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

[TellySavalas]

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?

My dd is at a private school nursery. As far as I know they don't watch TV on a regular basis. I think they do watch TV during wet playtimes and my DD complains that it is boring.

I would not be happpy for my DD to be sat in front of the TV for 30 mins every day at nursery.

At DDs nursery the children play outside at lunchtime and the TAs supervise so that the teachers have time to set the classroom up for the afternoon. There is a sleep area inside if anyone still needs a nap.

There was no TV at DD's nursery. I'd be really upset if there had been, I don't think it's a good idea. In fact I loved her nursery because they had to play all day. DD also was very sensitive to some programmes.

They had a computer but time on it was limited to 20 mins twice a week.

As a mother of 2 DCs, now almost 8 and 10, I'd say you need to chill a bit. I think you are being a bit pfb, to be honest. TV is merely a tool- one you may find very useful in future, actually, if your DD can fit it around her Mandarin lessons.... I feel you told us far more about where you're at with your need to put your 3.2 yr old DC in a more academic environment.

When she's 15 you'll look back and laugh at yourself getting all het up about 30 minutes of TV a day.

Message withdrawn

None! And I'd be pretty pissed off if they did. Seems lazy of nursery staff to plonk the children in front of the TV IMO.

This is my main & only gripe about my DS's nursery too. I'm certainly not anti-TV, but it really irritates me think that I'm paying someone to care for my child & all they can manage is to stick the TV on - I can do that at home for free FFS!!.

I've queried how much TV they actually watch on numerous occasions & always reassured it's max 30 mins & not every day but my DS (3.3) knows every character & song from cbeebies in the afternoon which we never watch at home (we do watch TV BTW just not then ) and AFAIA this equates to WAAAY more TV than they let on
LCN

My DD had just changed nursery. One of the things I wasn't happy with was TV as regular part of her nursery routine. Like you, it didn't cross my mind to ask, as there was no TV at the nursery she went to before we relocated. I am not anti-telly, but prefer to be the one in charge of what my daughter watches.