DVD players for kids in Restaurants?

[goofygal531]

So I just read a post where someone recommended bringing a portable DVD player to entertain the kids at "nice" restaurants. What's everyone's take on this?

I have a few portable dvd players, and can bring one with me. I'm just wondering how people will react to this?

I've brought a portable dvd player on a cruise before, but used it only in our room. I've never thought to bring it to meals.

As you can see, I'm desperate for a nice family thanksgiving meal. This is the only meal that concerns me.

My other option (which I really might go with) is to buy "special" thanksgiving presents from Mickey and have them on the table at the restaurant when we arrive. I saw a cute small Lego set for my DS4 and a table top small Thomas train set for my DS1. I think they would be so excited to see this waiting for them at the restaurant.

The thing with the dvd player, I don't know if that would really distract them long enough. It's not really "special". I also don't like that it's not teaching them table manners and how to sit and behave in a restaurant.

But I understand desperate times call for desperate measures!

Mare

 

[candee0512]

I also don't like that it's not teaching them table manners and how to sit and behave in a restaurant.

Mare

How about getting a dvd about manners?

If you're asking about what other diners would think, I would much rather see a child quietly looking at a dvd (using earphones) while I tried to have a special meal than misbehaving because they were expected to sit for too long.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Candee

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I would give them the presents. I think that's such a cute idea!!

I have a pretty big dislike for the portable dvd players to keep kids attention. But that's just me. I might get flamed for it, I'm sorry. I agree that you do have to keep kids entertained, I just think there's a million other things to have kids do to keep them occupied. Even a coloring book would be a great idea!

 

[Tink_Kel]

I also don't like that it's not teaching them table manners and how to sit and behave in a restaurant.

You are absolutely right about that!!

Your special gift idea sounds nice...maybe a Disney-Themed coloring or sticker book! People don't expect children that young to be perfect, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[goofygal531]

Hey DisneyGirlInNJ, I spent half the day Sunday reading your trip reports! I go shopping in Hackensack all the time! I'm right over the GWB in Manhattan! Loved your reports and your daring fence hoping at the Pop! Loved your handbag you had on the trip with your mom!

I like the gifts idea too. We have DVD players in the car for our weekend drive to our house in the Poconos. I need it for the 2 hour drive. I really settles them in the car. I really never thought of it for a restaurant. I have a backpack full of table toys for them everything from coloring books, color wonder books, cars, lollypops, starburst (I can really bribe my DS4 with starburst!) etc...) but I need something really special for them to sit for us to enjoy a holiday meal out. I think the presents would work.

When's your next trip? I love your reports!

Mare

 

[tjmw2727]

It wouldn't bother me to see a child watching a small portable DVD (WITH headphones) especially during a long sit down meal... but I wouldn't do it.

I did bring a small bag of quiet table toys when my girls were younger, usually coloring pages or colorforms if a meal was lenthgy. Lots of games of tic tac toe as well DH and I usually tried to keep them engaged by quietly playing and talking with them through out the meal.

For me, if its the type of meal where they would need a DVD -I personally - would choose another meal or use a kids club rather than have the kids there but tuned out.

TJ

 

[javaj]

Depends on the age of the child(ren). I expect our 6 year old to behave with minimal distractions (small toy, crayons), but I sometimes bring the portable dvd player or the zune for our 2 year old. But then again...depends on your child!

 

[honeymo78]

As a child I always had a book with me for longer meals with my parents. While I wish that all children liked to read as much as I do, any quiet activity that keeps them occupied for a long meal is okay in my book.

A few years at California Grill we were seated next to a couple with a daughter around 9 or 10 years old. The parents clearly wanted to extend their meal with a nice dessert and bottle of wine. The little girl got out her DVD player and headphones while the parents enjoyed the rest of their meal.

 

[goofygal531]

I'm not worried at all with my DS4, he's fine with crayons or a matchbox car. It's my 19 month old that needs entertainment.

The is for one holiday meal. All our other ADRs are in "fun" restaurants. Our table time bag of tricks will be used at all the other restaurants it's this one special meal that I wanted something different for. Not your average book or coloring book for.

I think my DS4 will be happy with his legos and DS1 with a new Thomas train. They're both small and will not bother anyone. I hate noisy toys in restaurants.

I do use the kids clubs and Kid's nite out service, but this is a holiday meal I want my children with me. I did get an early seating at 4:20 pm to off set all those looking for a "romantic" meal.

I just never heard of anyone bringing a dvd player to dinner. That's all

 

[jenjersnap]

When our 2-year-old got restless at long dinners last week, we broke out the iphone and let him watch videos on it. I figured fellow diners would prefer that over the dance-in-any-empty-floor-space-and-attempt-conversation-with-strangers-around-us behavior he'd try without it (which would interrupt my meal because we'd have to leave).

I am not a huge fan of the idea of watching videos during meals but you gotta do what you gotta do when they are still so small and learning proper restaurant behavior.

