every mom but me brought a tablet to toddler breakfast

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I probably wouldn't have brought a tablet either, but I am not exactly sure how you all expected a bunch of 18 month olds or whatever to "socialize" in confined chairs at a restaurant.

I think that is odder than bringing entertainment for them. It is not like they are on a playground or a floor where they can play...

Seriously. How did you envision this going down?

I have been in a moms groups since our kids were weeks old. Five moms, five kids. We’ve dined out a thousand times without electronics and live to tell the tale. We engage, hold and talk to each other’s kids (they are 6 now). We talk. The kids shared rattles and crayons and books and cars. Now they share stories and conversations.

I think it’s sad when I see a toddler stumbling around Target with his head buried in a tablet, or a table full of grown ups with kids at the same table with headphones on and mesmerized by a screen. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILDREN.

Don’t try to defend it. None of us grew up with it. It’s lazy parenting at its worst.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in their mid 20's. Screens, phones etc were not invented when they were that age. (How old do I sound?) We survived, but in all honesty, we didn't go to restaurants all that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in their mid 20's. Screens, phones etc were not invented when they were that age. (How old do I sound?) We survived, but in all honesty, we didn't go to restaurants all that much.

Exactly. We stopped eating out at all for a few years when my 2 siblings and I were small!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in their mid 20's. Screens, phones etc were not invented when they were that age. (How old do I sound?) We survived, but in all honesty, we didn't go to restaurants all that much.

Exactly. We stopped eating out at all for a few years when my 2 siblings and I were small!

OP here. We don’t go out often at all, but since this was 5 moms and kids at 8:15 on Wednesday at a county diner, I thought we’d just hang out and let the kids be, well, kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is still young (18months), but I have a question about tablets. Did you all buy dedicated tablets for your toddlers? Are they kid tablets? I don’t own an iPad and neither does DH, but does every other person in this area?

At that age, we had a family iPad but it was when iPads were newer and not everyone had one per person. Now we each have an iPad (child gets Dad's old one usually) and child has a kids kindle 8 inch, which is what we usually bring out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the thing is, the kids weren’t watching anything educational and it wasn’t totally undistracted. They were still demanding new shows or a different show, or Mom had to hold the tablet or the child dumped his drink, etc. This was a mom and toddler lunch and I totally expected for the kids to engage. I was stunned when they all pulled out devices and my little guy just sat there playing and reading all alone.

You know the easy kids now often turn out to be more difficult later. Be grateful you have an easy kid. Why do you care what another child is watching? We get it, you are an amazing parent - but what makes sense to me is you said there were 3 year olds there and yet you left yours at home. What, cannot handle two kids at once?

He was at camp. But at restaurants he just reads or talks or plays with his brother.

Last week was the same thing, a bunch of moms and kids got together for dinner at chik fil a. I thought my 3 year old would have friends to play with or would play in the play space, but no they got out the tablets again.

Restaurants are not for playing. No one wants you kid wandering the area when staff are carrying food and people trying to get in/out. Those kids place things are nasty and never cleaned. Those get together are for the mom's not kids.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, OP! I also pityda fools by using such a powerful, addictive device on such young minds. Ignore the haters and keep a book-rich environment in your home.

[Anonymous]

My kids get to watch tv at home, but we limit it, especially when they were under 4. PBS kids has great educational programs. Now my kids are 5 and 9 and can play uno or draw (I try to keep notepads and pencils with me.) I’d suggest coloring things for younger kids, too. I don’t particularly enjoy going to nicer restaurants with kids, though, but my in laws sometimes insist. I’d much rather eat at home then have them have to be silent or constantly correct their behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the thing is, the kids weren’t watching anything educational and it wasn’t totally undistracted. They were still demanding new shows or a different show, or Mom had to hold the tablet or the child dumped his drink, etc. This was a mom and toddler lunch and I totally expected for the kids to engage. I was stunned when they all pulled out devices and my little guy just sat there playing and reading all alone.

You know the easy kids now often turn out to be more difficult later. Be grateful you have an easy kid. Why do you care what another child is watching? We get it, you are an amazing parent - but what makes sense to me is you said there were 3 year olds there and yet you left yours at home. What, cannot handle two kids at once?

He was at camp. But at restaurants he just reads or talks or plays with his brother.

