Resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one.

If you know that your child's daycare or preschool occasionally shows a movie, would you want to be apprised in advance and given the opportunity to opt-out? We weren't there but found out that last week DC's school showed a movie that I find very inappropriate for a bunch of pre-K kids. Like I said, we weren't there but I'm still ticked off since no one was told in advance, and I'd have been furious if my child had been there to see it.

They watched a tv special during the holidays that again, I didn't think my child was ready for and I decided to let it slide.

I am thinking about talking to the school director and asking if we can be informed in advance and give parents the opportunity to say no to their kids watching a particular movie and the school can have a separate activity for those who opt-out. Is this unreasonable?

Anonymous wrote:It might be one movie a week, but it would make me question the daycare more generally....I would wonder why they couldn't think up some other activity. Do they lack creativity? Can they not think of art projects or games, etc. that would interest the children for those 90 minutes? It would be a big deal to me not becasue of the movie itself, but because the kind of caregivers I am interested in have priorities that would make a regular movie day highly unlikely.

This. It just shows a total lack of understanding about what is developmentally appropriate and beneficial for young children. At home I occasionally use TV because I have to get something done, like take a shower or make dinner or check a work email. It's not ideal but there is only one of me and I sometimes have to do other things besides watching my kid. At daycare there are multiple caregivers and their entire job is to take care of kids -- there should be no reason to use TV unless the center is severely understaffed.

It might be one movie a week, but it would make me question the daycare more generally....I would wonder why they couldn't think up some other activity. Do they lack creativity? Can they not think of art projects or games, etc. that would interest the children for those 90 minutes? It would be a big deal to me not becasue of the movie itself, but because the kind of caregivers I am interested in have priorities that would make a regular movie day highly unlikely.

A movie once a week would not make me question anyone. I myself am not the "kind of caregiver" opposed to half an hour or hour of TV a day for my kid. I guess in theory I could be filling that time with more wonderful projects and games, but frankly, the seven to ten hours a day (depending on whether DS is in preschool) of that stuff that I do a day while DH is at work is enough for me.

My kids' daycare sometimes plays shows or a movie. It is fine with me. I don't think twice about it. Once a week wouldn't bother me either. Every day would though.

We've used three day cares and none of them used TV ever a single time. I'm not an anti-TV person, but there is zero chance I would pay for my child to go to a daycare that allowed TV even once. There is so much to do at a daycare with all the other kids - I would really question why they found that necessary.

Well said, pp!

It might be one movie a week, but it would make me question the daycare more generally....I would wonder why they couldn't think up some other activity. Do they lack creativity? Can they not think of art projects or games, etc. that would interest the children for those 90 minutes? It would be a big deal to me not becasue of the movie itself, but because the kind of caregivers I am interested in have priorities that would make a regular movie day highly unlikely.

It's only one movie, once per week. This should not be a deal big. There are lots of other more significant factors to consider than this.

Anonymous wrote:I visited a daycare, a pricey one in Tysons at that, that showed a half-hour video twice a day while the kids including infants drank their bottles of milk. They called it milk and a video. No thanks.

This is crazy. What daycare would do this? Name please.

OP here again. For me it's the screen time that makes the difference, not if they are watching it with them or not.

Actually it does make a difference. If you're talking to your kid during the show, making sure they are staying engaged, etc. it is better than letting them become zombies in front of the TV.

Movie day is no big deal, in my opinion. They started it in the 3 year old room at my son's (full day, 5 day a week) preschool this year. It is actually only about an hour of TV and never an actual movie -- more like a couple episodes of Dino Dan or Dora.

Anonymous wrote:I would have a problem with movie day. Studies show that screen time should be limited. I would rather be watching with my child (if there is any screen time at all!) than have them plopped in front of the TV to give the caretakers a break.

Paying someone to plop kid in front of tv. Can't you do that for free?

I'm the first poster who said my kids daycare does this, and I don't mind. At their daycare it starts in the 2 year old room, and its only once a week. I really don't see the problem, nor does any research indicate a problem with a 2 year old watching one movie a week. The teachers watch with them, and they often do things like all get up and dance if the characters are dancing.

It is ridiculous to have movie day as a regular thing. There are some videos that are educational and showing very small clips to preschoolers may be appropriate as part of a lesson. However there is NO reason that an infant should be watching ANY video. It is simply wrong. Total deal breaker in my opinion.

I visited a daycare, a pricey one in Tysons at that, that showed a half-hour video twice a day while the kids including infants drank their bottles of milk. They called it milk and a video. No thanks.

"TV is good for kids. It entertains them and makes them wise to pop culture. "

was I the only one who thought this was tongue in cheek?

to OP - I would pass unless it's the only spot you can find that you like. I think it's ridiculous that they show movies when they are paid to watch the kids. We are not an anti-TV house but DC1 watched nothing before 2 and we try really hard to limit DC2's screen time - even still they both watch a bit at home like when they are up at 5:30 on a Saturday - no way do I want to add to the screen time clock further when i am PAYING someone to be caring for my kids.