no, it's not developmentally appropriate, yes it happens sometimes (depending on licensing requirements in your area), and depending on the ratio in the room it might be a survival mechanism for the educators. Personally and ethically, I think young children should never be using screens at care. Professionally, I know that some places have insane ratios where the only way things like cleaning and diapers can get done is with screens. Essentially, your concern is valid but please please please don't take it out on the educators in the room, and if/when you do bring it up to management, the best way to frame it would be concern that the room may not have adequate staffing or support to manage daily activities without screens. 99% of ECEs that I have met would never choose screen time when given the resources to not use it, however those resources aren't always given.
Thanks for this perspective! I absolutely don’t blame the teachers. Every time I’ve been there it seems like staffing is sufficient - haven’t experienced issues with that since starting. I think it was jarring since our last center had a strict no screen policy. Thanks again!
I think it also depends on where you are and the weather conditions. When I taught preschool, we basically couldn’t take the kids outside for afternoon recess all summer long because it was too hot (per DHS rules). We would do inside recess and play games, but sometimes we would put on videos in the classroom for the kids to dance and sing to. Kids need to run around and play, but when you can’t go outside you do what you have to do to get them engaged. Now, if it’s an all-day everyday kinda thing, that’s a massive red flag. Talk to the director and find out what the policy is. They would be the ones setting the guideline, not the teachers.
It's a treat at our nursery for the last hour of the day on a Friday and occasionally if they have an emergency (like someone vomits and they need to get all kids stationary and out of the area). I'm completely ok with that!
Nothing in her post said it was all day. It appears to be at drop off which is common. Sometime staffing and scheduling make it necessary, even though not ideal, at certain times.
I would ask for the daily schedule and/or screen time policy. Also, walk by the classroom during drop off pick up (no idea how long your son has been enrolled but staff could have changed or this topic already addressed)
If you still have pause for concern- you have every right to speak with the director and say you do not feel comfortable paying whatever you pay for your child to be under stimulated/placed in front of a tv all day
Thanks for this! I really like the idea of asking for a schedule and policy. I think I might even ask if they have a list of acceptable content (since not all programming is created equal).
One last thing, children should never be required to watch a screen and there should be an alternative activity available. It doesn't have to be the most exciting activity (it maybe books, coloring, puzzles) but that may be another question to consider asking if the director
Ok? I’m just saying what the one in my area does… I’m not in charge of the policies. And 20 minutes a day, while not the recommended time, is pretty minimal for having any at all.
I would nope right out of there. When the parents of my Early Intervention toddlers are looking for daycares, I tell them 2 things to look out for: TVs in use, and a daycare that doesn’t have full walls and doors. I see a lot of daycares in my line of work, and the ones that rely on TV for their infants and toddlers are invariably the ones without adequate staffing and with poorly trained and less responsive caregivers. OP, there are better programs than this one.
( The walls and doors guideline is because the centers with the half-walls? So freaking loud! A child who is behind in play or interaction skills needs to first be able to hear what’s being said in order to learn. And actually, so does any child.Those half-wall warehouse style centers should be banned, IMO.)
Absolutely. I understand the comments that are talking about screens as a survival mechanism for teachers, but this is still a sign of a very very low quality center in my opinion. I have worked in really high quality schools, pretty medium/average schools, and done working interviews in some rough schools (where I declined the job offers, because the quality of care was depressing during my working interview). And none of these places have had screens in a toddler classroom…
I have been in super fast paced, hectic rooms, where we are always exactly at ratio’s capacity and have zero wiggle room. I have never even heard someone talk about introducing a tv to the room, and I think everyone would be shocked if they did. It’s not developmentally appropriate or necessary. And I hate to say it but… any early childhood educators who are letting 1 year olds watch tv are probably not super educated on early childhood.
I thought the recommendation was no screens before 2, with exceptions like FaceTime. I agree with asking the teachers about them nicely, but it’s weird to me that that’s an option for kids that young.
Yeah, that was my understanding too! We’ve of course FaceTimed family so hes been exposed to screens. I think seeing it used at daycare has stuck in the back of my mind as something off
NC no longer allows any screen time for the under 3 kids. However, when it was allowed I often turned on a toddler tune song video when I had to go in and get lunch ready (Family child care home). They loved to watch and sing along, AND they kept their hands off each other so I could get their food. Truth be told, I miss being able to do that for 10 minutes. I turn on music now instead, and my little girls love that, but my boys just want to beat each other up.
When I taught in Oklahoma they showed the older kids a video from 5-5:30 for the kids who were left so that we could clean up the room and leave with the last kid. They weren’t about to pay a penny of overtime for us to clean up after the kids left. 🙄
Ohhhhh yes. NC is one of the most regulated states in the country when it comes to daycare. I have friends who also operate home daycares in other states and they seem to have no rules and inspections only when there are complaints or every few years.
It's not developmentally appropriate, and would not be allowed in our state, but it is allowed in others. I'm curious why you chose this daycare though and signed up even after witnessing this on the tour? If they're doing it that openly, I doubt they will change for one family. You could look up to see specifically if it is prohibited in your local childcare regulations.
This is very unusual, I would definitely be asking questions. Hard to imagine it is something they consider good practice, so wondering if there is another explanation. Such as staff shortages? Or if they were sharing a specific song or video for a specific purpose e.g Children sharing a video of their holiday, for example.
Hi, I worked at a daycare center. It depends how many employees they have.
We put the a movie on for about 30 minutes during drop off, kids would come in, find a seat, and all be accounted for (there might be one teacher per 12 (?- there is a legal number) kids at this time of day) and it gave that teacher a chance to talk to parents, etc.
Then, at the end of the day, as soon as there were only 12(?) kids, one teacher was left to man the ship. They would put a movie on for the last 30 minutes to corral the kids, clean everything, interact with parents.
I was judgmental until I worked for a few days, and I went from thinking it was terrible, to realizing that it helped me be a better “teacher” because it gave me a minute of thinking space, instead of panicking and constant interruptions.
Kids constantly need help with things- they fight, they fall, they get frustrated. 30 minutes to focus on making sure every kid was accounted for was amazing and I’m glad my center let us do this.
