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

1 2

Original poster

Regularly watching cbeebies cartoons in reception class....is that the norm?

43 replies

Wishonastar · 17/12/2015 02:39

to those who have kids in reception or used to, did they watch cartoons and If so how often.

My son tells me daily about the cartoons he's watched. Seems like the class is watching 2 a day. I asked his teacher in a round about way by saying that my son tells me about cartoons he watches. She down played this by saying it was probably an exercise programme called x(changed name of the programme. I goggled this programme hoping it would have all the well known characters he talks about and its was all unknown characters. I make a big effort not to put too much telly on at home and this work is being undone by the school. I don't understand why the teacher did not explain at least why they watch cartoons.

If they explained they were putting on say alphablocks on telly or as a game I could easily understand but my son has mentioned all the cartoons at least 10 and none of them are educational ones.

Spoken to other mums and the couple I spoke to were really concerned as they privately had same issues in this but I don't think they want to complain.

If I complain myself then I will be seen by the teachers as the difficult parent.

Help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

user789653241 · 17/12/2015 12:38

I totally agree with Whatthefreakinwhatnow.
We don't limit ipad / computer / tv time for my ds.
He self regulates as well, and hardly ever watch TV unless some interesting programme is on. He spend more time reading etc. than time spent on computer/ ipad.

mrz · 17/12/2015 12:43

So you'd be happy for him to sit in front of a screen everyday instead of taught while at school? Why send him?

If parents want to limit TV/computer time at home that's up to them but school is for a few hours a day and wasting learning time to entertain is poor practice.

frikadela01 · 17/12/2015 12:47

Just ask the teacher if you're worried. I'm struggling to understand why you haven't, this isn't something sensitive you need to tread lightly with, it's just a simple question of asking how much tv theyre watching and why.

user789653241 · 17/12/2015 12:50

mrz, if my ds was watching tv all day in reception, I would have been unhappy. But 10 minutes here and there, I wouldn't mind.

The thing is, OP doesn't know exactly what's happening. If I asked my ds, he would say "we watched Peppa pig today", but I'm sure he was doing a lot more than that.

frikadela01 · 17/12/2015 12:55

The thing is, OP doesn't know exactly what's happening. If I asked my ds, he would say "we watched Peppa pig today", but I'm sure he was doing a lot more than that.*

^this

If I ask my 4 year old sister what she did at school it's inevitably "nothing" or "played out" last week she said she went to the zoo.... she did go to the zoo, at the beginning of the year. OP just needs to ask the teacher for the facts.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 17/12/2015 12:56

I really couldn't care less of my DD watched 10ons of tv every day at school. It's such miniscule part of a 6 hour day that I just couldn't get upset about it!

Hours, yes. A few episodes of Cbeebies? Nope, no problem

It really baffles me why so many parents on Mumsnet (and only on mumsnet, I know n one in real life who does it) get so worked up about TV in schools, and don't even get me started on not allowing TV at home and strictly only 20 mins of iPad time per week!!

mrz · 17/12/2015 13:20

6 hour day minus lunchtime minus outdoor time minus assembly time minus tidy up time minus toilet hand washing time minus snack time etc etc soon it's not minuscule and nowhere did the OP say ten minutes a day. We don't know how long they are watching TV just that it's being a regular even this term.
Personally I don't have a problem if it's an occasional treat or has a purpose but would never make it a regular feature of my teaching day.

unimaginativename13 · 17/12/2015 13:57

So the original post says that the child is saying they watch cartoons.

You approach the teacher and she says it must be X something. You didn't catch the name!
**
But suddenly halfway through the thread it's Peppa Pig and Toy Story.

If you knew that why not say something! As from what you've said the teacher is lying to you.

unimaginativename13 · 17/12/2015 14:06

Sorry misread you did know the name!

Jesabel · 17/12/2015 15:46

I'd ask the teacher straight out. My Year 1 son has watched Katy Morag recently during wet play and they watched a movie as a treat the other day.

KingLooieCatz · 17/12/2015 16:21

I'd be concerned as well if it was my child. Think some people are being a bit contrary here. We all want the best for our kids and, as the existence of so many threads on the education board, goes to show, part of wanting the best for them is caring deeply that they get as much as possible out of their years at school. Schools are not all equally good and teachers are not all equally good, so I can understand alarm bells ringing that if Cbeebies is being used on a regular basis, what does this tell us about the approach, perhaps the kids are not going to end the year having gained as much as
other kids did in their reception year.

Of course it might be just fine and teacher knows exactly what they're doing and the kids benefit from having a little time in the day to rest their wee bodies and minds, and learn up a storm as a result.

I would also feel a bit awkward about speaking to the teacher about it, you want to have a good relationship with your child's teacher and their school.

I'd think carefully about how to approach teacher so as to be non-threatening and not incite a defensive reaction - maybe ask for their time to discuss some other manufactured concern that you can make up for the occasion and ask for their learned advice on. And work in your TV questions. Alternatively subtly goad another parent into being the bad guy.

My DS is one of those who probably would have been better not to start school at all until about now, as he can just about sit still for a few minutes a day. He has just turned 7. It will probably all be fine, CBeebies or no CBeebies, but I would feel the same as you and would want an explanation.

MiaowTheCat · 17/12/2015 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Wishonastar · 17/12/2015 19:52

unimaginativename13 that's not what I was trying to say.
When I previously asked teacher in roundabout way about cartoons /telly, the teacher mentioned a programme and gave the name. I know the name but I have changed it on original post just in case teachers are on mumsnet. However it is different to all the ones my son has mentioned. So it seems teacher is mentioning educational one to me and son mentioning just cbeebies cartoon e.g. Peppa pig leading me to believe teacher is not telling me something

OP posts:

Secretescape · 17/12/2015 19:56

Are they accessing the CBeebies web site which has games/ podcasts/ and short clips maybe?

unimaginativename13 · 17/12/2015 20:03

That's basically what I said, that your saying the teacher is lying.
Because young children never get mixed up.

Original poster

Wishonastar · 17/12/2015 20:07

KingLooieCatz
Thanks - that's what I was after how to handle it and think I will try to ask as you mentioned for advice about a manufactured problem and then praise them for some aspect and then add tricky questions about cartoons . I Know I'm rubbish at asking questions in a sensitive way and you've given me ideas how I can approach in a way that is not sound threatening to teacher. Exactly , assuming we still stay at school for 5 years don't want to upset teachers early on.

OP posts:

Original poster

Wishonastar · 17/12/2015 20:57

Secretescape

I know my son has access to cbeebies games and uses them as he mentions when it is on computer but the cartoons he says specifically on telly in class.

OP posts:

user789653241 · 18/12/2015 14:33

I was talking with parents at pick up today, and they are all talking about children watching film etc. at school and not doing any learning whole week.
I realized I was a minority, who doesn't mind at all. I kept my mouth shut.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread