Do you let your DC do this?

[jcmayj]

If at the dinner table or out for a meal with family, do you let your DC watch things/play on their tablets whilst you eat?

There's no way I would let my DC do this. But they're both Neurotypical, if I had a child with SN then I'd do it if it helped them.

Three autistic boys, so yes I do.

Sometimes. Depending on fussing etc. And you don’t know the situation. But it should never be with sound on!!

3 NT children here and they don't have tablets. When we eat out we have story dice to entertain them. Eldest is 11 and now has a phone, at her birthday meal out ALL her friends were on their phones (DD was not). I'm as big a mumsnet phone addict as anyone but went out for a meal electronics are not allowed.

I spent a 12 hour overnight flight listening to the child in front of me watching Peppa Pig pretty much non stop. It became a little wearing.

If we are in a restaurant, I let my DCs (aged 2 & 3) to watch something on DD’s tablet in the time between ordering food and their food arriving. Once there’s food on the table that’s it - they are occupied with stuffing their faces, and the tablet gets put away

No but we wouldn’t eat at home with the TV on either so I certainly wouldn’t when we are out eating.

My kids wouldn't usually sit and watch something if we're out for dinner but if they did they always have headphones with them. 🙄

I wouldn't have a problem if kids on another table were watching something without headphones though.

I try not to stress too much about how other people raise their children. I don’t judge other parents for using screens in restaurants, maybe the parent wanted 10 minutes peace

This. And the sound of a tablet doesn't really bother me any more than the sound of people talking. If I want a silent meal I eat at home.

Ds has a tablet at the table whilst I’m cooking but only to keep him occupied so I can actually cook safely! Soon as dinners ready it’s taken off of him (he’s almost 2 so at that ‘not old enough to be left unsupervised but wants to be involved in everything’ stage)
I wouldn’t do it in a restaurant as he’d have me to distract him whilst we’re waiting.

No. On Friday and Saturday nights we'll have dinner in front of the TV but he won't have electronics with him otherwise.

Never did it with dd. We used to take aqua draw and things like that to entertain her. I can imagine it’s more difficult with several children.

No, they weren't a thing with first two and with the last we didn't even buy one, as not necessary.
I just used to talk to them, communicate and preferred time together over screens.

I don't, but I'm lucky, my kids eat anything and happily, so they enjoy eating out. If they were bored, unhappy or struggling then yeah I'd sort them out an activity if it was the difference between going out occasionally and not at all.

Yes I don’t have a problem with it at all .

My son has autism adhd and LD . It’s extremely hard going out for food and if using the IPad or his Nintendo ds ( on a quiet volume ) helped make this more possible then I would do this .

Colouring before meal, nothing during, then if they've been good during the meal we have a tablet and headphones they can use so the grown ups can relax and chat a bit. Only for meals out, no tv at home during meals. Ours are very young so have no patience at a restaurant if there's nowhere to play and are waiting or if the adults are still eating or talking so I love our kindle for that

I don't like it, but I do allow my 3yr old to have the tablet whilst we wait for our food to arrive but she is only allowed to play Cbeebies apps with the sound very low. It goes away when our food arrives & she knows that. We do try to entertain her with various colouring, I spy games etc before we get the tablet out but tbh, sometimes we are just grateful of a few minutes quiet 🙈

I don’t but I don’t mind if other people do, so long as they had headphones on/were playing a game on silent.

At home no, meal times we try and chat about our days, though we do sometimes eat in front of the telly especially at weekends.

In a restaurant or pub yes, not before or during the meal but afterwards so the adults can have a chat. No sound though or headphones if we have them.

If there is coloring stuff available that is often used too.

No way and it's the one thing that properly annoys me if I'm eating out and I can hear a blaring cartoon. I've asked plenty of people (politely) if they'd turn the devices down, they all have, they're just oblivious.

Additional needs aside (my child has one and I can usually spot others a mile off) I see it as a cop out, talk, play eye spy, colour in, interact! We're going to end up with teenagers and adults with zero ability to wait any length of time without a screen.

DS's are 7 and 3, they are not allowed screens when out, or if we're all sitting down for dinner. At home in the week on the nights where we all get in at 5.30 and they have a quick dinner they do watch TV together at the same time - it's part of their wind down time.

As a general rule, no. It isn't an absolutely hard and fast rule though because if we are debating something and don't know the answer for sure then we might Google it.

I can also see the point regarding SN children as having something to watch helps them to keep occupied and to cope.

Yes when we're out (with headphones) so we and other diners can enjoy a meal in peace. No at home.

DS has his iPad with headphones if we are eating as as he has SEN and is more comfortable that way.

At home he doesn’t need the security blanket of the iPad and will chat away at the dinner table.