she "sometimes" has a movie afternoon with her charges (age 10m-3yrs) and it's made me doubt whether to send DD (14m)

Is it just me, or should a childminder not be using the TV like that???
I mean, I'm not anti telly and if they were watching a bit of a program about penguins or something because they're learning about penguins,then cool. Bit to just put them in front of the telly for 2hrs when it supposed to be looking after them seems a bit crap. They wouldn't do this in a nursery or anything.

It’s fine, honestly, what else is there to do during lockdown?

No you are right. Childminders are ofsted regulated they are supposed to be following the early years curriculum.

Sometimes school has a movie afternoon too!

It's childminding, not boot camp.

Why can't they watch the occasional thing?

2 hours seems a bit much when you’re paying for it. How do you know the length?

I doubt any but the 3 year old sits and watches it for long. Maybe the 3 year old needs it for a bit of quiet time after dropping their nap?

SIL childminder lets the children watch 20 mins of Peppa Pig at the end of the day which she doesn’t mind as it is a very long day 7:30 until 5:30pm.

I think anything longer than half an hour should be kept for Christmas or days when they’re poorly. Childminder should ask if it’s okay ideally so that parent can say no.

Go on walks. Go to park. Read. Draw
,Paint Colour. Build towers. Lego. Dolls. Crafts. Baking. Water games. Sand games. Music. Dancing. ...

It's not like she can take them to soft play or similar is it?

YABU. If it's every day, every afternoon then no, that wouldn't be right but on occasion it's fine. And they DO do this sometimes in nurseries when they're trying to tidy up after lunches etc., even if it's only for 20 minutes. We're in lockdown, things are different just now.

I think that’s too young to be watching telly, especially for so long. Also when people pay a CM they are paying for that to be non screen time - either educational or at least engaging.

Screen time allocation is for use at home surely?

Oh get a grip. There's a bloody pandemic and lockdown going on. There are no activities running for childminders to take their kids too and there's only so many walks they can do.
She's probably doing her best and whatever she is doing as long as the kids are well looked after and happy, what does it matter?
My 18 month old goes to nursery. I could care less if they put a film on as long she is ok.

YABU. There’s plenty of research out there suggesting screens are a no-no for under 2s. As a parent, I was able to stick to this religiously for my first - less so, for my second, as I was so sleep deprived! But I certainly wouldn’t be paying a professional to be offering this. Like you said - maybe if it was part of learning about something specific, but let’s be honest, this is definitely more for her than it is for the kids.

@RoganJosh

2 hours seems a bit much when you’re paying for it. How do you know the length?

Because that's normally how long kids films are roughly??

@5footmama

Go on walks. Go to park. Read. Draw ,Paint Colour. Build towers. Lego. Dolls. Crafts. Baking. Water games. Sand games. Music. Dancing. ...

Yes, for a vast majority of the time. A movie afternoon once in a while will not cause any issues at all.

I don’t mean to say a little bit of time occasionally would be a problem, but a movie sounds a lot. Also, I’d check how often is “sometimes”.

I am happy for my 6 yo to watch telly with the CM after school (outside of lockdown) but I think that’s a bit different!

Well if you don't agree don't send your child it really is that simple. I can only imagine they are putting on some Peppa pig for an hour or so it really is fine imo

@Indecisive12

That’s a good point, the younger ones don’t even get through the 20 minutes of watching Peppa apparently.

As they get older it’s a good idea to limit screen time so parent should be work out how much screen time goes on at home to make sure older DC aren’t going over it.

No 2 hours is pretty long for a film I think

Should have said YANBU! Sorry!!

I think it’s fine if it’s not every day.
Childminders are human beings too. What if she doesn’t feel 100% that day? Or the kids have done a lot and are feeling a bit tired?

Sometimes I have a lazy Sunday morning with DS who is 18months. We have a film on, slob in our pjs and don't sit at the table for breakfast. I don't think I'm doing untold damage to him, and I'd be happy for a childminder to do the same sometimes

I am a Childminder and we occasionally have a movie. The children get to choose the movies and I will make them popcorn and snacks. Children of the age stated above will not usually sit and watch a full movie, they are free to play instead if they want to. It’s not like they are watching peppa pig all day long.
In my opinion, you are being overly precious tbh

Oh yeah. Well kids ones are more like ninety minutes. But “once in a while” seems ok.

@5footmama

Go on walks. Go to park. Read. Draw ,Paint Colour. Build towers. Lego. Dolls. Crafts. Baking. Water games. Sand games. Music. Dancing. ...

You can do all those and occasionally watch a movie in the afternoon, especially if some of the children have really long days or if some need a nap in the afternoon.