Reception: TV for break times on rainy days?

[Loftytofty]

My LO is in Reception. I keep hearing from her, and other children, that every time it rains at break time they stay in and watch TV and films. We had thought it was just for the first couple of weeks but it seems to be the regular pattern. They watch Monsters Inc, Bluey, numberblocks etc. Is this normal? It rains a lot here, so that’s going to be a lot of TV through the year. First time primary parent so I’m not sure what to expect.

Yes normal in my experience. At lunchtime they’ll be supervised by lunchtime supervisors. Often there’s not one for each class so two classes might be together watching. It’s very hard to organise activities with that many children together in one room.

Morning wet playtime tends to be with the teacher or TA and things like colouring and reading. Maybe some games. I’m sure it varies somewhat between schools.

That's what happens in our school, according to DD anyway. I'm fine with it.

Completely normal for wet play either for breaks or lunchtime to keep them entertained.

In lots of schools they also use Youtube to assist in learning because lots of schools have interactive whiteboards in their classrooms where they can play videos. When they get a bit older they use it for timetables learning, speaking French etc. I used to volunteer in a primary school.

We love Bluey and my youngest child is 17! It is great for giving children ideas of imaginative play.

Why can’t they go out in wellies and raincoats? A bit of rain never did anyone any harm.

What do you think they should be doing during wet playtimes?

My DCs school does this, but it has to be fairly solid rain. When I was at school many years ago we were just expected to get out of it as best we could even when it was bucketing down and the undercover area was soaking wet. I prefer my DCs schools way of doing things.

Yes, totally normal I think the poor dinner ladies dread wet play!

@IsThePopeCatholic

Often because they don't have proper shoes let alone raincoats and wellingtons!

I assume this happens at DS' school as well. It was properly miserable here today so I don't blame them. I don't like standing about in the rain so I'm not going to make DS do it.

It’s normal. Staff need a break too so they have to do activities with large numbers of children that can be easily managed by fewer staff than is needed in lessons.

Children frequently don’t have the right clothing to be out in the rain anyway.

What would you like them to be doing instead?

Do you think they should be out in the rain with some children potentially in unsuitable clothing? (Believe it or not some parents do not send their child in with a coat, even on days where rain is forecast). Ok if it's drizzling, big no if it's pouring.

Would you prefer for them to be choosing from their usual provision in the classroom? (Sand, playdough, painting etc). Because that is a big no. Lunchtime staff are supervisors. They are not EYFS professionals and are not trained to manage behaviour in such a setting. The classroom is a completely different environment to the playground. No teacher wants to return to a bomb site with stuff everywhere and potentially mistreated. Far more incidents of bad behaviour are likely to occur in that scenario than if they're all in one place, quietly enjoying some screen time.

So TV it is I'm afraid. You'll find that will be the case for wet play in most schools.

You'll probably be horrified to hear this but my class watch an episode of Numberblocks every day, whatever the weather. I put it on during those fussy 5 minutes when everyone is returning to the classroom after lunch. it takes them them at least 5 minutes to all hang up their coats, go to the toilet etc. Those who are ready first sit and watch Numberblocks while they wait for their friends. They enjoy it and it's educational so I make no apologies and would happily defend my choice if any parent ever questioned it.