When my daughter was a waitress, she talked about this frequently. It is a very common thing for families to ignore one another at dinner, and it's not just the children. Aside from the fact that it is rude, it creates a disconnect for the family. If parents don't see their children all day, and the few hours they could spend engaging them and showing an interest in their lives is spent actively ignoring them instead, what will the finished product be when the kids become adults? Who is providing the devices the children are immersed in? It is up to the parents to establish rules and set boundaries. What is the glue that bonds the family together? It is not hours spent in front of televisions, on cell phones or other tech devices. Parents need to lead by example themselves, and also forbid children from bringing their toys to the table. Studies have shown that children who are raised in families who sit down to dinner with one another each night statistically grow up to be successful adults. Dinnertime is an important time to interact with one another and to come together as a family. It propagates a sense of belonging.