Kids & Electronics rant

[kaytieeldr]

Our local pharmacy has a sign at the counter that says, "Finish your call and we will be more than happy to help you!"

Mine's not so diplomatic - just signs stating "No cell phones".

 

[JVL1018]

I don't allow my kids to use their DS at the table(restaurant or home), either.
I will admit to sometimes giving them my iPhone to play with, but it's together at least-like they'll play Yahtzee on it, taking turns.
Only when it's a super long wait, and even then it's rare.

 

[kafitty]

my biggest pet peeve is when you're in the car with someone, and they take a phone call, and then keep talking. Nobody else in the car can talk, and you can't listen to the radio, because they can't hear the conversation.

i'll give the person a couple of minutes to take care of business and say, "Okay, gotta run, we'll catch up later!"...and then i start turning the music up, or interrupting their conversations (since i can usually hear the person on the phone), or otherwise being a PITA.

 

[-Hope-]

I agree with PP that rude is just rude. I think technology gets a bad rap because it is a new way for people to be rude. It drives me crazy when my niece texts through dinner or her mom (my SIL) takes a phone call in the middle of a conversation. But it drives me just as crazy when the same niece pulls her hoodie up and slumps down in her seat to avoid having to talk to anyone or the same SIL interrupts me in the middle of the sentence. These two are just plain rude, with or without technology.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I would have preferred that over the bratty actions of my friend's son at an expensive restaurant a couple of weeks back.

The kid hogged up two appetizers that were supposed to be shared with the table. This is a 12 year old--not a little kid. If my own son attempted to do that, I'd have broken his fingers. (Not really, but I would have threatened that.) His parents did not even appear to notice.

 

[::Snow_White::]

This drives me crazy with kids my age. I was ranting to my friend about it one day and then she admitted to doing it. I was at a resturant with my family and I saw a few girls sitting their phones on their lap and texting every minute or so. I don't know why you can't wait an hour or so just to eat. If my phone rings (which it would vibrate since I'm in a resturant), I'll answer it if it's someone I know, and I make it quick. I always keep my phone in my purse and do not text. We are not allowed to bring any other electronics into resturants nor would we want too.

 

[linda0706]

I'm going to fess up & admit that I *sometimes* allow my DD9 to play with her DS at the table in a restaurant. One couple we go out with often has no kids and DD gets positively bored listening to us chat. We allow her to play with her DS after the meal is finished (or before it comes--never while eating) with the volume turned all the way down.

However if its just our family or there's another kid with us, she is not allowed to play at the table.

 

[MIGrandma]

I'm a former waitress, and I encountered lots of families who let their kids play video games or text on their cell phones, etc. while they were eating and I kind of thought it was sad. I like your rule of no electronics at the dinner table, and think that more families should have that same rule. Now I'm talking about kids like age 5 and up. If they had a 2, 3, or 4-year old and had a coloring book and crayons or something like that, I could understand that as little ones get bored while waiting for their food to come out from the kitchen. But when they are old enough to start going to school, and learning to sit still and be quiet, I don't think they need the video games and cell phones at the table.

I, too, made it a point to comment to parents when their children were polite and well behaved. I commend parents for being parents and taking the time to raise their children properly.

Good for you!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'll fess up that sometimes my kids will bring ds's to restaurants, but only after christmas, when they've just gotten them. They usually forget about them, and the only time they leave the house is for long car trips. I do have to remind dd13 that the cellphone is not allowed at the table.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

can I join the vent???

we had DH's family Xmas at MIL's. The 2 nieces could not put down their phones and they texted through the entire evening!!!! AND!, so did their dad - to his buddies about the game (we have finally managed to make it through a family event without the game being on for him!!!). They have done exactly the same at restaurants.

My DD was allowed to use her phone (well, MY iPhone!!!) and her DSi in the car for the trip - but that is where they were left!!! She is allowed to use them at a restaurant table to play games while we wait for the food order - only IF it is just the three of us.

I can understand certain situations and keeping little ones busy, but we are talking 12(DD) and up (her cousins). AT that age they should be able to make it through a dinner or family event.

what ever happened to teaching kids about manners and what is appropriate when!?

 

[turkeymama]

So how do you handle it when the culprit is an adult? DH is terrible about surfing the web on his Blackberry while we're out eating. It drives me nuts. Last time we went for pizza, I sent him to get me a drink refill and I hid his phone while he was away from the table. He actually got irritated at me.

 

[clovergirl5]

Im with all of you. Kids know, no ds's, ipod or cellphones at the table. I have never let them even take them out of the van to go into a restaurant. In a restaurant, they converse with the family or color/play tic tac toe with each other. I do, however, allow them to bring them along during dc sporting events or practices.

