3DC on the plane- row in front of us or row beside us?

[brexitdontfuckupmyholiday]

They will be plugged into electronic devices and are generally quite amenable in public.

Why can't one parent site with two children and the other parent sit with the other child?

Sit*

Depends how old they are?

How old?

Beside - it’s easier to check on them and pass things along

How old?

I'd say row behind (so you can be aware of seat kicking immediately, and others don't have to suffer it!). One of you in the aisle seat. And be prepared to shuffle round if required.

I’d do parent and child in one row, then other parent and two children in front or behind.

Yep - one parent with 2 in a 3 row. One parent with another in a 3 row - middle and aisle or Middle and window.

Swap parent with 2/parent with 1 on return flight.

They've asked to sit together! We will definitely be deploying the you're-in-public-glare or moving seats if necessary.

Two are 6 and one is 8. I feel it's slightly easier to watch them from the side.

You have to an adult on each row, so probably won’t be able to sit them all together for take off and landing. You might be able to swap in between times.

Personally I’d go for a row behind/in front so it’s easier to pass things to each other but also put the kids behind you so that if they’re kicking seats/being annoying, you’re the ones being affected and you can easily get their attention.

Definitely next to you if you have to, but I don’t think it’s a great idea.
You won’t be allowed to move them while the seatbelt signs are on.
I would hope they won’t let you sit them all together.

You have to an adult on each row

Oh do you?! Hmmm.

I strangely don't like the idea of them being behind me!

We normally do a line child parent child parent with DH across aisle. With three I would put 3rd child with DH. I would do 5 in a row first choice, second choice parents behind with one aisle seat so easy access.

You need an adult with them in case of emergency. The crew might overlook it in flight, but even then if there is an emergency you won't have time to be moving about to help them. It also hinders a safe emergency exit, as you'll be reaching across etc to your children rather than moving straight to the exits.

5 in 1 row with adults in the aisle seats so you can chat.

I thought from the airlines point of view, you had to have an adult in an adjacent seat, but that could be same row, across the aisle, directly in front or behind. I've seen threads on here where parents who haven't prebooked seats have been annoyed when their child has been allocated a seat in front or behind them, but the airline has said that the parent is sitting with the child according to their policy.
Maybe check the airline website as each one might have different policies.

Def 5 in a row - you can see them much better.

In front. Far easier to threaten them keep an eye on them than calling across an aisle.

Five in a row, adult, child, child, aisle, child, adult. Meets all your criteria. Children are all next to each other (albeit with an aisle in the middle) and all children are adequately supervised. Easy to pass things along, and no non family members are disturbed if children want to go to the look, change seats etc.

We've gone for beside each other. If we're not allowed, we're not allowed.

I would have gone in front. Our dc 10 often sit by themselves. They are going to start flying transatlantic by themselves this year.

At that age I’d put an adult on each row.

I strangely don't like the idea of them being behind me!
That suggests to me that you know they are kickers.

Behind, I hate seat kickers and do say something if it happens frequently.