Comments on: Monday Teeny Poll

By: Eilish

Eilish — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:10:07 +0000

The only time we allow it is when we go out to dinner and our son finishes way before us. He is allowed to watch a movie (quietly, as in lower than conversation level) until we finish our wine. This keeps him very quiet as he has to strain to hear. He knows if he complains if goes away. He’s watching less and less actually as he gets older and likes to converse with us and every pretty waitress that walks past, so I’m not worried about him being permanently plugged in when he gets older.

By: Long Island

Long Island — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:34:23 +0000

I would/have not allowed my son to play video games at the table.

However, if it keeps your kids from bothering me during dinner then I am all for it.

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:38:20 +0000

No, I don’t have children; I’m a former longtime nanny and children’s clothing retailer with, yes, some waitstaff experience as well. I perfectly understand that you want to keep your child happy and non-disruptive to the other diners; my point is that bringing, essentially, a television along is, itself, disruptive.

Some of those headphones are really good.

By: roz

roz — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:01:22 +0000

raincoaster, do you have kids?

I won’t let my kids play video games during dinners at home, because when we sit down to eat the food is on the table already. Restaurants, however, are another matter. I will do whatever it takes to make them sit still and be quiet and not bother other people at a restaurant, so if I had the foresight to grab their Leapsters on the way out the door, hell yes I’d let them play with them.

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:37:03 +0000

But…you mean other people have to listen to Finding Nemo? At a restaurant? Or does he have headphones?

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:09:10 +0000

Hmm, I wish there had been an “depends on the age of the child/the situation” option. Because there are times we take the portable dvd player out to dinner with us for my 3 yr old to watch a video on after he’s done eating and it’s still a while before we’ll be finished. It’s not all the time and we don’t watch tv at home during meals (we don’t have one) but sometimes we have to eat out and I know it’ll be a strain on him, so we compromise.

By: class-factotum

class-factotum — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:22:59 +0000

Mamafitz, my dad would answer the phone at supper, say, “We’re eating. Call back later.” and hang up if it was one of our friends. He couldn’t just ignore the phone b/c of his job (he was in the military), but social calls were never acceptable during a meal.

By: Brian's Babymomma

Brian's Babymomma — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:02:38 +0000

I have a sister who is much younger than myself. She absolutely hates eating at my house because I make her turn the television off and eat with the rest of us at the table.

My own children are too young to play video games or talk on a phone. But in restaurants, they are allowed a small number of quiet toys to entertain themselves, and one of us parents usually runs them around outside after we order and before the food arrives. But for the meal and afterward, they must sit quietly at the table.

By: TeleriB

TeleriB — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:46:29 +0000

My husband and I were both voracious readers as children, and were both made to put the book down for dinner. We were both indignant about it at the time, and both understand now why it was done, and agree. And if it goes for books, it goes double for gizmos.

By: gemdiva

gemdiva — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:11:14 +0000

Truth be told, I’m ticked off when adults answer their phones/blackberries in the middle of a meal. Totally rude!