National curriculum for babies and toddlers?

[weesaidie]

here

Any views?

A women on breakfast news said they are only teaching what you would probably teach them yourself were you at home?

Or should they just be allowed to play?

Am leaning towards the latter I must say.

I've noticed at ds2's preschool playgroup that now where the activities are laid out for the morning there is a card on the table all written up with what the aim of it is in terms of the curriculum and what ages are gaining what from it. To me it just looks like extra work for the nursery - they would be doing the activity anyway and it's pretty obvious to me what the children are learning. I don't want the nursery wasting their time making daft cards explaining it.

It's just the world gone completely bonkers. Pressure, pressure, do it better, do it faster....give the kids a bloomin break! They are 2!!! (or 1 or 3 or whatever...)

They may deter those who think it's easy money and weed out the ones who can't be bothered. What parents do or don't do in their own homes is one thing but when children are entrusted to government registered and subsidised care there is a duty to make sure that they are given lots of effective learning. An early years curriculum is a way of doing that. It doesn't scare me as I am sure it would be a helpful framework to my planning.

But I don't want my carer to follow "the same curriculum" as everyone else. Next thing you know, they'll be requiring SAHMs to "register" to "prove" that they are stimulating their kids enough.

SorryGoosey - but it might be government reigstered (and by that, all I want is to ensure that it is safe for the child) - but it is not governemnt subsidised. Until it is, I itihnk it is uniecessary additional interference.

But I didn't want my nine month old baby to be given effective learning. I just wanted her to be given lots of affection and attention. Which she was. By someone who had very little education but lots of patience and time for children.

Just back from uni and glad to see this is still going and was even bumped! (Thanks flamesparrow).

I am inclined to agree with pretty much everyone here. It seems totally unnecessary. What is the actual point? Do children need to learn at such a young age? No. Can they learn it all at school? Yes.

I just don't know why this has been introduced, is because of falling literacy rates?? Is this supposed to help?? Surely not.

I do worry about the 'flexibility' of it too. Yound children are so different and I would hate to think that we and our children are going to have to start worrying about them 'under performing' at nursery!

But also, what's wrong with "easy money"? Why should every single penny be fought for? What is this obsession with stimulating kids instead of just letting them be? Let's face it, childminding is absolutley shit-paid work, otherwise I'd be doing it, and the idea that looking after children is "easy money", whether you follow a curriculum or not, is a joke, otherwise I'd do it.

What are tax credits for childcare if not a subsidy? I certainly would not want any of my children in 'safe' holding cells until I finish work.
Gobbledigook - the nursery may not do the activities anyway without the planning and thought that goes into writing up the cards you mention. Offering play-doh for example is easy, but thinking about how to maximise and encourage and support children's play and learning for each age and stage of development does need planning.

quite a lot of people get payments towards childcare in that sense it may be government subsidised

Easy money is great if you can get it - but never at the expense of vulnerable children.

Oh dear! dd doen't go to nursery, and I'm afraid I just offer play-doh. I don't plan how to maximise, encourage and support her play and learning. That's probably why she just ends up eating it!

LOL

Oh goosey, what d'you think will happen to these poor vulnerable children if they're not constantly maximised, supported and encouraged in their play?

Frankly, if all these guidelines come in and childminders are persecuted by inspectors who tell them they're no longer allowed to take kids to supermarkets and do their shopping etc. and housework while they look after kids, because getting on with their lives in between playing with the kids isn't developing early learning goals, then I think we'll end up with an even worse shortage of childminders than we've got at the moment. Who on earth would want to do such a low-status, low-paid job if all the freedom of it is taken away and it's made as prescriptive as working in an office for the person doing it? It begins to sound about as attractive as teaching.

Well exactly, I can't do play-doh because I can't stand the mess. And I really hate play parks as well (I know, I know, several bad Mummy points there). And I'm sure some childminders have got things they hate doing as well, and I don't really think a government inspector should tell them they have to. If I had to sit there for an hour with play-doh, I'd run screaming to the nearest office and demand they give me a full time job with no play-doh in sight immediately.

stop the world I want to get off!

The best thing about dds nursery is that they do all the messy things with her (ie painting) so I don't have to do it at home!

Absolutley. That's why God invented nurseries.

I think the various views on this thread are demonstarting the point well: people clearly want different things for their children. Some like nurseries. Some like childminders (as they are now). Some prefer to stay home. One size of guideline doesn't fit all. And we as parents aren't likely to sit down and let someone else tell us how to raise our children.

FFS that's riducloius - they ALREADY "learn through play" and even in reception (which is the 2nd year of the "foundation") the a lot of their learning is STILL done through play! I ask DS what he's been doing when he comes home from school as he always says "Playing"

Lets just ignore the fact that since he started he can recognise numbers like 38, spell his name, read some words (sorry guys no Jolly Phonics ), has come home in the last few days telling me about space, last half term had long conversations with me about 'families', and is altogether able to think more logically........oops sorry he's playing not learnning

What I meant by that is, I agree, I mean I guess if dd didn't go to nursery I would paint with her. If she really wanted to. Occasionally. But I don't think any activities should be required.

oh and NO messy play in this house - I've already got pen stains on the back of the chairs, and holes stabbed in my table - messy play reserved for toddler groups, nursery and school.

although DS1 does occasionaly come into the kitchen to help me - but not often or we have a riot from DS2 who's not allowed LOL