Wet play...film again!

[RaisinBoys]

Am I the only one who has a DC sick of wet play=film?

Perfectly good library that could be opened up for some lunchtime reading, plenty of board games, laptops, ipads and PC's, 2 large halls for indoor games...

Yet again it's choice of Spongebob or HH, for Y5's???

And, yes I know that teachers need a lunch break too but there is a long list of CRB parent volunteers who could be utilised for wet play cover, couldn't they?

Why wet play?

I work in an infant school and children go out in all weather. So much better for everyone concerned if thy get to go outside for a while.

But is also have no problem with dd watching a film for a bit during a wet play. It's time out from work for them so why not? Is there not another option available? On the rare times we do have a wet play we sometimes put a film on but also there are games, jigsaws and drawing stuff available, and always access to books.

Why wet play?
I don't know, perhaps school management decreed that melting snow was too wet! The children were just informed that today was wet play.

Is there not another option available?
As I think I said in my original post the only choice was between Spongebob film in one y5 class and HH film in other Y5 class. That was it.

My DS watched a bit then absented himself and sat in the corridor as no other option was available. Luckily he had a book in his bookbag.

Most schools I know have 'wet play' stuff that comes out for exactly that purpose. Certainly no DVDs at my school. My Y2s have Lego, Polydron, board games, puzzle sheets, access to scrap paper, scissors, tape, coloured pens, etc, puppets, small world pirate ship, book corner... And the midday supervisors muck in and play with the children. They're fine.

Usually films are put on and some children also draw or read or even chat and play quiet games with friends. Are you sure that this wasn't an option? It is usally quite noisy and buzy indoors when it's wet play. I agree there should be other options but maybe the school were especially pushed staffing wise. Today our children had to stay in as head was worried about children slipping on playground. I spent all of my break and lunchtime in the classroom with my class. There was a film on and some children watched. Others sat together in small groups and did some colouring, some made model planes out of the scrap paper tray, some chatted and wrote little notes to each other and some read their reading books. I don't think anyone really suffered from these arrangements other than staff who were desperate for a quiet ten minutes and a cup of tea!

Oops didn't proofread. Meant to type busy before hundreds of people comment on my spelling.

Your school sounds great InTheoryBut

DC's is a good school in all but this! Will try again to get change (and choice!)

I have nothing against films - i just don't think they should be the default option for wet play. Particularly as screen based technologies are (rightly) a large part of a child's learning. Much use is made of ipads, laptops and PC's.

A break from the screen at lunchtime would be good, imo.

But it will be the lunchtime supervisors supervising the DC at lunch time - not the teachers, so there should be no need for parents to go in, but I'm sure you can suggest the idea to the head.

At my DCs school the PTA gave each class a wet play box. Full of toys educational items they aren't allowed at any other time, so they seem really exciting. Would your school consider this?

Maybe you could donate some educational DVDs to make a change from spongebob and hh?

We used to dance the polka in the assembly hall back when I was a girl. One of the nuns used to set up a record player and play her collection of polka music. This was in Dublin, so we did a lot of polkas and other folk dances from central Europe. We were allowed to take off our jumpers [what excitement] as it was quite a workout.

but mathanxiety

A CRB does not mean you take responsibility. Only paid members of staff are allowed to be solely in charge of the children. So no, parents cannot cover wet play.

But my main point would be this: Oh my GOD please get over it.

Love your response wells hen. I guess I was kind of thinking that a bit...

When I was at school the only thing we ever did during wet play was play hangman.

We would have wet ourselves if we got to watch TV.

Our PTA funded a box of wet play equipment for every class. Each Teqcher suggested a range of things like Lego, felt pens, jigsaws etc. and the PTA provided them, and replace anything in them which runs out.

Having said that, we very rarely have wet play - the children are out in all weathers. The parents are all aware of this!

