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.

No that’s just lazy - esp for kids so young. My 3yo has never been dumped in front of a film by us, so why would we pay someone to do it!?

My daughter went to an expensive nursery from 1 to 3 until they had a linked account with parents who could log in and see what was happening. My child was for the majority in her own in the corner not doing much whilst the nursery workers were sitting in the floor together just chatting. They are lucky I din’t report them. She’s been with a private childminder now and wouldn’t switch. And if my daughters been to school all day , learning, doing p.e and breaks then I’ve got no problems with some children cuddling up in a sofa and watching a movie. They do all sorts at other times.

Childminder here!
I work ten and a half hours a day. No tea breaks. No lunch breaks. Even having a wee is timed! I have children aged from 2 to 10 years old. The 3 days before Christmas was spent baking,crafting, playing, learning, walking, reading, drawing, colouring, chatting, laughing....and ,horror of horrors, we had a film on each afternoon! They decided amongst themselves what they wanted to watch, we got the popcorn out, snuggled under blankets and watched TV. And this is exactly why parents choose childminders.We offer a home from home environment, and they would much rather have their children having a bit of downtime than doing one activity after another.I can guarantee that every area of learning was covered during those days, including chatting about what was happening in the films ( all age appropriate I should add!). The children are not strapped to the sofa and made to watch the film, they are free to go and do something else if they want to. After school, the children just want to chill- they've been at school all day and just want to relax. They tend to choose what they want to do, and if one wants to watch TV,they can. Life is hard enough for them all at the moment, and I've noticed a change in some of them due to lockdown which us really sad, so if a bit of TV gives them some respite then so be it.

I think I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum to most here. I went to a childminder from when I was 1 until I was 12ish. She took us to school or preschool but when we were at hers, we just joined in with her kids. Watched TV, played, baked, crafts, went to the park and the supermarket, etc. A real home away from home. I referred to her as my “other mummy” and am still in contact now.

When looking at childcare options for DS, I was slightly disappointed to discover that childminders now have to follow the same EYFS curriculum as nursery schools, rather than being like SAHMs with a few extra kids in toe.

@Siepie yes same here , it was like going to a friends house.

I always assumed that the clue was in the title "childMINDER". They don't promise to be teachers or entertainers, just minders and they don't get paid much either. It can be exhausting with one's own children, so when it's someone else's, the desire to just put them in front of a telly must be overwhelming. If they did that at an expensive and pretentious nursery which has promised to produce little Einsteins, then I would be asking for my money back.

I used to pee my pants when the tv came out at school. It was the best. I don’t see the problem at all. They are there to mind your children whilst you work, as long as they are safe and happy. They still learn and I have movie days with my kids, it doesn’t mean I’m neglecting them. Kids films are there for a reason.

Kids used to love movie afternoon, tickets, snacks, seat numbers etc. They could choose the film from a choice of 2. Parents were happy kids were happy and any that didn't want to watch could do another quiet activity. It's about balance, never had the TV on any other time so it was something different and gave them chance to chill. Only done in winter months though, especially loved the Christmas film season. If the childminder doesn't suit you don't use them it's a two way choice, if that's how she works and she's following the guidelines that's her choice.

@CrankyFrankie

No that’s just lazy - esp for kids so young. My 3yo has never been dumped in front of a film by us, so why would we pay someone to do it!?

How many hours a day do you spend with your 3 yo?

@Siepie

I think I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum to most here. I went to a childminder from when I was 1 until I was 12ish. She took us to school or preschool but when we were at hers, we just joined in with her kids. Watched TV, played, baked, crafts, went to the park and the supermarket, etc. A real home away from home. I referred to her as my “other mummy” and am still in contact now.

When looking at childcare options for DS, I was slightly disappointed to discover that childminders now have to follow the same EYFS curriculum as nursery schools, rather than being like SAHMs with a few extra kids in toe.

Don't be. The requirements mostly involve the CM rather than the kids. So extra paperworks,logs,diaries etc.

The curriculum? Is what most parents do daily.

