TV at Nursery | Mumsnet

LesserSpottedDalmation · 2024-02-23T05:30:18+00:00

So my DD.(3) has been going to our local nursery for over 2 years now. The past fortnight she has mentioned a few times (on rainy days) that they watched something on TV today at nursery. She has never mentioned this before (although I appreciate toddlers don't always tell you exactly what happened all day). Nursery had a change of management a year ago and since then their "out in all weather" attitude has slipped. We always know if she hasn't been out as she's much harder to get to bed and runs around like a lunatic when she gets home. The kids going out every day is part of what drew us to this nursery (1 of only 2 in walking distance). Is tv at nursery normal? Should I bring up with mgmt their reluctance to go out in the rain? AIBU to feel frustrated about paying for my child to be sat in front of a TV (I could do that at home for free!)

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MariaVT65 · 23/02/2024 05:47

Tbh I wouldn’t be happy with that at all.

Part of the reason we moved our DS from childminder to nursery was that the childminder had the tv on all day and there is no tv at nursery at all. They all do plenty of different things when they can’t go in the garden…..messy play, puzzles, alphabet, colouring, phonics, singing, dancing, cooking, crafts, dressing up, bubbles. No need for tv.

PronounsBaby · 23/02/2024 06:11

I wouldn't be happy at all. Very lazy.

HAF1119 · 23/02/2024 06:47

Possibly i would ask them about this - our nursery used to put songs with dances on a screen sometimes to do the dances with the kids.. any chance it's something like that? Or an occasional programme that helps expand on a 'theme' they have right now? (E.g. theme of animals, watching a programme on occasion about the animal they've been talking about)

If it's just sticking some peppa/other on while they have a moment and the kids stare at the telly that's very poor practice!

IfYouDontAsk · 23/02/2024 06:49

I think it’s absolutely fine. I highly doubt they’ll have it on all day. Nursery workers work their butts off for little pay over long hours. I don’t mind at all if they stick Peppa Pig on for a bit for a bit of a breather.

InTheRainOnATrain · 23/02/2024 06:57

Is it a school nursery where they have a smart board just like in the other classrooms? So it’s not really TV as such, but a 3YO probably doesn’t know what else to call it. Ours watch stuff like jolly phonics songs on it sometimes but that’s as close to TV as it gets.

Rycbar · 23/02/2024 07:26

What were they watching? I use some TV as part of my teaching (I teach reception!) Numberblocks and Alphablocks are amazing and there are others out there too! You can ask about it if you want to settle your mind but if it’s a few educational videos I wouldn’t worry too much!

Groovee · 23/02/2024 07:31

We use our smart board for playing games but when it's not in use we'll play some calming music through it or sometimes watch something which links into what we are learning such as Come Outside's Bulb episode where Auntie Mabel shows them the planting growing and finally growing and the finished product. It was for about 12 minutes at the end of the day. It has its place but not all day in nursery.

I would clarify what it was first.

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 07:32

you know she will get to see tv at school right ? if the weather is actually awful why would you want her outside I imagine its a age appropriate,

YouJustDoYou · 23/02/2024 07:34

My then 3 year old came home speaking with an American accent and singing a song I didn't recognise, asked the nursery but they shrugged about it, couldn't figure out why until one day I dropped by the nursery with something I'd forgotten to send in with her and the kids were all plonked in front of youtube watching American nursery rhymes. Changed nurseries.

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 07:34

Groovee · 23/02/2024 07:31

We use our smart board for playing games but when it's not in use we'll play some calming music through it or sometimes watch something which links into what we are learning such as Come Outside's Bulb episode where Auntie Mabel shows them the planting growing and finally growing and the finished product. It was for about 12 minutes at the end of the day. It has its place but not all day in nursery.

I would clarify what it was first.

aww Aunty Mabel. Dds are adults but we always watched come outside when they were younger.

Dollmeup · 23/02/2024 07:40

My daughter's nursery have a smart board. They will often use it for music to get the kids up and dancing, and to watch a video related to the topic they are doing. I don't have a problem with it. It's not like they are leaving them to watch Peppa pig all day.

Id speak to the nursery to clarify before worrying too much.

SnapdragonToadflax · 23/02/2024 07:58

I wouldn't be very happy, especially if you feel the ethos of the nursery has changed. Ours was very outdoorsy but used TV sometimes for late pick up so the staff could tidy up in peace, but only in bad weather/dark evenings.

Maybe worth having a look around some other nurseries. But I will say - mine seems to watch TV quite often at school (Reception). It's a very different vibe to our lovely Forest School nursery. You might be fighting a losing battle.

