[Kelly]

Letting a kid watch a movie in a shopping cart is ok, as long as they know how to behave in a store and in public. The tv should not be a substitute for parental guidance etc but it also does not mean that the parent is not doing his or her job if they let their kid watch it. Grocery shopping with kids is a pain..its the summer right now and trying to read labels, look at prices, keep track of money, remember what you need while you have three kids under ten with you.. ain't easy. My kids are very well behaved but they still talk, bicker with each other, laugh, goof off, ask to buy things, ask questions and it makes the whole shopping experience a bit hectic. I let the older one push the cart and they always get to pick out their cereal, juice, ice cream, fruit and dinners for the week. However, if they wanted to watch a video, I probably would not have a problem with it, especially the little one, who hates grocery shopping. (except when he gets cheese from the deli lady or counts the lobsters) Will it make my life easier? Yes. Is that wrong? Not if I have done my job as a parent, which includes teaching them how to behave properly in public.
It is also very different to take one older child (4 plus) to the grocery store than it is to take two or more or a very young child. A young child's attention span is only so long and sitting in the grocery cart when they are tired or cranky can be a challenge. Is watching a video for a half hour such a big deal? is it really ruining society? I can think of many, many other things that are much more detrimental to a child and societies future than watching a half hour of Peter Pan......