Sir Keir Starmer calling for nursery closure!

[Boogie5678]

Sorry I’m not sure how to link this but it’s on BBC news.

@Tanith Clearly you've never had a climber!

@MarshaBradyo

Strapping a child into a chair certainly isn't ideal; do you have a playpen or travel cot? It's not ideal either, but it's how parents (mothers!) managed to keep children safe a couple of decades ago.

All day

No, of course not all day! Although my MIL tells me that's what she used to do with DH!

Better than strapping them in a chair all day, though, don't you think? Or leaving them to roam and fall into hot tubs.

And yes, I use a KW place as I've said several times on these boards, so I'm you know that perfectly well.
The difference is that I have 6 toddlers/babies here, not just one.

@Ilovegreentomatoes

I'm shocked at the amount of men that are not doing any childcare at all- it's just the women stressing about it. Why can't the husbands/partners step up and offer some help with childcare? They created your child with you they are equally responsible.

I agree that there are plenty of men not stepping up here, but even families where they do step up are struggling.

Next week I'm supposed to be doing my full-time job, and DH is supposed to be doing his full-time job, and neither of us are eligible for furlough and neither of our employers can spare us to cut down significantly on our hours. We are also supposed to be homeschooling our young primary aged DC. And while doing that, we are also supposed to be caring for a toddler. This is the situation here in Scotland until at least the start of February and for who knows how much longer.

I am not saying nurseries shouldn't shut and stay shut if it's really needed (although I would like to see at least some thought given to shutting down some non-essential sectors which are allowed to operate first). But if people like Keir Starmer are going to press for it, then they should be thinking clearly about what the consequences are for working parents and for the overall childcare sector, and pressing for some real actual policies to mitigate those harms.

My 2.5 year old wouldn’t stay in a play pen for 2 minutes.

A playpen doesn’t keep a child silent. So it’s not much use if on client zoom calls all day. That’s one big difference with years ago.

I also find it hard to take from anyone who could keep their child home but doesn’t and uses school KW space. Spreading positive cases and b) says they can’t manage.

[quote Lifeinaonesie]@Tanith Clearly you've never had a climber![/quote]
I've had several climbers in my years as a childminder.

@MarshaBradyo

A playpen doesn’t keep a child silent. So it’s not much use if on client zoom calls all day. That’s one big difference with years ago.

I also find it hard to take from anyone who could keep their child home but doesn’t and uses school KW space. Spreading positive cases and b) says they can’t manage.

Grow up! I made the suggestion to a parent who says she is strapping her child into a chair for a couple of hours. Or do you think that's preferable?

I'm not spreading positive cases: you accuse others of hyperbole!
Nor did I say I couldn't manage. I managed last year. The difference is that, this time, we have all the children here, not just keyworkers.
The online lessons for the whole class would be disrupted if my DD was trying to learn from home.

Noooo. I don't want this taken away from me. My 3 year old going to nursery is what is keeping me sane. It is impossible to work from home with a 3 year old. Hard enough with an 8 year old. As a family we all had covid at Christmas, so we have antibodies for three months at least. Plus my son enjoys nursery and seeing all his friends.

Or leaving them to roam and fall into hot tubs.

That mother didn't leave them to roam. She shut them in a downstairs room and didn't realise an external door was open/unlocked.

I made the suggestion to a parent who says she is strapping her child into a chair for a couple of hours. Or do you think that's preferable?

Of course not which is why nurseries shouldn’t close. I am not advocating that are you?

Can’t you turn the microphone off while she’s listening from home?

Only turn it on when she wants to speak

You said you had positive cases aren’t you concerned your dd has taken it to school?

@MarshaBradyo

I made the suggestion to a parent who says she is strapping her child into a chair for a couple of hours. Or do you think that's preferable?

Of course not which is why nurseries shouldn’t close. I am not advocating that are you?

I'm not a nursery. I am, however, hearing the concerns of the nursery workers who are worried sick for themselves and their families. I can see both sides. As I said, it's a horrible situation for everyone.

