"Ipad Kid" ??

[Becc91]

Worried I'm going to be grilled for this 🙈... But has anyone else noticed that whenever you go out to eat there always seems to be a sticky toddler with an i pad?!
After seeing this for a 3rd time this week , complete with spaghetti hoops on the screen , a nasty cough and vacant parents who could care less - one of whom was ON THEIR PHONE 😱 i made what I thought was a reasonable request

to turn off the loud video of dancing fruits , only to be looked at like I'd grown a 3rd head?!?! DS (19) typically embarrassed- says I was out of order , but I just can't understand the laziness of it all.Is it just me?😲

Agree! Headphones or no sound. I despise entitled parents who think they have an ‘excuse’ that their kids comfort trumps everyone else’s. I will ask adults to turn it down too, so bloody rude.

We had pizza hut too, but I don't really remember going so I don't think it was a thing for us. I guess my point is, I feel people are much more tolerant these day towards kids, because when I was a kid you were expected to be well behaved and if you weren't you'd know about it. Although my memories are of being older, say 7+

@DefinitelyMaybe92 I'm all for teaching kids how to behave in public. Defo. And parents - good parents - have always done this, since long before the age of electric gizmos.

It usually is because kids seem to completely be zoned out, head in the screen and headphones on. I totally get it if parents want the occasional uninterrupted dinner, but I suspect with most it's a usual thing, especially since they usually have their own kids ipad.

Every single one of my friends has at some point used an ipad at a meal. All these dc are capable of decent conversation, interested in their surrounds etc. My dc have their own ipads, it was essential during lockdown to facilitate schooling & now a lot of their homework is done on apps.

I personally dislike how much technology dominates everything, and have concerns about the impacts on children (who have not yet learnt the art of eye contact and conversation) in particular.

I much prefer the vibe in Greek restaurants, where neighbouring tables actually chat to each other and the staff interact far more, not a phone in sight, it was wonderful.

I love children, and would actually prefer a child to pop over to our table to chat to my children/certainly play with them in a pub restaurant garden. I love and prefer real life interactions.

I also think it is a huge shame more eateries don’t have an indoor/outdoor play area for children- I remember far more having them as a child, and this is a loss for families in my opinion.

I do appreciate some parents use iPads them to prevent their children disturbing others with noise, which is considerate, but there are loads of alternatives- books (remember those? 😂), colouring books, sticker books, small IQ test puzzles, etc.

Chatting, playing and reading with your child is ‘performance parenting’?? WTF!

I guess my point is, I feel people are much more tolerant these day towards kids, because when I was a kid you were expected to be well behaved and if you weren't you'd know about it. Although my memories are of being older, say 7+

We will have to agree to disagree, I think society is less tolerant of dc (there are a lot less of them for a start) & things I did as a dc eg playing out would be frowned upon now as parents are expected to supervise everything.

You don't really need to learn that as a toddler, you can learn that once you're much older. By the time you're 7 or 8 you should know how to behave at a restaurant even if you've never been before 🤨

You must have a far more placid toddler than me, mine wouldn’t be able to sit quietly in a high chair for 90 minutes without something to look at - even if just a couple of trains to drive around.

I much prefer the vibe in Greek restaurants, where neighbouring tables actually chat to each other and the staff interact far more, not a phone in sight, it was wonderful.

As a European so do I, so many restaurants even McDonalds in Europe have play areas or a green for dc to play out whilst parents eat. Pubs used to have that when I was young but so many have closed now.

I don’t disagree with you - I think it’s really important to be without screens. I do just wish people wouldn’t judge parents so much by expecting that their children be completely silent with immaculate etiquette from the womb, therefore pressuring them into taking the “easy way out” if their child does fuss by plonking them in front of a screen to keep them quiet.

By the time you're 7 or 8 you should know how to behave at a restaurant even if you've never been before

Strange how so many adults haven't learned this yet!

I agree kids were less supervised then for sure, but I think they were probably better behaved and parents were open to feedback from others to also keep them in check

I, personally, don’t agree with this at all. They need to start learning these things from a young age. Do you apply the same logic to reading and writing?

I dont think anyone is exoecting children to be completely silent or immaculate. I think theyvexpect parents to make sure their kids are not running around the restaurant or beng too disruptive.

We take our toddler out quite a bit with colouring books and such. But when she gets a bit bored or noisy we also take it in turns to take her for a walk outside. Its considerate to other diners. But noone has ever expected her to sit still quietly.

It seems there's no need for anyone to be concerned about the damaging effects of kids being given a screen, as the ones we see watching Peppa Pig on high volume have invisible disabilities and/or are only on them for 30 minutes a day, when they're suffering from stress, for example having to sit with their family waiting for food to arrive, sitting in a trolley at a supermarket, sitting in a car/bus/sofa at home.

And the offended parents on this thread only resort to them when they're exhausted by parenting, not to help them ignore their kids.

@DefinitelyMaybe92 yes I remember perfectly well how hard it is getting through meal times in public..My objection is really against giving electronics to really young children, even for limited periods..But we shall see . We've got nearly a generation who have gone through access to these devices. The guinea pig generation. I'm sure there are pro's and con's.

But then 99% of the adults on the bus seem to be looking down at their 'phone too so...

Quite. At a cafe with 1 dc yesterday having a cake & tea. My phone had died so no screen access for either of us. The cafe was full of adults often together on their phones...

That makes zero sense. A kid on an ipad is not learning how to behave anywhere

You might not, but sadly I think there are plenty of people about who do! Look at the eg from a PP here whose child was simply naming items on the tube and they were met with sighs/eye rolls.

but I think they were probably better behaved and parents were open to feedback from others to also keep them in check

Not sure they were better behaved, the accident rate for one was far higher than today.

💯 be a kid, don't be a disruptive brat. Surely not too much to ask 🙃

Have you read my posts? I’m an advocate for NOT using iPads. I’m just saying that sadly I think some parents jump to that as an “easy” option to keep their child completely zoned out and therefore avoid judgement if their child is being a bit chatty, fussy etc.

It’s one of the reasons we often end up at the Harvester rather than other restaurants when with my 3 year old. They can choose from salad bar almost immediately and then when they’re finished that, their main is usually ready so not too much waiting about!

I did wonder if those in other countries use smart devices for their DC when eating out.

Is it as common as in the UK.

I haven't been abroad for 5 years, previously most years and loved the way when out at eateries families/people would be chatting and laughing, children included.
Never saw a device in sight for adult or DC.