Put Down Your Phones!

[LAS321]

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I agree, BUT disney is putting a lot of effort into their internet based system (with fast pass+, MDE etc), so they dont expect the trend to die down anytime soon.

 

[2Tiggies]

I think we can expect to see more and more of this, and to be part of this, as the MDE system is rolling out. Being logged in and active on your Disney apps is now part of the vacation, whether by choice or not

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree with you that phones and other gadgets have become intrusive at times, but I'm not sure judging other parents' decisions is helpful. To each their own. I know I have enough to worry about with myself and my own family, never mind observing other families so closely.

ETA: I noticed you have an adult daughter...I also think it's very easy to judge younger families because you have the passage of time glossing over the parenting decisions you made when your children were younger.

 

[darnheather]

That is sad. When I'm on vacation I block out the rest of the world.

As for the Disney app, I don't think it will take more than a minute or two to check. Not an excuse to ignore your kids.

 

[ToyStory3]

I agree with you and I've already decided that my DH and I need to have a strict rule when we go next year about time on our phones. We can only use them to call each other if we've split up in the park or to check lines. Other than that they need to be in our pockets so we can be in the moment. I have seen families out to eat and each member of the family is sitting at the table on their phones. Why bother going? You can stay home and not interact with each other for free.

 

[disprincess4ever]

What happened to when kids colored at dinner? I'm not exactly a kid anymore, but I usually ask for kids menus to color when out at a restaurant. Nowadays, most kids are found playing games on the ipad/iphone at dinner. That's unacceptable to me, and I think to have a true vacation get away, all internet and communication should be very limited/rarely used.

 

[TJBerry]

That is sad. When I'm on vacation I block out the rest of the world.

As for the Disney app, I don't think it will take more than a minute or two to check. Not an excuse to ignore your kids.

I'm led to believe you've never used the disney app. "A minute or two"?

 

[luvmy3]

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

Sadly this is the new reality. Just like the pp's mentioned, WDW is aware of this and plans on capitalizing on it, others will follow. Personally, I dont always believe technology makes things better, and I do think what you posted is an example of that. I remember last year during a vacation at the shore we went out to eat and noticed that almost every table was filled with families and everyone was sitting there playing on or staring at some electronic device. We actually felt out of place because we werent. Its not limited to vacation destinations either, its the same at all the local restaurants too. Its is kind of sad.

 

[aprilchem]

My personal response when I see that kind of thing is that I don't judge others because I don't know what their situation might be. Maybe the mom or dad is a surgeon and needs to communicate frequently about patients; maybe (like my DH) he runs a major network of automation equipment and hundreds of people could lose hours of their paycheck if he's not reachable. Dinner's the same - Disney is a place where kids are often overly-tired and off their schedules - if a parent chooses to head off a major tantrum by allowing a little screen time, who am I to judge? I don't know how their day has gone, when their kids woke up that day, etc.

And this is coming from a mother of three whose kids get 0 hours of screen time (including computers) a week during the school year and 2 hours a week in the summer. So it's not a free-for all here, but the rules change even for us on vacation.

 

[TJBerry]

What happened to when kids colored at dinner? I'm not exactly a kid anymore, but I usually ask for kids menus to color when out at a restaurant. Nowadays, most kids are found playing games on the ipad/iphone at dinner. That's unacceptable to me, and I think to have a true vacation get away, all internet and communication should be very limited/rarely used.

There is no difference between coloring at dinner or playing a game on a cell phone/ipad. Both of those activities keep the kids occupied.

My child is past the age of coloring, and we have a no cell phone rule at the table, but it doesn't bother me if other parents have their children use them to play games.

As long as people's actions aren't directly impacting me and my family, it doesn't matter what others are doing to keep themselves occupied. They aren't on my vacation and they aren't spending my money, so they get to do whatever they want with their free time (within legal limits).

 

[HippieChickadee]

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

I agree and I posted something similar in hopes of planting a seed that when you are out with your family, put the electronics away and live in the moment you're in.

