While restaurants used to be a place where people would come together to dine and enjoy each other's company, they are now becoming a place where people sit at the same table but all engage with their handheld technology of choice.

In fact, one study found that 70% of children wish that their parents would limit their use of their cell phones and pay more attention to the family. Additionally, 67% of parents say that their phones have put a barrier between them and their families.

The truth is, engaging in regular family meals has been shown to have a positive impact on the development of children-- both physically and mentally.

The overuse of personal electronic devices in public is becoming a problem. Restaurant patrons who sit together but don’t interact with each other are taking away from what was once an interactive, social atmosphere. You may walk by a table and see restaurant patrons playing video games on their phone rather than talking to their dining partner, which takes away from the special occasion of dining out at a restaurant.

One restaurant owner in New York believes that putting your technology away during your meal helps maintain the social atmosphere that people want in restaurants. Restaurant owners try to create an environment for people to come and enjoy the company of others, but it is being ruined by the use of social media. Not only is this taking the focus off of human interaction, it is also taking the focus off of the food that the restaurants are proudly serving.

Restaurant owners find it to be unfortunate that couples on a date don't pay attention to each other but decide to look at their phones instead. Because of this, some restaurants are offering promotions to people who forfeit their phones while at dinner. One restaurant in Iowa offers a 10% discount to people who are willing to put their phones away when they are attending the restaurant and eating on Wednesday nights. Most people enjoy this promotion and about 99% of the people who dine there are Wednesdays choose to participate by putting their phones in boxes on the table.

Similarly, a sushi restaurant in New Jersey, offers a 20% discount on Tuesdays to those who leave their cellphones in a box on their table until they receive their check. Some people find this difficult to do, but it certainly pays off in the end.

Some family-friendly restaurants are offering that kids eat free if the parents put away their phone during the meal. The goal here is to get people to enjoy and celebrate the time that they are spending with their family.

The truth is, parents are role models for their children in everything they do and in the things that they say, so when parents are able to manage their screen time, they are teaching their kids by example about when it is ok to use technology and when it is more appropriate to put it away and spend time with the people around you.

Studies have shown that eating together as a family is very important in childhood development. In fact, not only does it help improve children's academic achievement, but it also improves their physical fitness and lowers their levels of nonaggressive delinquency, oppositional behavior, and aggression that is both physical and reactive.

When you are in a situation where using your cell phone is not necessary, it is best to put it away and live in the moment with the people who are accompanying you. Cell phones have helped people in many ways, but it is best to use them in moderation and to not substitute real human connections and relationships with the use of technology. Not only will this help you appreciate the atmosphere that you are in more, but it will also help you appreciate other people and have a higher quality of life.