J97King · 23/02/2024 16:58

Staff availability? Some nurseries have apprentices out at college one day per week for example. They need x number of qualified staff of course, but they may also have some unqualified staff in on some days and not others. Jobs like nappy changing still have to be prioritised - if there are a lot of younger children this can take a lot of time. Find out more about what is happening on TV days.

hoarahloux · 23/02/2024 17:49

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 07:32

you know she will get to see tv at school right ? if the weather is actually awful why would you want her outside I imagine its a age appropriate,

A bit of rain isn't awful weather. We get the puddle suits on and go outside when it's hammering down! The children have a fantastic time.

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 23/02/2024 18:05

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 07:32

you know she will get to see tv at school right ? if the weather is actually awful why would you want her outside I imagine its a age appropriate,

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rliDSz_7PZE

Breathing the fresh air, strengthening their immune systems, improving heart and lung health, developing muscle strength and gross and fine motor skills, decompressing out in nature, learning problem solving and how to interact socially, having opportunities to be creative, forming habits for active healthy lives, getting lovely and tired so they go straight off to sleep at bedtime and the parents have an undisturbed night...?

I'd be pissed off too OP, especially as you chose the nursery specifically for their 'outdoorsy' ethos.

Before you continue to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rliDSz_7PZE

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 18:29

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 23/02/2024 18:05

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rliDSz_7PZE

Breathing the fresh air, strengthening their immune systems, improving heart and lung health, developing muscle strength and gross and fine motor skills, decompressing out in nature, learning problem solving and how to interact socially, having opportunities to be creative, forming habits for active healthy lives, getting lovely and tired so they go straight off to sleep at bedtime and the parents have an undisturbed night...?

I'd be pissed off too OP, especially as you chose the nursery specifically for their 'outdoorsy' ethos.

Show quote history

yes outside is lovely and beneficial I don't think I need that explaining, however children don't need to be outside in the wind and rain every single day and a bit of television isn't harmful.

Tumbleweed101 · 23/02/2024 21:58

Are you doing full days ie 7am -6pm or core days ie 9-3pm?

We never use TV in the educational part of the day (core day) but when it is late we might put something on for a bit when the children are exhausted. They all need a bit of down time and there is so much to do all day they don't always let themselves rest. We have a lot of 5 day a week, 10 hour a day children.

Original poster

LesserSpottedDalmation · 25/02/2024 10:18

HAF1119 · 23/02/2024 06:47

Possibly i would ask them about this - our nursery used to put songs with dances on a screen sometimes to do the dances with the kids.. any chance it's something like that? Or an occasional programme that helps expand on a 'theme' they have right now? (E.g. theme of animals, watching a programme on occasion about the animal they've been talking about)

If it's just sticking some peppa/other on while they have a moment and the kids stare at the telly that's very poor practice!

That's a goof point. She has told me they've watched the gruffalo and zog but I haven't heard about a theme of this so it seems to be just they can't be bothered to think of more activities to fill the day!

OP posts:

Original poster

LesserSpottedDalmation · 25/02/2024 10:20

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 07:32

you know she will get to see tv at school right ? if the weather is actually awful why would you want her outside I imagine its a age appropriate,

They used to go out in all weathers. They are all sent in with appropriate clothing for the weather - after all there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes!

If it was something educational like numberblocks or colourblocks I wouldn't mind but the gruffalo is just a story 😵‍💫

OP posts:

Original poster

LesserSpottedDalmation · 25/02/2024 10:24

Tumbleweed101 · 23/02/2024 21:58

Are you doing full days ie 7am -6pm or core days ie 9-3pm?

We never use TV in the educational part of the day (core day) but when it is late we might put something on for a bit when the children are exhausted. They all need a bit of down time and there is so much to do all day they don't always let themselves rest. We have a lot of 5 day a week, 10 hour a day children.

8.30-4 30 so a bit outside of core.

I think I'm just miffed as it seems to tie in with the less time outdoors...

I wouldn't mind if it was something educational but the gruffalo is just a story (one we read all the time too!) and they haven't told us they're running a theme on jt

OP posts:

SnapdragonToadflax · 25/02/2024 19:18

I honestly couldn't get upset about them watching the Gruffalo. There's no such thing as 'just a story' - stories are so important and it's a lovely one.

But yes, the lack of outdoor play would annoy me and make me look elsewhere.

supersonicginandtonic · 25/02/2024 19:32

I'd rather my kids watch the gruffalo and zog than numberblocks. Julia Donaldson's books are great.

Emeraldrings · 16/03/2024 20:29

Would you mind them reading the story? If you wouldn't does it really matter that she saw it on TV?
We're not allowed TV in our nursery but will put nursery rhymes or songs with actions/dances on the iPad occasionally for the kids. They don't usually follow the actions or dances but at least they're being active.
Having said that we go out in all weather puddle suits and wellies on and out we go. They need fresh air and exercise.

Nurserymam · 18/05/2024 10:32

I can see both sides of this. In the nursery I currently manage, tv is on after lunch while some staff clean up and others go on school runs and others are getting children off to sleep but I’d be annoyed if it was eating into outdoor play time