Screentime is ok but....

[grey12]

I draw the line at in the playground in a sunny day

Maybe the little girl is unwell and a sibling is having fun....

Meh, considering some of the lax parenting scenarios I've witnessed in my lifetime, I can't be mad at this TBH.

I reckon OP is on the wind up. No one is really that obtuse.

'I stand by what I said.

Your kids are outdoors in a kid's playground in a sunny day: tell them that there is no phone and that they can go and play! It's perfectly fine to tell them no sometimes'

Regardless of other people's views, you are still missing the point. Why is any of this your business?

@grey12

My kids sometimes have a sh*t load of screentime. But in the park I tell them to go and play

You parent your way and let others parent their way

[quote grey12]@yourestandingonmyneck everyone draws the line somewhere, even you

It hasn't been lovely and sunny here for the past 6 weeks. It has been raining nearly every day. It has been the worst summer ever!

The parent can chat to her friend all she likes and still kick her child's butt (metaphorically) to go and play. Kids HAVE TO to play outdoors for their health. Indoors they can watch tv/phone/pad/wtv to their hearts' content[/quote]
Unlimited indoor screen time isn't good for kids at all.
Bit hypocritical of you to slag a mother off for screen time instead of playing outside, when you let your own on screens indoors.

Playing outside is healthy, but so it just sitting outside getting fresh air. And for all you know that girl could have been playing out all day in her garden before getting to the park

Maybe just mind your own business. You tell your kids to go and play, others do what they want to do.

Also, you are aware that others ‘draw the line’ way before you. Some would judge you with your kids’ ‘shitload of screen time.’ You could tell your kids no to indoor screen time and instead encourage them to read/draw/practice their times tables. But you don’t.

To be fair, you don’t know whether they’re out all the time regardless of the weather. Some parents aren’t precious about rain and just dress their children for it and crack on.

@idontlikealdi

Presumably you are on your screen and not engaging with your child op?

My children made a new friend yesterday in the playground and were having a great time! They're not little toddlers anymore so I don't need to be on top on them

@Kanaloa

Also, you are aware that others ‘draw the line’ way before you. Some would judge you with your kids’ ‘shitload of screen time.’ You could tell your kids no to indoor screen time and instead encourage them to read/draw/practice their times tables. But you don’t.

I have had PND so I said in the begging that I don't tend to judge screentime like a lot of people do. I understand sometimes parents need the electronic babysitter to be able to cope with the struggles of life.

When you are in a playground with lots of entertainment, great weather, lots of little kids then there is no need for extras. Are you also going to give them the phone in a soft play area?! In the cinema?! In the petting zoo/zoo/aquarium instead of seeing the animals?!

No one wants to draw a line? Start a petition to let your kids go to school with the phone to watch funny videos instead of listening to the teacher. Why not?

*beginning

In this instance I feel that that most irritating of MN phrases is entirely appropriate :
You do you, OP

So draw a line OP, just be aware that other people’s lines are different. My kids come and sit with me in the playground when some of the equipment is busy or they need a rest from charging about it they’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by being around kids they don’t know. This girl was having a rest.

So the 'culprit' had 2 children... One wanted to run around in the park in the heat and sun and the other, presumably, did not? So the mother made a choice to create a balance between them. Sounds like good parenting to me.....

@Somethingsnappy

So the 'culprit' had 2 children... One wanted to run around in the park in the heat and sun and the other, presumably, did not? So the mother made a choice to create a balance between them. Sounds like good parenting to me.....

There was only one child

OK, but you said the mother was chatting to her friend, so presumably there were two children to fit into the equation, even if not siblings.

@Somethingsnappy

OK, but you said the mother was chatting to her friend, so presumably there were two children to fit into the equation, even if not siblings.

I suggested it in case the mother wanted to take a sibling to play in the park while the other sibling was unwell and having a rest in the pushchair. But there was no other child with that mother

I have had PND so I said in the begging that I don't tend to judge screentime like a lot of people do. I understand sometimes parents need the electronic babysitter to be able to cope with the struggles of life.

But some people don’t use the ‘electronic babysitter.’ Some would draw the line right there and say no, why should your child be sitting on an iPad, you could be doing crafts, teaching them to do chores, encouraging personal interests.

The point is, you can’t say oh nobody should be using technology out and about, I use it all the time in the house but it’s not acceptable at the park! Maybe that family don’t use it at home. And either way, everyone draws their own personal line. I personally don’t use an ‘electronic babysitter’ at home. I don’t judge you for your kids screen time though, you’re just doing what works for you.

Yes, but presumably the friend that the mother was chatting to had her own child with her?

It’s weird how much you care about this.

I’m judging you massively for posting about this online but I’m not going to go make a thread about you myself - because that’s weird

Wow, my son was at the playground earlier and wanted to look somethings up on my phone. He was with siblings and cousins and had been playing happily but I know he is super anxious about something specific at the moment so I judged that it was best to let him look up the things and hoped he'd then feel like going back to playing. Which he did. I was chatting with my mum and sister and probably looked like a lazy arse disinterested parent from the outside - which couldn't be farther from the truth.
You have literally no idea what was going on in this mother and child's life.