Daycare - WWYD?

[alotofyarn]

As a whole, I really love the school that E goes to - it's a great facility, the teachers do a lot of fun things with the kids and take good care of them, it's a convenient location, it's well-priced, and E seems happy. The one thing that I haven't loved is that they do have TVs in the rooms, and they seem to have them on a fair amount, playing Baby Einstein or VeggieTales. I generally feel like it's just background noise, or they'll have it on while they're feeding the kids to help keep them somewhat calm, so I've mostly ignored it. Today I went to pick up E though, and they had the kids in the buggies (the big strollers that hold 6 kids at a time), and they actually had them parked in front of the TV watching Bob the Builder. I feel like this is not what I'm paying them to do, and we really try to limit screen time - E almost never watches it at home. What would you do? Do I ask the teachers about it in the morning and see how often this really happens? They have 2 primary teachers there for most of the day, and then the after care teacher comes in around 3, and she was the one who was there with them this afternoon. Do I talk to the director about it? I remember when I visited the school, they specifically told me that the TVs were more there for the teachers, but I really feel like they're using them for the kids more than they should.

[PrincessFiona]

That would be a huge no for me. I would take this to the director. I just think it's unacceptable.

[scrub-jay]

TVs in the daycare rooms would be a deal breaker for me. If it's for the teachers, they can put one in the break room! And keeping the kids in buggies? Stationary? Hell no. Your mom-gut is spot on.

"Television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2. A child's brain develops rapidly during these first years, and young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens." - http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-an....59jUaW51.dpuf

[alotofyarn]

I'll probably try to call the director tomorrow. I never saw the kids actually watching the TVs in her previous classrooms, which is part of why I ignored it. I actually have tried to get her to watch TV a couple of times when nothing else would entertain her and I either needed to do something or really wasn't feeling well, and she wouldn't even sit and watch it. But, it seems like they do seem to watch it more now in this class. I know they do a lot of playing, learning, and interacting (I've seen the pictures and the crafts), and even in the short time she's been in that class, I can tell she's learned a lot (she picked up two new signs in the last week that I definitely had stopped doing with her at home), and she's really very happy in there. Normally on the buggy rides, they ride around outside if the weather is nice, or inside otherwise, and the after care teacher tells them stories and sings to them if they're parked. But I was just so surprised to see them all there in front of the TV, captive and watching.

[SoonerTexan]

It might have been a one time occurrence, but I would still bring it up

[SuzySunshine]

I think the fact that they were strapped into the stroller and therefore couldn't do anything else would be my red flag. Having them on as background noise is one thing, forcing them to watch it is completely different.

[alotofyarn]

They were in two buggies with one teacher, and the other teacher was in the classroom changing a diaper. It's possible that they just stopped there while she ran to do the change, since the one teacher couldn't push both buggies. That's why I wasn't sure if I should ask the teachers about it or go straight to the director.

[Deebs]

Wait - there are TVs in the classrooms? How would those be for the teachers? Unless they are only in the break room, that would be a big time deal breaker for me.


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[Ladybug]

I've never seen that in preschool.

[ladymoreta]

It wouldn't hurt to ask, but I think your explanation sounds right, that they were going somewhere and had an emergency diaper change, so they put the show on while the rest of them waited. The setup is too weird otherwise. I wouldn't have a problem with them using TV for a couple minutes when there was a surprise blowout. BTDT...

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I would be very wary of a preschool/daycare that has TVs going. Why do the adults need that? Especially if it's playing kids shows. And it's been shown in studies to not be good for kids to have TV as constant background noise.

I really wouldn't like that at all.

[Pollyanna]

It wouldn't hurt to ask, but I think your explanation sounds right, that they were going somewhere and had an emergency diaper change, so they put the show on while the rest of them waited. The setup is too weird otherwise. I wouldn't have a problem with them using TV for a couple minutes when there was a surprise blowout. BTDT...

This!

[scrub-jay]

They were in two buggies with one teacher, and the other teacher was in the classroom changing a diaper. It's possible that they just stopped there while she ran to do the change, since the one teacher couldn't push both buggies. That's why I wasn't sure if I should ask the teachers about it or go straight to the director.

Well were the kids all bundled up and ready for a walk? Why couldn't the other teacher sing itsy-bitsy spider or something? There is no need for a TV in the classroom.

[Vanquisher]

I'm a fan of TV. Kids watching a little TV now and again is not a big deal to me. However, paying for care at a school means no tv. They shouldn't even be in the rooms. I'd ask that they be removed.


Heidi

[scrub-jay]

I'm a fan of TV. Kids watching a little TV now and again is not a big deal to me. However, paying for care at a school means no tv. They shouldn't even be in the rooms. I'd ask that they be removed.


Heidi

I agree. TV is parents' privilege, not a paid daycare. Why do teachers need TVs anyway? I can't think of a job that I've had that gave me a TV