Mark making - painting,drawing ,scribbling
What hand the child favours.
Using "mixed media" - paint,crayons,chalks,arts and crafts
Motor skills fine or gross ... lego,playdoh,buttons etc or jumping,running,monkey bars
Understanding the world baking things,celebrating holidays,walks in the local area , variety of books fiction and non fiction
Self care - washing hands,asking for help, using the toilet, looking after their things, being able to do coats up/put shoes on

Physical development- riding a trike, running, jumping and landing , climbing , kicking a ball,catching a ball.

All documented .

For the children it's what they've always done. The real work and faff is for the CM

My childminder was wonderful, she did so many amazing things with my daughter for the six/seven years she looked after her. Every now and then at the end of the day, if my daughter was chilling with her daughter and was one of the last to be picked up they would choose to watch a movie. Fair enough. It was a home from home, and she did way more than I would have done as a SAHM to be honest. I see no issue with it if it’s done occasionally, especially in a childminders. You choose a childminder as it’s a smaller more home like environment.

If the kids are ages 10months to 3years then they aren’t going to be sitting watching a movie for 1.5 hours. She may mean that she calls it a “movie afternoon” and sits and watches a few episodes of something with them and they have a snack while they do this. Sitting watching tv with kids is an education and can be relaxing, leaving them for hours regularly on their own in front of the tv when it’s not necessary is very different.

Our childminder used to have 30 minutes late afternoon of tv time for kids who wanted it. Things like Blaze were popular and they are actually educational! Same for Mickey Mouse club house. I had no problem with that. He was there 10 hours a day, plenty of time for outings, craft, garden and other Early Years curriculum activities! It actually made it feel more homely that the kids could relax on a soft rug and watch if they wanted to.

Nurseries do occasionally do tv/movie time. Ours has a projector rather than a tv (so as to hoodwink visiting parents perhaps?). It really depends on the frequency. Once a month or less fine. Everyday no.

The childminder could be using it as quiet time. If you don't like it send your child to a nursery.

She said “sometimes “
It’s fun

Yes follow EYFS
But let’s not suck all the joy out of everything !!!
She sounds fun and lovely
Send your DC

I would have thought a 20 mins episode of Peppa Pig it Postman Pat or whatever is more suitable but you could say you did not want your child to watch more than 30 mins a day. When my children were little they liked programs about cats and dogs.

Surely there is nothing
wrongwith the kids watching TV, many young children don't sit for long anyway the attention span of 3 year old is around 25mins so I doubt it would be 2 hour film

@5footmama I posted this thread on Nurseries a couple of months ago and the replies I got indicated I wasn't being unreasonable. I don't think you are being unreasonable.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/nurseries/4081521-Watching-tv-films-at-daycare

How often is "sometimes?" What movies? How long do they last? If the answer is "once a week or two," "children's specials," and "about an hour or an hour and a half," then you are being entirely unreasonable. If, however, the answer is "twice a week or more, every week," "whatever isn't rated mature audiences," and "two hours," then your concerns are valid.

I simply cannot wait for Christmas when every child in the nation can watch TV for more than half an hour!!! WOW! Santa has deffo been then. Good God the TV police are here. Destroy all TVs and devices and phones and while we are at it turn all the electricity off and report every CM to Offstead for daring to try and entertain her charges in this very difficult time. Get a grip people. thank you rant over!!

Well billions of pounds of research and development has gone into children's TV.

My children watched a film or a few tv programmes most days from when they were toddlers. They often had the toys of the characters and played alongside it. I also took them to playgroups, soft play, the park, shops, farms etc. There’s a lot of hours to fill, watching a film ‘sometimes’ is really not an issue.

[quote Moo31]@5footmama I posted this thread on Nurseries a couple of months ago and the replies I got indicated I wasn't being unreasonable. I don't think you are being unreasonable.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/nurseries/4081521-Watching-tv-films-at-daycare[/quote]
Nurseries are different to childminders for the many reasons already listed on this thread.

They will and do do this in a nursery and in schools including secondary!

YABU and really just mind your own business. Take up knitting or something.