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Original poster

Independent school for Kindergarten/Nursery- how much television does your child watch there a day?

32 replies

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 21:09

Because my 3.2 yo is watching half an hour every day after lunch as 'quiet time' They are children's DVDs (Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina etc) but still I am not happy about this- at home we do not watch television, though she is allowed a 5 or 10 minute programme from a DVD if she has gone to bed nicely the night before.

Some of the children need a lie-down after lunch (they take children from 2.5 yo) but that is in the same room as the television. I asked the staff to get dd to have a lie-down today, which she did... but she was craning to look at the screen apparently

I appreciate the staff need time for a break, and time to set up for the afternoon, but what is wrong with reading books, having soft music on, or doing jigsaws, or drawing?

She has only just started there, and at her previous (excellent) day nursery they never watched television/dvds at all- not even the pre-schoolers. We moved her because we felt she was ready for a more educational environment as opposed to a purely care environment. I am really worried we have done the wrong thing now

Today I raised this with her teacher who said it was what they did to give the staff their break time, and she offered to give dd some jigsaws or books tomorrow, but of course she will still be in the same room as the television... she then added that in Foundation they watch DVDs every wet playtime

I cannot believe this. We didn't ask about television usage when we viewed the school (2 open days, 1 viewing in school time, 1 assessment morning, and 1 settling in morning) as it never crossed our minds for a minute that children would be watching television in a school environment, other than educational programmes occasionally.

What do we do now?

OP posts:

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 21:34

Anyone?

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Sidge · 29/04/2009 21:41

My 2.7 year old is in a state nursery but they don't watch any TV at all.

I wouldn't be happy at all with children watching so much TV so regularly. Staff should be having their breaks away from the children, and sleeping children should not be in the same room as the TV in my opinion.

I am not anti-TV at all (mine watch far too much at home ) but I don't think it should be a regular feature of pre-school or reception.

willowthewispa · 29/04/2009 21:44

Sounds like they don't have enough staff to cover lunch breaks, so they are using the TV to keep all the children quiet/still while one person watches loads of them.

glucose · 29/04/2009 21:44

hi telly! great name, not sure I am going to be much help, but you seem quite miffed! DD (4.5) years goes to ft day nursery, run by local childrens charity, with a mixture of funded places & full paying families. Time spent the computer is limited (and only in nursery class) On some occasions (once a month - if that) children who are at the nursery in the early evening (1630-1800)are allowed to watch a DVD around a laptop.
I don't have a problem with this myself, as I don't have very strong opinions on TV watching.There are enough staff to cover each other on breaktimes.

willowthewispa · 29/04/2009 21:46

What education is your DD getting that she didn't get at her excellent day nursery?

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 21:52

willow -she is learning to read and write, which she has been ready for for ages- she already knows all her letters and can do simple arithmetic. At her previous nursery the pre-school room has been full for months, and she has not been able to move up. They do not focus so much on literacy and numeracy as it is a care setting, though they do follow EYFS of course.

From September she will have formal(ish) lessons every day.

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cazzybabs · 29/04/2009 21:54

We don't have a tele, but I don't mind some at school/nursery. I teach (private school) and our 4-5 year olds have a 20 minute video as "downtime" after lunch and we use videos for wet playtimes for the older kids...similar happens at my dd2 private school nursery.

I think it is important for the children to have some "off" time...and 20 minutes a day isn't going to harm them and may even allow them to do better in the afternoon sessions.And that is the good thing about TV you don't need to think...it allows your brain to rest.

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:02

cazzy - atm she is in kindergarten- much of their time is just playing- lego, animals, jigsaws, painting, all the usual stuff. Downtime is fine- but surely that could be resting in a quiet space, listening to soft music, looking at books, etc etc as it was at her previous nursery.

I think that she actually has to concentrate very hard on television- when she watches dvds at home, she will not watch on her own, as she needs to ask questions sometimes, and she is sitting on the sofa rigid and intense because it is a very strong input for her. It certainly isn't relaxing!

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islandofsodor · 29/04/2009 22:08

My two went to a fantastic nursery attached to a pre-prep school and they watched about half an hour of TV a day. I had no problem with it and they often used the programmes as a basis for discussion or activities. It certainly wasn't used to cover staff breaks.

