Watching TV at nursery - OK or not?

[marjean]

My 4yo daughter goes to a nursery attached to a primary school. She's there 2 days a week from 8 until 4. After lunch, the nursery turn on the TV and allow children to watch a dvd for 40 minutes or so. I wasn't told anything about this policy prior to her starting - but asked about it during a parents' evening after my dd had said she had been watching Shrek.

I have a few family members who work in Early Years education and they are all surprised by this practice. In fact, they don't think it's good practice at all and although films and some TV programmes are watched occasionally where they work, it is never a routine part of the day.

I don't have problem with TV per se - we watch it as 'down time' at home as well as the odd film - but I do think it's poor practice for a professional institution to use the TV like this. Whilst I wouldn't ask for my dd to be barred from the TV room, I do think I'd like to take it further with the head of the nursery.

Does anyone agree/disagree with me? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Maybe some of you work in a nursery that has a TV policy and would like to share? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

This is not acceptable. Are they using it to cover staff lunches? It should never be routine in any early years setting

Thanks for your reply Spudmasher. I didn't ask about staffing. I was told that children who spend the whole day there were often very tired and the TV is to provide some rest from play. (What's wrong with a quiet room with some books? I thought)

The children do not have to watch TV and they can leave when they want - but I know that if there's a moving screen, my dd will stare open-mouthed until it's turned off!

I was also told that 'a lot of parents are happy with it'. But this to me is a cop out - I wonder how many parents know about the policy, let alone how many have been presented it as an option. And, I live in quite a poor neightbourhood, where many of the children do not have English as a first language. This made me suspect staff of very low expectations and an easy life.

I wouldn't be happy with this on a daily basis, largely because I am a control freak who likes to oversee the majority of my toddler's viewing. I moved my 3yo from a nursery part due to too much telly with little linking back to other activities.

My DD's current nursery will sometimes put a DVD on - perhaps 3 times in the 18mo she has been there. This will be a CBeebies/

We dont use tv at the nursery where I work. Myself as a Mum dont hink I would be happy at this level of tv in an early years setting either, especially as not told about it on looking around.

Ps we are open 8-6.

Thanks for all your responses. I am going to raise it with the nursery head later this week.

Watching short bit of dvd linked to a current theme or topic then great it is good practice to use different sorts of media as they do in school. However putting on random dvd as a routine part of the day I would say not good no and would complain.

Ok, I'm going to buck the trend here. Ours do it after lunch, now they're in pre-school room only on a Friday but in ante-pre-school room was 2/3 days a week. They did it/do it because the kids need down time, esp. if they're in early - late. I know the offer of some books wouldn't get my ds to sit on the floor quietly for 30/40 mins and get a rest from the busy-ness of the rest of the day. I actually do it at home now that he doesn't nap, if I try and keep him going he's tired and cranky by 6pm.

I don't mind, they entertain him socially, educationally and in a fun manner for every other minute he is there. They absolutely do not sit about chatting while the kids are watching, they're cleaning, tidying, supervising nappers and setting up afternoon activities!