Yes, OP, my ILs do this. But we do it with laptops, so no difference.

This would be my ideal in-law situation. They only visit us in order to start fights and constantly bicker with us. My in-laws were never into playing with the kids, they would read to them and FIL would cook a big breakfast.

We moved to this region to get farther from them and it has worked like a charm.

I'm fine with it; she stays out of my hair when she's on that thing. She does like to watch videos/movies and turns it up super loud while we're having family time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inlaws got iPads a couple years ago and have been glued to them ever since. When they come for a visit they bring them and literally sit in the couch surfing the web/playing games and not budging. Not playing with kids, not helping with meals, not even conversing with us! They put them down only to eat! Is this happening to anyone else? I'm seriously thinking banning iPads at my house!

Didn't you post this before?

No, but I should look for the old thread for ideas!

There was a long thread on this very topic.

Switch off the Wifi and ask your in-laws politely to put their iPads away.

Mine are like this. I wish they'd get on the floor and play with the kids, but it's not going to happen. Let it go.

They aren't going to change. Do they put them down for meals? That may be your one chance to interact with them. Otherwise, I think you have to write them off. They don't want to engage with you as much.

Plan fun things with the kids. The day before an outing, ask them if they want to come. If they say no, leave them at home with their iPads. Their loss.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inlaws got iPads a couple years ago and have been glued to them ever since. When they come for a visit they bring them and literally sit in the couch surfing the web/playing games and not budging. Not playing with kids, not helping with meals, not even conversing with us! They put them down only to eat! Is this happening to anyone else? I'm seriously thinking banning iPads at my house!

Didn't you post this before?

No, but I should look for the old thread for ideas!

I would say something like, "I know you love your iPads and we do to but we are trying to teach the children that iPads and tv should be used in moderation and so we don't use them or our iPhones during social times." I view the issue as analogous to reading the paper or a book. If people are just hanging out and relaxing and it would be ok for one person to read while another plays cards and another knits or colors or whatever while the tv is on or off, then iPad is ok. If kids are trying to play and spend quality time or if you are the table eating, then the iPad is out because it is modeling poor social skills (aka it is rude). It is not polite to read a book at the dinner table and so an iPad is treated the same way in my house. And it is important for other reasons. iPads are wonderful but they are limited in certain ways. The do not help children develop socially and do not encourage physical activity and they stimulate certain senses and not others. So, like everything in life, they need to be used in limited quantities and I think you can explain that to your ILs. Other people have the rule that if you want to be on the iPhone or iPad during a family visit, you go to your room and do it there. If you impose that rule and they spend the entire visit in their room, then you will never win the battle and you don't need to stress about it. You can just tell the kids they are old and don't feel well.

Anonymous wrote:My inlaws got iPads a couple years ago and have been glued to them ever since. When they come for a visit they bring them and literally sit in the couch surfing the web/playing games and not budging. Not playing with kids, not helping with meals, not even conversing with us! They put them down only to eat! Is this happening to anyone else? I'm seriously thinking banning iPads at my house!

Didn't you post this before?

Yes, both sets of grandparents. Sigh!

It would be a dream come true if my inlaws were to engrossed with their IPads to converse with us.

I might just unplug the wifi and say its "acting up"

Anonymous wrote:You can't ban iPads from adults.

I can see their side of this. They come over and don't know how to insert themselves into your lives. So they stay out of the way on the couch. You need to help them, ask for help cooking. Tell them what games to play with the kids outside. Get some arts and crafts set up. Help them facilitate the relationship.

We do that. They just say "in a bit" or "not right now"

You can't ban iPads from adults.

I can see their side of this. They come over and don't know how to insert themselves into your lives. So they stay out of the way on the couch. You need to help them, ask for help cooking. Tell them what games to play with the kids outside. Get some arts and crafts set up. Help them facilitate the relationship.

My inlaws got iPads a couple years ago and have been glued to them ever since. When they come for a visit they bring them and literally sit in the couch surfing the web/playing games and not budging. Not playing with kids, not helping with meals, not even conversing with us! They put them down only to eat! Is this happening to anyone else? I'm seriously thinking banning iPads at my house!