Marbles at preschool?

[blondieee]

Today I took my nearly 2 year old for a visit to the pre school he is meant to be starting in the new year.. he had a great time, played nicely with the other children, wasn't shy, and the staff seemed nice. However, there was a marble run set up and the kids had access to marbles, something I would never allow my DS to play with, they also had a little pretend shop set up, where they had coins they could play with, some plastic and some real (1ps and 2ps) and lastly there was lots of arts and craft stuff with loads of tiny little bits.

Now I can't seem to stop worrying about it and my son hasn't even started there yet, at the time I didn't feel confident to ask the staff about it. I did make a comment about how my son does put little things in his mouth to which one of the staff said 'yes there is lots of little bits here but there is always a staff member in every room' well, even so I don't believe 1 adult can keep an eye on every child every second. And it only takes a second for any child to pick up a marble and swallow it. I just dread to think what could happen

Now I feel like I can't send him there, is it normal for a pre school (for 2 year olds) to have things such as marbles and coins to play with?? I'm a first time mum so I don't know but it seems absurd to me

I work in a nursery and we do have a marble run, this is only to be used with children who have the understanding that they can’t put them in their mouth and only ever whilst supervised by an adult as marbles can be dangerous obviously. If the adult can no longer sit predominantly with the marble run it goes away

I was a childmindet.No marbles for pre school children..

Oh my god, no.
My ds absent-mindedly put things in or near his mouth til he was about 5.
No way would I expect to see marbles in a preschool.
You can get marble runs that use bigger wooden balls, but they are expensive.

If it doesn't feel right, look elsewhere.

But I would also buy a marble run and teach your DS how to play with it properly. Also play money and craft stuff. He needs to be shown how to play with it properly to safeguard against accidents. No nursery or preschool will watch him 100% of the time so keep him safe by teaching him to play without putting it in his mouth.

You can be "shown how to play" with something but if you develop a habit of chewing on things without realising you're doing it - and you're two or three years old!! - it won't help you if it slips down.

Sure, that's why you want to get them in the habit of playing with it 'properly'. Show them how much fun it is when the marble goes down the run and it reduces that chances of them putting them in/near their mouth. Habits can be broken. And when we're talking choking, it's worth the effort to try.

My DD cut her hair (and her friends 🙈) in pre school using safety scissors in the split second that the teachers back was turned and they had a 4-1 ratio of children. I wouldn't have sent mine if they had choking hazards kids are just too quick

I wouldn't be happy with the marbles at that age! I'm only just trusting my nearly 5 year old with them. They are the perfect shape to get stuck into a little ones airway. Scary

I'd still say something even if you're not going to go there. Seems a bit silly of qualified early years practitioners

I hate marbles full stop.

Follow your gut, don't use that nursery. You'd never forgive yourself if something happened and nursery staff are usually very good but are also so relaxed about things like that as it's their normal and they've probably never had a choking child (thank god).

You are better being called an ott parent by the nursery and putting your child elsewhere. So what if someone says you're ott? You know your child better than any of those nursery staff and any of us on here so go with the best decision for you and your dc. Would you be able to settle knowing he's in that room without you there?

The nursery I used had marbles in the 3+ room which I didn't feel comfortable with but thankfully dd was an age where she understood my lectures about things in mouth!

Marbles and pennies are definitely unsuitable for under 3s.

Even for 3 & 4 year olds I would expect marbles to be under close adult supervision - adult sitting with children while they play with it rather than it being free access.

I definitely wouldn't be happy with this and would even consider reporting to Ofsted as it doesn't sound like they've got a decent understanding of how to keep the children safe.