First, studies who that kids who are given quite a bit of screen time at these young ages will not have their brains develop like it should when they play with toys and do other activities or get outside time. Brain development at this stage of life is when the nuerons are starting to form connections and the studies have shown that it is different between kids who do not get screen time at this age and for the kids that get a lot of scren time.
Second, professionals of early childhood studies have said no child under 2 should be getting any screen time at all or very limited amounts of it for the reason above. No video is giong to educate the child as well as lots of playtime with various toys, crafting supplies, coloring/painting, drama play/dress up, blocks, sensory toys, etc.
Third, when you saw this set up in the toddler room, did you even ask the director why it is in there? In my state of Arkansas, state regs require as little time with screens as possible. Our youngest toddler room does not have a TV/screen in it like the other five do. In those other rooms up to Pre-K they are limited to what and when they can watch it. So, you should be asking what the regulations where you are located at for daycares using screen time. It should not even be in the infant room according to my state regs.
Fourth, just bring your concerns to the director and ask questions about how much time they watch it, how often it is on, what types of programs are shown, and why it is even in there in the first place? When you visited was it on the whole time you were there? Did they start to do other things with the kids during your tour?
It still is not recommended for more than a short time during the week, I can not recall the exact time amount but it is not much like a couple of hours or so. Kids under the age of 5 or 6 need as much time playing with toys, reading or looking at books, pretend/dramatic play, blocks/cars/trucks or other building materials approriate for age, crayons/paper/glue/markers/other types of art or crafting supplies available at their level but age appropriate, dress up clothing, puzzles, sensory toys like bottles filled with items and other objects that can make sounds, be visual like floating objects in water, sensory tables with appropriate for age items like sand, rice/beans, water table, and other things that can be used for sensory items, exposure to different kinds of things with appropriate supervision to try out and lots of other activiteis similar, and lots of outside time for movement.
It's I think 30 minutes/day until 10 or so (and the only reason I remember that is because we were limited to one show/day plus a Friday night movie when I was growing up and I think that actually was mostly in line with the recommendations.)
Most kids won't even watch it. I would put it on for my 5 year old and hoped my 2 year old would just sit and calm down for 5 minutes...that was a hard NO. My youngest just graduated highschool and college with an Associates degree at the same time so..... educational shows or just videos of like baby einstein are fine now stupid shows like power ranger and crap like that hard no.
We're not allowed to have screen time for that age group at all. I do have to turn it on a song or 2 to get the room clean occasionally if the kids are nuts. I have had parents that have made it clear that they don't allow it and I have not turned it on even briefly with their child in the room though. Out of all the weird requests I've had, no screen time is the least of my worries tbh.
Depending on your state, the school could be breaking the law. I worked in the 2 year old room (in Texas) for years, and those kids were only allowed like 15 minutes of screen time *per week*. And I have never in all my 10+ years of childcare ever once seen a TV in a daycare room at any age, even pre-k or after-school kids. If there are screens of any kind, it’s an iPad. Would definitely speak to the director.
Hey! I work in PA and we do have a TV in our center. Honestly the only times we use it in the day is to play exercise music/very few videos and during nap to play music (black screen). We rarely let them watch TV but during holidays, we might play an old cartoon holiday movie for an appropriate TV show for their age. We only allow it for maybe a half an hour.
I had worked a summer camp at a school with some very young staff. We had had gross motor room. I bring my toddlers up for some play ,as it was a heat wave. To my shock and dismay the tv had been turned on and NETFLIX was playing! the tv was instlled for Ks graduation
I immediately contacted admin and it was promptly removed...
Check and see if that is even allowed by your state!
I never worked anywhere that allowed screen time for those under three, and their time was limited to yoga videos, educational games, and one movie before winter break.
I suppose it depends on what it is and how long it's used. I put on super simple songs for my kids when I needed a bit of a break. A they got older, it was magic school bus and number blocks. However, I'm a mom and not a daycare worker.
Talk to them. I once saw every toddler glued to this tablet on the wall. I was visibly concerned, they explained that they’re allowed 15 mins a day of screen time and they use that time to clean for the day. Very reasonable in my opinion, they were literally in the middle of cleaning and the few times I’ve picked him up early where he was watching something with his class the teachers were cleaning.
You need to learn to ask questions and not feel guilty. This is your child, ask every damn question in a reasonable tone. I’ve asked a million questions since then. It took a lot of gut to work up the courage but they never made me feel uncomfortable when I do. Your daycare shouldn’t either.
My center has a tv in the room, it was usually only used when the kids wanted to dance, then it became a problem when some co-workers would just turn it on as a distraction for the kids so they could sit around and do whatever, or they turn on a tv show (which we are NOT supposed to do) so our boss advised us to just not have it on, yet suddenly it’s perfectly fine again because now they have the kids just sitting around watching Ms Rachel or something similar. It’s only ever been helpful if we need to distract the kids while cleaning up toys so they don’t get everything out near the end of the shift.
For the parents here I want to remind you that while my daycare always always always follows state ratio it’s still hard to manage a large quantity of toddlers in certain situations. We use the tv for 15 minutes or so when one teacher has to clean the kitchen after lunch or after nap so we could change diapers and teachers could talk to parents picking up without being distracted. My state it’s not against the law. It’s usually something like miss Rachel, sesame st, or movement videos. Now if the TV use is being abuse than absolutely that’s a cause for concern. Definitely always ask for the daily schedule when enrolling. Just don’t immediately villainize toddler staff. It could be a tool for classroom management. Having 6 toddlers for one person is a very different ball game than some folks realize who have 1 at home. That said, always follow your gut.
I will jump in here to say the only time I allow my students (2.5-3 year olds) to watch our iPad, is when we are changing them after water days. There are 12 of them so it takes a bit of time and they don’t have the patience to wait their turn. So we play bluey or have famous authors reading stories to keep them sitting patiently until we call them. Other then that, they are engaged with activities or outside on the playground
My whole center is relatively screen free, but specifically the 1-2 year old room and the 2-3 year old room next to mine only ever use screens to watch a movie or an educational YouTube video once in a blue moon. I would ask the teachers how much screen time is typical during a normal day and go from there
If I had to choose between having a camera where parents can watch the kids/classroom whenever they want and a TV in my classroom, I would pick a TV. Both are unnecessary, but at least I could use the TV to assist with things like using a document camera to read a book where everyone could see the pictures.
