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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Question for CMs (or nannys) about use of TV

27 replies

loueytbg · 23/03/2010 15:12

I went to see a CM last night and one thing she said which slightly bothered me is that she has the tv on in the lounge all the time as "background" noise. The playroom doesn't have a tv and she said that if she spots a child not moving from the tv she will encourage them to go and play with something (by diverting their attention).

I'm interested in what other CMs do re tv. I'm not sure whether I'm being picky. DS's will be at nursery for part of the day so it's not as though they will potentially be watching it all day.

OP posts:

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Blondeshavemorefun · 23/03/2010 15:19

Tell her to buy a radio

I like background noise but have a radio lol

yes we do watch tv but there's a time and a place for it.

Certainly wouldn't have it on all day - bet it wouldn't be on if ofsted were coming round that day

RosieGirl · 23/03/2010 15:30

Nope - I have the radio on or my ipod with childrens music. Sometimes have the TV on at quiet times but even then only Cbeebies (hate adverts) which I watch with them to make comments about what they are watching.

As blondes said she should have a radio if she wants background noise.

harecare · 23/03/2010 15:35

If my tv is on then we are focussed on it because there is something on we want to watch or it is a time of day when that is all we're fit for. If it's not being watched switch it off. Very bad for language and communication to have it on just for the sake of it.

Missus84 · 23/03/2010 15:37

I think it's a personal thing - some people like to have the TV on all the time and some don't, but it's up to the individual CM really. Other CMs will have different TV policies.

It's different for nannies as they have to follow the parent's wishes.

thesecondcoming · 23/03/2010 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 23/03/2010 17:00

We watch specific progs eg Winter Olympics or Springwatch, twenty mins or so at a time; sometimes if I have a later pick up we watch timmy time if the children are partic tired

In school hols we have a DVD and make the front room into a cinema

no to TV on all the time; yy to CDs or radio - cebeebies radio is v good (not had it on for aaages, hope it's still going or I am a twit for recommending something that no longer exists)

SillyMillysMummy · 23/03/2010 17:09

did the childminder mean 'tv'? as in programmes? I sometimes have my tv on, but its the radio channels (sky) that i use.

navyeyelasH · 23/03/2010 18:01

I must be a terrible cmer! We have it on for 15 mins or so at 8am as everyone arrives, then for 15 minutes after lunch as we clean up, then for 15 minutes at collection time.

My tv is in the playroom and TBH it's a godsend when I'm otherwise preoccupied. The playroom/kitchen is open plan so we also talk while the tv is on.

Ripeberry · 23/03/2010 18:05

I have the TV on in the morning as my own children like to watch it. Whilst the mindee is with me (10hrs a day, we will just have a nursery rhyme CD on, put 'In the nightgarden' on just before naptime and maybe another 10-15 mins of TV when preparing lunch and tea.
So in total, no more than 3 cbeebie shows a day.
Much prefer to be out most of the time anyway

SillyMillysMummy · 23/03/2010 18:06

lol navy, I have mine on sometimes too infact, i had had such a 'testing' day yesterday that i purposely sat all mindees (and me) in front of it for 10 mins it saved me from just cracking open a bottle

Ripeberry · 23/03/2010 18:07

Actualy, blondeshavemorefun, when I was inspected last week, we kept to our routine of watching 'In the nightgarden' and Ofsted were Ok with it.

navyeyelasH · 23/03/2010 18:21

sillymillysmummy - I've had days like that. We even had a movie day one day last week when it rained. We made popcorn and the children had to buy it from the 'shopkeeper' with 'money'.

I even did an obs on it!

frakkinaround · 23/03/2010 18:22

No to tv on all the time - not good for development. Yes to tv at specific times incorporated into a routine/as a wind-down and as a sanity saver!

CDs and radio are much better background noise and use less irritating voices/sound effects. Plus I don't like some of the stuff on tv - don't think it's always appropriate but I can control CDs and iPod.

underpaidandoverworked · 23/03/2010 18:23

The nursery my son went to often used cbeebies - personally, I dont see the problem with tv as long as it's educational and is used as a tool to encourage discussion and language. Look at 'Something Special' which teaches children 'Makaton' sign language - a tool used in many pre-school, nursery and school settings.

I also had tv on last year during inspection and inspector was impressed with how I used it to talk about colours, shapes with the child.

