I don't have kids, but I know exactly what you mean, I've seen it myself on many occasions.

I think for the duration of a meal, it's not unreasonable to eat without the need for electronic devices.

You have the right idea. It's not old fashioned at all.

You are being argumentative

I know what you mean... that said, I have blessed the ipad being given to a certain hyperactive little boy!  (not mine btw)   

I did once get very annoyed with a child who continued to text and play on his phone all during a business dinner though - I thought at 23 he would have had more manners.    

I have been out and seen this ,I think it's a bliddy disgrace .

I also hate it when people text ,all phones are switched off when we go out to eat .

I don't do this as i tend to agree with you Cinds., My eldest daughters phone is never present at the dinner table (at home or while out) and tablets, Xbox, PC and laptops are only for the weekend.

I have however been known to give Minime my phone while out (not planned to) if she's really being a little madam, as i just want to finish up quickly and get out so's not to disturb other people too much.

Oh and the only apps she plays on my phone are teaching to write letters and numbers

Well unless she opens WWF and starts new games with EVERYONE!! But that's only happened once or twice lol

There should be an App on how to discipline your kids

By all means once the meal is over and when perhaps the adults are discussing things that are of no interest to kids, but then again, the onus is on the oldies to include the kids in the conversation anyway.  What's the point of eating together if you're going to ignore each other?

Your mum would have found it useful methinks

I'm a good boy, i'll have you know

God, how depressing

Thank you, well most of you, for your replies

Jen, the boy isn't allowed his phone at the table either.

The first time we saw it was a couple of months ago and the family had 3 kids, all young and nose buried in their tablets, but each was watching/playing something different so the volumes kept getting louder and louder. I almost had steam coming out of my ears. Then as I couldn't take it anymore and went to say something I realised Dad was also watching a football match on his tablet, at that point I was so close to asking the poor lonely mother if she would prefer to dine with us.

Well, my kids are a little older than 10 now, but we used to take pens, paper, books and the odd toy ... I suppose this is just the modern day equivalent.  

I'd make a 'no sound' rule though ... deffo

You really should have done ... that sounds awful, they might just as well have stayed at home

  The only 'sound' should be conversation.

I think parents let their kids take that kind of stuff to dinner so that they aren't trying to run around disturbing other diners or making a fuss about having to sit there when they're done.  I don't see any harm in it as long as it's simply to keep them from disturbing others rather than them having it so as not to disturb the parents.....otherwise why even bother taking them with you!

Parents should be able to take their kids out to eat without having to worry about their kids disturbing others. When we go out with younger members of the family it would never be a problem for others ,our kids can and do conduct themselves in the appropriate way . I don't get it to be honest!

TBH Rexi, many child friendly restaurants provide those, and I have no problem with that because they get taken away when the meal arrives, or at least moved to one side.  Also, when a child is drawing they are always telling you about their picture, so they're socialising to some degree.

I know what you're saying Ells, but shouldn't the parents be parents and stop the child running around or being too noisy. If we're going out with a group and some are bringing kids, we ask are they 'restaurant trained'? Sounds harsh I know, but believe me, I have a friend who I have been friends with since childhood and she had kids from the age of 19, and had 6 very quickly, so we never really dined out together. We took her and her partner out for dinner for her 40th and she was NOT restaurant trained. Needless to say, we still go out with them for drinks, but never again for dinner.

They should be, but not all kids are well behaved little angels.  Having them play on their DS or iPad isn't much different from them colouring in etc.....which no-one ever has a problem with.  

Kids will be kids and sometimes they get bored.  Nothing wrong with trying to pre-occupy them in order to be able to finish your meal and let others finish theirs in peace too.....doesn't mean they aren't being brought up well just because they get bored after their dinner.

10 years ago, and I remember it, because it was the a Sunday before Mr C and I married. We took the boy out for dinner and there was an elderly couple sat next to us. When we got up to leave the lady caught me and complimented us on how well behaved the boy had been (he was 6) and how lovely his manners were.  Mr Cinds and I walked out of there feeling 10 ft tall and very proud. As we left the restaurant and got back on to the street, the boy suddenly went "oh god I've waited for this" and let out a fart so big I'm surprised it didn't launch him. But, at least he waited until he'd left the restaurant. 

I get it, I do.  I don't need to bring devices for my kids to dinner because they're fine but I do understand both sides of it.  Some parents are mortified if their kids play up.....some don't give a shit.  I'd rather see a kid with an iPad than have to listen to some rascal running around me in a restaurant. 

I have no problem if it came out after dinner to keep them happy until the others have finished. What I'm talking about is it being given as soon as they sit down and being used throughout the meal.

I know it's not relevant to the main topic here but it does remind me of the time I was pregnant with my first and my OH and I were out having dinner.  I was just tucking into my ice-cream dessert when this absolute shit of a kid came running past, stopped at my table, licked his dirty little finger and stuck it in my ice cream.  

That kid needed an iPad.  

Oh well my argument is for AFTER the meal.  Not at all during the meal.  Why not just leave them at home.  The point of a family meal is to interact with the family.  

Yeah, but where would you have shoved the ipad, Ells..? 

Right up his iNose 

WHAT? I would have had a word with his parents. 

But on the flip side, did it not make you think, I will never ever allow my child to go on like that in a restaurant.

Exactly

I went into such a rage, I probably came out of there looking much worse than him.    His mother didn't even apologise but instead made me out to be a lunatic.  I did react like a lunatic though

Yeah but in your defence:

a. You hadn't spent dinner looking at a tablet device.

b. You had pregnancy hormones.

c. Her kid was a brat.

.... smacking him across the back of head