COVID-19: Ban on teddies in nurseries will make it hard to 'manage children's distress at leaving parents'

A nursery boss has questioned whether government guidelines to ban soft toys from nurseries to minimise COVID-19 risks are “appropriate”, saying teddies and other comforters from home are “important” in helping “children cope at nursery and managing their distress at leaving parents”.

The Department for Education has said 'Because early childhood is the most significant time for cognitive, social and emotional development, early years settings will be able to reopen to all pre-school children from 1 June’.

Three and four-year-olds will be first to return to nurseries followed by younger age groups.

To help nurseries prepare, the DfE has issued guidance which includes reducing group sizes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with others as well as staggered break and lunch times, drop offs and pick ups.

It also advises nurseries to increase the frequency of cleaning of toys and play equipment and remove soft furnishings, soft toys and toys that are hard to clean.

However David Wright, co-owner of Paint Pots Nurseries in Southampton, which are currently open for vulnerable and key worker children, is concerned that after months of being at home, children will need a period of transition to nursery and they are often helped to settle in by bringing their cuddly toy from home.

“When our children return, won’t they need a teddy to cuddle and yet we are being directed to remove them,” he said.

“With regard to teddies and other comforters from home, we know how important these can be for children in helping them cope and to manage their distress at leaving parents.

“I don’t believe a blanket ban on soft toys and furnishings is appropriate. We have to ask questions about the quality of life. If this persists, as we are told to expect, will we be raising our children from now on in individual isolated chalked squares on hard floors, devoid of human touch and familiar objects for comfort?”

He worries that children will “feel as though they are being punished” and said “What sort of existence is that?”

Mr Wright, who runs seven nurseries, says: “My concern with much of the thinking and planning around return from lockdown is that the understandable focus in the guidance, on stopping the spread of the virus, is in danger of overriding and ignoring any other human need, especially mental wellbeing when, in my opinion, this should be a priority for our children.

“Are we in danger of adding to young children’s anxiety and attachment issues by the way in which we are planning to restrict their physical connection to others and their need for transitional objects to help them cope with change during such a continuing uncertain and traumatic time?

“Could the very laudable efforts to contain the virus be at the risk of creating emotional health problems for children who have been in isolation for many weeks and for some of whom this may have been a deeply traumatic experience?”

Tweet of a photo of a school in France where the children are socially distancing

The government has published guidance to schools and early years settings on reopening and Mr Wright points out that emotional wellbeing hardly gets a mention.

There are “a few references to mental health but no mention of the following terms at all – Emotional, Trauma, Attachment, Anxiety, Relationships”, he says.

He concludes: “What level of risk are we willing to accept, to ensure that children feel loved, secure and held emotionally? There are no black and white answers but I am convinced that (risk-assessed) teddies have a role to play!”

Pauline Scott, owner of Lullaby Lane Nurseries in Scotland, has also highlighted her concerns over banning soft toys which is so far just guidance for England as the Scottish government has not yet announced when it wants nurseries there to reopen.

She said on twitter: ‘It’s either safe enough to bring our children back to nursery or not. Removing emotional safety – transitional objects, comforters, physical touch from attachment figures, brings different threats to our children.'

Yvonne Stanley, early learning and childcare manager at Lullaby Lane Nurseries also spoke out on twitter saying ‘Familiar items from home ‘comforters, ‘teddies’ are a child’s best friend, a companion and help them deal with their emotions, stressful situations like returning to nursery after 7+ weeks. Please do not expect practitioners and teachers to follow this guidance’.

To read the government's guidance in implementing protective measures in early years settings click here

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