Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

One day we went out to breakfast and a family came in and the daughter was probably around 10 on an ipad and it was SOOO distracting. She was blasting horrible music. My husband and I were right behind them and couldn't believe it. The mom and daughter were playing videos on the ipad and blasting music on the ipod. The girl had headphones too which made us even more confused. It was SOOO LOUD! So rude.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Every kid is different, and I don't care if they are sitting with ipads or not.

We rarely go out to eat, maybe once every 2 months. We have 2 and 3 yo boys, they hate sitting still. I pull out my iPhone, or any toy I can get my hands on to keep them in their seats. Quiet? No way. they are both very Loud, active, and stubborn!

Both kids play with my iPad at home, but we never take it out of the house.

For those w calm well behaved children, lucky you!

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

It doesn't bother me what other people do especially if it helps their children behave. We've been going out to restaurants, both fancy and child friendly, with DS since he was a newborn. He's extremely well behaved. If he wasn't, we wouldn't be going out very often. I've only had to walk out of a restaurant once. He was overtired and we only had to leave for a few minutes. Normally, he's content with small toys, crayons and/or books. We've never brought a leappad out with us. Sometimes he asks to play letter and number games on DH's blackberry, which we don't mind giving to him for a short period while we wait for our food.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

we dont. my kids are 5 1/2, 3 and 3.

i dont care that other people do it but since they were young we have always gone out to dinner and never given them something electronic to play with. and they are pretty well behaved in restaurants but if they act up they get taken outside to calm down.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by NervousNell

While I wouldn't give my 2 year old an IPad because it is way too expensive an item for her to possibly break, you better believe I will do ANYTHING in a restaurant to keep her quiet and distracted.
Anything.
She is too young for polite dinner conversation and "how was your day"s
So I bring a small video player, toys, books, crayons, or let her watch videos on our phones.
If not she'd be a screaming mess at dinner and NOBODY wants that.

If she was older, I can see what everyone is saying about it not being the best idea. At 2 years old, all bets are off!

And on the flip side- as a diner- I don't care WHAT you give your kid to keep them quiet- I'd prefer they were quiet and distracted than screaming and interupting my meal.
So I would never say- OH BOY, look at that kid with an IPad at the table- I'd say, thank God that child is nice and quiet!

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

First, I am jealous you all have an iPad, LOL!!!

My twins have the leap pad things and I never bring them with me the few times we go out. I just never thought to. hmmm....not a bad idea, though......

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

My kids age 5 and 3 are generally well behaved at restaurants. We go out to eat with the kids onceva week. We have taken therm out nice they were babies and always refused to walk them around the restaurant etc. We don't o to chain restaurants so usually there aren't any activities to keep them occupied supplied by the restaurant. We usually try to engage them etc.

However, sometimes if doesn't work, or they are cranky, or the food is taking too long, or DH and I are exhausted and just want to chat and drink our wine and during those times I will gladly hand over our phones (we don't br ing our iPads out). Nobody wants to hear my kids and honestly, when I am out with DH I don't want to hear anyone's kids

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

We don't own an ipad, but I don't see an issue with it. It's just the same as giving a child a coloring book and crayons, which we do. My oldest(12) is always on her ipod touch playing games, which when it's time to eat we tell her to put it away, or if we are out with extended family friends.

I don't really see the big deal with allowing your child to do a quiet activity while your out eating.

My children are usually well behaved regardless, but having something else there to keep them occupied when they're sitting waiting for food or while they're full and they are waiting for you to finish, i think is perfectly acceptable.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

personally we also give dd the ipad when we are out to eat. It helps to keep her in her seat so DH and I can talk and actually finish our meal.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by JennZ

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by summertime

Posted by maymama

Posted by headoverheels

I do it as a courtesy to others enjoying their meal. I do it to keep my sanity. I don't give a f*ck what you do with your kid, and I could not give two sh*ts if you care what I do with mine

you said what I wanted to, just with much more poise and eloquence

Exactly. I love the people who say... no never, my kids know how to behave... haha

Why is it so hard to believe that some parents don't ever allow it or that some kids actually are very well behaved?



I don't allow it..........ever.

And yes, my DD is very well behaved.

You're having a boy right? Come back in 2 yrs and let me know how the monkey is doing. Because I'm sure by then you'll be pulling colored tissues out if your ass trying to get him to sit still and not climb the booth next to you.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by JennZ

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by summertime

Posted by maymama

Posted by headoverheels

I do it as a courtesy to others enjoying their meal. I do it to keep my sanity. I don't give a f*ck what you do with your kid, and I could not give two sh*ts if you care what I do with mine

you said what I wanted to, just with much more poise and eloquence

Exactly. I love the people who say... no never, my kids know how to behave... haha

Why is it so hard to believe that some parents don't ever allow it or that some kids actually are very well behaved?



