Page 20 | Children on Ipads in restaurants

Somersetlady · 2024-02-05T08:27:02+00:00

Away in a resort. I am shocked by the number of children on ipads for the entire sitting of a meal. Breakfast lunch and dinner. Buffet to fine dining. From todlers upwards. No social interaction with parents or staff and mindless eating whilst inhaling cartoons. i understand that parents want a bit of a break but surely this is shockingly bad for the children?

IfOn · 05/02/2024 15:09

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:44

So I’m bowing out thanks to all those who did answer my question courteously and for the majority of posters is does in fact seem to be the new norm.

to this of you that got your knickers in a twist like @doilooklikeicare sorry I raised your cortisol levels!

Ok busy body. Enjoy the rest of your hols and remember to mind your own business while you're at it🙄

ElitebookBang · 05/02/2024 15:01

CantDealwithChristmas · 05/02/2024 14:02

Why is it "poor behaviour" to move around a restauarnt, play, greet other families etc?

Some of us call it being sociable and being part of a community.

You do realise that Mediterranean cultures don't just host restaurants for tourists, don't you? on my island the best restauarants are the ones that don't cater so much to the few tourists we get, but to the locals.

Our cultures don't simply exist as stage dressing for British tourists who go on holiday somewhere a few times and then decide they know all about that culture

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OT but I am very envious of you living on a non-British-touristy island. I won’t ask which it is, tempted though I am ;-)

neilyoungismyhero · 05/02/2024 15:01

I agree with you. My children were hellers at times but they always behaved themselves when we ate out. They also used knives and forks.

Mnetcurious · 05/02/2024 14:57

FigAndOlive · 05/02/2024 14:51

It's obviously you never read one of the thousand threads on Mumsnet of people complaining about toddlers/small kids in restaurants! There's always several mentions to not use screens, but not let them make a peep (so no singing, or any kind of engagement that entails the most minimum use of decibels), and how those perfect parents always took the kids since 1 week old to fine dining restaurants and you shouldn't prevent them from this important life experience so not taking them is not an option.

And yeah, I definetely tried to include my 15 month old (at the time) in the conversation but for some reason she was not that interested 😅

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Do you not talk to your 15m old then? Obviously conversation is age appropriate even if it’s “oh look at that dog”, “this bread is yummy” etc.

Ireolu · 05/02/2024 14:57

YABU for judging how other people chose to manage their children at meal times. Stay baffled.

FigAndOlive · 05/02/2024 14:51

Mnetcurious · 05/02/2024 13:18

Noone said anything about sitting in silence. Adults don’t sit in silence at restaurants, you just include the children in conversation. No one said the conversation should be about politics/economics either. Adults laugh in restaurants, that’s fine for kids too. How silly.

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It's obviously you never read one of the thousand threads on Mumsnet of people complaining about toddlers/small kids in restaurants! There's always several mentions to not use screens, but not let them make a peep (so no singing, or any kind of engagement that entails the most minimum use of decibels), and how those perfect parents always took the kids since 1 week old to fine dining restaurants and you shouldn't prevent them from this important life experience so not taking them is not an option.

And yeah, I definetely tried to include my 15 month old (at the time) in the conversation but for some reason she was not that interested 😅

canttellyouwhereorwhatido · 05/02/2024 14:50

I must have had very excellent or unusual children when mine were young as they neither needed iPads /screens or phones nor did they 'run around screaming and annoying people.' . It must have been a magic spell or perhaps some actual parenting..

doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:48

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:44

So I’m bowing out thanks to all those who did answer my question courteously and for the majority of posters is does in fact seem to be the new norm.

to this of you that got your knickers in a twist like @doilooklikeicare sorry I raised your cortisol levels!

Change username, otherwise you'll be discovered.

doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:48

@Somersetlady stop trying to defend yourself, it's not fair, the people you are judging can't defend themselves? So, I've decided based on a snapshot on here

You're a disinterested mother
You allow your children to approach strangers that are trying to holiday in peace
You spend too long on MN and phones in general
You are judgemental

That's fair isn't it?

Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:44

So I’m bowing out thanks to all those who did answer my question courteously and for the majority of posters is does in fact seem to be the new norm.

to this of you that got your knickers in a twist like @doilooklikeicare sorry I raised your cortisol levels!

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Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:42

doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:29

@Somersetlady I damn glad you do interact with children at mealtime, because the rest of the day seems taken up with you being on your bloody phone! I suppose at least if you manage it for an hour at mealtime they remember what you look like?

I'm love your defence of I haven't been on MN for ages, but now I'm on holiday with the children, I'm going to avoid parenting by being on there a lot.

How about, just leaving other parents alone, because you seem to want to explain yourself away and how you're not being on your phone too much, but willing to judge these people without giving them a chance.......

I think a username change is in order for you @doilooklikeicare because you’re still caring!

yes it’s relevant as I obviously am not on MN nonestop but you were pointing out my average post history earlier how or why you looked this up eludes me.

im simply coming back to answer people’s posts who have bothered to comment.

if I was sad enough I would go back and look at the gaps where I went swimming with the kids and read but I’m not!

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Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:37

doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:09

@Somersetlady but you weren't in the bath for the whole of this morning?

Why do I care, I don't particularly but I just want to point out your double standards and I want to judge you, like you judge others,

I want to show what a hypocrite you are.