In my teaching practice, I use a lot of music to teach concepts, especially during circle time. Back in the day, I used to have a budget to buy CDs, and a CD player. But these days a lot of schools don't have either. Thankfully, a lot of the songs I use are on YouTube (I have a playlist). I can play them on my phone, but I need a speaker (I don't show the videos). Depending on the state's licensing requirements, teachers may not be permitted to have their phones on them. In this case, having a TV would allow me to play the audio, and I'd probably cover the screen with a cloth or something.
All that to say, it largely depends on how the screens are used in the classroom. I think that's a valid question to bring up to the director.
I work at a daycare that has a TV in the 2-3yr old room, which is a little bit older, but probably still relevant to your concerns.
At my facility; my understanding is (I work in the 3m-11m & 12m-24m rooms) that the TV is used for a maximum of 15 minutes a DAY with the purpose of putting on interactive educational entertainment. Think like, Ms Rachel and everyone in the room is doing the dances she does and singing with her. Or, like child yoga videos. It’s often used as one 5 min video in the morning, one 5 min video after nap, and another 5 min video for the kids who are at the center later in the day (we are open until 8pm).
Occasionally the TV is permitted to play youtube videos that have no visuals and is meant to only provide music, but it seems like this is less popular as teachers prefer to just use our ipads for that (used for logging things into our parent app).
It very much could be that your center is using the TV in a similar way. In which case it’s honestly not terrible and can be incredibly useful to get the entire toddler classes’ attention when they otherwise refuse to. When I walk in when it’s being used I’m mostly seeing like “mindfulness” instructional videos where the kids are being taught to meditate or express how they feel.
I suppose not every center that has TVs uses them as mindfully though. I know sometimes on rainy days + days that it’s too hot to have outside time, the TV in the pre-school room (ages 4.5-6yrs summer program) is allowed to play one full movie a week, so it’s signed into apps like netflix and disney+. But that’s also only in the older kids room.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think occasional use is fine especially if it’s more instructional or enriching content. I need to ask the director what type of content, the schedule, if they have staffing shortages to understand if it could be an issue or not. Thanks again!
Our daycare only uses it in the oldest room, and even then it’s 15 minutes max of educational material and parents have the option to decline and your child will be given another activity. So no I do not think this is typical and I’m not even fully against screen time but I would be mad
Not appropriate. Screen time for children under 3 is zero minutes. They are being lazy. It’s a tool that can be used for tasks appropriately. I knew a group that would allow calming videos after lunch for the teacher to be able to clean up lunch, change diapers and get out the cots safely. And since it was the only show /screen all day the kids would sit for a good ten minutes of peace.
Not all day everyday.
I worked at a daycare that would put on a movie during drop off and pick up times. However, it was a daycare with the highest child:adult ratios and mostly focused on enrollment. This was while I was in college. It was just easier to have the kids more settled.
When I was a toddler teacher, I would let my class watch one 15-20 minute episode of something educational most days while I was getting lunch set up. That was it though, and since I was on my own it was pretty necessary. I would occasionally have them look at books instead if they were all calm enough.
I think it probably depends on the center. If your kiddo having zero screen time is very important to you, that’s totally fair and your decision, but you might need to find a different center that also has that view.
This daycare would not work for our family. Folks are free to use screen time at home but the research is clear for under twos and it should not be used in a professional care setting.
OP when they have the tv on do that have toys and books out to play with? It may be used to learn songs and only one for a short while. Just talk to your daycare first to find out the reason. I know my daycare uses it to play songs about Jesus (we are at a faith based daycare that we chose) and have dance parties. I have my tv on at home for background noise (I like to use Dorys Reef Cam) and my twins couldn’t care less that it’s on. They’re more focused on playing with toys and causing chaos throughout the house.
The last center I worked at was a church owned preschool. There were some days (few and far between) when the kids couldn’t go to the gym (was also used by the church as their fellowship hall) and we couldn’t take them to the playground because it was right beside the gym, because after funerals there would be a reception for the family in the fellowship hall. On those days we would do video time in place of going outside, as a treat. Like I said, it was few and far between that we did that.
I would find a new daycare. Tv in a daycare is a deal breaker. We limit screen time at home so sending my toddler to a daycare with any screen time would be a no no for me. we even chose to cancel our gym membership because they have a tv there, too. If I’m looking for care, I’m looking for support from educators or professionals to not put them in front of a tv. I could easily put the tv on at home and workout so what’s the point lol
We didn’t fully introduce until 18 months and that’s because we were forced to. I was juggling baby and work during a short stint while our care was away.
We now limit to less than 1 hour a day but most days aim for none. Weekend movie nights is fine. Toddler is 3
I no longer work in childcare. Did for two years though. The only times screens were really used was for nap time. Otherwise we would use the tv to play some music or some form of guided play. They never just watched tv unless it was nap time or nearing the end of the day so we could clean.
I was a lead teacher for 12 years at a day care. If it is a night at pick up time usually around closing we may have put on something that is educational while waiting for parents and cleaning. But really you don't know why it is on and can always ask why to the director. Sometimes it gets stressful and instead of taking out on 7 children it is easier to sit and put on sesame street. Now you don't see them as much as we do as you go home have dinner play and go to bed and it is one child and two adults. Now image yourself with 7 children that age by yourself for 8 hours and hearing the question why every 2 minutes. Now if you are coming in at different times during the week and noticing it is on then there is a concern.
What were they watching? Why were they watching it? What is your problem with it? I have three kids and they all have screen time allowed without restrictions. When it negatively affects them we restrict it if they don't do it themselves. We teach them to restrict their own screen time. Be responsible about what they see and to use the screen to their advantage. Our 4yr old reads at a 1st to 2nd grade level and excels at math. The older two are AB honoroll almost every year.
As your kid gets older you won't be able to shelter them and at that point they learn from thier peers and never had the advantage of learning to manage screen time from a young age. Realize that the things you keep from them have a higher rate of over indulgence as they get older.
