Restaurant sparks debate over children in cafes

[Rolfe]

Restaurant sparks debate over children in cafes

"Are we child friendly? If you are looking for a cafe with a children’s menu, baby chinos, a play area, lounges for your children to jump on, vast space for your prams, an area for your children to run rampant, and annoy other customers, while you are oblivious to them — then the short answer is No, we are not child friendly. HOWEVER, if you would like to bring your children here and they are happy to sit at a table with you, while you enjoy a coffee, and are well behaved, please come in. Otherwise, there are plenty of places that are specifically designed to entertain your children.”

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/10/23/australian-restaurant-sparks-debate-over-children-in-cafes/

Apparently, this has caused a minor uproar. Is the owner of the restaurant off base?

 

[carpro]

Restaurant sparks debate over children in cafes



Apparently, this has caused a minor uproar. Is the owner of the restaurant off base?

Unfortunately, no.

Too many parents do not watch their children, nor make them mind.

 

[annsni]

That would be just the place I would have wanted to visit with my babies. Forget the stuff geared toward them - I hated those place! Chuckie Cheese has alcohol for a reason. No. If I want to go to a nice cafe and have a cup of java, I would have brought my well behaved kids/babies and enjoyed the time.

 

[carpro]

That would be just the place I would have wanted to visit with my babies. Forget the stuff geared toward them - I hated those place! Chuckie Cheese has alcohol for a reason. No. If I want to go to a nice cafe and have a cup of java, I would have brought my well behaved kids/babies and enjoyed the time.

There you go!

You can take your well behaved kiddos there and enjoy the visit without having to put up with the kids that are running wild.

 

[annsni]

I remember the time that we dropped my girls off at camp and then spent the day/night in Albany, NY. It was hubby, my 21 month old son and myself. We decided to go to dinner across the street from the restaurant and when we entered, we realized it was a fancier restaurant. They greeted us at the door and sat us at our table with a high chair for my son. We had a lovely meal while my son munched on some of our food, a little of his own and he played quietly with the toys we brought.

There was another family at the restaurant with a child about the same age as my son and we noticed someone was constantly walking around with the child. Walking inside, outside, up and down through the restaurant - each adult taking turns so the others could eat. I didn't pay much attention to them but did notice this walking around. When we were getting ready to leave, one of the men at the other table asked us "How does your son sit so nicely at the table??" He was shocked when we told him that this is all he knows. From the time he was an infant, he sat at the table with us and stayed there until everyone was finished. First he was in my arms. Then he was in the reclining high chair. As he grew, we brought the high chair upright and began giving him toys then some solid food to play with. But all through his life, he knew when we sat down to eat, we stayed there. We eat dinner together as a family every night and there is an expectation that you be part of the family and stay at the table until everyone is finished and you are excused. That little boy will be 14 in a week and we still all sit together and enjoy each other's company even after dinner is finished - ALL of us from the 11 year old to the 24 year old to mom and dad. Oh and the rule is no electronics at meal time either.

So bottom line, it's what the child is taught and what is expected from them. Expect them to be disruptive and they will. Expect them to sit politely - and this takes some teaching sometimes - and they will.

 

[Gina B]

I agree with the owner. It would be nice to have more places where customers know they can really relax and get a break from everything.

On the other hand, I'm usually pretty tolerant with kids and it tends to bother me when others are not. You never know what is going on with a child. Does the child have a disability that makes being still or quiet very difficult? Has the child recently experienced trauma? There are so many possibilities that may explain behaviors besides "the kid's just a brat with bad parents." However, that does not mean it isn't fair for others to want a peaceful meal away from home sometimes, so if some places want to provide that, hurray!

 

[Rolfe]

us "How does your son sit so nicely at the table??" He was shocked when we told him that this is all he knows. From the time he was an infant, he sat at the table with us and stayed there until everyone was finished. First he was in my arms. Then he was in the reclining high chair. As he grew, we brought the high chair upright and began giving him toys then some solid food to play with. But all through his life, he knew when we sat down to eat, we stayed there. We eat dinner together as a family every night and there is an expectation that you be part of the family and stay at the table until everyone is finished and you are excused. That little boy will be 14 in a week and we still all sit together and enjoy each other's company even after dinner is finished - ALL of us from the 11 year old to the 24 year old to mom and dad.

This sounds exactly how we were raised. :thumbs: Are you Svensk? :laugh:

 

[Revmitchell]

I hate to go anywhere there are unruly and screaming kids. My own kids have never liked all that noise and disruption.

 

[Salty]

From the link in the OP: Some Facebook users called the original status “arrogant” and an “attack on parents,” ..."

So called adults who allow their children to misbehave as stated in the link have no right to be called parents.

I hate to go anywhere there are unruly and screaming kids. My own kids have never liked all that noise and disruption.

RevMitchell - the only thing worse than that is when children behave like that during a church service. (and I am tired of it - especially when the pastor says it is not a problem.)

 

[annsni]

This sounds exactly how we were raised. :thumbs: Are you Svensk? :laugh:

Mostly French but raised in a 100% Irish family.