Small children in restaurants

[daemon]

Now i appreciate parents with small kids have every right to dine out, etc, but there really seems to be no consideration given these days to other diners. In various restaurants we've frequented this year :-

Kids running about
Kids encouraged to batter spoons off the table by loving parents / grandparents
Children handed an ipad or tablet and encouraged to watch cartoons with the volume up
Parents with kids invariably sitting right in the middle of the restaurant, so no matter what, everyone else has to suffer their noisy ill mannered kids
Small children / babies crying and being ignored by parents
Restaurants attempting to seat couples right beside or in the middle of groups of tables with parents and children
Restaurants making no attempt to keep family groups in one area of the restaurant.
Children being allowed to shout instead of being encouraged to speak quietly to each other / parents

If its a cheapie / family oriented restaurant then fine, but these groups just "take over" and seem to think all of the above is ok and not an issue.

If i wanted to eat among screaming kids running about i'd go to McDonalds.

[randlemarcus]

People are ill mannered oiks, for the most part. I find that increasing the number of Michelin stars sorts this out.

[Djtemeka]

A lot of that is down to ignorant parents but we spent the last. Hour of our flight last night listening to someone's kid (2-3yr old) screaming in a tantrum on the plane. I could see the parents wanting to just hide in embarrassment and the other 200 of us wanting to push the little tt out the plane at altitude.
I'm not a parent but not once did we hear the parents tell the kid off. This kid was old enough to walk properly and old. Enough to be without a dummy. It was 2am in the morning though. Once off the plane the little troll was skipping around like a princess again. Little bd.

[ewenm]

daemon said:

Now i appreciate parents with small kids have every right to dine out, etc, but there really seems to be no consideration given these days to other diners. In various restaurants we've frequented this year :-

Kids running about
Kids encouraged to batter spoons off the table by loving parents / grandparents
Children handed an ipad or tablet and encouraged to watch cartoons with the volume up
Parents with kids invariably sitting right in the middle of the restaurant, so no matter what, everyone else has to suffer their noisy ill mannered kids
Small children / babies crying and being ignored by parents
Restaurants attempting to seat couples right beside or in the middle of groups of tables with parents and children
Restaurants making no attempt to keep family groups in one area of the restaurant.
Children being allowed to shout instead of being encouraged to speak quietly to each other / parents

If its a cheapie / family oriented restaurant then fine, but these groups just "take over" and seem to think all of the above is ok and not an issue.

If i wanted to eat among screaming kids running about i'd go to McDonalds.

Inconsiderate parents.

[daemon]

randlemarcus said:

People are ill mannered oiks, for the most part. I find that increasing the number of Michelin stars sorts this out.

Good call - however no Michelin star restaurants here in Northern Ireland.

[2ono]

My daughter is 6 years old, she regularly comes out to all types of restaurants with us, has done from an early age, however she knows how to behave, says yes please and no thank you etc etc, it is surprising how the attitude of waiting staff changes when they are dealing with a polite child. But it is very hard when you are out and there are other parents letting their children run around, misbehave etc, invariably she will ask 'they are doing X why can't I do it'

I agree completely it is poor parenting, if you can't control your children, then simply do not bring them out.

[Chris Type R]

Djtemeka said:

A lot of that is down to ignorant parents but we spent the last. Hour of our flight last night listening to someone's kid (2-3yr old) screaming in a tantrum on the plane. I could see the parents wanting to just hide in embarrassment and the other 200 of us wanting to push the little tt out the plane at altitude.
I'm not a parent but not once did we hear the parents tell the kid off. This kid was old enough to walk properly and old. Enough to be without a dummy. It was 2am in the morning though. Once off the plane the little troll was skipping around like a princess again. Little bd.

Could have been due to ear ache from the pressure change.

[daemon]

ewenm said:

Inconsiderate parents.

We went to a lovely manor house retreat a couple of weekends ago for a long weekend and opted for "Afternoon Tea" one afternoon. Lovely private room overlooking the 1500 acre grounds, superb waiter service, great ambience, nice relaxing music being played. Beautiful.

Next thing in trots a mother, her 18 month old son, and an over indulgent grandmother who fawned over the child, followed by a waiter with a high chair from the restaurant. It ran about, screamed, shouted, threw food about, was in and out of its high chair and they gave it her iphone with some loud cartoon playing on it, which the child never asked for or watched but they kept it on anyway, totally drowed out the subtle background music and just totally lost for us the relaxing afternoon we had planned.

Total disregard for others.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Go to better restaurants...

Its not kids its rude people, if it wasn't their kids it would be other issues.

As on another thread I eat out with my 1 year old and teenagers loads, if its a special occasion quite late as well. We just ask to be seated away from other people if possible and make sure our little one stays entertained and makes no noise. We only stick to decent independent restaurants where they welcome us and all the staff love my daughter smiling at them, as a table we are quieter than a table full of adults.

[TheEnd]

I've seen it before in a Wetherspoons, dad sits down with a pint and the obligatory carrier bag, kids run up and down the pub and gather every sauce sachet possible.

[daemon]

Chris Type R said:

Could have been due to ear ache from the pressure change.

Could have, but typically thats on descent.

