TV on at pre-school - is this normal???

[pregnabrain]

Hello
Have just started looking into pre-school options for dd. Went to see a place today and my general impression was really positive. But one thing bothered me. When I arrived I noticed that in one corner of the room the TV was on and that about half the kids were watching it.
I asked the main nursery worker what the TV was 'used for', thinking that maybe it was some sort of DVD designed for early learning, but she got really defensive and just said quickly, 'It's only on for 10-15 minutes in between activities'.
To be fair, they did switch it off after a short while and embarked on a seed planting activity but I couldn't help thinking it was quite weird.
I left wondering just how long it's REALLY on for, IYSWIM.
Does anyone know if this is common? Am I just being paranoid?
I'm quite strict about restricting access to TV at home and it seems a bit annoying that my hard work would be undone at nursery.
Thanks for all advice...

[pregnabrain]

A quick follow-up.

Husband went to see the place a couple of days ago. It was one of the amazing warm days we had this week. Got there to find TV off and most of the kids out painting in the lovely garden. Totally impressed! Plus, he talked to the main nursery worker about the TV issue and she said that they do have it every day, but only to watch Ballamory. So, I'm softening...

Am planning a second baby soon so I expect, once that happens, the TV will become a lot more important in our lives anyway .

I'm going to put her down on the list...

[pregnabrain]

I'll definitely let you know what they say. My husband's going to go and see it too, so maybe he'll see another side to it.

LIZS - not sure how it's run, other than that it's privately owned ie. not a school nursery. Think I'll just go and talk to them about it and, if i'm still not convinced, I'll make sure I let them know why I'm not putting her name down there.

[twoisenoughmum]

He was only there for 2 terms. From age 2 and a half to 3 and a bit. He goes to school nursery now, 5 mornings a week, 2.5 hours per session. But he qualifies for school nursery very young because he is a September-born baby. Honestly, I was very sad indeed when he had to leave that place and wish he could have stayed a bit longer.

I think you should raise the issue of the tv with them and would be interested to hear what they say.

I went there lots of times a little bit later than session started and a little bit earlier than when it ended (because I have an older child to drop off/pick up from school a few miles away) so was often there at a time when they wouldn't expect parents to be there. And I always thought the staff were doing an excellent job. TBH, you are very unlikely to ever find the perfect nursery.

[SSShakeTheChi]

I wouldn't choose a nursery/pre-school that has a tv TBH

[LIZS]

At dd's playgroup they used to watch a Spot video or something like the Hungry Caterpillar after snack while the leader cleared the first phase of free play away and set up the more structured activity. tbh it never bothered me as they did a lot of creative stuff and as it was a small group had lots of social and individual attention too. If there are a number of members of staff I would have thought they could have an alternative group activity going on - story or discussion of the current theme.

If I were you , I'd drop by unannounced at a different time and try to gauge how much it is on and whether the children are distracted from other activities by it or if it is on at other times than you were told. What were the other children doing while the tv was on ?

The tv issue alone wouldn't put me off but if I felt they were being dishonest or lazy it would. How is the preschool run , wodul you be able to pressure the committee to change this for example ?

[pregnabrain]

I can totally see the value of it in the context you've just described. But having it on mid-morning when it's a period of 'free play' seems different to me.

And it was definitely more than 10 mins even just while I was there. I have no idea how long it was on altogether...

I think I'm going to call them tomorrow and talk about it with them. Maybe they'll reassure me. Seems a shame to discount the place completely without giving them a chance to explain it.

[bambino1]

I run a nursery and we have a tv. It goes on for 10 minutes after dinner time. This is so the children sit down and let dinner go down. One member of staff sits near by filling out day sheets, one does nappies before afternoon session, one washes up and the other cleans floor area, tables and puts out afternoon activity. It works well for us and I have never had any complaints. I only show educational material.

[pregnabrain]

I think I might just go back and have a frank discussion with them about it.

I also need to look at a few other nurseries to compare (although half the places i'm trying practically start laughing when I ask if I can get dd onto the waiting list ). It might be that when I compare it to others I find it's the best option, regardless of the TV. Only seen one other so far and that was dire.

