It’s Friday night, and my partner, our little one, and I are enjoying a night out. While my husband and I chat about our future vacation plans over delicious steaks, our 2-year-old is comfortably seated in her chair, headphones on, engrossed in her tablet.
Honestly, she’s quite well-behaved for a toddler during our dining outings. Sometimes we opt for a sitter when we want a break, but other times we choose family-friendly spots where we know she’ll be welcome.
For the past two years, I’ve been carting around a massive bag filled with everything I might need to manage potential chaos at a restaurant: wipes for quick clean-ups, bibs, extra outfits for messy meals, and an arsenal of quiet toys. We’ve got crayons, coloring books, stickers, dolls, dinosaur figures, and even a pretend phone. It’s practically a full-on supply kit that sometimes requires an extra chair to hold it all!
Despite my best efforts, even the most entertaining toys can only capture her attention for about 30 minutes. Fun fact: toddlers aren’t exactly known for their ability to sit still! Those who claim otherwise are likely kidding themselves or maybe even using some sort of magic.
By the time our warm food arrives, my sweet child morphs into a tiny tornado ready to unleash chaos—salt shakers may get dumped, and ear-piercing screams are on the horizon. Courteous toddlers? They belong in fairy tales, right next to dragons and mythical heroes.
At this point, I have a few options: take her outside to cool off, distract her with whatever’s on the table, or let her wreak havoc while I try to enjoy a warm meal—an elusive goal for many parents. More often than not, I end up with a lukewarm meal to-go, which I usually forget on top of the car as I drive off.
After yet another round of buying coloring books and stickers that fail to keep her entertained, I finally caved and got her a learning tablet. I budgeted for this screen-time solution alongside my own wine and beer allowance. Why? Because at the end of the day, I’m exhausted and just want a warm meal and some adult conversation with my spouse.
I often hear about the dangers of screen time for children, and I feel the weight of guilt when I read articles claiming these devices are detrimental. But the reality is, my daughter isn’t glued to a screen all day. She sees my iPad as a gateway to her grandparents, ready for her to sing “Twinkle Twinkle” anytime she wants. She enjoys about 95% of her day off-screen; a little educational fun with Elmo for a short time each month isn’t going to turn her into a zombie. It allows me to savor a meal and finish a sentence with my husband.
Now, our dining experiences have changed significantly. There’s no longer a need for an extra seat for my bag, and we can all engage in quiet conversation while she enjoys her tablet. When her restlessness kicks in, the tablet makes a reappearance, like a magic trick at our favorite restaurant. She stays entertained for a solid 30 minutes while we finish our meal.
Then, I overhear someone nearby tsking, “These kids and their devices! Can’t parents engage with them and teach them to sit at the table?” Trust me, from dawn until bedtime, I’m face-to-face with my little one, teaching her table manners and encouraging her to behave in public.
But, let’s be real—toddler energy is a force of nature. I have two hours in a public setting where I need her to behave so we can all enjoy our meals. You only saw a snapshot of our lives for a mere 10 minutes and judged our parenting approach. If you believe that a bit of screen time is ruining children, perhaps you should consider a lifestyle change that even the Amish would find outdated. Good luck posting about that on social media!
For more on parenting challenges and solutions, check out our other blog posts on home insemination.
In summary, I’ve learned to embrace the balance of technology and traditional parenting. A little screen time can help us enjoy family outings without sacrificing our sanity or our meals. Remember, parenting is about finding what works for you and your family!