Moreoften i think kids arent in any way controlled or expected to sit quietly at any time at home, so the child rebels when its suddenly expected to do so.

Brings up another point - why cant airplanes group parents with small children at one end of the plane or the other? Why are they allowed to spread out all over the plane?

[GOG440]

I have had 3 kids.
Not once as one of my children done any of the things in your rant because I am a very old fashioned parent in that I have taught my kids how to behave properly. I have never had any concerns about taking any of my kids anywhere because of this.
I'm not trying to be cocky about this but I have 3 polite, well adjusted children I am very proud of.

[daemon]

2ono said:

My daughter is 6 years old, she regularly comes out to all types of restaurants with us, has done from an early age, however she knows how to behave, says yes please and no thank you etc etc, it is surprising how the attitude of waiting staff changes when they are dealing with a polite child. But it is very hard when you are out and there are other parents letting their children run around, misbehave etc, invariably she will ask 'they are doing X why can't I do it'

I agree completely it is poor parenting, if you can't control your children, then simply do not bring them out.

+1

When my fella was wee we either didnt take him or took him when he was old enough to appreciate the experience.

[ClaphamGT3]

We took our six and eight year-old daughters to Hakkasan on Saturday as a 'summer holiday is nearly over' treat. They behaved impeccably - as we expect them to - and my wife and I commented that it was just like going out with two adults; almost no need to pick up on table manners or general behaviour at all.

On Sunday, my wife took them to Pizza Express for a children's lunch party with 8 of their school friends. Apparently it was a nightmare with constant need to reinforce expected behaviour and admonish bad behaviour - all because of the poor behaviour of the others.

Short version: it's all about the parenting

[daemon]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Go to better restaurants...

All very well but how far upmarket do you have to go before over indulged children arent tolerated?

Plus where we leave, you'd need to travel 40 miles each way to get to the finest eateries. And even then you're not guaranteed theres not going to be a family with small kids / large group there.

TwistingMyMelon said:

Its not kids its rude people, if it wasn't their kids it would be other issues.

As on another thread I eat out with my 1 year old and teenagers loads, if its a special occasion quite late as well. We just ask to be seated away from other people if possible and make sure our little one stays entertained and makes no noise. We only stick to decent independent restaurants where they welcome us and all the staff love my daughter smiling at them, as a table we are quieter than a table full of adults.

+1

Totally agree.

Most arent like you or i though.

[daemon]

GOG440 said:

I have had 3 kids.
Not once as one of my children done any of the things in your rant because I am a very old fashioned parent in that I have taught my kids how to behave properly. I have never had any concerns about taking any of my kids anywhere because of this.
I'm not trying to be cocky about this but I have 3 polite, well adjusted children I am very proud of.

And to be honest - i think part of my "rant" is because i, like you, am considerate towards others, and we certainly were when my boy was wee.

We called in at a hotel recently for saturday afternoon lunch. Nothing fancy, but its nice food, nice staff and never too busy.

Family of 6 sits in the booth behind us - first thing they do is get the free wireless password and the 8 year old then starts streaming some TV programme with the volume up loud. I did the whole "glare" thing a couple of times at the mother, but nope it just continued. We just moved after a few mins when we knew it was going to persist to the other side of the restaurant but really? what part of people thinks thats ok?

[robinessex]

My Daughter and son-in-law bought some 'how to bring up your kids books' before the event. Needless to say, the kids never read the books, thus didn't know the rules, and mayhem unsued. Funny thing though, they behave when we look after them !!!

[LordGrover]

TheEnd said:

I've seen it before in a Wetherspoons, dad sits down with a pint and the obligatory carrier bag, kids run up and down the pub and gather every sauce sachet possible.

Surely that's a good thing?
I'd much prefer they stick to Wetherspoons than proper pubs/restaurants.

[daemon]

ClaphamGT3 said:

We took our six and eight year-old daughters to Hakkasan on Saturday as a 'summer holiday is nearly over' treat. They behaved impeccably - as we expect them to - and my wife and I commented that it was just like going out with two adults; almost no need to pick up on table manners or general behaviour at all.

On Sunday, my wife took them to Pizza Express for a children's lunch party with 8 of their school friends. Apparently it was a nightmare with constant need to reinforce expected behaviour and admonish bad behaviour - all because of the poor behaviour of the others.

Short version: it's all about the parenting

And therein lies the crux - if the child is old enough to appreciate the experience then great. However moreoften its ill mannered parents with small children who are very happy if they're running about as it means they dont have to bother with them.

[ewenm]

daemon said:

And to be honest - i think part of my "rant" is because i, like you, am considerate towards others, and we certainly were when my boy was wee.

We called in at a hotel recently for saturday afternoon lunch. Nothing fancy, but its nice food, nice staff and never too busy.

Family of 6 sits in the booth behind us - first thing they do is get the free wireless password and the 8 year old then starts watching youtube loudly. I did the whole "glare" thing a couple of times at the mother, but nope it just continued. We just moved eventually, to the other side of the restaurant but really? what part of people thinks thats ok?

Leave TripAdvisor reviews complimenting the food (if appropriate) but negative about the inability of the restaurant staff to provide a pleasant dining environment.

Of course it's not limited to children - plenty of stag/hen parties and works meals are just as inconsiderate.