Last week was the same thing, a bunch of moms and kids got together for dinner at chik fil a. I thought my 3 year old would have friends to play with or would play in the play space, but no they got out the tablets again.

Restaurants are not for playing. No one wants you kid wandering the area when staff are carrying food and people trying to get in/out. Those kids place things are nasty and never cleaned. Those get together are for the mom's not kids.

OP. I use the term “play” loosely and many are taking it to me playing games such as tag. I mean, play with cars, color, read a book, talk, play “what’s missing” etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably wouldn't have brought a tablet either, but I am not exactly sure how you all expected a bunch of 18 month olds or whatever to "socialize" in confined chairs at a restaurant.

I think that is odder than bringing entertainment for them. It is not like they are on a playground or a floor where they can play...

Seriously. How did you envision this going down?

I have been in a moms groups since our kids were weeks old. Five moms, five kids. We’ve dined out a thousand times without electronics and live to tell the tale. We engage, hold and talk to each other’s kids (they are 6 now). We talk. The kids shared rattles and crayons and books and cars. Now they share stories and conversations.

I think it’s sad when I see a toddler stumbling around Target with his head buried in a tablet, or a table full of grown ups with kids at the same table with headphones on and mesmerized by a screen. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILDREN.

Don’t try to defend it. None of us grew up with it. It’s lazy parenting at its worst.

Thanks PP. I was just disappointed. I was the *only* one who expects my child to sit and entertain himself?! I thought he’d have some toddler friends to “talk” to.

I was really sad to see every child just zoned out in front of a screen. But I like I said, it was still far from a peaceful breakfast...but it wasn’t supposed to be one anyway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a restaurant guest and a mother of older children, I would rather children be kept quiet on a tablet or flipping through a board book instead of "playing" in a restaurant. It's not a playground. If your child cannot sit quietly, then they should not be there.

+1. SMH at OP who is shocked by the other mothers who apparently didn't confuse the restaurant with a playground.

Why don't you suggest a picnic at a park for the next get together OP. That seems more appropriate if you want a bunch of toddlers playing together.

Can’t children learn to play quietly with each other? Play doesn’t mean running around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably wouldn't have brought a tablet either, but I am not exactly sure how you all expected a bunch of 18 month olds or whatever to "socialize" in confined chairs at a restaurant.

I think that is odder than bringing entertainment for them. It is not like they are on a playground or a floor where they can play...

Seriously. How did you envision this going down?

It honestly never occurs to me to bring a tablet and I was really surprised that EVERYONE had one. I thought that since we all had little kids we would sort of be in it together: engaging the kids, reading, chatting. I didn’t think I was the *only* one who had a child who doesn’t use a tablet. My guy just sat there with no friends!

First off, your kid is 18 months. If he were a bit older you would have a huge problem on your hands (likely, depending on personality) because I've been in these situations plenty. At 18 months my children would be complacent about all the nearby screens but by 2 or 3, watch out. They'd be clawing their way to the nearest tablet. I really avoided screen time to the best of my ability, especially in a situation like you described. But honestly, it's not the worst thing and you have no idea how much screen time these kids are actually getting. Lay off the judgement, OP. It's not a good look.

My older child is 3 and we go out to eat often and have never used a tablet.

Every time we go out with Mom Friends they put a tablet in front of their child. One woman did it at CHIK FIL A. Her son and my son were the same age! And there’s a PLAY PLACE there. My son just sat there eating and reading his new book while the other kid stared at his show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is less about screens and more about how sometimes moms want to get together without toddlers, and that's OK!

But we were all bringing our kids, and it wasn’t a fancy place. I was under no assumption I’d have a peaceful meal but I was shocked when 5/5 kids sat with eyes glued to a show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to breakfast with 5 other friends, organized through the moms club. Every mom but me brought a tablet and immediately put it in front of their child (ages 2-3).

I honestly never occurs to me to do this. I brought some books and quiet toys and my son (18 months) just sat there. I have an older son too and we’ve never used a tablet.

It’s odd to me that this is what kids are like now.

You are not that special and you have lazy friends.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a bunch of clueless moms when it comes to picking an appropriate meeting place that involves little kids too. A restaurant would make sense if it’s a mom’s day out sans kids, but if it’s moms and kids together then a playground, the zoo, a house etc makes a lot more sense for a get together.