Moms Talk Q&A: Taking Children to Restaurants

In this week's Moms Talk Q&A we're talking restaurant behavior.

Herndon Patch Moms Council members Barbara Welsh says, "My husband and I are major foodies, and as a result have taken our kids to restaurants since birth."

Welsh said she makes an effort to ensure her children don't roam around the restaurant or get too loud or excited. "It makes me crazy when kids get up, run around and not exhibit mannerly behavior in a restaurant," she said.

Another thing that drives her crazy—seeing children at the dinner table with a Nintendo DS or other video game in their hands. She said it seems rude for them to play a game when they should be sharing a meal and socializing at the table.

However, she adds, "It's been hard to enforce, as dad now has an iPad." She said he often totes it when he goes out and it's hard to discourage children when an adult at the same table is doing something they have been told not to do.

So what are your thoughts? How do you deal with a child's negative behavior in a restaurant—or even at the dinner table at home? Are they allowed to have iPods, Nintendos, cell phones or other devices at the table? Join our in discussing it in the comments.