Messy Corn Flake Play in nursery

[niki4860]

Hi

I'm a newby, but although I'm a Mum, I'm a grandmother too! hope I'm able to still be a part of Mumsnet?

I just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on the hygienic aspect of nurseries using corn flakes as messy play?

My 13 month old grandson started 2 day nursery a few months ago, and he's come down with all the usual things like colds, chicken pox, eye infections etc, which is fine as I'm all for a healthy immunity build up! However, I can't help feeling that lots of tiny little hands scoffing, dribbling over, spitting out , and squishing communal food like this is asking for trouble?

Just wondering if anyone has the same concerns, or am I being a fuss pot Fanny? :)

To be honest, I think if they aren't exchanging bacteria and viruses via the cornflakes, they will be exchanging them in other ways - nurseries tend to be hotbeds of contagion, in my experience.

The staff do their best to prevent cross infection, I am sure - but I can't help feeling it is an uphill battle.

Exposure to all these microbes should help strengthen their immune systems, though (silver lining?).

Silver lining indeed - only concerned about such play being more of a hot bed for nasties than the usual sharing of toys etc. Thanks for your thoughts though - much appreciated :)

I think it's their way of filling up the kids who have been sent without breakfast and better than the kids trying to eat salt dough.

If they're gnawy children then they'll be gnawing on toys and sharing them anyway. And unless they spit the cornflakes out then they at least eat them so the germs don't get to hang about long.

My DC's nursery does it. With DS1 I initially felt a bit like you. Then I had twins and realised how much germ sharing is inevitable with very small children of the same age. Now I think it's better than them eating paint (or whatever that cup full of bright orange liquid was that was out when I dropped them off one day last week)

I see that edible paint is now available for toddlers - don't get me started on that one !! ;)

Ew- I've never heard of this? Do they let them eat the cornflakes?

They aren't supposed to eat them but it won't harm them if they do

The whole idea is texture. Crushing them between your fingers and feet. Spreading them about

Also can be done with rice crispies too

Problem with socialising with other children, is everyone becomes poorly. Only way to stop is to stop nursery. So may as well crack on really

Yes, I believe so! Eeugh was my first reaction too, but it seems to be used as sensory play in lots of nurseries! It's fine to do at home, but with a more than a few tots, feel it's not the best idea!

It's the sensory play with cold spaghetti (tinned or boiled) (and yes, they eat that too) that freaks me out more...

That's so wrong. But maybe a worm phobia device ... :( :)