Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

Original poster

Reception children wearing watches

17 replies

Iamnotminterested · 28/08/2012 08:50

Dd, 4.4, sees her older sisters wearing watches to school and would like to wear one herself. She can tell the time to the hour and half-hour which is swaying me towards getting her one as obviously she can read it ie. not a fashion accessory. Would it be acceptable in reception? Would other mums think I was omehow showing off by letting her wear one IYKWIM!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Panzee · 28/08/2012 08:52

Sod the other parents. :) If you think your daughter should have a watch, get one.

HumphreyCobbler · 28/08/2012 08:52

I wouldn't mind a child in my class wearing a watch - it is a great learning tool for the other children too.

She mustn't take it off though. Little ones sometimes 'give things away' or 'borrow' things and this causes endless trouble!

Original poster

Iamnotminterested · 28/08/2012 08:58

Panzee, yes a large part of me says sod them but I dont want attention drawn to it either, I like to keep my head down and not get involved in silly playground comparisons with other mums.

OP posts:

noramum · 28/08/2012 09:28

DD has a watch, can read the time but won't wear them to school yet. She is too often taking the watch off and putting it somewhere. As we bough a fairly expensive one we try not to loose it.

MrsTrellisOfSouthWales · 28/08/2012 09:43

Our school lets children wear watches (not for PE) as long as they can tell the time - I presume they are tested

picnicbasketcase · 28/08/2012 09:46

DS wore a watch for a few days in reception but had it confiscated because he wouldn't stop looking at it and fiddling about with it. Teacher asked us not to let him wear it again.

FallenCaryatid · 28/08/2012 09:48

You'll need one that's waterproof, and paintproof and glueproof and sandproof then, they spend a lot of time getting messy in reception.
If she needs to remove it every time she does a messy activity, it will get lost quite quickly. Is it fair to expect the teacher to remember to remind your DD to take it off and on half a dozen times a day?

Theas18 · 28/08/2012 09:57

Why? " great teaching aid" maybe but there is a clock in the room. THe bell goes when the lesson ends etc .

IMHO a distraction from the matter in hand (get on with the playing don't keep seeing how much times is left!) and a risk of loss, breaking etc...

mrz · 28/08/2012 10:03

Make sure it's waterproof, paint proof, sand proof, everything proof and that she knows no matter how much other children pester she can't let them borrow it ...or keep it! or buy a really cheap one you won't mind getting broken/lost/given away.

IvanaNap · 28/08/2012 10:09

Can she take it off and put it on herself? Would she be heart broken if it gets lost / damaged?

I really don't think it's appropriate for a new school starter in reception, maybe she could settle in, get used to routines, become more aware of her own belongings and then get one for Christmas? There is so much to focus on that a watch really won't be needed/missed from the off.

Floggingmolly · 28/08/2012 10:13

It's not a fashion accessory. . She may be able to read the watch, but she hardly needs to. It'll get wrecked, then she 'll be upset. Wait till she's older.

FallenCaryatid · 28/08/2012 12:12

If she wants a watch, I'd let her have one, but not to take to school.

coppertop · 28/08/2012 12:18

I really don't think other parents would notice tbh.

To me the issue would be that it would need to be taken off for PE and potentially get lost, or that other children would be pestering her to let them try it on etc.

HumphreyCobbler · 28/08/2012 12:37

watches are fun. Therefore a good teaching aid.

As long as it wasn't expensive I would have no problem with any child in the class wearing one.

dixiechick1975 · 28/08/2012 12:44

DD's school rules state watches for juniors only - so maybe check the rules first.

Bunnyjo · 28/08/2012 15:29

DD, just turned 5 and going into Yr1, can read the time well and has a watch at home, but I wouldn't allow her to take it to school. Too many opportunities for it to get lost/broken and it'd only end in tears.

SE13Mummy · 28/08/2012 23:08

My DD1 started wearing a watch to school as soon as she could tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes which happened to be when she was in Reception, albeit a couple of months in. She had one like this for her birthday so it wasn't expensive and it was labelled on the back of the face. She didn't wear it on PE days and is generally very good at looking after things so we didn't need to tell her not to take it off/give it away etc. Three years later and it's still going strong.

Perhaps your DD could be encouraged to continue practising her time telling and, once she's settled into the routines etc. be allowed to wear a watch (if she's still keen!).

Flip