I always ask parents if they have objections to the tv being on and none have objected yet. One of my mindees can sing the 'Go Compare' advert, word perfect and with the deep voice to go with it - he certainly hasn't been watching that in my house!! TVs are on in most parents homes - it's another aspect of the 'home-from-home' environment, as long as it's used wisely.

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/03/2010 18:28

Nothing wrong with a bit of tv&babs loves in the night garden&backyardigans

if they are dressed/eaten breakie/all ready for school etc then yes tv may go on fir 5 mins

but the op post was about tv being on all day

Danthe4th · 23/03/2010 19:04

I go out every morning to a children centre or toddler group, park etc, home for lunch and quiet time/ sleep and the only time the tv is on is after school and before school but only if they actually are watching it, and usually because my own children ask for it, to be honest the minded children never ask.

drinkyourmilk · 23/03/2010 20:43

I'm a nanny not a CMer. I don't have a tv routine as such - we just have it on as and when. In my current position mum and dad leave it to my discretion, so we rarely have it on school days. It's day 3 of easter holidays and we've had 2 dvds so far. like others I use it when the kids are ill, tired or to stop the gin coming out. During holidays if they request it and we're not busy then I generally say yes. If I have background noise on it's classic fm.

Original poster

loueytbg · 23/03/2010 21:50

OP I think she was talking about TV programmes as I asked specifically how much TV the kids usually watch. It sounds from what you have all said that she is unusual for having the TV on all day.

I let them watch TV for short periods at home (usually for 15-20 mins around mealtime) and for a bit longer after tea. DS1 has a communication delay but is a little obsessed with the TV when its on and can be difficult to engage. I'm going to see someone else on Thursday because I'm not 100% sure about this CM.

OP posts:

thesecondcoming · 23/03/2010 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lollipopmother · 24/03/2010 09:37

I'm a CM, the TV is on from 7am to 8.15am when I have two schoolies for breakfast then it goes off until my babies leave at 2.30pm although occasionally I will turn it on for either 'Something Special' or ITNG if I absolutely have to do something that requires my full attention such as tidying up after painting. We only watch those two programs during the day but that's once in a blue moon.

Then when after-schoolies come then it might go on, it totally depends on who the kids are tbh. I always ask the parents first whether they are happy for their children to watch telly but by the time they are back from school I don't see a problem in them relaxing a little infront of the tv, it's only fair if that's what they want to do after a hard day learning!

LisaD1 · 24/03/2010 10:20

If I had the tv on my own dd would do nothing but watch it all day, let alone what the mindees would do! We have music on for part of the day, tv is on for 15mins at lunchtime as they all seem to eat better with it on, then it doesn't do on again until around 7pm (I finish minding at 5pm but keep it off until I start the bedtime routine for my own girls). It is on much more at the weekends or when I don't work, I just think as a parent I would not be happy to pay someone to park my kids in front of the tv.

Poledra · 24/03/2010 10:26

As another mother, I wouldn't be happy about it. My CM uses the TV as described by the other CMs on here - at specific times (after lunch, for example, when she's putting the littlies down for a nap, the pre-schoolers watch a bit of TV) for a short time. She does also use the TV for some computer games for the older children during the holidays, mainly karaoke and dancing . And in the summer, they're indoors as little as possible.

My DDs end up watching the TV if it's on, even if they're not really interested, so it stops them concentrating on anything else.

dylansaunty · 24/03/2010 10:39

babies and young children can't filter out background noise as well as adults can. We can have the TV on for background and not be bothered by it.

Children will hear it and not be able to concentrate on anything else.
It could, in the long run, delay their language skills, cos if they can't hear what you are saying to them clearly it will take them longer to pick up the words.
Same goes for the radio.

I think TV is great, in its place, if you are watching it, but not in the background, it can be really detrimental.

lollipopmother · 24/03/2010 10:51

I don't really get the point of having the TV on if you're not watching it, what a waste of electricity!

leeloo1 · 24/03/2010 21:47

'I use it when the kids are ill, tired or to stop the gin coming out'! - Exactly how I use it!

I'd agree with 'dylansaunty' on the negative impacts on children's language development and also IMHO having the TV being on constantly seems to show a lack of imagination and variety. If she has to chivvy the mindees away from it then why have it on in the 1st place?

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