WASHINGTON — Friday night at 2Amys, in Northwest D.C., is nothing short of a circus — one that smells like delicious Neapolitan pizza instead of animals and popcorn.
Families with kids of all ages pack into the small restaurant to celebrate the end of another long work and school week with pizza — lots and lots of gooey, cheesy, saucy pizza. The energy is high; the kitchen is hot; the staff is bustling and the noise is lively.
But on a recent trip to the neighborhood hotspot, I noticed something new and different. Most kids were laughing with their families, clanking their forks on their glasses, impatiently dancing in their seats while their pizza was being made. But one kid sat still; he remained quiet and appeared content — even in the absence of pizza. “Best kid in the world,” I thought.
Then I noticed he was watching a cartoon on his iPad.
In a world run by technology, seeing a kid pacified for a few minutes by an iPad shouldn’t have been a surprise. I use my phone and tablet for entertainment when I am standing in line at the bank, waiting for the Metro or even when taking my dog to “make her business.”
But at the dinner table? Has the age of technology transformed the dining experience?
Leticia Barr, founder of Tech Savvy Mama, says it has — especially now that tablets and smartphones are more affordable and more common. The mom of two, ages 10 and 8, says she frequently sees digital devices at the dinner table when she dines out.
“We see parents giving them to their kids when they’re waiting in line; we see them at the table; we see kids not engaging with their parents when they’re sitting down to meals,” says Barr, who says she does not allow technology at the table.
“As a mom, it’s really important to have mealtimes where we’re creating conversations with our kids
