to think that my 2 year old DS shouldn't be watching TV at nursery?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

Today DH picked up DS from his nursery at lunchtime and he said that all the kids were sitting round a TV while the 2 nursery workers sat staring into space! He has only just moved into this room since leaving the infants one he has been in for a year, he always had loads to do in the infants room and we would get written feedback on what he had done each session and the workers were great. This new 2-3 year room just feels crap in comparison, I've never had written feedback in the 6 ish times he's been there and the workers faces are constantly tripping them. Then this, watching TV- what the hell am I paying £35 a day for????????? I try not to let him watch it at home never mind paying someone to let him watch it!

I'm not sure if this is the norm or not though? AIBU in thinking it shouldn't be? Does your nursery show TV to 2 year olds?

Although - now I think about it - Dd was 3.5/4 when this came up - which is different to 2....

I don't know why everybody is so shocked. Presumably you let your dcs watch TV at home.

As long as it is not used for any more than half an hour a day I don't see what the problem is. It's TV, it's relaxing. I wouldn't want to spend all day doing activities/educational play/yoga/stories, and surely 2 year olds would value a bit of quiet TV time during what can be a full on day at nursery.

And what does it matter how much you pay? They are still looking after your child and supervising them, if you are resenting paying them whilst your dc is watching telly, by that argument you would resent paying them whilst your dc were asleep/napping as well.

I think a lot of nursery's do this at transition time or when staff are on a lunch break, or when they've packed away and are waiting for parents to collect. There are other things, like reading stories, or lying and listening to a story on CD which I think are probably more appropriate at transition time, but would be disturbed at the end of the day with people coming and going.
I think I would watch it. I did some nursery work when I was studying for my PGCE and those private nurseries can be awful,the pay is low, the hours long, very little break, younger staff may be tired from night before action and be short on patience, which we would all recognise with our own children makes us poorer parents, imagine a roomful of them and you are tired etc, can't make you a great carer can it. My view is you need to be fresh to work with children well.
I took my son out of a nursery when I twice fetched him and he was asleep on the floor in a room on his own! Other nurseries I have picked based on the staff, are they interested in your child, do they seem tired, are their displays and toys out in the morning fresh and looking thought through, are they at children's level interacting with the children. Children's centres are usually really excellent, I have worked in quite a few on supply.
If it just the TV I'd not worry too much, but you sense something more? Not so much how much you pay, but that is where your child spends a lot of formative time, what in your mind would you like him to be doing and who do you want to be doing it for you?

YABU
Of course nursery children shoulkd watch tv. they need 'down time'. alongside the eating, running around, mysic play, sticking, painting etc etc.

half an hour of ANYTHING is o.k.
don't you think ?