[BadCat]

It seems the trend to let kids play with ithingys at restaurants is well entrenched. So I'm curious, at what age do people think it becomes inappropriate to allow kids to stick their head in a gadget while at a restaurant or cafe?

This post has been edited by BadCat: 17/11/2012, 07:38 AM

[Bek+3]

Interesting question.

I think that if it keeps them quiet, then I'm happy for them to play on my phone at a restaurant/cafe. That's if we're dining with just us though. If we are dining with friends of family, I don't find using an electronic toy at the table to be suitable at any age.

Double standards maybe but that's just me.

[mumofsky]

I generally say no to this. Dd is 11 and Id hate for it to impact her social skills - plus I think its rude to do that at a restaurant. I have allowed her to on the odd occasion where i know it will be a very long boring function.

[Apageintime]

It seems I'm one of those strange people that never thinks its ok.

[Lil Chickens]

Do you mean at what age are they old enough to be expected to sit and participate in the conversation at the table?

In our family that's now, we have no gadgets for them to bury their heads in, no iphone/ipad/gameboy etc. If we go to dinner they are both expected to sit at the table and behave. At most they will get pencils and some paper to draw with while waiting for the meal. Even DS knows to behave or we stop - that is we go home and they don't get to come again.

Once finished DD is allowed to get down off her chair as long as she stays at our table and doesn't go near other people eating. DS is allowed out of the highchair and on one of our laps -he can't yet be trusted to stay at the table.

We are mean!

[Gossipgirl]

I don't have a problem if I am out having dinner and my kids start getting a bit bored to give them my phone to play a game I would much rather they sit quite and play on my phone that to start running around annoying the other people .

Would you rather a child sitting and playing on the phone than screaming and running off?

[soontobegran]

I think pre teens and teens should be able to sit and converse with the people they are out with.
I wouldn't take them out if they had to sit and play games of any type rather than be sociable.

I sometimes give my phone to my grand children to look at the photos if they are unsettled and have given our younger kids colouring books to use once they have eaten.....they never took game boys etc (which were the craze back then) If I thought they'd be bored then they stayed at home.
I have no issue with the fact that electronics are the new colouring book, even oldies like me can accept change but I think there is a time and a place.

[Ruby Victoria]

I don't mind mu kids drawing/colouring when we are out as that is someting that does not close them off from other people. They can still have conversations and take part in general discussions at the table (if apprpriate).

Electronic gadgets are a no because they cut people off from those around them. And I also say no to reading books at a restaurant for the same reason.

[Mocha Coffee]

My children are 7 amd 9. We go out regularly and they have never been allowed to play on gadgets. Of course when they were younger we took colouring books and little cars or ponies to keep them occupied if we were going to linger. To me, it needs to be something they can look up from and be part of a conversation.

These days they rarely have anything with them. I expect them to converse with us, the other adults or children present.

I am not adverse to them taking some photos or looking at photos on my iphone if the opportunity came up, but no game playing.

We took them to Europe last year. They had no gadgets at all and we ate out nearly every day.

This post has been edited by Mocha Coffee: 17/11/2012, 07:56 AM

[kyrrie]

My two are 7 and 9 and have totally missed this trend. They are too old now to want to miss the conversation but I would think it would be around starting school. I can imagine DS would have been happier playing games a few years ago.