Frozen-themed week at nursery.

[Saffron]

There's nothing rude intended about reflecting that my own life is so stressful atm, that I would rejoice in having the time and energy to be irritated about a nursery theme. It was a (darkly) humorous reflection on how the things that irritate me about nusery/school when my own life is relatively stress-free actually look different in my own perspective at other times. (I was nearly brought to a nervous breakdown one year over the prospect of making an easter bonnet for nursery!) I don't know if you're being unreasonable (i.e., in ref to ori query); I can only say how I reflect on my own experiences in this case. But my post emphatically did not state that there was anything wrong with you caring about your child, Bellenden Belle, nor did I state that I didn't choose my own child's nursery carefully.

Just to clarify, is it theme itself or the daily dressing up that's the annoyance? Are they actually watching the film, or are they just making winter stuff? If the notice went out with only a weekend to prep, does the nursery truly expect that everyone will do it? That seems crazy regardless of theme. My daughter's nursery notified us of everything major about a month in advance.

In any event, surely the nursery will accommodate some activities to suit if you say honestly why you feel the way you do? xx

[Saffron]

Pickle Wrote:

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> Saffron, a rude and unnecessary response, which is

> unlike you so I hope all is ok.

Pickle, you and BB have read something into it, which it honestly isn't. Lost in translation! xx

[Otta]

I also thought it was rude and unlike you. Glad it wasn't intended, but it did come across that way.

[Bellenden Belle]

Thanks for the clarification Saffron.

As to your question of what I object to....

I think children nowadays are bombarded by brands - everything has a tv or film character attached to it. And with that comes a remarkably small frame of reference. Children are fed narratives that they swallow whole, rather than giving them the chance to use their imaginations and create their own worlds and stories. Resorting to referencing a Disney film for a week is just so reductive.

I would love the nursery to have a snow or winter-themed week. They could build toboggans out of cardboard boxes and decide where they were going to. They could explore which animals lived in cold climates. They could listen to books with a snow theme. They could even make those snow-covered pyramids which have desiccated coconut on them which I was always partial to growing up :-)

There would be absolutely no need for two bloody princesses in branded costumes or any excuse to show clips of a film that so many children are already obsessed with. They'd be no need for parents to have to try and track down princess costumes (and whatever the male equivalent is.)

I also would like to see the nursery choosing themes based around books rather than films. My son used to go to a brilliant speech and therapy group that took a single book and then did crafts and other activities based around the themes and images in the book for around ten sessions. It meant the children grew to know and love the book which they read at the end of each session. Baby Belle was delighted when we got our own copy of the book for home.

And I just think that education - nursery or otherwise - should be free from commercialism. I don't want my son's education sponsored by Disney.

[Convex]

That's really well put bb!

Not to mention that if your kid doesn't watch former they will feel pretty left out if they don't know the references.

[intexasatthe moment]

" I'm not convinced they are experienced or particularly well educated. And most of the time that doesn't bother me - I don't need my child hot-housed aged three"

just to say that experienced and well educated staff might possibly be aware that hot housing is not an appropriate or recommended form of education .For any age .

[Otta]

Yeah, because that's what she meant.

Jesus wept.

[intexasatthe moment]

As a postgraduate who has worked in a number of preschools my judgement is that this sector is not peopled by inexperienced or uneducated staff .

The sentence "I'm not convinced they are experienced or particularly well educated." seems to imply a belief that they are .

But I apologise if that's not what was meant and I've misunderstood .

[Otta]

In my experience both working in education and sending my kids to preschool, I think a lot of the staff at these places are not particularly well educated. If they were they'd probably be doing jobs with better pay.

That is not to say that they are not largely lovely good people.

But what BB was not suggesting (as far as I could tell) was that's housing was a good idea in education.

[mooncake]

Oh god no... That's awful and completely inappropriate! Why would they assume everyone has watched it?! I was shocked enough that a) our ex-nursery sang let it go as one of their christmas songs in their annual nativity and b) that the current nursery have been playing the soundtrack. We indulged for the birthday party but otherwise watching the film is held back for occasional viewing (though I do let her listen to the songs - especially if she'll listen to the japanese versions!). Also one of the best things I liked about our new nursery is that they don't actually have computers at all and definitely no TV!!

[Bellenden Belle]

As Otta has perfectly summarised - whilst I can't speak for the sector as a whole - no I don't believe some of the nursery staff I've encountered are particularly experienced or highly educated. But that is no reflection on their ability to do a great job - I've actually visited nurseries where the staff have qualifications coming out their ears but the nursery itself has lacked the warmth of where I send my son. But what I would hope is that senior members of staff would design and oversee the activities.

And of course I don't want my child to be hot housed!

Mooncake - absolutely agree about no computers or tv. Loving the idea of a Japanese soundtrack though - I'm actually quite partial to a singalong, as is Toddler Belle (must stop calling him Baby Belle.)

[intexasatthe moment]

I understood BB that you weren't expressing a wish for your child to be hot housed . My point - poorly expressed ,sorry , was

experienced /well educated staff would know better than to hot house .Child not being hot housed ,ergo staff = experienced /well educated .

But of course lack of experience and education doesn't mean that someone isn't highly intelligent .

