Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is partly a cultural problem. Current American culture is pretty child unfriendly. People don't like to interact with a stranger's kid, and expect kids to be quiet and mostly out of sight (just look at responses in this thread). They expect their flights to be quiet and everyone to be self entertained, as opposed to chatting up strangers like yesteryears. We had a recent flight where not a single person or flight attendant even smiled at my young kids. In this environment, screen time is really a must for parents because no one wants to feel your kid's existence.

In other cultures, it could be different. I don't expect strangers to gush over my kids but when we are on flights or places with a lot of Asians (esp older Asian), for example, the adults love to try to interact with my kids. It is just a more child friendly and centered culture, and my kids can pass some time interacting with these adults. I was once on a flight when my son was 5 months old and he basically played peekaboo with an elderly foreign couple for the entire 2 hour flight. It was great for us parents.

American parenting is just exhausting, lonely, full of judgement.

Funny you mention this. On our most recent flight, during which I let my 3 year old watch unlimited Peppa Pig, there was an old Thai lady sitting next to us at the terminal. She played stickers with my daughter for a half hour. I did not ask her to; she did not ask if she could, she just started playing. It was so sweet. I used to live in a different part of Asia back when I was childless so I never appreciated it at the time, but this encounter reminded me of how wonderful that aspect of Asian cultures is. They normalize children and everyone is great with kids in public.

Anonymous wrote:This is partly a cultural problem. Current American culture is pretty child unfriendly. People don't like to interact with a stranger's kid, and expect kids to be quiet and mostly out of sight (just look at responses in this thread). They expect their flights to be quiet and everyone to be self entertained, as opposed to chatting up strangers like yesteryears. We had a recent flight where not a single person or flight attendant even smiled at my young kids. In this environment, screen time is really a must for parents because no one wants to feel your kid's existence.

In other cultures, it could be different. I don't expect strangers to gush over my kids but when we are on flights or places with a lot of Asians (esp older Asian), for example, the adults love to try to interact with my kids. It is just a more child friendly and centered culture, and my kids can pass some time interacting with these adults. I was once on a flight when my son was 5 months old and he basically played peekaboo with an elderly foreign couple for the entire 2 hour flight. It was great for us parents.

American parenting is just exhausting, lonely, full of judgement.

Anonymous wrote:This is partly a cultural problem. Current American culture is pretty child unfriendly. People don't like to interact with a stranger's kid, and expect kids to be quiet and mostly out of sight (just look at responses in this thread). They expect their flights to be quiet and everyone to be self entertained, as opposed to chatting up strangers like yesteryears. We had a recent flight where not a single person or flight attendant even smiled at my young kids. In this environment, screen time is really a must for parents because no one wants to feel your kid's existence.

In other cultures, it could be different. I don't expect strangers to gush over my kids but when we are on flights or places with a lot of Asians (esp older Asian), for example, the adults love to try to interact with my kids. It is just a more child friendly and centered culture, and my kids can pass some time interacting with these adults. I was once on a flight when my son was 5 months old and he basically played peekaboo with an elderly foreign couple for the entire 2 hour flight. It was great for us parents.

American parenting is just exhausting, lonely, full of judgement.

Anonymous wrote:Ahh, the smug mom of toddlers. Of course your crotch rockets are perfect. Come back in 10 years. Karma lady. Karma.

Anonymous wrote:Was on a 3-hour flight. Packed books, toys, cards and travel games to engage our preschooler and elementary schooler. Spent the rest of the time talking, reading quietly together, closing our eyes. Walked down the aisle a few times for bathroom trips, and each time, every single other family - kid on iPad, parent scrolling X or Instagram on their phone.

What gives?

(Ready for flames for being holier-than-thou, but seriously, what gives? Travel time is great for talking and engaging)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This was not a troll post. But I fully anticipated being flamed. What else to expect from a bunch of screen-addicted parents with screen-addicted kids?

Literally, these kids are being raised to not develop the capability of amusing themselves. Same for parents - they need to scroll mindlessly to “relax”. It’s like the person who needs a bottle of wine a day to “relax” from work. It’s kind of pathetic but whatever, it’s their lives. I don’t judge so much as pity the addiction…

My daughter listens to an audiobook and colors so we aren’t annoying other passengers and we use the restroom before flights so we don’t need to make multiple trips up and down the aisle. You should really be more considerate of those around you, OP. Planes have too many people in too small spaces for everyone to bring the three ring circus you are bragging about. Of course, I don’t judge but I do pity your lack of self-awareness.

On the other hand, my 4 year old son would prefer to relax by rebuilding the engine of the plane while it is flying, so sadly for him but luckily for everyone else, he’s watching Bluey on an iPad with headphones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes I chat with my spouse on the plane all the time. We also read and watch movies. Do you think everyone is supposed to be silent the entire time on a plane?


Yes. Yes I do. We are in a confined space. I don’t want to listen to you, you don’t want to listen to me. We are screen-free EXCEPT planes. I’m teaching my kids to be courteous in public spaces and not being loud is part of that.

You must be young. Many of can recall a time when you didn’t have individual screens. I travelled a lot 20-30 years ago and believe it or not it was common to talk to the people you sat next to- even if you didn’t know them.

This is a great point actually. Some of the expectations people in this thread are outline for planes sound insane to me and you're right -- it's because I've been flying for 40 years and it's really only in the last 10 that individual in-seat entertainment has become universal (whether on a seat-back screen or just everyone having a device).

In fact the most active travel period of my life was when I was traveling a ton for work around 2005-2010. This was around when smart phones emerged but not everyone had one and they didn't do as much as now. I had a blackberry for work. You couldn't text on planes and social media was still in its infancy so you never saw people just scrolling their phones. I always traveled with my laptop and worked on planes a lot (billable hours!) but I didn't really expect quiet unless I was flying business class (there are just fewer people in that cabin and mostly business travelers so it was like the "quiet car" by nature). Even in BC I would wind up chatting with a seat mate for some part of the flight about half the time. I made business contacts on planes that turned into clients or led to job offers down the road. And I know I'm not alone.

I remember it being a big deal when Jet Blue started offering seat back entertainment on domestic flights -- that was just for international flights for a long time. And even then I think it was just their NY-SF route.

The personal device thing really didn't take off until around 2015 or so. It's an extremely recent development.

Anonymous wrote:My kids have basically no screen time (other than the hours and hours they get at school). Airplanes are 100% iPad times. I’m exhausted by the time I sit down on my flight with the kids. They enjoy themselves and the entire plane enjoys peace.

I don’t GAF what you do but I don’t want to hear kids on planes. Their high voices carry and most people are trying to sleep. I don’t think it’s appropriate that you walk them up and down hallways. Sure- they can walk to the bathroom, but then sit your kid down.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This was not a troll post. But I fully anticipated being flamed. What else to expect from a bunch of screen-addicted parents with screen-addicted kids?

Literally, these kids are being raised to not develop the capability of amusing themselves. Same for parents - they need to scroll mindlessly to “relax”. It’s like the person who needs a bottle of wine a day to “relax” from work. It’s kind of pathetic but whatever, it’s their lives. I don’t judge so much as pity the addiction…

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This was not a troll post. But I fully anticipated being flamed. What else to expect from a bunch of screen-addicted parents with screen-addicted kids?

Literally, these kids are being raised to not develop the capability of amusing themselves. Same for parents - they need to scroll mindlessly to “relax”. It’s like the person who needs a bottle of wine a day to “relax” from work. It’s kind of pathetic but whatever, it’s their lives. I don’t judge so much as pity the addiction…