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.

I would expect the childminder to apply her professional judgement, if the children are tired, grumpy, need a rest etc then downtime watching a film and relaxing would be a good call. I'd consider that good quality child care.

How can a baby be radicalized?

I don't know any children of that age who would sit that long watching one film.
As an end of the day thing etc it's fine to use the TV.
For example today we
Played with heuristic toys (rocks, bangles basically non toys)
Practised writing alphabet
Focussed on initial letter
Decorated a Chinese dragon
Played playdough
Built a train track
Played with kitchen toys
Played in the garden with cars and ramps
Had lunch and 2 snacks

By 3pm the 2and 3 year old were tired so we put CBeebies on till pick up time.

On Friday we tried to watch big hero 6 but managed 40 mins before the cars came out!

I have worked in nurseries and yes they are definitely not as cosy / child
Activity centred as the beautiful
Online photos/ brochures would have you believe

Plenty of money in it, although it doesn't go to the staff.

Also can I say dont let this be a childminder bashing thread. Many of us are caring for 3+ children and trying to home educate our own kids with no protection from the virus and no recognition of our actual role in keeping the key workers at work.

@Bonkerz, nice multicultural box ticked there and use of a fancy word too.

[quote Nohomemadecandles]@PinkPandaBear School don't have them till 6pm!

Sometimes is fine. Sometimes is reasonable. In a sonetimes 8-6 day, an afternoon watching films won't harm a pre schooler! I'd rather they were cared forcto be honest.[/quote]
Fair enough if it’s 8-6! I thought this was within school hours or after school.

I would not be happy with that. It's not about letting the children watching TV occasionally. But knowing TV is somehow part of the activities she offers I would struggle trusting her not to do it more often than that.
And no, I am 100% sure my nursery doesn't use screens at all.

Is this your first? I imagine you will come across "no screen time" parents and this is an ok view to have. The majority of parents, though, I imagine think some screen time is ok. And absolutely ok for configured to occasionally do this

I doubt very much whether any of the younger ones would sit through an entire movie anyway. I agree with you though. I'm a nanny and think a short educational movie is fine, but I make a point of not allowing TV/computer games. Having said that, entertainment in a lockdown is incredibly hard work. I feel like I've used up every idea/activity, gone for multiple walks, but it's cold and it is a struggle! I would cut her some slack at the moment.

I don't think they ever watch television at the nurseries DC went to. I wouldn't have minded if it was a single children's programme and if they could choose whether to watch it but I think if anyone calls it a "movie afternoon" there is a good chance that the children have to watch it whether they like it or not. I don't think any good parent would set a child in front of the television and tell them they have to sit there for an hour and 1/2 whether they wanted to watch the film or not. At DD's after-school club they used to turn the lights off and tell them off if anyone spoke. No one was allowed to do anything different.

@randomer

How can a baby be radicalized

The same way as anyone else. Being taught hate and violence as they begin to walk/talk, being isolated from other sections of the community. Being brainwashed by their parents.

The Prevent duty became law back in 2015. This is a duty on all schools and registered early years providers to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism. In order to protect children in your care, you must be alert to any reason for concern in the child's life at home or elsewhere.

I think it’s fine.
DS went to an exceptional nursery that was the EY equivalent of a centre of excellence for training.

Occasionally the preschool were allowed to watch a cartoon on the ipad in a small group after 5pm, or have a movie afternoon with snacks at Christmas - equally the older ones would sometimes be allowed to “help” with office tasks (dread to think), go in pairs to the supermarket with staff to get the “snack shop”, or go and eat ice cream during the summer on very hot days.

I always liked that that nursery felt like “real life”- rather than a rarefied experience.

I had a childminder when I was young and some of my best childhood memories were of us watching films together. She introduced me to classic musicals, which I still adore, and she would teach me all the song lyrics. I appreciate that was a fair few years ago and things are different with ofsted overseeing childminders now but I certainly wouldn't change it for the world.

I see a childminder as rather different than a nursery. I'd not be happy with the latter using screens, other than on special occasions. A childminder is more like a home environment, and often with one person watching the kids. I'd generally expect more free non-structured play in that scenario, and some tv would be fine.

I wouldn't have minded it when my children were with a childminder but in the nursery where I work only the preschool room are allowed screen time for their phonics session. And yes it is a long day, especially after tea when the children are tired!

I am surprised a PP saw nursery staff using phones while with children. It's a big no-no In nurseries. Our phones have to be signed in and out of the office. They never go into the rooms and we would be sacked if we did.

On the weekend OP I'm assuming you prepare a full 10 hours of educational activities non-stop for your child and never once take a 20mins downtime for both you and the child.......

Childminders are meant to be home away from home.

So I wouldn't have battered an eye lid!

If my ds CM was doing something I'd have done I was happy!

@NataliaOsipova

Honestly think that people have this magical, rosey view of nurseries, in that their children are being constantly entertained, stimulated with educational activities. That's really not the case.

There’s a really highly rated nursery in the village; people bring their kids from miles around. They advertise themselves as offering nature walks, outdoor learning and the like. We saw them out with the kids when it was warmer as we’d gone to get a coffee and sit out on the village green for a change of scene. There was a group of 8 or so kids sitting on a mat on the grass, with three young women chatting and looking at their phones, occasionally shoving a breadstick in the direction of one of the kids and telling one of them to stop whining. This went on for at least 40 minutes. I’d rather my child had been watching a film, to be honest - would have been more stimulating. I don’t see what’s wrong with a movie afternoon if the children are happy and engaged with it.

Yes, unfortunately some nurseries are very good at using buzzwords when advertising their services, and not actually sticking to what they advertise. I have friends who use out of school care and nurseries and they are completely sucked in by the things they offer. I've witnessed some of these trips out and the level of care is questionable.

Also, any good childminder will take on board the activities their mindees feel like doing, and sometimes they do just want to sit and watch TV and chill out. Have you ever tried to drag a group of reluctant young children out in the rain and the cold for a walk? (not all parents send appropriate clothing no matter how often you ask). It's miserable for everyone.
When my youngest ds went to nursery, they were very into outdoor days and I sometimes had to keep him off because they were dragged out in all weather's and he hated it.

@ChestnutStuffing

I see a childminder as rather different than a nursery. I'd not be happy with the latter using screens, other than on special occasions. A childminder is more like a home environment, and often with one person watching the kids. I'd generally expect more free non-structured play in that scenario, and some tv would be fine.

Are you aware that a childminder has to follow exactly the same curriculum as a nursery. We have all the same paperwork and have to complete observations and learning journeys and trackers etc. No difference except our numbers are smaller.

“ They wouldn't do this in a nursery or anything.”

Uh... yes they do

@itsgettingweird

Childminders are meant to be home away from home.

So I wouldn't have battered an eye lid!

If my ds CM was doing something I'd have done I was happy!

Ok sorry I know this is really unpopular on here, but I HAVE to ask.

Is “battered” a typo?

If not, is it that you imagine the aforementioned eyelid being beaten with a stick? Or was the eyelid dipped in egg and flour? Genuinely curious

I think the occasional movie afternoon is fine .Reminds me of Nursery when I was a Teacher there and the LO wondering why we cant watch PP or suchlike!

@GhostCurry it was a typo 🤦‍♀️ batted an eyelid