Hope the Frozen week goes well for all those involved .It's stressful holding down a job and bringing children up ,themed weeks could tip one over the edge .

[Earl Aelfheah]

Let's not all fall out. Time to 'let it go'.

[Earl Aelfheah]

... I also think it's a bit weird BTW.

[StraferJack]

googling "nursery frozen week" would suggest that "weird" or "unusual" it ain't

[Otta]

May not be unusual, but bloody well should be.

And common or not, it IS most definitely weird.

[Otta]

Do people find their kids are obsessed with the actual film, or more just the songs or the characters?

My two have seen the film a fair few times, but they seem to have totally lost interest in watching it now. The songs on the other hand are still on ALL THE TIME. And they often play at being Elsa & Anna (and fighting over who's who). But we don't really see the film anymore.

[Otta]

I want to do a Princess Bride week. THAT would be freaking awesome!

[njc97]

A Princess Bride week? Inconceivable!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Do people find their kids are obsessed with the

> actual film, or more just the songs or the

> characters?

>

> My two have seen the film a fair few times, but

> they seem to have totally lost interest in

> watching it now. The songs on the other hand are

> still on ALL THE TIME. And they often play at

> being Elsa & Anna (and fighting over who's who).

> But we don't really see the film anymore.

Yep, exactly this. My two have no interest in actually watching the film anymore, but still love the songs and the characters.

[Otta]

njc97 Wrote:

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> A Princess Bride week? Inconceivable!

http://i.minus.com/iVg8ZBZKD7HCU.jpeg

[ladyruskin]

Bellenden Bell, I think your points are valid and alloquently put. Have you written to the nursery expressing your dismay? Our nursery has themes none of which are linked to commercial brands, and I would strongly object if there were to begin doing so.

For what it's worth, my son knows all the words to 'Let it go' and is Frozen obsessed but he hasn't got it from home or watching it at nursery. The sad fact is, that Frozen is a huge craze amongst young children at the moment, so he'll have learnt the words from his friends at nursery or elsewhere. That's part of growing up I suppose - I'd much rather he sang along to the music that I like :) That doesn't mean nurseries/schools should latch on to the idea for themes though!

Bellenden Belle Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks for the clarification Saffron.

>

> As to your question of what I object to....

>

> I think children nowadays are bombarded by brands

> - everything has a tv or film character attached

> to it. And with that comes a remarkably small

> frame of reference. Children are fed narratives

> that they swallow whole, rather than giving them

> the chance to use their imaginations and create

> their own worlds and stories. Resorting to

> referencing a Disney film for a week is just so

> reductive.

>

> I would love the nursery to have a snow or

> winter-themed week. They could build toboggans out

> of cardboard boxes and decide where they were

> going to. They could explore which animals lived

> in cold climates. They could listen to books with

> a snow theme. They could even make those

> snow-covered pyramids which have desiccated

> coconut on them which I was always partial to

> growing up :-)

>

> There would be absolutely no need for two bloody

> princesses in branded costumes or any excuse to

> show clips of a film that so many children are

> already obsessed with. They'd be no need for

> parents to have to try and track down princess

> costumes (and whatever the male equivalent is.)

>

> I also would like to see the nursery choosing

> themes based around books rather than films. My

> son used to go to a brilliant speech and therapy

> group that took a single book and then did crafts

> and other activities based around the themes and

> images in the book for around ten sessions. It

> meant the children grew to know and love the book

> which they read at the end of each session. Baby

> Belle was delighted when we got our own copy of

> the book for home.

>

> And I just think that education - nursery or

> otherwise - should be free from commercialism. I

> don't want my son's education sponsored by Disney.

[Bellenden Belle]

Thank you for your kind words. We have indeed written to the nursery this morning so will look forward to the response.

Believe it or not, I'm not at all against my son indulging in a bit of song and dance. I was absolutely delighted when my son and I began dancing on a daily basis to 'Happy' - much to the annoyance of my other half who is even more curmudgeonly than me. And Baby Belle used to have a whole routine to Do-Rei-Me.

I think if the theme had been Popular Musicals circa 1960-1990 I would have been thrilled! Altogether now...."Food Glorious Food, hot sausage and mustard...."

ladyruskin Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Bellenden Bell, I think your points are valid and

> alloquently put. Have you written to the nursery

> expressing your dismay? Our nursery has themes

> none of which are linked to commercial brands, and

> I would strongly object if there were to begin

> doing so.

>

> For what it's worth, my son knows all the words to

> 'Let it go' and is Frozen obsessed but he hasn't

> got it from home or watching it at nursery. The

> sad fact is, that Frozen is a huge craze amongst

> young children at the moment, so he'll have learnt

> the words from his friends at nursery or

> elsewhere. That's part of growing up I suppose -

> I'd much rather he sang along to the music that I

> like :) That doesn't mean nurseries/schools

> should latch on to the idea for themes though!

>

[Earl Aelfheah]

My daughter's reception class has a different topic which they focus on each term. The current one is 'superheroes'. I asked her what she had learnt and she said - "superheroes run around the streets in their underwear". :-)

[Saffron]

Was searching something else and came up with this thread. So what happened in the end? Did you get any constructive dialogue with the nursery, or was Frozen week a deal breaker?