 

[MDMagicMom]

Playdoh is our trick for stretching out the time in nicer restaurants. We don't pull it out often but one container and a couple of the accompanying toys can keep them entertained for a while.

 

[Pakey]

I eat in the "nicer" disney places all of the time and personally, as long as your children are not disrupting my dinner by being loud or running around my table, I think that whatever you do to keep them happy is fine with me.

 

[Cruz Family]

Personally....I think is totally ridiculous!

 

[dawnbu40]

I agree with the poster who says get a manners video to help teach your kids manners before they go on their trip. My DD is almost 18 and we always took her to nice restaurants and expected that she would behave like a young lady. Did it always work? Well about 90% of the time it did. On those few occasions she acted up she was taken to the restroom or the car until she was ready to rejoin the group. I don't think enough parents today take the time to teach their children good manners and it can be disruptive for other diners. I think its great you are already thinking about how your children will be behaving and trying to prepare! I'm sure with your help they will make you proud at meal times!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Hey DisneyGirlInNJ, I spent half the day Sunday reading your trip reports! I go shopping in Hackensack all the time! I'm right over the GWB in Manhattan! Loved your reports and your daring fence hoping at the Pop! Loved your handbag you had on the trip with your mom!

I like the gifts idea too. We have DVD players in the car for our weekend drive to our house in the Poconos. I need it for the 2 hour drive. I really settles them in the car. I really never thought of it for a restaurant. I have a backpack full of table toys for them everything from coloring books, color wonder books, cars, lollypops, starburst (I can really bribe my DS4 with starburst!) etc...) but I need something really special for them to sit for us to enjoy a holiday meal out. I think the presents would work.

When's your next trip? I love your reports!

Mare

Thank you so much! Hackensack is like shoppers heaven! It's hard for me to drive home from work and NOT stop into one of the malls I drive by. haha! Ohh...handbag was from Aldo and a GREAT price. I try to get all my 'everyday' handbags from there (just bought one for the fall/winter). I don't mind throwing it around and getting it dirty. It was cheap enough and I'll just buy a new one in a few months.

DVDs in the car are a totally different story for long drives. I'm all for them too when we bring my little cousins anywhere that requires a few hours. I'll try to see if I can think of any other cute ideas to keep them occupied. (I'm pretty sure you could bribe me to behave with Starburst too... I'm slightly addicted..lol)

Hopefully my next trip is soon! It's my friends bday in December and I was trying to figure out a way to squeeze in a few days down in the World to hang out with them. (The one girl in my trippies that we met up with both times). Not sure if it's possible but I did price it out a few days ago. We'll see!

Do you have a pre trip started? I'll have to check!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

IMO I would use this time to teach your child proper table manners and such. Nothing wrong with a small book they can look at or crayons and paper (most restaurants even upscale offer these to children). In the long run you are teaching your children skills that they will need throughout their lives. Be prepared to take your child out of the restaurant if they are mis-behaving. Give them a bit of time, then go back in again. I know that it is not the best thing for your meal, but if you want a special meal, I would recommend a sitter for the kids.

 

[dizzy99]

I once saw a couple of kids watching a DVD (not with earphones!!) in a fairly nice restaurant. I was horrified.

I was wondering what this world has come to that people can't control their children so they have to bring a video to watch in a restaurant. I think a few toys are fine at the table, but a DVD? That's just ridiculous.

 

[honeymo78]

Honestly I don't see or understand the difference between occupying a child with toys or a coloring book and occupying them with a video Several people here have indicated that the former is acceptable and the latter isn't.

If the true goal is to teach manners and good dining behavior then why say its okay to play with one toy/item and not another. Is coloring, reading or playing with a toy train (not picking on the poster who mentioned this, it just stuck in my head), somehow intrinsically more geared toward teaching manners than a video that might be reinforcing educational skills or another language. Or do we just assume that whatever video that would keed a child happy can't have some educational value to it.

 

[Lynne M]

OK, I'm going to be honest here.

If you were sitting at the table next to me, and the DVD player was keeping the 1 and 4 year old quiet, and keeping them from disturbing my meal, I couldn't give a rat's whatever about manners or anything else. I certainly wouldn't be thinking you were a bad parent.

I would be very, very grateful that you thought enough of your fellow diners to bring something to distract the kids during the meal.

 

[tnd]

I wouldn't personally do this for my three-year old. We've been taking him out for meals since he was 2 days old, so now he has very good table manners for a pre-schooler, and will sit nicely with a few small toys. A couple Thomas trains or Hot Wheels cars do wonders for him while we wait for food or when he is done, and we are still eating.

I would probably think it was odd to see a child watching a DVD at dinner, but it wouldn't bug me that much. Just not something we'd do in our family. Of course, we're doing Jiko, Narcoossee and CA Grill with DS in January, so maybe we will give in to the movies. ;-)