Childminder giving kids screen time

Half hour at the end of the day is nothing. It’s probably just wind down time whilst childminder is just sorting everybody’s bits out ready for home time! Half hour screen time isn’t going to harm anyone! Screen time is sometimes good for wind down!

If you have strong views on screen time this is something to establish with the childminder before signing up, unfortunately. She's entirely within her rights to put the TV on. So it is a case of whether it's enough of a dealbreaker for you to move your daughter to a different childminder.

@Sophie we did ask before signing up, there was no screen time. This is a new thing since she got a new tv in the playroom a few weeks ago, the only reason we’re aware of it is because my daughter told us & is having meltdowns at home about tv shows we’ve never shown her… anyway, I wasn’t aware this is more of a standard practice ?

I’d put your foot down. Maybe provide something your little girl will do for that 30 mins like sticker book or something similar that’s not as stimulating, if she says screen time is what happens kinda thing you could suggest a low stimulating program because bebefinn isn’t low so wouldn’t be calming.

Thing it you don't know if it's 30min or 3hrs.... One CM I went to see had TV on for sleeping, one pretty much on all day. I didn't go with them for that reason. Recommendations are 0 screen time for children under 2 and if you decide otherwise, you have every right to, as a parent. She's getting paid to educate your child, so I would have a strong word about it and look at moving my child. Our nursery does a random video session, but we know about it and it's once a week kinda thing max

I pay £1200 a month for my son to go to nursery full time and they have a pj day ones a month where they bring in a projector and watch films in the afternoon like most of the afternoon I think when people are looking after children they have responsibilities for more than just your child and yes wrap things up at the end of the day, if putting the tv on for 30 minutes helps her get that done then I see why she does it Clearly our views differ though as I don’t see the harm every now and again, he doesn’t get it at home and if he asks for it we just divert his attention to other things. I think if you want full control over what your children do you have to be the one looking after them constantly, I can’t commit to that as like most 2 incomes is a must so I’ll be flexible to the lovely staff at nursery that do look after my son and if they need a tv session to do there job and my sons happy and content then I’ll take it

I understand but I think your being bit harsh on this matter and it’s for such sort time at end of the day I don’t see the problem in what she’s doing but maybe you should look at nursery instead where they have more staff to children so this dose t happen.

I very much doubt that your kid is having a meltdown because twice in one week she's having a hours worth of tv time.

That's frustrating that she's gone back on what you agreed and that she didn't tell you about the change. You can try to change her mind on it but it is ultimately up to her and if she's changed her policy you have to decide whether you're still happy to use her or not. I wouldn't say it's "standard practice" for childminders to put the TV on for kids but I don't think it's unusual either, in moderation. Obviously they can't do it all day every day as Ofsted wouldn't be happy with that. But usually childminders are looking after other people's children alongside their own and doing the same kinds of things with them that they do with their own children. For some that does include some screen time.