"Ipad Kid" ??

I, personally, don’t agree with this at all. They need to start learning these things from a young age. Do you apply the same logic to reading and writing?

I agree kids were less supervised then for sure, but I think they were probably better behaved and parents were open to feedback from others to also keep them in check

By the time you're 7 or 8 you should know how to behave at a restaurant even if you've never been before

Strange how so many adults haven't learned this yet!

I don’t disagree with you - I think it’s really important to be without screens. I do just wish people wouldn’t judge parents so much by expecting that their children be completely silent with immaculate etiquette from the womb, therefore pressuring them into taking the “easy way out” if their child does fuss by plonking them in front of a screen to keep them quiet.

I much prefer the vibe in Greek restaurants, where neighbouring tables actually chat to each other and the staff interact far more, not a phone in sight, it was wonderful.

As a European so do I, so many restaurants even McDonalds in Europe have play areas or a green for dc to play out whilst parents eat. Pubs used to have that when I was young but so many have closed now.

You must have a far more placid toddler than me, mine wouldn’t be able to sit quietly in a high chair for 90 minutes without something to look at - even if just a couple of trains to drive around.

You don't really need to learn that as a toddler, you can learn that once you're much older. By the time you're 7 or 8 you should know how to behave at a restaurant even if you've never been before 🤨

I guess my point is, I feel people are much more tolerant these day towards kids, because when I was a kid you were expected to be well behaved and if you weren't you'd know about it. Although my memories are of being older, say 7+

We will have to agree to disagree, I think society is less tolerant of dc (there are a lot less of them for a start) & things I did as a dc eg playing out would be frowned upon now as parents are expected to supervise everything.

Chatting, playing and reading with your child is ‘performance parenting’?? WTF!

I personally dislike how much technology dominates everything, and have concerns about the impacts on children (who have not yet learnt the art of eye contact and conversation) in particular.

I much prefer the vibe in Greek restaurants, where neighbouring tables actually chat to each other and the staff interact far more, not a phone in sight, it was wonderful.

I love children, and would actually prefer a child to pop over to our table to chat to my children/certainly play with them in a pub restaurant garden. I love and prefer real life interactions.

I also think it is a huge shame more eateries don’t have an indoor/outdoor play area for children- I remember far more having them as a child, and this is a loss for families in my opinion.

I do appreciate some parents use iPads them to prevent their children disturbing others with noise, which is considerate, but there are loads of alternatives- books (remember those? 😂), colouring books, sticker books, small IQ test puzzles, etc.

It usually is because kids seem to completely be zoned out, head in the screen and headphones on. I totally get it if parents want the occasional uninterrupted dinner, but I suspect with most it's a usual thing, especially since they usually have their own kids ipad.

Every single one of my friends has at some point used an ipad at a meal. All these dc are capable of decent conversation, interested in their surrounds etc. My dc have their own ipads, it was essential during lockdown to facilitate schooling & now a lot of their homework is done on apps.

@DefinitelyMaybe92 I'm all for teaching kids how to behave in public. Defo. And parents - good parents - have always done this, since long before the age of electric gizmos.

We had pizza hut too, but I don't really remember going so I don't think it was a thing for us. I guess my point is, I feel people are much more tolerant these day towards kids, because when I was a kid you were expected to be well behaved and if you weren't you'd know about it. Although my memories are of being older, say 7+

Agree! Headphones or no sound. I despise entitled parents who think they have an ‘excuse’ that their kids comfort trumps everyone else’s. I will ask adults to turn it down too, so bloody rude.

Totally agree? The poster I was replying to talked about them “disturbing” others, not specifically on an iPad.

It usually is because kids seem to completely be zoned out, head in the screen and headphones on. I totally get it if parents want the occasional uninterrupted dinner, but I suspect with most it's a usual thing, especially since they usually have their own kids ipad.

I see parents who can't even get through a 5 minute bus ride without handing a kid an iPad or 'phone.

But then 99% of the adults on the bus seem to be looking down at their 'phone too so...

But they need to learn how to function in society?

Which is never going to happen if/when glued to a smart device.

Also, quite likely the addiction of overstimulation. No child needs an iPad to be entertained. They’re a very new invention.

I think @SallySue87 is currently busy charging up the iPad ready for Easter lunch at the pub, so her son can enjoy his jacket potato at his leisure with whatever the hell that iPad fruit game was called 🤣.

If the persistent electronic ‘music’ was disturbing you in a cafe, there’s no problem in politely asking the parent to turn off/down the sound. If you asked impolitely or in a judgy way, that was unacceptable.

I agree with you that toddlers shouldn’t be given iPads or phones to play with. It’s likely to overstimulate them or get them used to instant gratification. Looking at a book or playing with them (e.g. ‘one potato, two potato’) is preferable. It’s important to talk and interact with young children to aid healthy development.

Then stay home. You don't get to disrupt everyone else and expect them to just tolerate your rudeness.

But they need to learn how to function in society? They’re not born knowing how to exist in a restaurant in line with our cultural norms and expectations and not “disturb” people. They need to absorb and to do that they do need to be involved. If parents let them get into their late childhood/early teens without learning these important skills people would, rightfully, condemn them. So I don’t think the solution is to just leave them at home at every given opportunity. This is exactly what I mean by my previous post - people are so intolerant of children these days.

😂😂😂 tell me you’re “that kind of parent” without telling me…

I get it but what if other people also want to enjoy their meal and don't want to be bombarded with tv nonsense? Why not use headphones? Win win. Your kid stays quiet, other people get to enjoy their meal?