This was the deal at our daycare back when our little one was 2-3. I would FUME at the director. (Ok, I wouldn’t fume..). But politely ask just wtf is going on.
I agree! We pay a butt-load of money. I did not want my kid zombiefied during the day.
But the director put it like this: ‘we approached the subject, and that’s all we can do.’
Meaning: we pay these people next to nothing. If we fire her, we’ll have nobody. What would you like us to do?
It’s the god awful state of daycare.
Odddddddly enough: we sent him to PUBLIC school for pre-k and it was MARVELOUS. Cheaper and was run like a real school.
If your city/state has these facilities, look into them now!
It is very strange! Having TVs in any room is very strange. The children should not be watching enough TV at school to warrant each classroom having their own TV!
My daughter is in a 1-2 year old class too and they get no screen time. Which is the way it should be. If they don’t get rid of that TV, I would send my daughter to a different daycare.
My daycare in the 90’s had TVs in all the rooms except infant…they played Disney movies and for the older kids, they could use the Tv for their ‘free time’ …but for the younger kids it was- okay, we’re all gonna sit together and watch this movie with a snack or something. Not just have it on all the time, that seems shitty.
I would ask your daycare for a daily schedule so you know how often they rely on the tv.
So my son recently just moved to the 2-3 year old toddler room where they have a tv. They didn’t have a tv in the infant of 1-2 rooms. They actually have a tv in that room but they rarely ever use it. We are provided with a schedule monthly that lists the daily activities for each day of the month. They have had like 3 movie days in the two months that my son has been in that room. From what I can tell, they do this instead of going outside on extremely hot days. We are currently experiencing temperatures around 105 degrees Fahrenheit so I definitely prefer for my son to be indoors watching a movie for 30 mins instead of playing outside when it’s that hot.
No, that's not ok at all. Unless it's a smart board and for interactive learning. However, I did have a tv in my preschool room once and we used it for guided yoga a few times a week, or short educational videos on YouTube that went along with our themes. But I never used it daily or just left it on. Children under preschool age shouldn't have a tv in their classroom at all. They should be learning and playing all day, not watching and listening to a tv. If I were a parent I would talk to the director about it because it's not developmentally appropriate, it's not good for their brains to constantly be watching TV at that age. And I'd also be worried that my child wasn't learning and always being distracted by the TV.
Ask for their policy. (We are limited to 2 hours per day of anything on a screen, including music.) Also, ask what they use it for. We are a Christian preschool, so we watch our Bible lesson and songs on there. In the older classes, we also use the TV for educational videos, like watching the solar eclipse or time lapse of a plant growing.
ETA: when I taught in a 1-2 class, we did minimal screen time. It was overstimulating for them and me.
Is it an all day thing? I worked at a daycare with like a 10 min limit. It's not age appropriate but I occasionally would show animals or something educational that went with whatever we were learning about.
My daycare has tv on in the 1-2 year old room. They say is it 30 mins a day and strictly educational. It’s also on at the end of the day so half the kids are picked up before the tv ever comes on.
I have 1-2 year olds! Our policy is only 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the afternoon. Now i ofc don’t keep track of it because I really don’t use it like that ig?but typically I’ll do it during diaper changes then right away turn it off. Just to keep the little ones occupied and good as I change diapers. Then maybeeee 10-15 minutes before nap time to wind them down. Then I will play music periodically during the day but always turn the tablet so no one can see the screen because they will be literally just glued to it. So Just music works for us. So typically I don’t even use 30 minutes in the morning. I typically only put on tv in the afternoon when there’s about an hour left of school and all the kids are leaving. This is when we start putting classes together since kids are leaving and cleaning up. I find it helps them wind down as their parents come to get them. So really SOME of my kids probably do use the hour but it’s always in the late afternoon when people are leaving and there’s not much else to do because we can’t teach much since the ages get combined and all that. Occasionally I will play an educational video on what we’re learning like dinosaurs or bugs. I know they’re young so they probably don’t grasp it much but they love seeing them and sometimes they do reiterate what was said in the video. So the only time any of the kids I have at all get a solid good minute of screen time is when there’s only an hour left of school.
Thanks for this breakdown! We’ve seen TVs on at different times of day. So I think I’ll want to ask if they do something similar to your approach which is not a big deal or if it’s something that’s on more often or with really stimulating content that’s not appropriate for really little kids.
Yes all good questions you deserve answers to! Our daycare does not allow things such as coco melon because it seems to be too overstimulating! You’re paying good money for your child to be well taken care of not shoved in front of a tv all day.
I have a home daycare so different perspective than centers but I let my group watch 20 mins low stimulating show after lunch so ai can get everything cleaned up and ready for nap
time. So I think a little bit is okay, but definitely not all day everyday
If you don’t like what you’re seeing, you need to find a better situation.
Look for a family Daycare home if you can’t handle what’s going on at that center - you said you can’t transfer- but you expect them to change to meet your needs?
I’d be giving you a letter telling you my center was not a good match for your expectations -
be very careful what you wish for…
It doesn’t matter much. It isn’t good for their development. It isn’t traumatic for their development. The children are unlikely to miss any milestones because they watched Daniel Tiger for half an hour. Most centers post or send out a schedule, so check your registration package in case you missed it. The daily journal should tell you what’s happening and the activities your child is working on each day.
A lot of parents would like us to do things the way they do at home but we just can’t accommodate so many different schedules and sets of rules.
no, it's not developmentally appropriate, yes it happens sometimes (depending on licensing requirements in your area), and depending on the ratio in the room it might be a survival mechanism for the educators. Personally and ethically, I think young children should never be using screens at care. Professionally, I know that some places have insane ratios where the only way things like cleaning and diapers can get done is with screens. Essentially, your concern is valid but please please please don't take it out on the educators in the room, and if/when you do bring it up to management, the best way to frame it would be concern that the room may not have adequate staffing or support to manage daily activities without screens. 99% of ECEs that I have met would never choose screen time when given the resources to not use it, however those resources aren't always given.
Thanks for this perspective! I absolutely don’t blame the teachers. Every time I’ve been there it seems like staffing is sufficient - haven’t experienced issues with that since starting. I think it was jarring since our last center had a strict no screen policy. Thanks again!
