McDonalds... a treat for the kiddies?

[dolgoruky]

Why o why o why do parents think that taking their kids to McDonalds is a fucking "treat"? I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Last week I questioned my friend about this, who regularly takes his doughter to the house of Satan as a treat, and he immediately went on the defensive. In fact he got a bit angry and called me a grouch.

Is it me? Am I a grouch?

[Kamika]

1. well it is a treat

I was taken to Mcdonalds first time when I was 10 or so.. and believe me it was a TREAT.

But i he's taing them regularly it's not a treat, he's messing up their future social life though

[Kamika]

2. well it is a treat (read this one)

I was taken to Mcdonalds first time when I was 10 or so.. and believe me it was a TREAT.

But if he's taking them regularly it's not a treat, he's messing up their future social life though.

It's still a big treat for me, mainly because I eat there maybe twice a month, if you eat hamburgers often they taste pretty bad.

[Loonman]

3. House of Satan

O--------kay........

[Bronco69]

4. House of Satan?

McDonalds is a treat if you go once a month or so, I would eat there every day if I could, but I know that much grease is not good for me. I would hardly call them a house of satan. :-(

[CRK7376]

5. So you don't like McDonald's

Tough, some of us, alot of us out there like it alot....Does that mean we're bad....no...Weak on nutrition, full of fat and deep fried grease, great fake shakes and French Fries to die for....My family goes to McDs several times a month. Not daily and unfortunately where I'm currently stationed, I don't have access to many McDonald's and truly miss them. BK is horrible but McDonald's rules...!

[Kamika]

7. omg

BK > McD

[Enraged_Ape]

8. McD hamburger = stool sample on a bun

BK trumps McD any day. Flame-broiled taste and a more varied menu, for starters. Their BBQ chicken sandwiches ain't half bad, either.

[philosophie_en_rose]

19. i agree.

Burger King is so much better than McDonalds. The vegetables look like they might have actually come from actual vegetables and the meat is not as processed.

Junior Chicken whoppers (minus mayo) are very good. They also have Atkins-friendly items and dining areas that aren't blindingly tacky.

[baldguy]

6. http://www.mcspotlight.org/

http://www.mcspotlight.org/

[ms_splash]

9. Because McDonald's TELLS your kids it's a treat!

They also tell your kids they have to have happy meals with little toys in them (collect 'em all)!

[populistmom]

11. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

It's all about marketing to the kids. We venture forth every once in awhile, but they generally ignore much of the food (they seem to only want to eat the fries), forsaking it for the indoor playscape most of the time when the weather's lousy.

[NicoleM]

10. 1. McDonald's is crap.

2. People don't like being told how to raise their kids.

[dolgoruky]

12. Some interesting points

I think this issue is clearly more about parenting than McDonalds.

The McDonalds "thing" seems to me to be about conformity, and not wanting to be left out. But is teaching conformity to irrational modes of behaviour a good thing for kids? To me it's the thin end of the wedge. After all, there's got to be more to life than shopping and burgers.

[NicoleM]

13. McD's is about conformity

and not being left out. That's why "collect all four" works so well for them. Most kids want what all the other kids have. I don't think blind consumerism is a good value to teach kids. That's why I won't be teaching my (future) children that.

But unless they ask, I try to MYOB when it comes to other people's kids. I hope they'll do the same for me someday when they're all horrified that my kid has never eaten a McNugget. :)

<edit> About the conformity--McD's goal is for every burger to be the same in every McD's in the world. They want you to know that if you order a Big Mac in St. Louis, it will taste *exactly* the same as the one you ate in San Diego.

[cryfordawn]

14. First of all

I wouldn't go to Mcd but would go to BK. Second of all I don't like taking my son to any of those places but do every other month or so. He is 2 1/2 and enjoys going there. I have taught him that it is better to snack on fruits and vegies than chocolate and sugars. It is nice to give him a treat once in a while but at 2 1/2 he knows that he has to be "good" in order to get these things. So It's not a treat it is a reward for being good. And there are other options than the fast food crap to give him when he is good. Parenting is tough and we now have way too many decisions to make other than our parents in years prior. But the parents that wonder why their children are over weight with no imagination are the ones that take them to these places all of the time and let them sit in front of the nintendo 24/7. I have seen this and it just drives me totally crazy. Sorry I just had to put my 2 cents in. I'm not the perfect parent and I don't intend to be. I'm sure I'll make many mistakes. But this topic hit a nerve. Sorry.

[dolgoruky]

16. Community parenting

I'm not sure that "minding one's own business" when it comes to parenting, or anything for that matter, is necessarily a good thing. At some point we have to engage other members of the community. I also think it can be done without ponitficating or lecturing people on how to raise their kids. I think the problem is really one for parents who DON'T take their kids to McDonalds. They are the ones who are faced with a social dilemma. For me, the health issue is less a problem than the conformity issue. I don't want the future generation who has to look after me when I'm old to be muppets.

[Pobeka]

20. A thought about food as a reward...

We also don't have much in the way of sweet/dessert foods. But we never make it a reward, rather we make it clear that if you behave poorly, no chance of getting dessert. If you behave well, then it *might* happen.

Maybe we're extra paranoid, but some who are overweight view food as a psychological reward/escape, and we don't want to let that connection have a chance to develop in our children.

Actually, I suppose this post should be in response to the main thread, come to think of it...

Cheers.

[LynneSin]

15. My parents would take us to McDonalds as a treat when I was a kid

But we're talking once a month we might see a McDonalds, not every fricking day!!!

And btw, even in McDonald's, we had to behave ourselves if we ever expected to go back again!!!

[el_gato]

17. mcD's is not even real food

[philosophie_en_rose]

18. The food sucks. The playland?

I would have thought that the playland would be good exercise, but I had a friend who worked there in high school and there are many incontinent little kiddies that play in the ball pit. Smacking each other with plastic balls coated in who wants to know what is as appetizing as the Mcfood.

Although vanilla shakes and the meat fries are pretty good sometimes.

[PVnRT]

21. Yes

n/t