to object to my 4 year old's class watching tv at nursery 'holiday club'

[toodamnfreaky]

Last week my 4 year old went to holiday club twice - the first time she started playing Beauty and the Beast when she got home, the second time it was Aristocats. On both occassions she said it was because she'd watched the movies at holiday club. When I called the holiday club check this out I was told that the kids watch '50 minutes or so' of tv after lunch during quiet time(the movies are each 70+ minutes long). When I pushed and asked how long was it, was it 50 minutes or was it the whole movie, and did they stop the movie in the middle then?, the teacher back-pedalled and said it was 30 minutes...(this was only after I told her 50 minutes was over govt recommended screen time for the kids' age as she had no idea what it was). I think 50 is far too long for 4 year olds to be watching tv in the middle of the day, everyday (she wouldn't do that at home). I also think it reeks of laziness on the part of the teachers (can't they read a story or two?). What does everyone else think?

Yes and no. If you don't like the care someone else is providing for your children then switch to someone more satisfactory to you. They are your children after all. BUT I do think if you're going to leave your children with someone else you need to be aware they are the ones entitled to choose what your children do and are exposed to whilst they are there and you have to trust them and tolerate some of the things they'll do that you wouldn't.

It's good to work together with the care providers though. You should check out their philosophy and tell them your preferences before you leave your children there, arguing with them about something they've done already isn't so great for any of you. Childcare (daycare providers and SAHMs)is such a difficult and poorly paid profession - we should all be working together not falling out. You don't want your daughter to pick up on what is going on (at 4 it is more than likely to have already happened) and think she has done something wrong.

Unless your kids are in day care all day every day it is unlikely they would be more affected by the philosophy of the day care providers, or anything they did, than by your philosophy anyway. They certainly won't suddenly get asthma, diabetes or behavioural problems as a result of watching disney films at a holiday club. Don't worry I'm sure things will be fine but it might be good to smooth things over with the holiday club if you're going to keep your daughter there. Look on the bright side too - the films have obviously stimulated her imagination if she is playing games about them when she comes home! You could maybe build on it with some more educational things like getting her to explain the stories to you or draw pictures of the characters?

Some of the research is discussed here, there is more quoted in Sue Palmer's book, Toxic Childhood.

www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-study-raises-concerns-about-screen-time-among-urb an-children-with-asthma_148784.shtml

www.dad.info/kids/screen-time-how-much-is-healthy/

It is a privately run club, there are no council ones around us, but money is not the issue. I don't expect professional entertainers/psychologists/athletes. I do expect supervised free play and limited television time.

Sorry, what is a SALT?

The fact that the op's dd comes home and starts recreating the story by herself seems to be a huge plus point to watching a film.

Crikey, it's pissing it down outside. Watching a nice Disney film for a bit sounds like a wonderful idea.

Agree - if they were in reception or nursery they would probably forced outside in macs and wellies to 'enjoy' themselves

Depends on the context? So how long is she there for then? What else does she do?

My 4 yo daughter has watched 3 films in the last week. She has also been to the park twice, been to a story/craft/rhyme time thing at the library twice, read dozens of books, baked and decorated cakes, put on two 'shows' (groan), played with her cousins, cycled round the block several times, gone out for a couple of walks splashing in puddles plus loads of other 4 yo non-tv watching activities. I refuse to believe that those 3 films cancel out all the other things she's done and will now condemn her to future behavioural problems.

So, if your daughter spent 50 odd minutes watching a film but 7 hours playing then I don't see the problem. If the TV was constantly on or she was only there a few hours then YANBU.

OMG ds (5) goes to an expensive private holiday club and he watches DVDs. Well it is on in the background when I go to collect him so he could watch it if he chose to. I assumed it was on as a chill at the end of a hectic day. I will have to quiz them tomorrow and find out what is going on .

Ds loves ben 10, transformers, power rangers, spiderman etc etc. He has never seen any of this stuff on television but at school he mixes with older boys who obviously have. Must send a note to the HT and ask for a reduction in school fees for ds being subjected to the influence of tv via other children.

For heavens sake, what is the problem with watching a film? The child is able to concentrate on 1 thing for 70 minutes? Fantastic! When I did play work we might watch a film a couple of times a week when the weather was bad and it was great. Gave us something to talk about afterwards, gave workers a chance to clear up and let the kids relax a bit.
Sometimes the kids really need some down time and I really don't think it makes a difference if you are paying for the care or not.
The argument that if you're paying, the workers have to be actively entertaining your kids the whole time is just stupid. The workers will still be working, they are still there at work - getting paid a pittance to care for your most precious children. They may use the time to do paperwork, clear up, watch with kids or perhaps even have a bit of a break.

YABU. If dd had been home rather than at holiday club she would have watched far more TV than a couple of Disney Movies. Surely the purpose of these things (childcare aside) is for them to have fun. A mix of activities, trips, playing outside and a DVD sounds excellent to me and I find it hard to understand why you have a problem with it.

My daughter has just started school and I have learned that the school policy is to put on tv during rainy days - last week and this she has been watching shrek, albeit for 15 minutes at a time. As we are entering Autumn, it is likely we are going to have rainy weeks, am I alone in thinking that there is something wrong with going to school and watching Disney movies?

Well my DS has watched DVDs at all the various (private and not-for-profit) holiday clubs he has been to this summer. He has also done lots of active (running around, going on trips, building dens in the woods) and creative things. I have no problem at all with him watching age-appropriate films with his new friends - they are on holiday FGS. OP I think you will struggle to find holiday care where they never watch TV.

DoreenRosemary - I would have an issue with your school's policy, though - they are not going to get any fresh air all winter at that rate!

I would have an issue with this too, but I have a policy of TV-free house as well. Would not be happy with LOs watching it in any place.

What moondag said - very well said actually.
To OP you YABU