This One Goes Out To The Parents Who Give Their Kids Tablets In Restaurants

Oct 15, 2018 by apost team

This is for the couple who were out to dinner at the same restaurant as me last week:

I almost stopped to speak with you before I left, but I really didn’t want to say something and cause a scene.

Besides, I didn’t want to call you out in front of those beautiful kids of yours, who looked to be about 5 and 7-years-old. Anyway, from the moment you sat across from our table I couldn’t help but notice you.

I noticed as soon as you handed both of your children their own tablet.

As your children swiped and tapped at the iPads in their hands, you and your dinner companion talked and laughed the whole meal. You never interrupted your children unless it was to remind them to clean their faces off now and again.

Your kids ordered what they wanted without ever looking at their server. They didn’t pay much attention to their food when it was set down in front of them.

They kept their eyes on their iPads as they mechanically reached across for more french fries or another chicken tender.

apost.com

It can be downright impossible to find adult alone time. If you have a reliable babysitter, they can be expensive; and sometimes, you just don’t have the cash to justify paying them for a night out alone.

But I have three children, two that are in their 20s and were raised without digital devices, and one who is 10-years-old and is being raised with the digital times.

I do feel as though I have the experience to reflect on what I have seen.

Yes, a digital-free meal is going to take more effort.

You will both have to pay close attention to your children’s behavior. You’ll have to keep tabs on what they are doing. It isn’t going to allow you the chance to reminisce over a cold glass of wine. But I am imploring you to actually give it a whirl. I can name five good reasons why you shouldn’t bring electronic devices to the dinner table.

How many times have you heard your child yell for you when they are playing somewhere? Your attention is hugely important to them. They want you to see and hear everything that they are doing. Yes, the iPad will distract them, but you are the one that matters the most.

It won’t be long until their attention is turned elsewhere. They will be moody, grumpy, and downright unpleasant to be around. You’ll miss all of the times they clamored for your attention. Yes, it can be challenging at the moment, but I can promise you that you’ll miss it when it is gone.

Sure, not every conversation is going to be meaningful with your child. But they need to learn the give-and-take of having a conversation, as well as how to listen to someone else and respond properly.

We all know that old saying, “you reap what you sow.” It’s true, though. Whatever you teach your children is what they are going to learn to do for the rest of their lives. Tune them out now and you can rest assured that they will do the same to you later.

You are also an example to them, whether or not you can think of yourself as a grandparent. One day they may have children and parent them exactly the same way you parented them.

You are teaching them that it is okay to annoy people around them. Not everyone wants to hear that loud video that is coming from their iPad.

I know this has come off as patronizing and for that, I am really sorry. I didn’t want it to be. Our days may seem long and never-ending, but the years do go fast. Be there as much as you can for your child, even if it means putting off that romantic dinner one more night. It will be worth it in the end.

What did you think of kids using phones and iPads during dinner? Do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments and pass this on!