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PaperclipPerfector  2mo ago (text post)   2292 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 3, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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How badly behaved is the average four year old? Should they be crying and loud in public or is it reasonable to have them sit quietly at a restaurant for an hour or so with enough discipline?

Depends on the mood of my kids. I can definitely get them to not be loud at that age. Sitting still? No chance.

Problem is that discipline leads to loud crying so teaching them to behave in a new environment is going to require a few instances where they make a huge scene. We take our daughters out to eat pretty often, so we sort of got through the rough moments when they were 3yo.

Distraction is often necessary. We bring our own toys and sometimes snacks if the restaurant food isn't something they'll go for.

I often see even very young children holding tablets or phones and swiping, swiping as they are ignored, unseen and unheard, by the adults at the table with them. I suppose it works as a way to keep them occupied, but I wonder what effect this has, or will have later, on their attention spans.

I see mine get in a similar zone when coloring or playing with stickers. Do any kids have good attention spans?

We just took them to the Natural History Museum today, and they were fascinated and running off towards all kinds of exhibits. Thought they tended to think that every screen was a touch screen, and were extra interested in even the slightest "interactive" feature.

I guess that would be short attention spans but I remember being the same way when I was a young child.

Screens don't even work to consistently keep them entertained. We try and save their tablets for long car rides since they tend to burn out on them and get bored after a few hours (doesn't have to be concurrent time).

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