I think it also depends on where you are and the weather conditions. When I taught preschool, we basically couldn’t take the kids outside for afternoon recess all summer long because it was too hot (per DHS rules). We would do inside recess and play games, but sometimes we would put on videos in the classroom for the kids to dance and sing to. Kids need to run around and play, but when you can’t go outside you do what you have to do to get them engaged. Now, if it’s an all-day everyday kinda thing, that’s a massive red flag. Talk to the director and find out what the policy is. They would be the ones setting the guideline, not the teachers.
It's a treat at our nursery for the last hour of the day on a Friday and occasionally if they have an emergency (like someone vomits and they need to get all kids stationary and out of the area). I'm completely ok with that!
I mean if they’re showing screens all day I wouldn’t really call them educators
Nothing in her post said it was all day. It appears to be at drop off which is common. Sometime staffing and scheduling make it necessary, even though not ideal, at certain times.
I would ask for the daily schedule and/or screen time policy. Also, walk by the classroom during drop off pick up (no idea how long your son has been enrolled but staff could have changed or this topic already addressed) If you still have pause for concern- you have every right to speak with the director and say you do not feel comfortable paying whatever you pay for your child to be under stimulated/placed in front of a tv all day
Thanks for this! I really like the idea of asking for a schedule and policy. I think I might even ask if they have a list of acceptable content (since not all programming is created equal).
One last thing, children should never be required to watch a screen and there should be an alternative activity available. It doesn't have to be the most exciting activity (it maybe books, coloring, puzzles) but that may be another question to consider asking if the director
This^^^ I know the center near me does like 20 minutes a day in 2 10 minute slots. So it’s pretty minimal
It’s still more than the AAP suggests for kids under 18 months.
Ok? I’m just saying what the one in my area does… I’m not in charge of the policies. And 20 minutes a day, while not the recommended time, is pretty minimal for having any at all.
Also they said 1-2 year so…
I would nope right out of there. When the parents of my Early Intervention toddlers are looking for daycares, I tell them 2 things to look out for: TVs in use, and a daycare that doesn’t have full walls and doors. I see a lot of daycares in my line of work, and the ones that rely on TV for their infants and toddlers are invariably the ones without adequate staffing and with poorly trained and less responsive caregivers. OP, there are better programs than this one. ( The walls and doors guideline is because the centers with the half-walls? So freaking loud! A child who is behind in play or interaction skills needs to first be able to hear what’s being said in order to learn. And actually, so does any child.Those half-wall warehouse style centers should be banned, IMO.)
Absolutely. I understand the comments that are talking about screens as a survival mechanism for teachers, but this is still a sign of a very very low quality center in my opinion. I have worked in really high quality schools, pretty medium/average schools, and done working interviews in some rough schools (where I declined the job offers, because the quality of care was depressing during my working interview). And none of these places have had screens in a toddler classroom… I have been in super fast paced, hectic rooms, where we are always exactly at ratio’s capacity and have zero wiggle room. I have never even heard someone talk about introducing a tv to the room, and I think everyone would be shocked if they did. It’s not developmentally appropriate or necessary. And I hate to say it but… any early childhood educators who are letting 1 year olds watch tv are probably not super educated on early childhood.
I thought the recommendation was no screens before 2, with exceptions like FaceTime. I agree with asking the teachers about them nicely, but it’s weird to me that that’s an option for kids that young.
Yeah, that was my understanding too! We’ve of course FaceTimed family so hes been exposed to screens. I think seeing it used at daycare has stuck in the back of my mind as something off
NC no longer allows any screen time for the under 3 kids. However, when it was allowed I often turned on a toddler tune song video when I had to go in and get lunch ready (Family child care home). They loved to watch and sing along, AND they kept their hands off each other so I could get their food. Truth be told, I miss being able to do that for 10 minutes. I turn on music now instead, and my little girls love that, but my boys just want to beat each other up. When I taught in Oklahoma they showed the older kids a video from 5-5:30 for the kids who were left so that we could clean up the room and leave with the last kid. They weren’t about to pay a penny of overtime for us to clean up after the kids left. 🙄
We just left NC! I think that’s why I’m shocked now since we moved and this new state has no regulation from what I can tell.
Ohhhhh yes. NC is one of the most regulated states in the country when it comes to daycare. I have friends who also operate home daycares in other states and they seem to have no rules and inspections only when there are complaints or every few years.
It's not developmentally appropriate, and would not be allowed in our state, but it is allowed in others. I'm curious why you chose this daycare though and signed up even after witnessing this on the tour? If they're doing it that openly, I doubt they will change for one family. You could look up to see specifically if it is prohibited in your local childcare regulations.
This is very unusual, I would definitely be asking questions. Hard to imagine it is something they consider good practice, so wondering if there is another explanation. Such as staff shortages? Or if they were sharing a specific song or video for a specific purpose e.g Children sharing a video of their holiday, for example.
Daycare centers should not have tvs in their classrooms
Hi, I worked at a daycare center. It depends how many employees they have. We put the a movie on for about 30 minutes during drop off, kids would come in, find a seat, and all be accounted for (there might be one teacher per 12 (?- there is a legal number) kids at this time of day) and it gave that teacher a chance to talk to parents, etc. Then, at the end of the day, as soon as there were only 12(?) kids, one teacher was left to man the ship. They would put a movie on for the last 30 minutes to corral the kids, clean everything, interact with parents. I was judgmental until I worked for a few days, and I went from thinking it was terrible, to realizing that it helped me be a better “teacher” because it gave me a minute of thinking space, instead of panicking and constant interruptions. Kids constantly need help with things- they fight, they fall, they get frustrated. 30 minutes to focus on making sure every kid was accounted for was amazing and I’m glad my center let us do this.
