Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children watching Peppa Pig on phones in restaurant

740 replies

SilverLeafClover · 12/04/2017 11:01

We went for lunch with friends yesterday at the Fifteen restaurant near Newquay. I only mention the place because it has an amazing view of the beach and the sea, which made it all the more surprising that as soon as we sat down, my friend and her husband handed their children (both NT, aged 4 and 6) two phones. For the duration of the meal, the children sat zombie-like and watched Peppa Pig on the screens.

I will admit, I judged.

The parents did not speak to their children and the children were just glued to the screens. My three children aged 8, 5, 3 are not angels but managed to sit through a short meal (main course and then ice cream, no staters, no coffees) without needing screens. I talked to my adult friends and kept an eye on my children, pointing out stuff that was happening outside, large boats passing by, surfers, dogs etc.

Am I am a Luddite? Or am I right to think unlimited access to screens during a meal out is not right?

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 12/04/2017 22:32

Cheaper poo troll.

TheRealPooTroll · 12/04/2017 22:35

How lovely for the kids to know they have to sit there and shut up because the only reason they're actually there is because their parents are too tight to pay for a babysitter!

Kiwiinkits · 12/04/2017 22:39

YANBU OP, screen time at a restaurant is teaching very poor communication skills. I entirely agree with your sentiment.

arethereanyleftatall · 12/04/2017 22:40

Lol, that's a negative way of looking at it. Or, they could enjoy it too, my dc love a pizza and a fancy ice cream and a bit of colouring, and chatting to their friends at the kid end of the table.

TheRealPooTroll · 12/04/2017 22:46

Well it might be enjoyable if they have friends to chat to. But if not and they're just sat there like a spare part because it's 'adult time' and not a time for boring id conversation then it would be kinder to get a sitter.

arethereanyleftatall · 12/04/2017 22:48

Indeed it would.

supermoon100 · 12/04/2017 22:52

I completely agree with op. It's horrible and sad. At least with colouring in, the kids have some interaction with the world around them.

multivac · 12/04/2017 23:03

WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDRENNNNN?

supermoon100 · 12/04/2017 23:09

Yep, we are! those very same children who are going to grow up to be tosser adults with crap communication skills

Itaintme · 12/04/2017 23:11

So many Sad faces for the children who get to watch peppa instead of colouring in.

TheRealPooTroll · 12/04/2017 23:13

Lucky them! Sitting in silence watching Peppa with no sound - completely oblivious to the world around them and ignored by their parents. What a life!

multivac · 12/04/2017 23:13

Yup. They're doomed. Poor sods. They may never grasp how to fling around hyperbole on a public internet forum...

AliTheMinx · 12/04/2017 23:16

I absolutely agree with the OP. We eat out with our 5 year old son quite often and he has never been allowed to use a phone/tablet in a restaurant (he does use them at home under supervision - but not at mealtimes!). I'm not even sure he realises my phone is capable of showing programmes when we're out. For us, it's precious family time - we talk about lots of things, look out of the window and sometimes we take a puzzle book or colouring, which we help him with. It wouldn't occur to me to stick him in front of a phone whilst out - especially if there are other children present to engage with. I have friends/family members who do this and I do find it rather odd.

Itaintme · 12/04/2017 23:16

They will probably grow up to spend hours posting on internet forums...

Itaintme · 12/04/2017 23:20

This thread would be great for the DM. Just think of all the Sad face pictures they could have.

supermoon100 · 12/04/2017 23:22

Watching Peppa pig is a gateway drug to mumsnet! Love it 😅

TuftyFinchy · 12/04/2017 23:45

Allowing children to have 'screens'. Lazy parenting. It's a sad and depressing reflection on our society.
I am on holiday with 2 children and a dog, we've eaten out a lot because it's my holiday too and I don't want to cook. My children have managed 4 days of sitting in restaurants without staring at s screen. I couldn't even consider bringing a 'screen' out with us. In one restaurant a family of 8 came in, were seated. They were ranged in age from 4-80 and every single one of them brought out done kind of device to stare at. They didn't talk to each other at all. Their meals were brought over, no one acknowledged or said 'thank you' and they all are their meal whilst staring at a screen.
If that's how the modern world is then it's very fucking sad. Children don't need screens or colouring or constantly entertaining. They need parenting, interaction and love and affection and being told off if they're behaving inappropriately.
I'm not perfect by any means but if my children can't behave nicely in a restaurant we leave.
More and more people let their kids stare at screens because they want 'adult time' well how about maybe not being so selfish and try and raise your children to be sociable and knowing how to behave in a restaurant? Or wait until your kids are in bed to have 'adult time'?
I absolutely hate seeing kids staring at screens in a restaurant, I don't understand it. Teach your children to behave? Talk to them? Play ispy? Noughts and crosses? It's not difficult.

multivac · 12/04/2017 23:46

WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE DOOOOOOOGGGGGGGG?!

TuftyFinchy · 12/04/2017 23:49

I had to sneak the dog into an Italian restaurant tonight. He had to hide under the table - he didn't need to stare at a screen to behave though. I've just brought him up well.

multivac · 12/04/2017 23:51

You took a dog into a restaurant that doesn't allow dogs?

Classy.

abcBears · 12/04/2017 23:52

I had to sneak the dog into an Italian restaurant tonight

I very sincerely hope you are joking and I've missed something on this thread about your dog.

TuftyFinchy · 12/04/2017 23:57

Jesus Christ.
The owner of the restaurant said we could sneak the dog in.
Single parent, 2 children,1 dog. No screens to stare at.
It was difficult to Fonda restaurant to accommodate us all. The owner of the restaurant said to sneak the dog in and let it sit under the table.
The dog sat quietly under the table in an empty restaurant.
Do you want me to add the address so that you can report the restaurant? They. Were. Being. Kind.and. Accomodating. Human.

WankingMonkey · 13/04/2017 02:50

Last time we took the dog to a resturant it turned out he had snuck DDs tablet into my handbag. Sneaky bastard then gave it to her as soon as she sat down. Shocking. I thought we had trained him better than that but turns out he is the spawn of satan and was just hiding it.

I find it so hard to believe that not a word was spoken from these kids. Did they point blank ignore you/your children when you attempted to engage them? Did they say hello? How did they order food? Did they not ask for ice cream afterwards? Did they not give a shit about the large ferry transporting cocaine to Maui? Etc Confused

Spikeyball · 13/04/2017 06:30

Tufty, some people need things to cope with being in busy (or just different) places. The alternative can be great distress for those people. Acknowledging that is being kind and human.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 13/04/2017 06:46

Tufty you'd love our local village pub.

It allows dogs. No dog smuggling needed! Grin