What is going on with parenting these days?

[whocaresaboutbeingpopular]

Ok, so as my name change suggests I am aware this won’t be popular. My children are almost adults, youngest is 17 this year.

me and OH are away this weekend, we went to a place that to be fair we were aware would be full of kids; but we didn’t think that would matter as we don’t dislike having children around, however, since when did it become a thing to….

put your kids in front of a screen when they are having a meal? Not to mention having full volume of Peppa Fucking Pig?

let your kids shriek at high pitch continuously?

let your 18 month old walk themselves down the stairs despite a massive queue of people behind t? Ffs pick them up!

yes, no doubt I sound a right miserable bastard, but come on - is this how people are raising their kids these day? Bring on the entitled generation.

@ShirleyPhallus

Children are like farts, you can only tolerate your own
Thank you for making me 😃 laugh
**

I guess the parents probably have the iPads there to stop the children making any noise. Wouldn’t want the snooty lady in the corner tutting now, would we?

I mean just check out the number of threads on here querying SEN because their child is hyperactive/difficult in some way, it’s easy to make the link unless you really don’t want to see it.

I have three children - all 3 and under. We eat out regularly, do not require iPads- don't even own one.... please don't tar Everest in with the same brush......as an aside - if it keeps them quiet, I would let them have one 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have 3, including one who is definitely ND (full-on ASD and MLD). I don't see why colouring books or I-Things WITH earphones could be an issue anywhere. Even in church... not ideal, but if no babysitter and no noise, no problem.

Making noise is obviously not ok. If a child is not able to wear earphones they are not able to be in the restaurant/theatre/bus/plane. End of. Yes, I missed years of restaurants/theatres/etc because of this.

But what gets my goat is the adults on London buses. You MAY NOT have a Zoom call in a public place. You MAY NOT put your phone in your lap and on speaker or earphones/earbuds for a conversation at top volume. I really need TfL to put up signs about this but the buses and trains are so full of other reminders such as "No feet on seats," "No smelly food," and "Please offer this seat to those who need it" that there's no room.

It's not the kids, it's the adults who don't know how to behave.

What do you care? Not your children.

Do we all know that? Or are you just talking absolute bollocks?

let your 18 month old walk themselves down the stairs despite a massive queue of people behind t? Ffs pick them up!

The child was probably older.

My DD still walks slowly down the bloody stairs at 4.

At 2.5 when she would insist on walking up and down stairs I use to shove her to one side. Cue tantrums similar to what would happen if I picked her up.So people behind can't get anywhere any way.

Horrible comment, the ageism (not that we even know how old you are OP you could be late 30’s with adult children) is shocking.

Well I'm nearly 16 years in and whatever else I'd say about my children, they have generally always been really good and good company in restaurants without the aid of screens. Colouring and maybe a book when much younger but even that was only up til 5 or 6. I hate this 'just you wait' crap. A person can have standards and boundaries and mostly stick to them throughout the parenting journey. Ultimately, it's up to parents to set the tone. When they do, it mostly (though not always) yields results.

Jesus the ableism is just offensive now.

How do you account for children with SEN who don’t use tablets or whose childhood predated tablets?

Seriously I’d have more respect if, like others, you just admitted you’re judgemental.

Oh boo hoo I’m not kind - I’ve bought up five children - and all of them know how to sit and have a meal in a restaurant without having their face in a screen - and know jerk to respect people around them, I can be kind and like children, I can also say parenting has gone to shit - you don’t like it - sorry, not sorry

The "manners" you talk of are not just niceties, they are the reflection of consideration for each other in society.

Sitting at a table with a child on a tablet, is on one level saying to them they aren't interesting to be engaged with.

It also reinforces that the interaction over meals isn't important.

Having a distraction at the table takes away the importance of eating and not mindlessly putting food in your mouth.

Having a chat and interaction with your DC is building a relationship and setting up a social premise for the future.

A tablet is a poor option and will create further problems in the future.

Read about language and behaviour acquisition and the tablet will be put away.
Nothing beats interaction and language.

If there’s a clear link between environmental factors and poor behaviour or cognitive skills in children, shouldn’t that be eliminated as a first response rather than a diagnosis? How is that ableist?

Isn’t the real question here- why did you go to a place where lots of children would be? If it’s just the two of you these days, please go somewhere lovely and grown up, where you can comment on the behaviour of adults who should know better, rather than children whose parents are probably trying their best to get through a shit-show of a meal whilst wishing they were somewhere lovely and grown up.

Ignore that comment. You are completely right. We have children coming to school with so many issues, very little ability to take part in social activities, don't understand the word no, not able to retain any information from lessons and still people are arguing that screens/youtube are not an issue.

We all know where this comes from. If my child can't sit in a restraunt they don't go to one. They go where there is a pub garden and chips! Too many people are desperate to defend their choices though. Its not getting any better.

My kids have tablets in restaurants (which we go to a few times a year) but we also go to church once a week. No tablets there, they have to listen to the rev. But they’ll grow up saying “ugg ugg” instead of actual words, will probably walk around climbing on top of cars and other humans and swing their arms around as they hunch instead of proper walking 🤣

There IS a problem With all humans in that public behaviour has demised post-COVID but to single out children and tablets as the focal problem or the catalyst is spectacularly stupid and short sighted

You are missing the point. I went somewhere I wanted to go, I knew there would be children - I don’t avoid children, I don’t dislike them - I work in a child related role - what I didn’t bargain for was how bad parenting has become, that is what I am commenting on

👌😂

It wasn’t a restaurant - it was an attraction - which had a cafe.

You don’t really sound very kind OP. You’ve been quite insulting to people, and there was only one person who has really been rude to you (the ageist person).

Then those kids grown up feeling entitled to walk down the street or sit on the train with their music blaring out loud.

Lets face it its noticeable how much their has been a decline in general courteous behaviour in social or public settings. And of course some parents don't parent and just let their kids get away with it.

Why thank you - what happened to being kind. They don’t actually, I have pretty good relationships with them all, probably may not turn out like that for you and your screen obsessed daughter.