TV in Reception

[NOG2014]

How much TV does your reception aged child watch at school?

My four year old recently started reception at a local private pre-prep and tells me every day that she watches TV. I noticed there is a very large TV in the classroom and didn't think much of it assuming they watch educational programmes once in a while when relevant to what they are learning. However, DD comes home daily saying she loves school as she watches TV. So I asked about it at parents evening in a jokey 'DD loves school because she says all she does is watch TV' kind of way to gauge the reaction of the teacher. The teacher replied saying they don't watch TV all day, they watch it for wet play and if a child has been good they can choose to have 10 minutes of TV as a reward. However, DD is still coming home telling me she has watched TV every day - Numberjacks, Alphablocks, Paddington Bear and various other programmes which I am not familiar with. When I ask her if it was a treat for good behaviour she says no, the teacher just put it on for everyone to watch even though it has not been raining.

How would you feel about this? I don't want to be 'that parent' and don't mind the use of TV in the classroom on the odd occasion as a treat or when relevant for a topic. But it does appear to be most days which I just didn't expect and would be interested to hear the experiences of others.

I used to use my Interactive Whiteboard (and I think more modern versions look like TVs) for a variety of things but not as a 'treat', we watched phonics and maths programmes in a planned way. After playtime when the children had their snack I would put on a 15 minute CBeebies programme, something calming like Baby Jake or Old Jack's Boat, to settle them down after running about. It also gave the staff a chance to take turns to nip out to the loo.

Oh, I have the same feelings as you. My DD in y1 and they use the screen a lot! The sort cartoon for themes: alphablocs, numberblocks, they use screen for writing, for playing with geometry figures for songs at the end of the day. They called them songs, but it is a cartoon from the YouTube on the screen with a song. As for me it's too much. But it's fine for school and they don't see any problem.

Yes my DS is coming home telling me about the tv he watches at school nursery. I don’t love it but they seem to be good in general so I guess it’s just the modern way of doing things?

I can’t get worked up about a bit of CBeebies. Our pre prep puts it on right at the end of the day because they do a staggered window for collection so they watch it while they wait to be collected. They also definitely use things like number blocks and alpha blocks because they’re incredibly high quality and well researched programmes- why wouldn’t you use it to reinforce a concept you’ve just taught knowing that they can then access it at home too. I’ve been quite pleased because mine have been a bit Netflix heavy at home and watching a few mins of CBeebies at school has made them lean back towards it at home which is nice because I’ve missed Duggee!

I think alphablocks and numberblocks are fine as they’re educational and engaging.

@WGACA doesn't matter how much it is good. The matter is how much time do children spend watching/using the screen.

Thanks all for your views.

Yes, they do have an interactive whiteboard too but I've seen the TV is separate.

I have less of an issue with numberjacks and alphablocks but am still surprised they watch it during school time and more that they do so every day. I have always tried to limit TV time though she does, of course, watch some TV at home and I am not anti screens. I just didn't expect her to be watching TV at school and definitely not so regularly. I just feel a school has a lot more resources to entertain young children without the need to resort to TV if it isn't really for the purpose of something they are working on in class but it is obviously quite normal these days. I only remember watching TV at school at the end term around Christmas but now I am sounding old. :-)

Did you not watch 'Look and Read' at school - 🎵"build yourself a word"🎵 and all that !!
In my day...(80s) certain programmes were made by the BBC as 'schools programmes'. At lot of what is on the Cbeebies channel is the modern equivalent of that - Numbersjacks, Alpablocks etc.

Look and Read started in 1967 by the way so watching telly at school isn't a new thing.

No, I've never heard of Look and Read and definitely didn't watch TV at school every day. I'm fine with them showing the odd programme to children it is just the every day part that I think bothers me the most.

@NOG2014 you never watched Look and Read.... I thought every school watched it 🙂
Are you sure?
You don't remember Wordy....?

I'm with you op. My sons school (reception and when he was in nursery) watch tv during snack time and usually it's peppa pig and it rubs me up the wrong way.

I'm a teacher in ks1 and we watch things on the interactive whiteboard that are related to the lesson. As phonics is a big thing if we happen to have an extra five minutes I'd put on a phonics video but peppa at snack time seems so lazy.

I've seen snack time done in such a lovely way like a self service where they pour themselves water or milk, or the teacher reads to them when eating.

My headteacher would definitely be having words with me if they were watching tv as much as you describe

If you want a child to remember anything put it in a commercial / jingle on TV.
We could sing them all when I was young.

OP they aren't 'watching tv' they are using tv shows like numberblocks in maths lessons etc

@Riapia exactly.... that's why I can hum along to "Build Yourself a Word" 40 years later. It never goes away 😂
Infact reading this thread has put the Alpablocks theme in my head and it's been a while since I've watched that (my daughter is 14 now).

Alphablocks not Alpablocks.
Wordy would be disappointed with me 🙂

My son's reception class watched tv at the end of school too. It kept them distracted while some kids went home and others went to after school club

I can't stand numberjacks though, it's weird and the number taker is scary

I wouldn't be happy with cartoons everyday. Number/alpha blocks or similar to reinforce a learning point occasionally, fine. The other stuff does seem lazy especially every day. There are plenty of other calming/wet play activities.
Is the teacher alone? Our local primary has a full time LSA and a teacher in every class.

Yes, my DS watched TV at local nursery. I was quite surprised since he only attended a couple of hours a day. I was dissapointed mostly because I thought the nursery was a way for them to interact with others and to try different things that they cant do at home not just be sat infront of the screen. DCs now attend a school that's quite outdoorsey where TV/video watching is rare.

@Twizbe oh god yes...the Numbertaker is fricking terrifying.
I preferred The Odd Squad over on CBBC for my maths.

DD is in reception and they watch up to 30 mins of tv programmes each day. Usually after play times, and always something educational or calm. No different to them looking at the interactive whiteboard!

@RewildingAmbridge I agree. No, there is a teacher plus a full time TA in every class of around 10 pupils.

I’m with you, OP, I think it’s too much. My son seems to watch loads of TV at school and since he’s already seen all of Numberblocks at home he finds it really boring. For Reception I don’t think it matters all that much — he’s there to be socialised, as far as I’m concerned, and I’m happy for most of his learning to continue to be self directed at this stage — but I really hope it doesn’t carry on into Y1 and above.

When I was working with younger ones (foundation) I tended to put on alphablocks or numberblocks at pick up time so they had something to keep them quiet/occupied if any parents wanted to talk to me or while I was releasing them as we released from the classroom. I wouldn't put it on in the school day though.