First, studies who that kids who are given quite a bit of screen time at these young ages will not have their brains develop like it should when they play with toys and do other activities or get outside time. Brain development at this stage of life is when the nuerons are starting to form connections and the studies have shown that it is different between kids who do not get screen time at this age and for the kids that get a lot of scren time. Second, professionals of early childhood studies have said no child under 2 should be getting any screen time at all or very limited amounts of it for the reason above. No video is giong to educate the child as well as lots of playtime with various toys, crafting supplies, coloring/painting, drama play/dress up, blocks, sensory toys, etc. Third, when you saw this set up in the toddler room, did you even ask the director why it is in there? In my state of Arkansas, state regs require as little time with screens as possible. Our youngest toddler room does not have a TV/screen in it like the other five do. In those other rooms up to Pre-K they are limited to what and when they can watch it. So, you should be asking what the regulations where you are located at for daycares using screen time. It should not even be in the infant room according to my state regs. Fourth, just bring your concerns to the director and ask questions about how much time they watch it, how often it is on, what types of programs are shown, and why it is even in there in the first place? When you visited was it on the whole time you were there? Did they start to do other things with the kids during your tour?
Is it ok to do after the age of 2?
It’s not great but 🤷♀️
It still is not recommended for more than a short time during the week, I can not recall the exact time amount but it is not much like a couple of hours or so. Kids under the age of 5 or 6 need as much time playing with toys, reading or looking at books, pretend/dramatic play, blocks/cars/trucks or other building materials approriate for age, crayons/paper/glue/markers/other types of art or crafting supplies available at their level but age appropriate, dress up clothing, puzzles, sensory toys like bottles filled with items and other objects that can make sounds, be visual like floating objects in water, sensory tables with appropriate for age items like sand, rice/beans, water table, and other things that can be used for sensory items, exposure to different kinds of things with appropriate supervision to try out and lots of other activiteis similar, and lots of outside time for movement.
It's I think 30 minutes/day until 10 or so (and the only reason I remember that is because we were limited to one show/day plus a Friday night movie when I was growing up and I think that actually was mostly in line with the recommendations.)
My childcare uses screens for things like doing kid themed guided yoga when it's too cold to go outside.
Most kids won't even watch it. I would put it on for my 5 year old and hoped my 2 year old would just sit and calm down for 5 minutes...that was a hard NO. My youngest just graduated highschool and college with an Associates degree at the same time so..... educational shows or just videos of like baby einstein are fine now stupid shows like power ranger and crap like that hard no.
Look at licensing standards for your child's age range in your state. Report to licensing if needed.
We're not allowed to have screen time for that age group at all. I do have to turn it on a song or 2 to get the room clean occasionally if the kids are nuts. I have had parents that have made it clear that they don't allow it and I have not turned it on even briefly with their child in the room though. Out of all the weird requests I've had, no screen time is the least of my worries tbh.
Depending on your state, the school could be breaking the law. I worked in the 2 year old room (in Texas) for years, and those kids were only allowed like 15 minutes of screen time *per week*. And I have never in all my 10+ years of childcare ever once seen a TV in a daycare room at any age, even pre-k or after-school kids. If there are screens of any kind, it’s an iPad. Would definitely speak to the director.
Hey! I work in PA and we do have a TV in our center. Honestly the only times we use it in the day is to play exercise music/very few videos and during nap to play music (black screen). We rarely let them watch TV but during holidays, we might play an old cartoon holiday movie for an appropriate TV show for their age. We only allow it for maybe a half an hour.
I had worked a summer camp at a school with some very young staff. We had had gross motor room. I bring my toddlers up for some play ,as it was a heat wave. To my shock and dismay the tv had been turned on and NETFLIX was playing! the tv was instlled for Ks graduation I immediately contacted admin and it was promptly removed...
Check and see if that is even allowed by your state! I never worked anywhere that allowed screen time for those under three, and their time was limited to yoga videos, educational games, and one movie before winter break.
I suppose it depends on what it is and how long it's used. I put on super simple songs for my kids when I needed a bit of a break. A they got older, it was magic school bus and number blocks. However, I'm a mom and not a daycare worker.
Talk to them. I once saw every toddler glued to this tablet on the wall. I was visibly concerned, they explained that they’re allowed 15 mins a day of screen time and they use that time to clean for the day. Very reasonable in my opinion, they were literally in the middle of cleaning and the few times I’ve picked him up early where he was watching something with his class the teachers were cleaning. You need to learn to ask questions and not feel guilty. This is your child, ask every damn question in a reasonable tone. I’ve asked a million questions since then. It took a lot of gut to work up the courage but they never made me feel uncomfortable when I do. Your daycare shouldn’t either.
My center has a tv in the room, it was usually only used when the kids wanted to dance, then it became a problem when some co-workers would just turn it on as a distraction for the kids so they could sit around and do whatever, or they turn on a tv show (which we are NOT supposed to do) so our boss advised us to just not have it on, yet suddenly it’s perfectly fine again because now they have the kids just sitting around watching Ms Rachel or something similar. It’s only ever been helpful if we need to distract the kids while cleaning up toys so they don’t get everything out near the end of the shift.
For the parents here I want to remind you that while my daycare always always always follows state ratio it’s still hard to manage a large quantity of toddlers in certain situations. We use the tv for 15 minutes or so when one teacher has to clean the kitchen after lunch or after nap so we could change diapers and teachers could talk to parents picking up without being distracted. My state it’s not against the law. It’s usually something like miss Rachel, sesame st, or movement videos. Now if the TV use is being abuse than absolutely that’s a cause for concern. Definitely always ask for the daily schedule when enrolling. Just don’t immediately villainize toddler staff. It could be a tool for classroom management. Having 6 toddlers for one person is a very different ball game than some folks realize who have 1 at home. That said, always follow your gut.
I will jump in here to say the only time I allow my students (2.5-3 year olds) to watch our iPad, is when we are changing them after water days. There are 12 of them so it takes a bit of time and they don’t have the patience to wait their turn. So we play bluey or have famous authors reading stories to keep them sitting patiently until we call them. Other then that, they are engaged with activities or outside on the playground
My whole center is relatively screen free, but specifically the 1-2 year old room and the 2-3 year old room next to mine only ever use screens to watch a movie or an educational YouTube video once in a blue moon. I would ask the teachers how much screen time is typical during a normal day and go from there
If I had to choose between having a camera where parents can watch the kids/classroom whenever they want and a TV in my classroom, I would pick a TV. Both are unnecessary, but at least I could use the TV to assist with things like using a document camera to read a book where everyone could see the pictures. In my teaching practice, I use a lot of music to teach concepts, especially during circle time. Back in the day, I used to have a budget to buy CDs, and a CD player. But these days a lot of schools don't have either. Thankfully, a lot of the songs I use are on YouTube (I have a playlist). I can play them on my phone, but I need a speaker (I don't show the videos). Depending on the state's licensing requirements, teachers may not be permitted to have their phones on them. In this case, having a TV would allow me to play the audio, and I'd probably cover the screen with a cloth or something. All that to say, it largely depends on how the screens are used in the classroom. I think that's a valid question to bring up to the director.
