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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think children shouldn't need in-car DVD players to keep them entertained on a short journey?

86 replies

undercovamutha · 08/05/2010 19:22

I know I may be sounding like an old fogey - but what's wrong with just looking out of the window and/or chatting?

If everyone starts using these contraptions, will it mark an end to the classic 'are we nearly there yet?' line? Surely kids are meant to be fed up on car journeys?

(BTW I know someone who uses one regularly for journeys of approx 30 minutes cos otherwise her DCs get bored!).

OP posts:
PatsyStone · 09/05/2010 15:56

yanbu

How little imagination must a child have if it cannot amuse itself by looking out of the window or reading for 30 minutes?

LeQueen and Janeite you speak much sense on this issue.

LeQueen · 09/05/2010 16:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notso · 09/05/2010 16:09

Hate them, my DN has had one from 6 months old.
I use other things to keep my DC amused on long journeys,
we have a motorway bag with paper pens books and story CD's on cheapo Mp3 players only for use when we hit motorway traffic,
I put it together after we were stuck in traffic for 6 on a four hour journey and we were all complaining, DH and I the most!

RedLadyBiscuit · 09/05/2010 16:10

I have just been out to lunch and the couple at the next table gave their DS a portable DVD player to watch while they were eating!

Okay, my DC weren't beautifully behaved but at least they don't feel they have to be entertained 24/7. That is only going to breed ghastly children IMO

thumbwitch · 09/05/2010 16:12

YANBU. My Ds has never had any in-car entertainment apart from me talking to him some of the time, listening to music some of the time, staring out of the window and maybe having one or two animal toys to play with (until he chucks them on the floor).

He copes well - and he coped well with the flight between Australia and England too, although he did use the video screen to watch cartoons some of the time (no sound though, refused to wear the headset). He is 2.6.

What does immensely piss me off though is that DH's new company car has rear windows that are too high for DS to see out of properly - so we go to look at the local kangaroos and he can't see them because he can't see over the bloody window sill! Seems to be part of the new "style" of some cars; along with having video screens built into the headrests or backs of the front seats.

The outside world is so much more interesting and useful for learning - and I absolutely will not buy into this "DS must be entertained every minute" rubbish.

feralgirl · 09/05/2010 16:19

I loathe them at the moment. We sang songs in the car as kids and were grateful for it! DNs have had them practically since birth and I have always sneered in private.

However there are many other things upon which I have reneged and taken the path of least resistance (e.g. co-sleeping, sugar, TV). DH is all for them and there is a strong possibility that, if DS becomes a little stinker in the car, I will just say "ah, feck it. It'll take more than a couple of in-car DVDs to turn him into an imbecile."

biddysmama · 09/05/2010 16:23

ds has aspergers and he uses his psp to watch videos cos he hates the car

Original poster
undercovamutha · 09/05/2010 16:31

LeQueen and Janeite - I do agree. Although I must admit to have taken the path of least resistance more times than I would have liked with my DCs!!!

I do understand that for very long journeys they are a godsend. I would certainly consider them for an international road-trip. But, as I have said, I really don't think they are a good idea for shorter journeys.

OP posts:
castille · 09/05/2010 16:51

Long car journeys with children are the pits. And thus I am in favour of anything that makes them less painful for everyone.

Miggsie · 09/05/2010 17:00

We use audio books.

Did the whole of Charlie and the Chocolate factory on the way to Scotland.

On short journeys we chat.

LeQueen · 09/05/2010 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

castille · 09/05/2010 17:16

They don't constantly whine and moan or behave unacceptably. But they do get very bored and fidgety on an 8-hour drive, of course they do, who doesn't?

But they would also get bored watching films for hours on end. So they watch a film, interspersed with periods of snoozing, talking, playing games etc.

They are not the work of the devil!

thumbwitch · 09/05/2010 17:16

We took DS to Scotland last year before we emigrated - he did whinge a bit after we'd been in the car for 4 hours but that was more through discomfort than boredom. Likewise when we went up to Lincoln - it turned out that he was wet through (all the water he'd been drinking) and uncomfortable, hence the last 20 minutes were pretty unpleasant with whingeing, but we didn't want to stop when we were so close to our destination. [mean mummy emoticon]

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/05/2010 17:42

Just out of interest, for those of you who use audiobooks, do you just put it on the main stereo and everyone listens? Surely with the noise of the engine it has to be turned up really loud so you can hear every word and so isn't it then a distraction for the driver?

and how long do kids listen proprerly before you turn it off for a break?

(Long car trip to Cornwall in August - avoided August in past years but can foresee huge traffic jams at that time of year so am thinking of getting a couple of audio books).

serenity · 09/05/2010 17:46

applauds castille

They're a tool. Some people will use them badly, some people won't. Not everyone who uses them will be overprotective helicopter parents spoiling their brattish children, just as not everyone who dismisses them will be lentil weaving middle class luddites.

I think most people will hit a nice respectable middle ground, and we should respect each others peoples parenting choices.

Group hug? Or I could put a DVD on?

ProfYaffle · 09/05/2010 17:55

Totally agree with Serenity.

MadamDeathstare · 09/05/2010 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janeite · 09/05/2010 18:12

to Serenity - yes, put on the DVD and crack open the Fruit Shoots. Here - have a sausage roll!

I'm sorry if I came across as judgey - I guess, it's HOW they are used, rather than that they are used at all.

janeite · 09/05/2010 18:13

Also - we only do train journeys, not car journeys - maybe makes a difference?

RedLadyBiscuit · 09/05/2010 18:17

The OP was about short journeys, not eight hour ones. I think they're brilliant on long journeys. But 45 mins in a restaurant? A child should be able to manage that surely?

MadamDeathstare · 09/05/2010 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hmc · 09/05/2010 23:46

"I don't understand why any parent would allow a 3/4/5/6 year old child to kick up a fuss in the car, and constantly whine and moan? "

Good point - I'll take a double barrel shotgun and point it at their temples when they next (justifiably) complain about a monotonous journey. Seriously though LeQueen - well done! Me - I'm glad my children have a bit of spunk and protest a bit when they are fed up (I'd prefer that they were 'spirited') rather than cower submissively on the back seat. Yes, it can be a bit tedious when they gripe but there is always the in car dvd to take the sting out of it

hmc · 09/05/2010 23:47

And God do you come across as uber smug

cory · 09/05/2010 23:59

I wonder if they would distract ds from his car sickness? Atm music seems to be the only thing that helps-tablets from pharmacy pretty useless.

hmc · 10/05/2010 00:01

A portable dvd of the type you strap to the back of the driver or front passenger seat tends to exacerbate dd's travel sickness, but the ceiling mounted dvd player we have put in(a fixed feature) seems fine. I don't know why