WIBU to complain about reception children watching scary films???

[PiedWagtail]

At wet play lunchtimes the year R children either do activities or watch films. They sometimes do this as part of class time too if they are tired - say for up to 45 mins at a time.

This week they were watching Flushed Away and my ds was crying (he doesn't watch films at home - prefers to be doing other things, finds them scary, doesn't want to sit still for that long). I was in the classroom helping so he came to me for a hug then helped me put out the lunchboxes for going home time.

But what if I hadn't been there?? Would he have been left to sit there? I hate the thought of him sitting crying through a film which isn't even educational, just put on to let the teachers have a break!

WIBU asking his teacher to put on something more appropriate for 4-5yos if they HAVE to watch anything at all???? They had watched the first half of Flushed Away a previous day and he had cried during that too :( but had had to sit and watch it.

WWYD??

Teachers have their lunch at the same time as children so I'd assume that a dinner lady was supervising. Are you the dinner lady? If so it would be your job to comfort.

I think you are not reasonable to suggest that a movie isn't played but the average Reception child wouldn't find Flushed Away too scary so I wouldn't go all guns blazing. If you have any CDs or gentler DVDs then I bet the teacher would be happy to play them instead.

I would warn the teacher that your child is very sensitive rather than complain that the movie was scary and ask her to pass on that message to his Y1 teacher too. I've had 3 in Y1 and they have watched movies with mild peril in (a U certificate) as a "treat".

it's a U certificate so you can't say unsuitable in the way say a PG film might be

sorry your lad was scared, awww

" I hate the thought of him sitting crying through a film which isn't even educational, just put on to let the teachers have a break!"

You're dead right, teachers should NEVER have a lunch break

YABU about your attitude to teachers, YANBU about the film

my ds is v sensitive too and finds lots of u films 'scary'. When in reception they watched the BFG and he had nightmares for weeks after
to be honest if i would be concerned that they are watching that many films. I worked in a school (YR) for 10 yrs and we only did the dvd thing as a treat at the end of a term. At wet plays the children did activities with the dinnerladies and some Y6 helpers. Yes they sometimes watched a tv prog like numbertime or come outside but these were only 10/15 mins long.

i dont think she's saying that teachers should never have a lunchbreak. Teachers dont generally supervise lunchtimes any way dinnerladies do.

We have 3 dinner staff for 120 children, jocie. They have to supervise the food service (not serve) as well as the children not eating. Sometimes a film is the most efficient way to look after them.

Cybbo - I'm not talking about watching dvds during wet play, but watching them during class time - which they seem to do regularly!! Of course teachers need a lunch break, don't get on your high horse :)

Mind you, after concentrating all morning I think 4-5 year olds need running around and playing during wet lunchtimes, not sitting watching a film!!! Esp the boys...

surely though if the children are tired in lesson times a dvd isnt appropriate every time? what about a quiet story?

I'm sure you schol would be very happy for you to supervise all the boys haring around in a wet playground, most without coats

Sorry - just re-read my OP and it was ambiguous - yes, they sometimes watch films during wet play, but they also seem to watch films regularly in the afternoons too.

Obviously the teachers are in charge in the afternoons, and it was one afternoon that I was in helping, so I was able to see he was crying.

During lunchtime they have lunchtime supervisors (separate to the dinner ladies) to supervise them.

Oh yes, lets have a school full of children running and playing indoors during wet play. How jolly. The girls could practise bandaging and splints while the chaps worked off their manly urges.
You could just mention that he's sensitive and ask for the MDS to check if he's enjoying the film or needs a distraction.

Jocie- I agree with you, a story would be good. My dd is in year 3 and in reception that's what her teacher did. Stories. Not ruddy dvds.

If this happens regularly you should mention your concerns to the Head

Blimey, Fallen, I just meant normal table or floor activities that allow a little moving around - house corner, trains track, cars and mat, jigsaws, drawing etc - not pelting round the school at top speed!!!

you WNBU to question it.

how old are the children Panzee? surely thats breaking ratios?
Do they all eat at the ame time and then all play outside at the same time?
and yes films at lunchtime can be appropriate but the main issue that i was picking up upon wasnt the films at lunchtime but the frequent films within lesson time.

Oh good, you never quite know what parents mean when they say running around.

During wet play at my school, for reception year a small hall is set aside for floor play like construction, trains etc

A classroom set aside for DVD (unscary)

YR1 and Yr2 are in classrooms

Wet playtimes are a nightmare to supervise, you have 30 children per class, and usually a MDS is covering a couple of classes. Reception are rarely able to manage quiet collaborative playing for 30 mins with minimal supervision, especially the lively ones who prefer to be velociraptors and power rangers.
Thanks to the TV and screen-obsessed generation, they will usually sit thralled to a film on the IWB for the entire period of lunch. Either that, or we could give them all DSs, an iPad or a laptop and have silence.

FWIW i think dinnerladies/lunchtime supervisors get a very raw deal and are def not paid/valued enough. they have to supervise the children when they are at their most hig spirited and all desperate to let off energy. wet playtimes are very hard. Me and the teacher(i was a full time nusery nurse in a reception class) used to take it in turns to supervise part of some wet lunchtimes as it was often a bit much for 1 lunchtime supervisor to keep them occupied on their own. (staggered eating times so hall was in use so infants had to use their classrooms whilst juniors were eating)

How "regularly" do they watch dvd's during school time? I bet it's not as often as you think.
I'd be a bit at your son crying because he didn't want to watch, are you sure he would have been so OTT if you hadn't happened to be there?

Molly - he didn't even know I was in the room, as I had been out in the corridor putting books and letters in book bags.

The first bit of the same film had been on a few days earlier and he had cried during it too. So, no, he's not being OTT, as you put it. He was scared.