Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 Does anyone have a policy re: allowing children to bring their own toys to nursery? I have not discouraged this but recently it has become a problem with so many children bringing their favourite (and usually not the most suitable) toys into nursery. I have had many tears and broken toys and am not sure about the best approach. What do others do?
Verona Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 We don't encourage children to bring in toys from home. if they bring something in, they may show the children and staff and then the toy goes into a blue basket until the children go home. As you say, toys can get broken or children argue about them and don't want to share them so we decided that they (toys, not children) had to go into the basket! Parents are aware of this so they try to get them to leave things at home. Sue J
Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 I've used the basket approach too, once children and parents know it's there and what it's for it does get used; of course it would be better if they didn't bring anything in at all!!!
Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 We don't encourage children to bring in toys from home. if they bring something in, they may show the children and staff and then the toy goes into a blue basket until the children go home. As you say, toys can get broken or children argue about them and don't want to share them so we decided that they (toys, not children) had to go into the basket! Parents are aware of this so they try to get them to leave things at home. Sue J
Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 Many thanks for your replies. I never used to allow toys; if they were brought in they were 'displayed' on a shelf. However, I read that children's interests should be encouraged and that they should be able to bring things from home, so I have turned a 'blind eye' to this more recently - with regret! I now want to bring up the issue in my next newsletter, but not really sure which direction to take or how to 'word' this diplomatically!
mps09 Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 Many thanks for your replies. I never used to allow toys; if they were brought in they were 'displayed' on a shelf. However, I read that children's interests should be encouraged and that they should be able to bring things from home, so I have turned a 'blind eye' to this more recently - with regret! I now want to bring up the issue in my next newsletter, but not really sure which direction to take or how to 'word' this diplomatically! Oohh I'd be interested in any tips on this too! We used to say no - nothing brought it. Then we allowed special items for 'show and tell' which was great to begin with.... But now we get the same handful of children bring in something EVERY day and it's usually Barbie dolls or sticks..... Now would like to say - nothing brought it!!!
Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 We encourage the children to put anything bought from home into the home box which contains book bags and anything due to go home ie letters, paintings, drawings etc
Cait Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 We say that children are welcome to bring things in, but that they must be prepared to share, like I share my toys with them. If they don't want to share, then they go in the box by the door, so they can see them, but not get them. We do ask that nothing really important is brought in, and say we can't be held responsible for anything getting lost or broken
Guest Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 In the past we have had to send a politely worded letter due to one-up-manship over toys from home, but more recently we have been less strict as we have had a lot of little ones in and we have viewed them as a transition object. So now we have a number of approaches, including a box for them to be safely kept in to the end of the morning, a word with certain parents pointing out that their child doesn't need a transition object and the option for children to share their special toy with others. We also let all parents know we cannot guarantee the safety of the toys or that they will be taking them home that session - especially after my own nephew buried his lego figure in the garden and it took three days for us to find it! That said we did build some good home-setting links and some good problem solving skills evidence from that incident. I think what I'm getting at is that sometimes we need to be flexible and see that we have different reasons for bringing in the toys. Our older children have been very good at understanding that the younger ones might keep their in their pocket but they have a show and tell and put them in a safe place for the rest of the time.
finleysmaid Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 i have to say that in general i also discourage toys from home .....this comes from an incident some years ago when i was rung at home late at night and required to return the treasured toy left in the pre-schools home box i often tell this story to the children as a warning not to leave them !
Guest Spiral Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 We used to accept toys from children's homes, however we then had an incident with a child bringing in a toy which nobody realised was made from some sort of terracotta/china material - it broke and the sharp bits went all over the grass. We still find the odd bit now and they are very sharp. It's a diffiult one, but because I can't guarantee the safety of the item, I can't go ahead with the all clear for children to bring toys in. Have heard of another local setting too that had sweet hidden within a toy, however we've found that in bags, coats etc. I think it's up to the staff to have a good chat and agree a policy. Spiral.