My Year 5s had wet play (personally, I'd send them outside with a coat, hat and gloves on...).
Mine play with the Lego, read in the library or reading corner, play Tops Trumps, doodle on my mini-whiteboards, create some rather random fantasy football/cricket pitches and keep scores (don't ask me what they are doing with it, because I don't quite understand it), draw, play some sort of cup game (which is incredibly annoying), dance about in the hall,...and one of them made a model of one of the creatures from "War of the Worlds" out of paper today.
I've never put a DVD on for wet play. It's not practical at all, with so many children wanting to do different things. Last time I put a DVD on, was the lesson before the Christmas holidays.
Are you sure there was nothing else to do? Teacher's aren't generally "on duty" during lunchtime, so it should be up to the lunchtime staff to sort that. However, mine just get the stuff out and get on with it. The adults on duty usually just need to tell mine not to run around in the classroom.

without the apostrophe....goodness, I talked too much about that today... brain is turning to mush...

I remember haaving a whole box FULL of Whizzer and Chips comics in my classroom when I was in Y5/6.

I lived for wet play

I loved Whizzer and Chips at that age. Way better than hangman.

RaisinBoys is ablsolutely right. You know what they say:

In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they're not!

Never worked in a school where films / DVDs were used for wet play. Board games, paper and pens, an awful lot of sticky tape, books and general chat seemed to be the order of the day today... (very excitingly icy playground, despite best attempts to grit and clear it - they were out in the snow yesterday but the ice was a different beast entirely. Saw 5 children fall over just walking across the playground into school, and they had sensible shoes / wellies on)

Wellthen & Cansu

What should I "get over" exactly?

I have a view on wet play that differs to yours. But crucially it is my DC's opinion on it that I'm interested in and he is bored rigid of films every wet play. And considering the amount of rain we've had over the last 12 months that is an awful lot of wet play time.

But thanks anyway for your unhelpful, unenlightening, negative responses.

At least mathsanxiety made me laugh.

Never ceases to amaze me the need some people have to comment negatively on posts that they consider unimportant...

OP, fwiw, I think the same old films shown over and over is a bit of a weak offering from the school. Organised games (or even dancing ) are not really that hard to get started, depending on the sort of space available. We were lucky(?) enough to have an assembly hall large enough to get a bit of speed up for polka-ing. Come to think of it, we did some Irish ceili dancing too from time to time, but the polka and mazurka were definitely where Sister F.X's heart were... If one Irish nun could entertain and wear out about 120 children every wet lunchtime (i.e. every second day) for about 8 years with the technology then available, then I think in this day and age it really must be possible to give today's students a run for their money.

It does seem a shame to see a library and all that equipment going to waste, but the issue may be teaching staff entitled to a lunch break, not enough experience among the lunch staff of organising children and sharing equipment and activities equitably, or making sure computers are being used properly, etc.

The issue is often of supervision - staff often take it in turns to supervise at playtime and others then use the time to grab a quick break and/or get stuff ready for the next day. You can't leave your children unattended in your classroom, so for some the answer is to put several classes together and the easiest way to do that without chaos is a film.

My class have several things that I've taken in that my own kids have outgrown - lego, knex, building blocks etc. I'll often choose to skip the breaktime and stay in class with my children. Yes, I don't get a cuppa or the chance for a loo break, but it is worth it in terms of better behaviour.

1. Its a wet play time. A small fraction of his day. He'll get over it. They don't happen as often as people make out.

1. I think your reaction encourages a bad feeling in some children - this idea that if anything is not to their liking then it should be changed. I'm not saying you have said anything of the sort to your son but you seem to be making out that bordom will harm him in some way. Boredom in lessons is different because it prevents them from learning. But the occasionaly not so fun play is probably quite good for them - life can be quite boring!

1. I always find it interesting when people who don't work in schools suggest other activities they could do. Library - who's responsibility is it to make sure books are treated correctly and put away? Who will deal with the irrate librarian or the poor person who has to do a lesson in their after wet play? Dancing or organised sports - by who? Which MSA are well trained enough for this. Then there's the fact children need some part of their day which is not spent being organised by adults! Computers - again who is well trained enough? If a 5 year old plays a shoot-em-up game and has nightmares who's fault is that? Schools filters are strict but not so strict that they can be completely used without supervision and I just dont think MSAs should take that level of responsibility.

I agree that a babyish film as the ONLY option is far from ideal and is going to result in bored, annoyed and fidgity children. Most schools as many posters have said have playtime boxes. We have a a film on in the hall, an area for reading or drawing and an area for building or board games.

The point of me saying 'get over it' was that if this really worries you then that is concerning. You need to let go a little.

in there sorry not their. I never made mistakes like that before I taught, the children's mistakes are honestly catching!