14month old screen time at pickup times

[AleenaM]

My two kids 14m old and 2y9m attend what's marketed as a heavily outdoor based nursery that they joined about3m ago, today at pick up my 14month old was plonked in front of a tablet, the carer had to call her name 4-5 times before she snapped out of it. My other child is like this due to them being a lockdown toddler when I've had to work from home & entertain them; I don't want the same for my littlest one. I'm not against screen time, I use it too when I have to get something done, but not really for my 14m, I do think she's too young. For some reason I can't shake off seeing her all alone on the tablet, I think part of me feels awful for coming so late, I do late pick ups because I work 3 long days until late, my children are always last, today it was 5.45pm. I asked if she often watches cartoons, and was told she was tired today and looked a bit lost so that's why they've played cartoons for her!? Apparently most kids get picked up 5.15pm.

I wouldn't mind if it happens sometimes, maybe it was the only way to calm her, or maybe carer had some extra work duties, or she got tired or wasn't well, but don't think I'd want it everyday in this setting, at this age.

What do others think? Thank you

Absolutely would not be happy

I'd speak to them about it and make sure they know that you don't want this being a regular thing.

I would rather see her on someone’s knee reading a book.

I would make it very clear that you don’t want that to happen again. My youngest is 15 months old and I agree that’s too young for a tablet!

I think with nurseries if you're kids are there during that final hour they often resort to electronics. Staff are only paid for the hours the children are there so all the tidying up/ prep for the next day is done then. I've been p'd off going to nursery to find them all watching peppa pig with square eyes.

Nursery is a long and busy day for little ones. At this time of night all her friends are likely to have gone home and the staff will be getting sorted to shut the building down for the night and prepare for the morning. Tablets and computer time are rarely used at my nursery but this would be one part of the day they could be used, to help with wind down time and to allow staff to get jobs finished. They will have been interacting with the children all day so this is part of a balanced day, not a large part of it. There would have been stories and books and drawing, painting etc all day so they wont have missed out on more educational activities.

None of the nurseries I’ve worked in routinely had children watch cartoons at the end of the day. One preschool I worked in used to do a film afternoon as an end of term treat which I didn’t mind but I wouldn’t be happy with a baby sitting watching cartoons.

If the child seems ‘tired and lost’ maybe they would benefit from a quiet activity with a worker, not being left watching cartoons.

And I do appreciate that it’s tricky getting all jobs done at the end of the night with kids still there but ultimately that’s part of the job. I’ve always managed - usually one staff member does one job while another sits with the children then swap over. It’s what you’re being paid to do.

I wouldn’t be happy with that. Never used screens at home at that age, still wouldn’t let DD anywhere near a tablet, so no chance I’d be okay with it in these circumstances.

She looked lost? So give her a cuddle or engage with her. Don’t plonk her in front of a screen fgs.

She was tired, the last kid there and the staff had to get on with cleaning, paperwork and closing up. Not surprising she was watching a cartoon.

Wouldn't bother me.

Yeah ideally they'd be with a key worker having a story, but I imagine they've done that a few times already. It's not going to harm them having 15/20 mins of cartoons. A tablet is no different to a small TV in this context.

5:45 is late. By then, kids need down time. My two are exhausted after a full day at nursery/school. I'd be pissed off if it was on during the main part of the day. But 5:45 is getting towards the end of the day - mine would sometimes be asleep by 6:30 at this age if they had busy days.

I totally understand you have to work so no judgement here for being last to pick them up. It's all a balance isn't it. You work 3 long days so you can be with your kids the other days. And nursery balance out a long day with a bit of screentime at the end.

I honestly wouldn't be fussed about it in the absence of any other concerns. I would hope that the staff having a bit of downtime at the end of a long day for them too, will allow them to get ahead for the next day and ensure tomorrow is fun and productive. We don't pay our nursery workers enough to expect them to work from 8-6:30/7:00pm every day. They will have prep/organising and recording data to do too with these hours. If they don't do it, they aren't doing that part of their job properly either.

I would not be impressed.

Hmmm I'm a childminder and the tv is often on at the end of the day. Especially if it was that late. We are so so busy all day long, the children are really well stimulated so the last half an hour we do have the telly on. I don't think I'd ever put a small child in a chair with a tablet tho that seems different.

She was the last child there and a bit lost and ready to go home herself so they let her have a short amount of screen time ... No big deal really.

Children under 2 should not be watching any TV at all as it affects their brain development. I wouldn’t be happy with this.