And yes, now they are in school they do watch DVD's every wet playtime as well as there being other arty, crafty activities available.

Television is not the devil's work. Too much TV is not good for children if it is to the detriment of reading or playing outside but half an hour after lunch is no problem.

willowthewispa · 29/04/2009 22:13

It's not the TV so much as how they're using it - it shouldn't be on in the same room children are sleeping in, and they should have enough staff for breaks.

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:14

I am being too pfbish then aren't I?

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Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:15

Ah! thanks willow... what do I do about raising this issue then?
I have no previous experience of independent schools and their processes...

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willowthewispa · 29/04/2009 22:17

I don't know anything about independent schools either, but I'd be speaking to the manager to ask about a separate (or at least quiet) sleep room, and ask about how they cover lunches and what ratios they maintain.

glucose · 29/04/2009 22:23

Do you plan to keep DD at the independent school for all her primary education?

Flibbertyjibbet · 29/04/2009 22:29

My ds's go to a fab nursery and in the pre-school room there is a tv and they have a dvd on for about one episodes worth of something each afternoon. Ie bob, charlie and lola, the usual children's programmes. I have no problem with it at all.
Sometimes at home my two will watch a bit of childrens tv or a dvd after a long walk or park session to chill out otherwise they get grumpy - if they have a lie down and sleep then they don't sleep at night.

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:32

glucose yes- we did intend to keep her at this school until 11 yo.

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Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:33

sorry- hit post too soon... which is why I am so wary of us rocking the boat in the first term!
However, if we are unhappy already...
It is one small aspect of schooling though.

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glucose · 29/04/2009 22:37

it's a shame that you made such an effort to chose where you thought was the right school for your dd. would you have an alternative to move her to for primary school?

oranges · 29/04/2009 22:38

slightly flabbergasted that nurseries have tv at all. am i totally naive? i've looked at loads for ds (he's attended two) and never seen a tv.

islandofsodor · 29/04/2009 22:51

Well to be honest oranges at the nursery mine went to it wasn;t actuaally a TV, they played the programmes through a computer DVD player. Mostly Auntie Mabel from what I saw (Come Outside)

Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:54

glucose this was actually our 2nd choice... our first choice is full, and we should have registered her by the time she was 1 but we didn't know that! She is on their waiting list, but she is 8th girl so I am not holding out much hope tbh. That said, the school is a very good school, and it is a good fit for dd (though may be less so for DS). We didn't feel as though we were 'settling' for second best IYSWIM.

oranges exactly! We saw none when we were there visiting, and we never dreamed of asking about it- why would there be one in use?

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Original poster

TellySavalas · 29/04/2009 22:55

IoS - yes- they use the electronic whiteboard to show the dvds, so not physically a television.

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Flibbertyjibbet · 29/04/2009 22:56

I think sometimes our nursery might put it on for a short spell in the morning to watch something on cbeebies, my sons love Mr Maker and Mr Tumble (which incidentally with the sign language I think is very educational for them and we all watch it at the weekends and do the signs). Then what they have just seen is the starting point for discussion or activities.

There is a big gap between a little of something thats entertaining and educational, and plonking children in front of the telly all day.

But to answer the op, I don't think it should be in the same room as children trying to have a nap.

glucose · 29/04/2009 23:04

You could not say anything for the moment, but try to find out opinions of other parents - if more than one parent feels the same, then that might be more of a motivation for the TV watching to be stopped.

usernametaken · 30/04/2009 11:50

My DD is at a Nursery attached to a pre-prep school. I don't think there is a TV in the Nursery section. I wouldn't be overly happy about TV on a daily basis and especially a TV on where kids are meant to be resting. My DD (age 4.1) has no interest in the TV at home, she is scared by programmes such as Bob the Builder, Numberjacks etc so I would be worried about the programmes they show. I am not against TV, we have no TV rules in the house, DD can ask for it on whenever she wants but right now she chooses to do other things.

I am more concerned for your child having formal(ish) lessons at 3.2yrs regardless of how bright she is...but that is an entirely different thread!

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