Give your child a screen and the rest of us peace

[OlympicsFanGirl]

Second long train journey this weekend and yet again a whole carriage having to put up with loud, noisy, whining kids.

It's grating and it's constant and there are hours to go.

Parents just don't seem bothered.

Rest of the carriage now sharing looks, rolling eyes and sighing.

Just give them tablets and headphones and the rest of us some peace and quiet.

I wish they did adult only quiet carriages and planes, I’d pay extra 😂

@SoddingSoda

Maybe you could offer to play eye spy with the kids and see it as your community service done for the month.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 no

So you really means to write than parents should parent their children and teach them out-and-about manners. I don't think anyone would disagree with that.

It’s your problem!

Get yourself headphones and a tablet… and a hobby!

YABVU.
bring colouring books, reading books, magnetic blocks, toy cars…NOT a screen. They don’t need a screen.

In Germany they had lovely children's carriages with toys and slides etc. We were away from adults who wanted peace and the kids could play freely. It was brilliant

I agree.
I've got 3 kids, one who has SEN and before they start to annoy people we use screens, only problem is regardless of what parents do, there will be judgement from strangers.

Just editing to add, screens are part of the toolkit of keeping them amused whilst out.
Colouring books and crayons from B&m, little fidget spinners, them popper toys, their favourite soft toys, stickers, and snacks all before screens, but when all else fails, u think they have a place.
Have come in useful on long flights

These threads are all the same. Substitute train for bus, for restaurant!

I think the equilibrium here is somewhere in the middle. There are those that expect young children to be sat there like choir boys and not make a noise. Others seem to think that constant shrieking, kicking chairs, running up and down aisles is just children being children and everyone else should just suck it up.

Come on, extremists! Argue better. We accept some noise and children being children, but parents also need to parent and be mindful and respectful of other peoples comfort too. Sometimes a child might be particularly enthusiastic, or there be some neurodiversity, but even if there is noise, most passengers will sympathise with a parent trying their best to calm them. What is not ok is giving up and letting them run riot.

Got to love MN predicable and pointless 'MY children never did/had' responses. Brags...
No help at all but well done you 🤔

OP ever heard of noise cancelling headphones? Get some. The world will always have annoying, loud kids. Nowt you can do about it.

I have a tablet, headphones and hobbies.

But thanks for the awesome suggestions. 👍

Not sure how you figure that it's my problem that children who do not belong to me are spoiling the journey for an entire carriage full of people.

It's seems that none of these things have worked. Hence the first 2.5 hours of hell.

What has worked is that the parents have now finally given them screens much to everyone's relief. Let's hope the next 3 hours are better.

That sounds amazing.

This. Although tbf I'd also add dogs and their owners into that too.

I have headphones and I'm hard of hearing.

Can't speak for all the other passengers.

The nuts thing we get on Mumsnet is that there are only ever two responses to this post:

• “how dare you say children can’t be children! Let them be as noisy as they want. They’re excited”

or

• “give them the tablet as children can’t do a long journey without it”.

it’s utterly unfathomable to me that no one chooses or states the third option:

• parent your fucking kids and set expectations BEFORE getting on the train. Bring plenty of art materials, books and non smelly cold food. Make quiet games out of looking out the window. Engage eye contact with other passengers, ask if everything is ok.

I do the above!
yeah it takes more work upfront, but I never have to worry about my kids as a result

* before the “but they could have ASD, ADHD” crew comes in, none of us know what these kids have or don’t have in this story. So don’t try it with the “whataboutery”.

Oh come on. You said it's a long journey, best will in the world small children can't sit quietly for hours and hours. Get yourself some headphones and pay for the quiet carriage or first class next time. Kids have as much right to be on the train as you.

These kind of low expectations is why we are where we are today.

Realistic expectations.

"Thanks for all the saintly and holier than thou posts"
You're obviously not a parent it's hard parenting children especially when you have more than one. It's a shame they gave in because they would have eventually used their imagination to do something else that's creative. I was talking to my partner last night about this generation and the lack of imagination they have. We were spoilt in the 80's and 90's with fantastic films and music. Today's generation is plonked in front of a screen. It's a shame.

Do they have the right to jump up and down on seats, ram blinds up and down, kick chairs, run up and down the aisle and screech and whine non stop?

No where have I said they have to sit quietly.

Just not make everyone else miserable

Sorry but I firmly disagree with the "kids will be kids" line when it comes to public transport.

You take whatever needed to keep your child entertained - sticker books, colouring, small toys or screens. Children don't have the right to disrupt everyone else's lives just because they're young.

@Charlottescobweb

You're obviously not a parent it's hard parenting children especially when you have more than one

🤣 I'm a parent and I'm travelling with one of my children and I have more than one. The other is at home.

Ah, "realism". I wondered when I'd hear that.

Realism.

The excuse of those who don't want to explain why they don't bother.

"Real" bodies, "real" parenting, "real-world" child behaviour.

Excuse the grumpiness, but I think I've had a bit too much 'real' from British society of late.

Only 2 my mum managed 2 and she was a woeful parent.