childminders and the use of TV?

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just considering putting my DS who is 3.5 years old with the childminder who uses a bit of TV ( 1 hour?) during the day. is it acceptable that childminders use the TV - is it common practice? thanks

we chatted about this the other day the consensus was moderation is key

It's a home from home environment.

If you have a tv at home, I don't see why it should be a problem at the childminders.

I allow tv but in moderation.

Limited tv with the very little ones. I try to select educational programme such as something special and art attack etc.

I do not think 1 hr tv is a lot.

One of my mindees once asked to watch TV while the OFSTED inspector was here.

She said, after the inspection, that she was impressed with my ability to cope with the different ages and meet all their needs.

Nothing wrong with telly. It's just a resource, like everything else, to be used or abused..

I'm a CM who uses the TV in moderation. They're allowed to watch bit after lunch while the little ones go for a nap and older ones can have a bit after school. If a child is particularly tired or off colour they might snuggle in watching the TV.

the key thing for me is that it doesn't replace play and activities. There is Lots available to do and we're usually out and about in the mornings, so it's not an issue at that point.

Are parents concerned about the amount of tv their children watch at the cms because they do not watch a lot at home or is it because they do watch too much at home,therefore they want less at the cm ? or is it because parents are not paying us to put their children infront of the tv? Just wondering....

There are some very educational programmes on tv. Mr Maker, comeoutside, etc.

I like to have a balance with cm and tv. Some cm kids would prefer to sit in front of the tv instead of doing activities. I also have to take into consideration that the older ones have been to school for hours, therefore they may just want to chill sometimes.

if I put my DS with the CM - if he gets ill and I cannot send him to the CM - do I still pay the CM for the day? what are the rules in this case please/

It depends on the contract that you have with your cm.

IMO, yes you still would pay

My CM has got personal screens (DVD player things) so if a child is tired after school of whatever they can watch TV without having a screen on for the other kids. I think it's the way forward. I think 1 hr of TV is frankly more than enough.

wrt your child being ill, depends on the contract

safest to assume that you will be expected to pay when not attending

I don't think there is anything wrong with tv but do think an hour a day is too much

We don't watch tv everyday as adults in our house so I wouldn't really expect a child to

If tv was on every day I would prefer max 30 mins say whilst cm is sorting dinner or something. Yes tv is a good resource but I don't think it needs to be used as a babysitter or to placate children. They should be taught and encouraged to play with toys / read alone whilst an adult is busy ( making dinner/ settling other children)

If I used during quiet time/ settling baby/ whilst cooking etc it would be hours a day potentially

The TV is always on at my CM's whenever I am there. We discussed the importance of moderate use at interview and again later on but it still is on a lot. I know it's on during the day too as DD talks about the programmed she has watched. I start mat leave next month so DD will be leaving CM. We will not be using her again for DC2.

as with everything - moderation is the key

i think an hours of children tv is fine a day - and a lot of ceebeebies programmes are educational with colours/numbers/letters etc

An hour of tv a day would be a massive no no for me with a childminder. I pay a substantial amount of money for my DD to be there and don't expect her to be plonked I front of tv. I manage to keep her occupied at home fairly easily without the use of tv (she is 10 months) and would have thought with other children around, it would be even easier.
My amazing CM has all the kids read quietly in the mornings before school. Tv is never used during the day. I think resorting to TV is just laziness.

10mths is very different to say a 2/3yr old

Tv is good for quiet time ESP if child has given up a sleep or good while sorting out tea or helping older one with homework etc

Also very different entertaining one baby and say 3 under 5 plus 2 school age children

As with everything moderation is good. If you ban sweets junk food tv etc then as kids get older they rebel

These threads make me laugh, you would think TV is the devil the way Ive seen some people carry on, and sometimes come across a bit holier than thou. As others have said its just another resource and form of entertainment to be used in conjunction with others.

My DH is a CM and lets his afteraschool mindees (aged 7 and 9) watch some TV, but since hes had them all day in the holidays hes had them out and about and generally in the house he lets them also play the games machine to (another devil ). But he also does loads of other activities with them to, so I dont see what the problem is. Hes brilliant at art stuff with them and also physical activities and games.

I manage to keep her occupied at home fairly easily without the use of tv (she is 10 months) thats the funniest thing Ive read for a long time - shes 10 months - of course you can keep a baby occupied without a TV!!

As a CM lala29 I'm far from lazy! Also, as a mother of 2 small children, I have realised as they get older it becomes harder to steer them away from TV. My son watched lots last week as he got into the Olympics and loved it. TV isn't the devil in this house or down to lazy parenting. It's been very educational experience. I do use TV for my schoolies as they have a 10 hour day to get through. But it's in moderation. They play lots. It it also depends on the day of the week, mostly by weds they are lagging and need some down time after school. Pre-schoolers are a different matter, but I agree some TV is a good thing, especially when they've had a hectic morning ( playing in the park, toddler group, softplay) and need to chill out for 30 mins, There are many suitable, educational programmes to choose from. It also helps when I need to make lunch for the children or have a little one upset and needs my attention, or when you're trying to get a little one to sleep and need quiet time in the house. Again, moderation is considered at all times in my setting.

I am a CM in Wales and don'y speak much of the language so I sit down with the little ones every day and watch a Welsh language children's programme.

Jelly I think if you sit down with kids in front of the TV and interact with them and the TV and they are genuinely getting something from it, then it's being used as an 'educational resource'. Not what most pro-TV CMs are saying here, though, and they IMO are kidding themselves.