Cait Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 But then where do you draw the line for children who bring a cuddly saggy old bear as a comfort thing? Ok we understand that's what it is, but other children might not. We're fortunate in that the two children who bring these cuddly things in are taken as a 'package' by the other children. They know the toy and even say things like 'Is Lewis and Pete coming?' and 'Jane and crab, come and build'
Upsy Daisy Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 Perhaps as a childminder I see things slightly differently as I have smaller numbers to manage but I positively encourage children to bring in toys to share. I see it as a way of building home links, promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity. If the children bring a toy which is not a comfort object they are expected to share it but can put it in their bag if they choose not to. I ask parents to be sensible about what the child is allowed to bring and accept that things may get broken. I have in the past had conversations with children on arrival about beautiful toys that may get ruined and asked them to decide whether Mum should look after it instead to keep it safe. They usually make a sensible decision.
louby loo Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 We have a sharing table, and we encourage all 'toys' rather than comforters are put on there, then other children may look touch and play with them within that area. - it's in a postion where an adult can easily keep 'half and eye' on it. It is also made very clear to parents/carers that we are not responsible for any items brought in from home, although again we are always aware of true comforters and treat these differently........and as Cait says the other children always seem to be able to tune into the needs of their peers with regards to such. I feel you have to go with what works for your setting and with your current users. For us we also have a 'show and tell' session - but that is completely different from our sharing table.
lynned55 Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 We have a treasure chest where 'treasures' from home are placed. We do show and tell some days with these. The children know items are placed in there for the duration of the session or not left. Some of the stuff is certainly not treasured, just a duplo brick or babys rattle, that they've picked up from the floor of the car- However I have sent a note home recently asking them not send in battery operated toys- had a couple with batteries in and no backs, working phones (yes really, with sim intact and full of photos) & sweets!! Recently some of our boys seem to be competing with each other for the size of car/truck they bring in. But it's not really a problem as I said it all has to be left in the treasure box, I really couldn't cope with the anguish and grief that would be caused by other people playing with certain toys or with them being lost. We do ask parents not to send in any items that are irreplaceable and do state that we cannot be responsible for lost/broken things. We also ask for stuff to be labelled as we have had children upset because their stuff has gone home with the wrong child however rarely is something labelled.
Guest Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 We are very clear on home visit about a 'no toy' policy on the grounds that we have plenty of things to play with and do at school but as others have said when you have younger children they sometimes need a 'transitional' object. We are very flexible about how we apply the rule but it is there to refer to if things get out of hand. Often it is a case of us backing up or reinforcing what a parent is saying. Getting a parent or our admin team to 'look after' a toy often works well. It is about being sensitive to the needs of the individual child/family and knowing when to enforce the rule and when to allow leeway. The bottom line is always that toys might get lost or broken and that would be upsetting so we are always looking for any arrangements to be temporary as ultimately the expectation is 'no toys'.
Gezabel Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 We 'duly admire' anything that is brought in and add the reminder that either mummy/daddy takes it home or it goes on the special shelf so it doesn't get broken. Often children decide.at the door, to send things home with mum , they seem happy that I have admired it! Saggy old bears and tatty, dirty muslin nappies are slightly different, they seem to be just 'accepted' by other children as being necessary and accessible and though we have a few it isn't a problem. Occasionally they are accessed during the day, a quick cuddle maybe and then discarded until home time. Often just the knowledge that a comforter is availabe is sufficient. We do sometimes have children who arrive with several items and they are admired at the door and then the child is allowed to choose one to bring in, the rest go home!
kristina Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 We are very much like Gezabel as we have a few young children who may bring in a piece of muslin or a well worn teddy, they put these in their own draw and sometimes a draw opens an inch and a teddy has his ear rubbed for a few seconds! Other than that we have a box by the door and any items for show and tell are placed in there until circle time at the end of the session. Kris
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