TV at Nursery??

[marmum]

How would you feel if your child's nursery put tv on every day. My DD's nursery puts on tv usually as the kids are winding down before they sleep. It's sometimes something nice like children's songs, but today I walked in and they were watching Peppa Pig?!?

Would this upset you? FYI the nursery has children from 12-24 months in it.

Also, I asked the teacher, and they rarely watch tv, and try to keep it "educational", but Peppa Pig? Teletubbies? She said it's usually only for half an hour a day.

Would you be ok with this?

no I wouldn't be happy with this. I think the only circs I wouldn't mind would be right at the end of the day when everyone is tired and waiting for parents to pick them up.

for this age group I don't think it is a good idea. also a slippery slope, if it's there it can be turned on easily, can be left on for more than 30 mins. and I don't get the idea of using TV to help them wind down for sleep.

does anything else worry you about the nursery?

No, I wouldn't be happy with this (perhaps Something Special for 15 mins would be the exception?)

Peppa Pig and Tellytubbies, certainly not.

they used to do this at ds1' nursery.

it DID annoy me because i felt that actually, they could wind down wequally well in a quiet room with a member of staff reading stories too.. television isn't necessary IMO

in my case I didn't do anything because he was only there 3 mornings a week, and i was very happy with the care aside from that

it would be a big issue for me if my child was there every day though

all that stuff in the press about not using television to go to sleep with, not having tvs in bedrooms

It's probably not for the children's benefit, it is to make things easier for the staff at that time - is that how they manage breaks?

I don't like it!

absolutely not everyday

there are a million things they can do which don't involve TV

DS went to nursery FT for 3 years and he may have watched telly once or twice at nursery in that time

also TV is over stimulating

i stopped DS watching telly before bed at around 18 months as it was over stimulating

i actually think the nursery are being really lazy - why can't they have quiet time with a book or cuddles?

I asked my nursery about TV once (cant remember why..just a general question)

They said "absolutely not unless in a situation where it was the best possible way to meet an Early years outcome. Eg...looking at a topic which they have done lots of other work on, made pictures, read books, done role play on etc"

Not once is almost 2 years has son had TV at nursery.

Winding down before sleep....whos winding down? The adults? What the kids need is a storytime not TV.

I would be asking serious questions and for me to actually say that is unusual.

I'm pretty happy with the nursery. I loved it when she was younger as it was small and she loved one member of staff. Now that she's gotten older (22 months), I'm starting to look for other nurseries as I don't feel she's being stimulated enough. They don't have enough daily activities set up. I mean, they have the sand and water table, they go outside to play in a gorgeous garden, but there's never anything new for them to do IYKWIM. They had a supply teacher come in once a week for a while when the main teacher was on a course, and with her they would cook, play in big tubs of flour, do lots of different things. I loved it when she was in!

What do I say to them now? I kind of danced around the subject today asking how much they were watching and which shows, etc.

Also, RubySlippers and IRBOTP, I think you're both right in that they're being lazy and it gives them some time to clean up. Can I suggest a book? I've never seen them read a book as a group before (and I'm in there quite a bit)....bit of background- the nursery is at my work......

yes - suggest it

circle time with a book is a good way to wind down - kids can get cuddled with their key workers or lay down on their mats

cleaning up needs to be done but not at the expense of the children - TV should be a last resort in a nursery

To be honest Marmum the kind of activities sound planned and simulating enough.

I would ask to look at that days Early years frame work plan...do some prior reading first though

DietCoke- What do you mean with the Early Years Framework plan? Sorry, I'm not really familiar with these curriculum things...I just drop her off and am glad she's happy She's always really happy to be there and starts cheering when we walk up to the building.

Just think that they could do without the tv and was wondering what others thought.

TV can be used in an educational way somebody has already mentioned Something Special. TV can take children to different places they might not experience in real life and meet different people. I've shown children some Mule muffing and pugwashing in black and white so they so TV from the olden days. I remember a child who never liked counting until he saw the Numberjacks, then didn't stop talking about numbers.

Ask staff why they are watching TV and see if they can give you a good reason for it. If they can't think of one, they should probably be doing something else.

I once experimented on the children at one of my nurseries. The TV was put on a general children's channel, and left on. 20 children started watching. After 30 minutes all had gone off to actually do something.

I dont know too much about EY framework but there is alot of info on ofsted

I know they need to plan their days, look at a range of learning activities and ways to partiticapte. Look at how each child can get something out of the activity

Will have a chat to my nurseries mangaer/worker tomorrow when I pick him up.....they are really approchable.

TiddyD thats an excellent example of how TV should be used...black and white TV!

Hummmm. I am a bit surprised at the responses. I used to work at a nursery and we worked very hard. It wasn't for the staff to have a break. Most of the children are there all day from as early as 8 - 6. We planned our days so we included free play, structured play, story time, meal times, outdoor play, sleep time etc. Why not include a half hour TV session. During this session the staff would concentrate on changing everyones nappies. Would they really not be watching TV if they were at home?

am shocked too. maybe not ideal at sleep time, but tv at nursery is not a crime. both my ds's have watched a small amount of tv or part of a dvd at nursery.

i would be gutted - i would have to change nursery

There are many other things in the OPs statements that would make me consider changing TBH..

Re no new activites....my sons nursery workers find new activites all the time..sometimes they are bursting to get the children involved. They regulary say "we know x likes playing with the little people so we got that out ready for him today" or "x was talking about the trip to the zoo so read Dear Zoo at circle time and asked him to point out which animals he had seen"

If the supply teacher is more appealling than the normal teacher this needs to be feed back.

BTW I am the most easy going parent. Im not precious about my son and I certainly am guilty of letting him watch too much TV myself sometimes.

There certainly are good nursery schools and bad ones. The one I worked at was very good (have worked in others to compare it to) and they had TV time. Watching TV does not make a bad nursery.

Hmmmm..... I think Dietcoke is right, and maybe I wouldn't mind if I felt that there was more being offered to her. I don't know if they ever really have a circle time. I'm not sure as they've never said anything about it. But then again, I think that many nurseries don't have circle time at that young age? I could be wrong.... (and please correct me if I am) Might spend tonight thinking of ways to bring it up to the nursery.

I'm loving the idea of a cuddle with the key worker and a story time though. That makes me want to go in there!

Marmum....do you know any of the other parents? Are they friends you can talk to about their experiences at other nurseries.

Its good to be able to compare what is actually on offer.

When your child was younger did they have a diary they sent home everyday outlining days events (I will cherish mine forever- I never made any notes myself)

This is the second nursery my son has been at. Was happy with the first but moved to be closer to home. Hes 2.6yrs. He had circle time at both. I thought the first one was good....the second one was even better. I am lucky. I know a friend who is unhappy with her nursery because of TV and lots of accidents in an normally dry boy.

PS It probably wouldnt be a cuddle at circle time...probably more like competing for keyworkers attention as several children flock...it makes me smile how the keyworker are worshipped enough when telling they tell my son off!

I agree (from what you have said) that some questions need to be asked. Perhaps it should be mentioned that structure is lacking.