I’m in a different time zone. I wasn’t on my phone at all this morning.

It’s a revelation how many people assume that you re on their schedule/school timetable/ country / time zone and pick holes in what you state As happening in your current location.

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Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:30

Greatscottshesgotit · 05/02/2024 13:32

Please bore off

my kids don’t leave me alone, I can’t piss in peace. Literally don’t get a minute whilst they’re awake.

dont shame me for wanting to enjoy the (very) rare treat of dinner out.

honestly, of all the things to be concerned about, kids on iPads in restaurants isn’t it.

You’re post actually made me laugh and thanks for your honesty in answering my question.

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doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:29

@Somersetlady I damn glad you do interact with children at mealtime, because the rest of the day seems taken up with you being on your bloody phone! I suppose at least if you manage it for an hour at mealtime they remember what you look like?

I'm love your defence of I haven't been on MN for ages, but now I'm on holiday with the children, I'm going to avoid parenting by being on there a lot.

How about, just leaving other parents alone, because you seem to want to explain yourself away and how you're not being on your phone too much, but willing to judge these people without giving them a chance.......

afkonholidaynearleek · 05/02/2024 14:28

In 2005 my DB took a personal DVD player with him when we went on a family holiday to a beautiful place. At the time I thought it was so depressing that he was missing out on so much being glued to his screen the whole bloody time.

Almost 20 years later I say the same thing about kids and iPads. My DNieces have iPads in the car, so can't even say goodbye to us when driving off from a family meet-up. I find it very sad seeing kids having iPads stuck in front of their noses when at restaurants. Parents don't even give them a chance.

Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:28

WmFnKdSg1234 · 05/02/2024 13:23

I too am at an all inclusive resort. What I find difficult to watch is when wee children are playing in the pool by themselves or with equally tiny (in height) siblings while their parents are either on sun loungers or on their phones.

There are no lifeguards and no kids club at this resort.

That just sounds dangerous!

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Helena7319 · 05/02/2024 14:28

Eresrose · 05/02/2024 11:28

No one is 100% “on” with their child all of the time and that’s okay. We all choose different ways of allocating our energy. We have friends that use screens when out to eat but are patient and interactive with their children in ways that I am not.

I also think that parenting has been more emotionally intense in some ways than in the past. Everything is so child focused. Sometimes people need a break and that’s okay.

What on earth are you talking about?? How has parenting become more emotionally intensive? A nonsense excuse for being a cr**py parent.

Hairspray123 · 05/02/2024 14:27

DC 9 wouldnt need an ipad and its not something Id do particularly, its not that I wouldnt allow it its just not part of our life. However when out in public DC 2.5yrs can have anything they want providing they just sit still for more than 5 minutes while we all try and eat!! We have computers ipads consoles but they are not a big part of our childrens lives and not played on. Ipads are mainly used for car longer journeys or to stop Toddler falling asleep in the car at the wrong time.

If you saw me in public you would probably judge me but in reality it rarely happens.

Helena7319 · 05/02/2024 14:24

Surroundedbyfools · 05/02/2024 14:14

oh just mind ur own business. If it bothers u don’t let ur kids do it ! Honestly ppl have so much to say. Fair enough if it’s blaring and annoying ppl but if they r quietly watching it and eating just mind ur own.

You are on a social media chat. People are sharing their opinions. If you don't like it, you are free to leave.

chickenpieandchips · 05/02/2024 14:23

What else do you do on holiday if you don't people watch for even a little bit?

MamaToABeautifulBoy · 05/02/2024 14:23

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 08:40

Thats incredibly sad.

and i don’t feel i am judging i just think it’s a sorry state of affairs for the kids🤷‍♀️

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‘And I don’t think I’m judging’

😂😂😂

doilooklikeicare · 05/02/2024 14:21

@Somersetlady oh please, take your children away from couples that are trying to holiday in peace.

Bloody annoying that is!

Their bloody mothers arguing on MN for hours , leaving others to babysit them!

Helena7319 · 05/02/2024 14:21

Ap24 · 05/02/2024 14:06

I'm pregnant with my first so no judgement on parenting here. But I'd rather have children on iPads in restaurants than have them running around or screaming.

So teach them to sit and eat properly. What do you think parents did before cell phones and ipads???

Legoninjago1 · 05/02/2024 14:20

So by your own admission you've spent the best part of the day lying on a sun lounger looking at your phone and you're now lying in the bath looking at your phone. Can you not see why people might think you're hypocritical for judging a family with toddlers who've more than likelly been interacting solidly with them for 12/13 hours straight, might want to give them an iPad for a bit so they can get a bit of peace and have some downtime of their own? Particularly in a resort where's there's no option but to take them to the restaurant to eat? Come on...!

Original poster

Somersetlady · 05/02/2024 14:19

Gowlett · 05/02/2024 12:01

Totally agree, OP. We were away recently, and my DS is a great one for chatting. Every child he approached was in j an I-Pad / tablet / phone daze & not one of them could even say hello (to me or him). It was shocking. And the parents were on their phones, as well. Same on the train there, too.

DS got friendly with all of the older folk in the hotel & even joined in the dancing with them when the live band came on. He was first in the dance floor! He’s lively & chatty, loves meeting new people. He can be a handful, too. But it would be a huge disservice to him to shove a device on his face…

It’s funny you should say that as younger DS is chatting with a lot of older couples as well!

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