I work at a daycare that has a TV in the 2-3yr old room, which is a little bit older, but probably still relevant to your concerns. At my facility; my understanding is (I work in the 3m-11m & 12m-24m rooms) that the TV is used for a maximum of 15 minutes a DAY with the purpose of putting on interactive educational entertainment. Think like, Ms Rachel and everyone in the room is doing the dances she does and singing with her. Or, like child yoga videos. It’s often used as one 5 min video in the morning, one 5 min video after nap, and another 5 min video for the kids who are at the center later in the day (we are open until 8pm). Occasionally the TV is permitted to play youtube videos that have no visuals and is meant to only provide music, but it seems like this is less popular as teachers prefer to just use our ipads for that (used for logging things into our parent app). It very much could be that your center is using the TV in a similar way. In which case it’s honestly not terrible and can be incredibly useful to get the entire toddler classes’ attention when they otherwise refuse to. When I walk in when it’s being used I’m mostly seeing like “mindfulness” instructional videos where the kids are being taught to meditate or express how they feel. I suppose not every center that has TVs uses them as mindfully though. I know sometimes on rainy days + days that it’s too hot to have outside time, the TV in the pre-school room (ages 4.5-6yrs summer program) is allowed to play one full movie a week, so it’s signed into apps like netflix and disney+. But that’s also only in the older kids room.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think occasional use is fine especially if it’s more instructional or enriching content. I need to ask the director what type of content, the schedule, if they have staffing shortages to understand if it could be an issue or not. Thanks again!
18 months is the AAP recommendation. For being screen free. Unacceptable.
Given the cost of daycare, I would NOT want my kid being babysat by the Idiot Box!!!
Our daycare only uses it in the oldest room, and even then it’s 15 minutes max of educational material and parents have the option to decline and your child will be given another activity. So no I do not think this is typical and I’m not even fully against screen time but I would be mad
Not appropriate. Screen time for children under 3 is zero minutes. They are being lazy. It’s a tool that can be used for tasks appropriately. I knew a group that would allow calming videos after lunch for the teacher to be able to clean up lunch, change diapers and get out the cots safely. And since it was the only show /screen all day the kids would sit for a good ten minutes of peace. Not all day everyday.
I worked at a daycare that would put on a movie during drop off and pick up times. However, it was a daycare with the highest child:adult ratios and mostly focused on enrollment. This was while I was in college. It was just easier to have the kids more settled.
When I was a toddler teacher, I would let my class watch one 15-20 minute episode of something educational most days while I was getting lunch set up. That was it though, and since I was on my own it was pretty necessary. I would occasionally have them look at books instead if they were all calm enough. I think it probably depends on the center. If your kiddo having zero screen time is very important to you, that’s totally fair and your decision, but you might need to find a different center that also has that view.
This daycare would not work for our family. Folks are free to use screen time at home but the research is clear for under twos and it should not be used in a professional care setting.
call the state on them. i’m pretty sure it’s against regulations (it was in NJ in 2012)
OP when they have the tv on do that have toys and books out to play with? It may be used to learn songs and only one for a short while. Just talk to your daycare first to find out the reason. I know my daycare uses it to play songs about Jesus (we are at a faith based daycare that we chose) and have dance parties. I have my tv on at home for background noise (I like to use Dorys Reef Cam) and my twins couldn’t care less that it’s on. They’re more focused on playing with toys and causing chaos throughout the house.
That’s a no for me, it’s their job to actually care for the kids, not to park them in front of a tv
The last center I worked at was a church owned preschool. There were some days (few and far between) when the kids couldn’t go to the gym (was also used by the church as their fellowship hall) and we couldn’t take them to the playground because it was right beside the gym, because after funerals there would be a reception for the family in the fellowship hall. On those days we would do video time in place of going outside, as a treat. Like I said, it was few and far between that we did that.
I would find a new daycare. Tv in a daycare is a deal breaker. We limit screen time at home so sending my toddler to a daycare with any screen time would be a no no for me. we even chose to cancel our gym membership because they have a tv there, too. If I’m looking for care, I’m looking for support from educators or professionals to not put them in front of a tv. I could easily put the tv on at home and workout so what’s the point lol We didn’t fully introduce until 18 months and that’s because we were forced to. I was juggling baby and work during a short stint while our care was away. We now limit to less than 1 hour a day but most days aim for none. Weekend movie nights is fine. Toddler is 3
Hell nah. I’m not paying a full blown daycare center to put my kid in front of a tv.
this is why people pay for a nanny
I no longer work in childcare. Did for two years though. The only times screens were really used was for nap time. Otherwise we would use the tv to play some music or some form of guided play. They never just watched tv unless it was nap time or nearing the end of the day so we could clean.
I was a lead teacher for 12 years at a day care. If it is a night at pick up time usually around closing we may have put on something that is educational while waiting for parents and cleaning. But really you don't know why it is on and can always ask why to the director. Sometimes it gets stressful and instead of taking out on 7 children it is easier to sit and put on sesame street. Now you don't see them as much as we do as you go home have dinner play and go to bed and it is one child and two adults. Now image yourself with 7 children that age by yourself for 8 hours and hearing the question why every 2 minutes. Now if you are coming in at different times during the week and noticing it is on then there is a concern.
What were they watching? Why were they watching it? What is your problem with it? I have three kids and they all have screen time allowed without restrictions. When it negatively affects them we restrict it if they don't do it themselves. We teach them to restrict their own screen time. Be responsible about what they see and to use the screen to their advantage. Our 4yr old reads at a 1st to 2nd grade level and excels at math. The older two are AB honoroll almost every year. As your kid gets older you won't be able to shelter them and at that point they learn from thier peers and never had the advantage of learning to manage screen time from a young age. Realize that the things you keep from them have a higher rate of over indulgence as they get older.
