What about restaurants w/ TVs?

[earthgirl]

Last night we went out to eat, which we hardly ever do. They sat us near a TV and DD (17 mos.) was GLUED to it. It was actually kind of funny b/c it was wrestling on a Spanish channel and sadly we are not a bilingual family. Anyway, it got me wondering to what length some of you go to to keep your LOs TV-free. In this situation, would you ask to be seated at another table? Just avoid the place? (We think the TV was new at this place b/c we don't ever remember seeing it before.) Would you just put up w/ it? Just curious.

[BaBaBa]

It wouldn't bother me at all.

Our home is TV free primarily because it's detrimental to a child's development. It's all too easy to become caught up in a TV lifestyle where it's always on in the background. We found it easier to go cold turkey then to limit it or become selective.

Catching glimpses of TV occasionally while outside of the home won't undo all the good you've done by keeping it out of the home.

[JamieCatheryn]

I hate resturants with TVs everywhere you look, TV distracts me too much and I can't enjoy a conversation with someone or notice my food. I end up seeming rude because someone's talking to me and I can't listen. I don't go to such resturants.

[sunnysandiegan]

Originally Posted by earthgirl

In this situation, would you ask to be seated at another table? Just avoid the place? (We think the TV was new at this place b/c we don't ever remember seeing it before.) Would you just put up w/ it? Just curious.

If I liked the food at this particular place, I would just scope the place out for alternate seating options and choose differently next time. I wouldn't have done anything at the time unless turning it off at your table was an option. (Some places have the TVs right in your booth and we simply turn those off.)

I am easily distracted by the movements on the TV and I dislike trying to talk over the noise. I tend to avoid places that have large TVs in prominent places (unless we are there to watch a sporting event or something along those lines). DD is 7 now, so I am less concerned about her viewing the TV. Her life is not going to change from seeing it here and there. My bigger concern is that eating dinner is a family event for us and we like to discuss our respective day and enjoy our food, etc. The TV distracts from both of these for our family.

Depending on how important it was to me, I would let management know how I felt about the new TV. In our city, dining out is super easy with LOTS of choices, so I wouldn't make it known. I'd simply choose elsewhere to spend my dining budget. If, however, I were in a small town and dining choices were limited and/or this particular place was well-liked by my family, then I definitely would politely let the owner/manager know. It gives the person in charge information and you never know if others feel the same way. I wouldn't make a big deal of it, either way, however.

[zinemama]

I really don't go to any lengths to keep my kids from being exposed to tv outside the home. (Which is easy, since most of their friends don't watch a lot.) We don't have one and never will - but at the in-laws a few times a year (where it's on constantly) or in a waiting room or restaurant isn't going to bother me at all.

I was raised without tv, but my mother was super uptight about us watching it. She couldn't stand the idea of us watching tv at Grandma's (which of course, we loved doing, and I have such happy memories of Bewitched and MASH reruns at her apartment).

Anyway, as someone who grew up without tv but was exposed to a fair bit of it along the way, yet grew up to be tv-free, I always determined to be more laid back with my own kids about it than my mother was.

[alexsam]

I also try not to stress it. I think it can become the forbidden fruit. Also, media is important for children to understand, even if the amount in the home is very limited.

So, our stance is basically that TV is not part of our daily lives. A video when home sick, a special movie night with popcorn for older kids, a bit of TV in an airplane or snuggling to watch Sesame Street with grandma- I think it can be fun without being controling. So, in sum, I try not to make a big deal of it as long as it is age appropriate and doesn't interfere with other things going on. Honestly, without a TV in the house this amounts to a very little amount of time- maybe, 15 hours a year?

My only trouble with TV in resteraunts is that it detracts from the conversation. I generally ask to be seated somewhere where it is not doing that. But again, I try not to stress it too much.

[Savoir Faire]

I don't see it as a problem...if you only go places where there are NO TVs...you'll probably not be visiting most restaurants (at least in my town). I find them annoying...but we just deal. The kids tend to forget when the food comes, anyway.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Originally Posted by alexsam

I also try not to stress it. I think it can become the forbidden fruit. Also, media is important for children to understand, even if the amount in the home is very limited.

I agree totally. I actually (with my older kid) am glad a teeny bit glad when she sees something boring on a TV while we're out - at 4, CNN on mute is totally not worth paying attention too. The way I see it, you're never going to be able to raise her kid without any TV exposure at all, and occasional glimpses seem to make it less of a big deal. She knows other kids watch TV programming and she thinks it's incredibly boring.

[Hannahsmummy]

I do try and avoid TV whenever I can but I do understand that there are times when that's just not possible.
However, I absolutely cannot stand TVs in restaurants, same for loud music. Why isn't food and conversation enough?!

My daughter becomes absolutely mesmerized by the screen if she can see it and will constantly ask about what's happening or shout out what she sees on it. She cannot concentrate on her food and isn't able to follow a conversation. So, if we know that there will be an unavoidable screen we avoid that place.
Otherwise we'll ask to sit somewhere where the screen isn't visible.

[loraxc]

We sit someplace where you can't see it well if we go to restaurants with it. That's almost more for my sake--I find TV really distracting in restaurants. DD is apt to watch it for a few minutes then ignore it anyway.

[shanniesue2]

Now, I don't mind if I go over to a friend or family member's house and TV is on. But it really annoys me at restaurants. There we are, trying to have a nice meal, and DH and/or I are zoned out because the restaurant has a TV with an episode of the Simpson's or something. I have actually asked in 2 different restaurants for them to turn the TV off. And both have been willing to do so. Seriously, can people not go without TV long enough to go out for a nice meal and conversation with each other???? I mean it only takes a couple hours to go out to dinner. I'm sure that whatever is on TV during that time can wait or will be just fine going unwatched. And if it really is so important for people to watch that show. Well, then JUST STAY HOME! :::

okay, somebody needs to knock the soapbox out from under me before I lose control.

[mama_at_home]

I think TVs in restaurants are obnoxious. I thought the point of going out to eat was to enjoy each other's company and talk? But it doesn't bother me for my kids to get occasional exposure to TV. We let them watch a few minutes of TV at Costco when we go.