Actually, at 1 point, ds's and gameboys were being played wayyyy to much and they are now all banished to the cupboard and only come out on weekends and school vacations and if their rooms and the playroom is cleaned and their clean clothes are folded and put away. Kids get mad, but oh well. They are not spending their entire day, everyday with their nose in a handheld game. Go read a book!

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

at our Church Christmas Eve service more than 1/2 of the kids were playing DS games I was shocked ... my 6 year old was mad that I didn;t let him bring his. however my kids only get to use theirs on car rides and airplane rides so I am the meanest of mean moms

 

[pixiewings71]

Maybe they were texting each other!!

LOL My girls have done that, if DBF and I are watching something on TV at home they will text each other to have a conversation. LOL It's not something they do very often, only occasionally and it cracks me up when I realize they are doing it.

Our girls have cell phones (xmas gifts) and DS's and Mp3 players. They are not allowed to talk on the phone or text during dinner or after 9 pm or if we are having a family night. We do let them take them when we go out to dinner but they are not allowed to use them while the server is helping us or while we are talking about what we are ordering, nor are they allowed to use them while we are eating. If we have a long wait to get seated or to place our orders they are allowed to play with them, but that's it. Family time is family time and tech toys are not allowed to interfere. DBF and I follow the same rules, unless it's our parents we do not answer our phones during family time.

 

[ucfsweetie82]

Its not just kids. It's adults too. One night I had two friends over to my house and one played on DH's laptop and the other played on her phone and they probably said two words to me or DH all night. Both of them were spending the night due to issues at home.

 

[Darsa]

I can't stand it when I see adults going through checkout lines on the phone, from beginning to end, chatting away and ignoring the poor cashier completely.

On the other hand, anyanyanytime I get a call or text on my phone I will check it no matter where I am; the only reason is because my mom is currently in the process of liver failure and we're attempting to find out where she is on the liver donor list (since none of us are matches or eligible) and if I missed a call about that I wouldn't be able to live with myself. But! If I look and see that it's a friend or some such thing, I'll let it go to voicemail or read the text later. Dinner, be it out or in, is "face time" for the family, not "top of the head time".

 

[karen l]

That is just ridiculous. I am in the technology field and have gadgets on my all the time. If I am at dinner the phone is on vibrate and if I have to answer it I excuse myself. I also hate it and think it is rude when someone goes to the cashier or counter on the phone. If I am on a call I stand to the side and finish it first. If it rings while I am at the counter I excuse myself or ignore it.

There is nothing wrong with having electronics, I love them, but being rude is still being rude.

You are so right! I always feel bad for the cashier who has to deal with a rude customer & I try to be respectful of others. My kids know the rules & there's only been an issue once.

 

[wdwfan16]

Sadly what you saw is the norm.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I'm going to fess up & admit that I *sometimes* allow my DD9 to play with her DS at the table in a restaurant. One couple we go out with often has no kids and DD gets positively bored listening to us chat. We allow her to play with her DS after the meal is finished (or before it comes--never while eating) with the volume turned all the way down.

However if its just our family or there's another kid with us, she is not allowed to play at the table.

You can join me in the 'bad parent' club if you like! My DD (9) is an only child and sadly none of the friends we socialise with regulalry have kids so if we go out for a meal we allow our DD to play her DS (with the sound off) between ordering and eating and after we have finished when the adults are enjoying coffee etc. Not every time we eat out but certainly in places that take a long time to serve you or don't provide 'kids activities' like paper crayons etc.

My DD has never misbehaved in a restaurant nor is she allowed to use her cell phone or anything else during the meal. I have seen kids who are obviously bored rigid and misbehaving many times....my DD is not one of them.

 

[jodifla]

You can join me in the 'bad parent' club if you like! My DD (9) is an only child and sadly none of the friends we socialise with regulalry have kids so if we go out for a meal we allow our DD to play her DS (with the sound off) between ordering and eating and after we have finished when the adults are enjoying coffee etc. Not every time we eat out but certainly in places that take a long time to serve you or don't provide 'kids activities' like paper crayons etc.

My DD has never misbehaved in a restaurant nor is she allowed to use her cell phone or anything else during the meal. I have seen kids who are obviously bored rigid and misbehaving many times....my DD is not one of them.

Me as well. My son, 8, has a language disorder, and he can't keep up with conversations at a dinner table. So we often bring his Leapster during dinners that we know will be a couple of hours long.

For hour or so dinners, he's fine without it.

I view the DS and Leapster differently than music and cellphones. To me, they are more like electronic coloring books designed to keep kids busy. The phone and music are designed for you to engage completely elsewhere, and are rude.