Yeah, I had a playpen years ago (MN sin lol!) but it was for when I was cooking, or if I needed to run to the toilet, or making a phone call. Sometimes I got in it too and played with them. You can't leave a baby alone for hours in a playpen, Jesus.

@MarshaBradyo

Can’t you turn the microphone off while she’s listening from home?

Only turn it on when she wants to speak

You said you had positive cases aren’t you concerned your dd has taken it to school?

No, I didn't say I had positive cases. I said some of the families who send their children to me had positive cases. Had they sent their children last week, we would have been isolating and my DD certainly would not have gone into school.

Her school have two or three children in and the head teacher prefers her to go into school rather than try to work at home at present.
If they close Early Years to all but key worker children, we'll reassess the situation. It would be more manageable, as it was last year.
However, you don't want Early Years closed, do you?

A lot of people are asking for a tightening of kw definitions. There is a perception that unless you are working in a&e you shouldn't send your child to a kw place. Everyone though expects their gas, electric and water to work and their bank to pay when they shop. It may not be as tough physically as those working in hospitals but it equally has importance we often don't think of.
Let's be kind to everyone kw or not, as parents we are all trying to do our best.
Furlough is not an option for me. We are already understaffed and my male colleague is sharing childcare with his partner for their daughter. I am a single parent who is worried about the nurseries closing. Yes I am lucky I can mainly work from home but need to be on calls and do some precision work which is impossible with a toddler. I equally sympathise with those nursery staff who are worried about their health.
I would like a tightening up but no banning of supermarkets (whole families shopping, can't some stay at home or in the car), parks (big groups mixing and not sticking to social distancing rules)
I worry for mine and my friends and colleagues mental health, we all try to be good employees and parents and feel like we are failing at both.
My bf is a sen teacher and already had to deal with children attacking her, spitting, smearing poo and now she has covid to stress about too.
I don't know the answer but I hope these vaccines get rolled out ASAP for as many as possible including nursery staff.

@IfNotNow12

Yeah, I had a playpen years ago (MN sin lol!) but it was for when I was cooking, or if I needed to run to the toilet, or making a phone call. Sometimes I got in it too and played with them. You can't leave a baby alone for hours in a playpen, Jesus.

Not what I was suggesting anyway, but it is what mothers did years ago.

Not what I was suggesting anyway

Well what were you suggesting?

@TheKeatingFive

Not what I was suggesting anyway

Well what were you suggesting?

I was responding to the mother who had to strap her child into a chair for an hour or two.

@MarshaBradyo

No I know. It’s very hard that’s why it’s harder than the 28 year old.

I hope he’s ok

Thank,you. Me too. I don't know how our children will survive without him.

I was responding to the mother who had to strap her child into a chair for an hour or two.

Oh yes, the two hour meeting, I remember.

Plenty of workers are in meetings for most of office hours.

For how long do you think it’s acceptable to plonk a 2 year old in a playpen with no proper adult attention? 2 hours a day? 4? More?

@TheKeatingFive

I was responding to the mother who had to strap her child into a chair for an hour or two.

Oh yes, the two hour meeting, I remember.

Plenty of workers are in meetings for most of office hours.

For how long do you think it’s acceptable to plonk a 2 year old in a playpen with no proper adult attention? 2 hours a day? 4? More?

We're in the middle of a pandemic with parents struggling to find solutions. A playpen is just one solution that might work for someone. Perhaps you should ask them that question.

A playpen is just one solution that might work for someone.

But not for most of the working day, is the point.

They need a solution to cover their working hours. 10-15 minutes won’t go far.

@TheKeatingFive

A playpen is just one solution that might work for someone.

But not for most of the working day, is the point.

They need a solution to cover their working hours. 10-15 minutes won’t go far.

So a playpen isn't a solution that works for you 🤷‍♀️

I’m afraid a playpen isn’t a childcare solution for people who do ft hours.

It’s a quick fix where noise doesn’t matter.

So much wfh isn’t doing in your leisurely time. It’s 14 people paying and expecting you to show up and be present. It may have been acceptable in first couple if months but not nearly a year on.

I say 14 but that’s an example. It could be 100 whatever.