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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

watching TV in the baby room???

18 replies

jenniepanda · 15/10/2007 22:19

When I went to collect DDs (3.5 years and 6 months) on thursday last week, all the pre-schoolers and toddlers were in the baby room in the dark watching the Lion King.

I know that they watch far to much TV for my liking, but have never said anything before. But this really annoyed me as I really didn't think it was suitable for the babies to be in the dark for the length of a film.

Should I say something?

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TheDuchess · 15/10/2007 22:20

Awful. I'd be very annoyed about this.

kindersurprise · 15/10/2007 23:15

Yes, you should say something.

Tbh, I would not be happy with them watching TV at all in nursery. Is this a regular thing? Our nursery does not even have a TV.

hana · 15/10/2007 23:16

it's very lazy childcaring

heavy · 15/10/2007 23:35

our nursery uses tv sparingly. maybe uses a short video to enhance topics on colours etc and often has something on in background for first/last hour of day (open 8 to 6). I'm fine with that, but they would never put them in the dark, which prevents them playing with the other toys.

mumofhelen · 16/10/2007 10:30

Yes. Toddlers shouldn't be in the baby room in the first place. I agree with you too. I don't believe it was suitable for the babies to be in the dark for the length of the film. Lazy childcaring as another poster wrote.

jelliebelly · 16/10/2007 15:48

I would definitely say something. Firstly, toddlers and babies shouldn't be in the same room - too much potential for boisterous toddlers stepping on small babies for my liking! And TV watching is plain lazy imo - the nursery ds goes to doesn't even have a TV - I pay them good money to interact with and educate ds not to sit him in front of a TV

Notyummy · 16/10/2007 15:55

Thats not on. My dd has been in 2 nurseries as a baby and I have never seen a tv being used in either of them. I wouldn't stick her in the dark in front of the tv at home, and certainly wouldn't expect a nursery to.

Original poster

jenniepanda · 16/10/2007 21:11

Thanks for the replies. I think I will say something tomorrow.

I have never been happy with the level of TV they watch. DD1 is always recognising characters in shops and on TV etc. that I know she has never watched with me.

I know how tempting it is to sit them down in front of the TV at the end of a long day, but that's what they get paid for!

OP posts:

milliec · 22/10/2007 12:10

Message withdrawn

EffiePerine · 22/10/2007 12:20

They have tv in nurseries?

I'd be v unhappy. What about the guidelines of no tv for under-2s and then limited tv after that? What about, er, playing with them?

I don't mind DS watching a bit of telly at the cm's, but the reason I chose her was that she takes DS out and does stuff like baby groups and going to the swings. If I found he was plinked in front of the telly for hours at a time I would move him.

EffiePerine · 22/10/2007 12:22

I would be v worried about the effects on language development - children need people talking to them, not watching the screen.

EffiePerine · 22/10/2007 12:23

more info here

www.askbaby.com/the-effect-of-tv-on-development.htm

ruddynorah · 22/10/2007 12:35

no tv at all at our nursery. no plastic toys either, they're very into all that.

Original poster

jenniepanda · 24/10/2007 21:12

Thanks for the replies. I did mention something to the manager last week and she said she knew nothing about it and that they have a strict (!) policy on TV as a treat on a thursday or friday afternoon. However she did look into it and wrote me a letter the same afternoon.

"I have spoken to all the staff involved in the incident and am satisfied with their explanations, however I have made it clear that although events at the time were out of the normal run of things a more satisfactory solution should be sought in future.
The staff have explained the circumstances as thus: the baby room had 2 babies both asleep at the time and because the pre-school room had a paint smell the staff decided not to return to the room after tea at around 4.25, instead they decided to go into the baby room and watch a DVD.
They didn't watch the film from the beginning, the children were watching for about 30 mins prior to your arrival.
The 2 babies had just woken and were sat on the staff knees until they had come round, but definately not been made to sit and watch TV."

I'm still not 100% satisfied, but feel better that I have made my opinion about the use of TV known. I still dont see why they would think it was a good idea to put approx 10 pre-schoolers in a room where 2 babies were sleeping!

OP posts:

Mummywannabe · 25/10/2007 15:27

I can understand that sometimes things go wrong, I'm a nursery manager so have lots of stories of my own! However i would have thought that a decision to move the children from a room for H & S reasons would have been discussed with or at least reported to the most senior person on duty i.e Manager/Deputy. If manager was off deputy should have seen this was a bad idea and manager should have been informed on her return.

Glad you feel a littl better, maybe it was just a one off.

mumofhelen · 25/10/2007 17:15

"I did mention something to the manager last week and she said she knew nothing about it" .....er, I thought you said she is the manager. Doesn't sound like she's managing very well. Surely she should know what's going on at her own nursery!

bossybritches · 27/10/2007 22:14

As a nursery owner/manager I would be horrified if that happened.

We don't have a nursery TV so no temptation for staff to be lazy in that sense.

We have a fun-week once a year when we do different themed activities & if one of those days is a pyjama party we have "breakfast in bed" & watch a short cartoon on a TV brought in for the purpose as a one off. otherwise no- far too much to do!!

Personally I also think TV should be saved for "down-time" at home, not suitable for a nursery setting. Just MNO of course!

busybusymummy · 31/10/2007 21:03

I think that's a cop out explanation - I would report her to OFSTED and look into moving nurseries

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