Kids with portable DVD's at restaurants!!!

[rbuzzotta]

I have been out to dinner quite a few times in the last week. We were at the Hilton Teppan tables in DTD and saw a family with 4 children!!! All had portable DVD players with headsets and watching movies while the chef was cooking and while eating!! No communication at all!!

We also saw 2 children at breakfast doing the same thing!! no communication with the family or waitstaff!!

Last night, DH and I went to Legal Seafoods in Boston for a nice dinner!!! I couldn't believe it..............another family with 2 kids and portable DVD players!!!

I have 3 DD's and would NEVER allow it!! What is it coming too..........

Am I out of touch with reality????? (go ahead flame me!! LOL) I am just surprised to see so much of it lately!!! Anyone else???

 

[goodeats]

That's the worst parenting I've ever heard of!

I don't even like those things in the car, but at a restaurant is just despicable.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That is rediculous!

I don't care what anyone says.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Wow! I don't even allow my daughter to eat in front of the TV at home; I can't imagine allowing it at a restaurant! First of all, in my family meal time is communication and bonding time. We have our best times at the table. We talk, we laugh, and we problem solve. I would never allow television to compete with that special time. Second of all, there is a proven correlation between eating in front of the tube and obesity. To each their own I suppose, but I can't personally imagine taking a portable DVD player to a friggin' restaurant!

 

[lulugirl]

If you're out of touch w/ reality then so am I.
It would never even occur to me to bring a DVD player to a restaurant.
Something about it really bothers me...

 

[Mom21]

As I tell my dd often......."That isn't even an option". That is my favorite saying in this house.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I always think how sad the families look as they drive along in silence, kids in the back, glued to the dropdown DVD, mom or/and dad in the front, on their cell phones, everybody in their private world, zero communication.

 

[MamaLema]

I always think how sad the families look as they drive along in silence, kids in the back, glued to the dropdown DVD, mom or/and dad in the front, on their cell phones, everybody in their private world, zero communication.

I like you Dan Murphy, I really do But DVD players in the car make our 24 hour drive to WDW bearable We only use them on long trips.

DVD players in restaurants, now thats another matter. I think that's pretty weird.

 

[MAKmom]

What a great idea for a peaceful meal for Mom & Dad. Sure beats the $10 an hour for each kid at the Kids Club in Disney. Meal time can be so stressful on vacation.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

That is just absolutely wrong on so many levels. It's no wonder so many kids a screwed up.

 

[Papa Deuce]

If you're out of touch w/ reality then so am I.
It would never even occur to me to bring a DVD player to a restaurant.
Something about it really bothers me...

Me either. And while I have never seen a DVD player at one, how many times have you seen a gameboy, or PSP?

 

[Twinkles6892]

Me either. And while I have never seen a DVD player at one, how many times have you seen a gameboy, or PSP?

I used to bring my gameboy in to restaurants sometimes when I was younger, my little brother does sometimes too. I think that's different than having headphones on and pulling away from everything, but a gameboy is just something to keep a kid occupied while waiting for the food to come, you don't play during dinner, like a kid would play at home while mom cooks.

 

[FairlyOddFairy]

If your kids are that out of touch that they can't sit an hour through a meal then they need some discipline. Car rides and plane rides are just fine because there is usally nothing else to do but at a resteraunt they should be eating. --Also rude to other dining guests- just like a cell phone

 

[LindsayDunn228]

If your kids are that out of touch that they can't sit an hour through a meal then they need some discipline.

Or the parents need a butt kicking.

 

[Buzz207]

We just saw that for the first time last year at Olive Garden last year in Orlando. We were floored. The kids didn't even have headphones on and we couldn't figure out where the music was coming from and we were trying to figure out where we knew it from (they were watching Shrek). We have always enjoyed our meals out as a family and felt that it taught our DS manners and how to behave in company. What does it teach kids if they are watching DVD's? Having said that we just bought DS and I portable DVD players for our drive to Florida as my DH likes to listen to CNN on XM the whole way there and back and we prefer music or movies so we decided the expense was worth it (and Wal-mart had them on sale for $99 so we splurged). We will never use them in a restaurant though. Just for long drives.

 

[Mom21]

how many times have you seen a gameboy, or PSP?

I can honestly say that wouldn't be an option either. Before I come across as high and mighty, I have to say that most mornings dd watches tv while eating breakfast. Also if she is eating lunch or dinner at a time different than hubby or I, then she eats in the playroom and tv is likely on. I have a conversion van with a DVD and VCR. It is used on trips over 2 hours...lifesaver. However, I think meal times together (which include restaurant meals) should be a time to talk and chat and enjoy. There are so few hours in the day to be a family. Long gone is the time of the evening family dinner where everyone sat down and talked.

My husband works shift work, my dd is on a competitive cheer team, we eat at strange hours. Still I try to plan at least 5 meals a week together. This may be a lunch on the weekend before hubby goes to work. whatever....my dd loves these. I honestly think it is her favorite time of the week. We set the table nicely at least 3 times a week, complete with linen napkins. She has to place the silverware properly. Sometimes we eat outside under the tiki hut when it is nice and breezy and we TALK.

 

[Stacey2grls]

This is really sad in my opinion. Isn't the whole point of going out to dinner with your family other than obviously eating, is to talk? Communicate about the day? I think that parents that support this behavior are just trying to "shut their kids up", so they don't have to actually deal with them.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

No flaming from me either Rosemary..

I did see that on one of my trips this past year. We were at Tubbi's haveing some burgers and a family had a dvd player for their little boy. They also had a baby, a set of parents, and the grandparents.....they said it was the only way they could eat their meal if the little boy was occupied with the DVD player....so Dad and Mom ate, Grandma and Grandpa ate, the child watched the DVD player and did not eat.....maybe they fed him earlier or were going to feed him after they ate, but it bothered us enough that we left..

 

[clh2]

This wouldn't bother me a bit - as long as they had headphones on.

Would I let DD do this, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Unless there is a specific reason the TV would be on (want to catch a specific news story, Packers playing a late game, we will have it on in the background) otherwise it is off.

But - back to the kids out to eat with them - as long as the kids were quiet, well mannered (which means not bothering me) what they did at their table wouldn't bother me in the least.

Now - I have ABSOLUTELY no tolerance for being in a restaurant near someone who is on a cell phone, and having it ring constantly, and letting their kids run wild while they are talking on their cell phones etc.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I can honestly say that wouldn't be an option either. . .

Yeah, that was my point.... I don't see it as all that different.