Well, it helps to know what reasonable expectations for children are. Natural noise of children can be anything from the almost silence of reading a book (or watching the boob tube) to the full-throated pandemonium of an elementary school playgound 2/3 of the way into a long recess on a nice day. In a bookstore - toys or no - relatively low levels of noise are tolerable. Likewise, in restaurants children can and should be expected to use inside voices and not run around bothering others. Parents have a duty to others not to let their children disturb them: children can learn there is a time and a place for running and yelling, and a time for restraining themselves.
> Likewise, in restaurants children can and should
> be expected to use inside voices and not run around
> bothering others. Parents have a duty to others not
> to let their children disturb them: children can
> learn there is a time and a place for running
> and yelling, and a time for restraining themselves.
Indeed. But learning is a process. Just don't just flip a switch and suddently your child is perfect. Likewise, despite another's comments, you don't just explain it to the child before you get to the restaurant and then have them behave as requested. And so, during this process, kids will cross the line and behave loudly. And that is part of life.