I don't allow it..........ever.

And yes, my DD is very well behaved.

You're having a boy right? Come back in 2 yrs and let me know how the monkey is doing. Because I'm sure by then you'll be pulling colored tissues out if your ass trying to get him to sit still and not climb the booth next to you.

Actually, I don't know what I am having. But rest assured, if I have a boy I will manage just fine. I am confident in my parenting skills and I am sure I will be able to handle my little "monkey".

Message edited 10/17/2012 1:30:46 PM.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

I think sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to enjoy a meal out. also to allow the person next to you to enjoy their meal out. some families it may only take a box of crayons, others a book, others an ipad.

I dont like anyone having technology at the table...husband,wife, teenager. makes me crazy. I think as a society we are wayy to connected. Instead of connecting with the people we are with at that time.

a wife on facebook out to dinner with her husband annoys me way more than a toddler playing with an ipad. JMO

a table full of adults all looking at their phones always makes me laugh...what did you get together for if the internet is more interesting

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by computergirl

Posted by Goobster

I am tired of always having to be a drill sergeant so I will gladly reward myself with the iphone as relief the two times a month I go out to eat.

I personally prefer to reward myself with a chocolate martini and let my DH color with the kids

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by HoneymoonBaby

Posted by NervousNell

While I wouldn't give my 2 year old an IPad because it is way too expensive an item for her to possibly break, you better believe I will do ANYTHING in a restaurant to keep her quiet and distracted.
Anything.
She is too young for polite dinner conversation and "how was your day"s
So I bring a small video player, toys, books, crayons, or let her watch videos on our phones.
If not she'd be a screaming mess at dinner and NOBODY wants that.

If she was older, I can see what everyone is saying about it not being the best idea. At 2 years old, all bets are off!

And on the flip side- as a diner- I don't care WHAT you give your kid to keep them quiet- I'd prefer they were quiet and distracted than screaming and interupting my meal.
So I would never say- OH BOY, look at that kid with an IPad at the table- I'd say, thank God that child is nice and quiet!

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by computergirl

I just have to add that I bet this thread turns ugly.

First, the anti-iPad people are going to be accused of "judging", or "not knowing the whole story". To further this case, there will be 942 hypothetical scenarios presented, where the iPad was justified and not just lazy parenting. ("But.... but what if both parents were diabetic and had low blood sugar, and they just COULDN'T muster the energy to interact with their child until the food came! You see! You don't know the whole story")

Then the final smackdown will come when the pro-iPad camp suggests that they have "bigger things to worry about anyway" than what fellow diners are entertaining their children with

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by sleepie76

I dont like anyone having technology at the table...husband,wife, teenager. makes me crazy. I think as a society we are wayy to connected. Instead of connecting with the people we are with at that time.

a table full of adults all looking at their phones always makes me laugh...what did you get together for if the internet is more interesting

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by computergirl

Posted by Goobster

I am tired of always having to be a drill sergeant so I will gladly reward myself with the iphone as relief the two times a month I go out to eat.

I personally prefer to reward myself with a chocolate martini and let my DH color with the kids

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

to each his own as long as it is not disturbing anyone around them.

ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

We don't go for dinner often - when we do, we do it quick at a loud, kid friendly establishment.

I don't have anything against using an electronic to keep a kid entertainedbut, we try not to do it with DS. The main reason is because he will want to play with it non-stop from that point on and taking it away causes major meltdowns so we try to stick to coloring and other activities.

Unfortunately - DS 2, the baby, has been miserable at dinners recently so we've been going out even less.

Message edited 10/17/2012 4:34:49 PM.

ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

"The world don't move, to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you, might not be right for some."
Willis definitely knew what he was talking about.

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by Otherme

Posted by computergirl

I just have to add that I bet this thread turns ugly.

First, the anti-iPad people are going to be accused of "judging", or "not knowing the whole story". To further this case, there will be 942 hypothetical scenarios presented, where the iPad was justified and not just lazy parenting. ("But.... but what if both parents were diabetic and had low blood sugar, and they just COULDN'T muster the energy to interact with their child until the food came! You see! You don't know the whole story")

Then the final smackdown will come when the pro-iPad camp suggests that they have "bigger things to worry about anyway" than what fellow diners are entertaining their children with

I haven't read the thread, and thanks to this post, i don't have to because i totally agree with it
(ok, so i might read it anyway)

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by maymama

and then along comes mrs. knowitall, i have to write a synopsis that suits my way of thinking leaving out much more content but thats ok, its not important

sorry, i had to

Re: ipads at the dinner table, what are your thoughts?

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by computergirl

Posted by Goobster

I am tired of always having to be a drill sergeant so I will gladly reward myself with the iphone as relief the two times a month I go out to eat.

I personally prefer to reward myself with a chocolate martini and let my DH color with the kids