Reassuring to hear that your son enjoyed his time there. How long was he there for? Did he go straight into school after or a school nursery?

[twoisenoughmum]

Oh that's a shame. Will you drop them a line and let them know why you and your friend have decided against it? You might make them think again about allowing so much tv and that could only be a good thing.

(I know you've made your mind up but, really, it is a lovely place ... . My DS is no longer there but he was always very happy to go, running up the path, and full of chat and excitement when he came home. Having said that, I really didn't know tv was an issue there and I quite understand your pov).

[pregnabrain]

Hello

Sorry, wasn't online last night for the first time in ages [mumsnet is ruining my marriage emoticon].

The place in question (you've got it in one twoisenoughmum) is a pre-school rather than a day nursery. They have two sessions, morning and afternoon, but most kids do both sessions i think.

I can see the value of having a bit of downtime after lunch, and if that involves TV then...whatever.

But this was def in mid-morning session.

Funnily enough, I spoke to a friend about it last night. She's taken her kid off the waiting list because she spoke to another friend who mentioned exactly the same problem and implied that there's a lot more TV than they're letting on.

twoisenoughmum - i really loved the seed planting and realise that it's probably quite unusual. That's why i'm torn!

[twoisenoughmum]

Are you there pregnabrain or have you def. decided against it?

[FluffyMummy123]

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[FluffyMummy123]

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[nearlyfourbob]

What's wrong with free play between activities? I know ds's preschool sometimes put a DVD on as a treat, they only had one TV and video between 10 centres so they only occasionally had the TV.

[twoisenoughmum]

Does is begin with a B and end with an S?

[twoisenoughmum]

Pregnabrain - where in London? I think I recognise your description and would be happy to recommend that pre-school, if its the same one. At the pre-school I knew, the children really did not watch tv for very long. Although most children went there for a morning or afternoon session (of 3 hours) some did go all day (well, 6 hours at least) and the staff allowed them to watch a little tv when clearing up after lunch etc. And seed-planting activities - you really don't get that at every pre-school you know. .

[handlemecarefully]

Agree it is not work of the devil...but it has no place in a 2.5 hours Pre School session.

For nurseries where a child is attending all day, it can provide valuable down time however

[moondog]

Nowt wrong with a bit of tv.
It's not the work of the devil.
They have it on occasionally in ds's nursery and I am fine with that (and am a salt so very aware of implications of too much tv and effect on language and play)

[Gobbledigook]

Ds2 goes to the nursery attached to school - just afternoons. I know that both TV is used occasionally in both nursery and reception (in fact nursery adn reception often sit together to watch it). I think they just watch one episode of 'Come Outside'.

The school got it's Ofsted report back today and nearly every aspect was rated 1 - outstanding, a few 2 - good and an overall rating of 'outstanding'. So I ain't going to start complaining!

[DaffydDophus]

There is a tv in my sons (horribly expensive) nursery (he's 2). I've been meaning to discuss how much they watch it as I'm not happy to be paying them to plonk him in fornt of a tv (that's whats home is for . They certainly do as he ha been singing the theme une to Bob the Builder rather endlessly and say 'ello Bob' to any man he seees in a hard hat.
He never watches Bob at home.

[handlemecarefully]

lol, 'ball' game!

[handlemecarefully]

I think Nursery is a whole different board game to Pre-School

[handlemecarefully]

Blimey a Pre-school session is usually just 2.5 hours - it's a bit sad that the staff can't keep the children absorbed for that long without resorting to tv.

I'd be put off too

[nurseryvoice]

ours is like celery's
after lunch for 15 mins they can watch a video if they want to.
they have quiet time, reading times at other times in the day, but our nursery is open 730-6 so it is a very long day for some.

[Celery]

My DD's preschool has a television in their lunch room. There is a morning session and an afternoon session, and some children stay all day and have their lunch there. The lunch hour is inbetween sessions, and after they've eaten, the children sit and watch a suitable video for 20 minutes or so. I don't have a problem with this, it's a quiet time, after lunch, for the children to sit quietly. Yes, they could just have a story time, or a lying on the mat time, but personally I don't mind them having a short TV session - it's only ever used in that short space between lunch and the next session starting. I wouldn't find it acceptable at any other time of the day.