I got a ton of comments saying "Mind your own business" "Don't worry about what other people are doing" "I use my phone for apps for wait times- there is nothing wrong with that" etc etc etc

Totally missed the point and just furthered my opinion on the topic.

STOP LIVING BEHIND A SCREEN!

STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHO YOU AREN'T WITH!

STOP POSTING YOUR EVERY MOVE WHILE "LIVING"!

Let the hateful comments begin

 

[tjmj9801]

I love to share this blog post whenever I see others complaining about iPhone use. Seems this is turning into another "mommy wars" subject and I wish people would just stop judging. If you had time to people observe that much, you weren't spending too much time with your own family.

http://www.scarymommy.com/dear-mom-judging-me/

Edit to add: my husband is very involved in his job and must stay connected with his customers or we won't HAVE the money for Disney.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Paying attention to emails, apps, touring plans or texts = bad

Paying attention to other guests and what they do = good

amirite?

 

[Raenstoirm]

I remember last year during a vacation at the shore we went out to eat and noticed that almost every table was filled with families and everyone was sitting there playing on or staring at some electronic device. We actually felt out of place because we werent. Its not limited to vacation destinations either, its the same at all the local restaurants too. Its is kind of sad.

This happened to us not that long ago...mom, dad and 2ish year old daughter. She was sitting at a local restaurant playing on an iPhone. I assumed it was mom's or dad's and didnt think much of it. Throughout the meal though, both mom and dad pulled out their own iphones! The kid had her own iphone and she was 2! I love living in Washington DC, people have a lot of disposable cash!

 

[luvmy3]

I don't care what other families do, they can ignore eachother for the entire week, they can play on their electronic devices until their eyes are bloodshot and they've given themselves a nasty case of carpal tunnel. I still think its sad that it has come to that though.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I love to share this blog post whenever I see others complaining about iPhone use. Seems this is turning into another "mommy wars" subject and I wish people would just stop judging. If you had time to people observe that much, you weren't spending too much time with your own family.

http://www.scarymommy.com/dear-mom-judging-me/

Exactly, this isn't about phones...it's about criticizing others for something
someone else doesn't do.

Personally, I can't see how a mother daughter judging session is any better than being on a phone or iPad.

 

[wordwitt]

While I understand the sentiment, judging others about whose lives you know nothing and with whom you are only in contact with for a short period of time is bad form as well IMO. There is certainly a bigger societal shift at play here that encourages electronic connections, but calling out people as bad parents because they're on their phones is probably unnecessary. I was on my phone plenty while at WDW with two twelve year old girls in May, and a lot of times that phone time involved sending my husband and my daughter's friend's mom texts and photos from our trip because neither my husband nor my daughter's friend's family could accompany us. Many times the girls contributed to the messages being sent. It doesn't mean I was "checked out;" rather, I was trying to include others in our trip. Additionally, I am a lawyer, and when stuff happens unexpectedly at work, I am obligated to respond whether or not I am on vacation. It's called "malpractice avoidance" and I practice it.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Totally missed the point and just furthered my opinion on the topic.

STOP LIVING BEHIND A SCREEN!

STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHO YOU AREN'T WITH!

STOP POSTING YOUR EVERY MOVE WHILE "LIVING"!

Let the hateful comments begin

You can have those opinions.

While we are all free to create our family culture, I just don't see the point in judging other parents who do things differently.

Live and let live I say

 

[ajgardner]

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

I agree - my DH is one of these people and it frustrates me - BUT there are 2 alternatives 1. We don't go on vacation as a family so he can stay home and work or 2. He sits in the hotel room answering emails while we are at the park completely without him. So, in order for him to enjoy the parks with his family he will take 5-10 minutes here and there throughout the day doing work emails at the park (usually standing in line while I'm talking/playing with the kids). While I understand his need to do so, it does bother me sometimes and can see where others looking at the situation may find it disturbing - but we all have to do the best we can. He makes triple my pay and we are able to take nice vacations because of his work, so there are some sacrifices that sometimes need to be made... so, it can be hard to judge without knowing the situation, it's just the world we live in today.