Hand in your phones... so your children can eat free

FOR many families, mealtimes are no longer an opportunity to bond and share news but a running battle over the use of mobile phones at the table.

So a restaurant plans to get them talking over dinner again – by taking their phones in return for free children’s meals.

The No Phone Zone campaign at Frankie & Benny’s starts today. Families who want to take part will be given a box to put on their table into which they put their phones.

If they manage to leave their devices alone for the whole meal, their children’s food will be free.

The firm, which has 250 restaurants, said diners do not have to take part, but staff will be encouraged to get them to participate. The scheme runs until next Friday, but could

be extended if it’s popular. Parenting expert Susan Atkins said: ‘I love the idea of families eating and chatting away from screens.’

Frankie & Benny’s carried out a nationwide survey of 1,500 children and parents, asking about their mobile phone use.

Despite the familiar parental complaint that children are glued to their devices, the poll showed that, perhaps surprisingly, its children themselves who are annoyed about being ignored by their parents, rather than the other way round.

Some 72 per cent said they wished their parents would spend less time on their phones and more time talking to them.

Almost a third of parents admitted using their phones during mealtimes, and 7 per cent checked their screens while driving their children around. A further 2 per cent looked at their mobiles when their children were telling them about their day.

Almost 8 per cent of youngsters admitted they had hidden their parents’ devices to get their attention, while 46 per cent said they would like to confiscate their mum or dad’s phone when they use it during meals.