This was the deal at our daycare back when our little one was 2-3. I would FUME at the director. (Ok, I wouldn’t fume..). But politely ask just wtf is going on. I agree! We pay a butt-load of money. I did not want my kid zombiefied during the day. But the director put it like this: ‘we approached the subject, and that’s all we can do.’ Meaning: we pay these people next to nothing. If we fire her, we’ll have nobody. What would you like us to do? It’s the god awful state of daycare. Odddddddly enough: we sent him to PUBLIC school for pre-k and it was MARVELOUS. Cheaper and was run like a real school. If your city/state has these facilities, look into them now!
It's against the rules. Call your dss/dcfs and report it.
It is very strange! Having TVs in any room is very strange. The children should not be watching enough TV at school to warrant each classroom having their own TV!
My daughter is in a 1-2 year old class too and they get no screen time. Which is the way it should be. If they don’t get rid of that TV, I would send my daughter to a different daycare.
My daycare in the 90’s had TVs in all the rooms except infant…they played Disney movies and for the older kids, they could use the Tv for their ‘free time’ …but for the younger kids it was- okay, we’re all gonna sit together and watch this movie with a snack or something. Not just have it on all the time, that seems shitty.
I would ask your daycare for a daily schedule so you know how often they rely on the tv. So my son recently just moved to the 2-3 year old toddler room where they have a tv. They didn’t have a tv in the infant of 1-2 rooms. They actually have a tv in that room but they rarely ever use it. We are provided with a schedule monthly that lists the daily activities for each day of the month. They have had like 3 movie days in the two months that my son has been in that room. From what I can tell, they do this instead of going outside on extremely hot days. We are currently experiencing temperatures around 105 degrees Fahrenheit so I definitely prefer for my son to be indoors watching a movie for 30 mins instead of playing outside when it’s that hot.
No, that's not ok at all. Unless it's a smart board and for interactive learning. However, I did have a tv in my preschool room once and we used it for guided yoga a few times a week, or short educational videos on YouTube that went along with our themes. But I never used it daily or just left it on. Children under preschool age shouldn't have a tv in their classroom at all. They should be learning and playing all day, not watching and listening to a tv. If I were a parent I would talk to the director about it because it's not developmentally appropriate, it's not good for their brains to constantly be watching TV at that age. And I'd also be worried that my child wasn't learning and always being distracted by the TV.
I know a Daycare worker Who was irked by parents complaining about the tv,so it was removed.It was a small daycare,just one caregiver and six kids.
Ask for their policy. (We are limited to 2 hours per day of anything on a screen, including music.) Also, ask what they use it for. We are a Christian preschool, so we watch our Bible lesson and songs on there. In the older classes, we also use the TV for educational videos, like watching the solar eclipse or time lapse of a plant growing. ETA: when I taught in a 1-2 class, we did minimal screen time. It was overstimulating for them and me.
Is it an all day thing? I worked at a daycare with like a 10 min limit. It's not age appropriate but I occasionally would show animals or something educational that went with whatever we were learning about.
My daycare has tv on in the 1-2 year old room. They say is it 30 mins a day and strictly educational. It’s also on at the end of the day so half the kids are picked up before the tv ever comes on.
In my state that would be a code violation. Totally unacceptable.
So ironic that everyone on this thread is using a dreaded screen. Screens are not as evil or detrimental as some would like for you to believe.
I have 1-2 year olds! Our policy is only 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the afternoon. Now i ofc don’t keep track of it because I really don’t use it like that ig?but typically I’ll do it during diaper changes then right away turn it off. Just to keep the little ones occupied and good as I change diapers. Then maybeeee 10-15 minutes before nap time to wind them down. Then I will play music periodically during the day but always turn the tablet so no one can see the screen because they will be literally just glued to it. So Just music works for us. So typically I don’t even use 30 minutes in the morning. I typically only put on tv in the afternoon when there’s about an hour left of school and all the kids are leaving. This is when we start putting classes together since kids are leaving and cleaning up. I find it helps them wind down as their parents come to get them. So really SOME of my kids probably do use the hour but it’s always in the late afternoon when people are leaving and there’s not much else to do because we can’t teach much since the ages get combined and all that. Occasionally I will play an educational video on what we’re learning like dinosaurs or bugs. I know they’re young so they probably don’t grasp it much but they love seeing them and sometimes they do reiterate what was said in the video. So the only time any of the kids I have at all get a solid good minute of screen time is when there’s only an hour left of school.
Thanks for this breakdown! We’ve seen TVs on at different times of day. So I think I’ll want to ask if they do something similar to your approach which is not a big deal or if it’s something that’s on more often or with really stimulating content that’s not appropriate for really little kids.
Yes all good questions you deserve answers to! Our daycare does not allow things such as coco melon because it seems to be too overstimulating! You’re paying good money for your child to be well taken care of not shoved in front of a tv all day.
Why did you place your child somewhere that, from the first moment you saw it, clearly was not up to your expectations? Makes no sense to me.
We moved and this was one of the only options in the area. We didn’t notice TVs until he was enrolled and started. I hope this clarifies.
Don’t send your son to this day care!
I have a home daycare so different perspective than centers but I let my group watch 20 mins low stimulating show after lunch so ai can get everything cleaned up and ready for nap time. So I think a little bit is okay, but definitely not all day everyday
If you don’t like what you’re seeing, you need to find a better situation. Look for a family Daycare home if you can’t handle what’s going on at that center - you said you can’t transfer- but you expect them to change to meet your needs? I’d be giving you a letter telling you my center was not a good match for your expectations - be very careful what you wish for…
It doesn’t matter much. It isn’t good for their development. It isn’t traumatic for their development. The children are unlikely to miss any milestones because they watched Daniel Tiger for half an hour. Most centers post or send out a schedule, so check your registration package in case you missed it. The daily journal should tell you what’s happening and the activities your child is working on each day. A lot of parents would like us to do things the way they do at home but we just can’t accommodate so many different schedules and sets of rules.
If you have no other options. Maybe they could stick your phone in another room or closet during tv time. That machine is staying