They are only putting them in some rental cars and the customers have the option of getting one or not getting one (hence the $9/day fee).

Raise your own kids the way you think is best and allow others to do the same.

Posted By Jocko on August 12, 2009, 3:38 PM

I wouldn't have one on my own vehicle, let alone pay extra for one in a rental.

Posted By Tom B. on August 12, 2009, 5:35 PM

I think this largely depends on what you mean by "traveling." Growing up, we frequently visited my cousins, a three hour drive down a highway through unadorned grasslands, often at night. There was nothing to see. We were driving through darkness and across a flat landscape we had seen hundreds of times before.

Children too young to read could benefit from a video screen, but as previous commenters have pointed out, it is a decision that should be up to each parent. Letting us know of any new travel option is not a bad thing.

Posted By Ellen Q on August 13, 2009, 10:21 AM

Just another excuse for parents NOT to interact with their children. Not only does tv encourage non-activity of bodies (save for fingerclicking), it now begins to encourage mind inactivity. Imagine driving by the Grand Canyon in its spectacular glory, and missing it because you are mesmerized by Hannah Montana. Pity!

Posted By Kathy C. on August 13, 2009, 10:24 AM

Like most issues, the best answer probably lies somewhere in between. I agree about encouraging kids to look around and remain in the moment on trips, but again, there are often long boring parts in which the DVD player would be ideal.

Posted By Mary Ellen on August 13, 2009, 10:27 AM

I think it depends on the age of the child and where you are travelling - we drove from NJ to FL when my daughter was 4 - there is NOTHING to see on the road south. We didn't have a built in player but rigged one up ourselves. It was great to be able to tell her when she asked "When will we be there" - After you watch Beauty and the Beast we will be there. This way she didn't have to ask a million times.

Posted By Karen Kelly on August 13, 2009, 11:19 AM

I do not have kids so I am told I can't talk. But from personal experience I can. I am 40 and when I was a kid we mainly did road trips. MadLibs became my friend as well as those game books with the invisible ink that was revealed by the magic yellow marker. The one trip I remembered the most was the trip from NJ to CA in a Pontiac LeMans, I was 14, with my two half brothers who were 6 and 4-this was for 6 weeks. Granted I had a "walkman" We saw the world around us and had to entertain ourselves including playing the punch bug, license plates and count all the blue cars games. This trip has helped me through out my life (geography and learning about different people and places in my own country)-I have many fond memories and struggles (learning to deal with my step mother since I didn't live with them full time. How much would I have seen and learned if I was zombified by a DVD player? How much would my parents had learned about us kids as well?

Posted By Christy on August 13, 2009, 11:59 AM

My objection to video screens isn't wholly that children shouldn't be plunked in front of a screen all day (though I don't think they should)-- but video screens in cars, especially after dark, are a hazard for other drivers. The bright lights and movement attract the eye and are a distraction from the road.

Posted By Maura on August 13, 2009, 12:04 PM

again..a choice a person has to make on our own. if i have a rental..it usually means i flew to the airport i rented at, and am driving to my destination from there...hardly the scenery they would enjoy anyway...and i tend to drive and watch what i am doing as opposed to site see and chat about it.....so i am in favor of it...just helps when you have met the demands of flying..and all that seems to go wrong anymore there..and wanting to get to my destination...i wonder..how many of the people that talk about interacting etc...chat on the cell phone while they drive...ignores the kids..and a danger to other drivers maybe??

Posted By ralph on August 13, 2009, 12:28 PM

At least with a video screen children are often awake and parents can point out interesting sights along the way! My children often sleep-with or without a movie keeping them amused; when they are alert, they have an opportunity to see a quickly passing attraction. Very few children or adults stay awake for hours and hours on a high-speed highway when there is little to see or amuse--espcially at night. Kudos to the rental agencies and parents who are willing to do what is best for the children and safest for the family, whether it's watching out the window or watching a favorite movie.

Posted By Lauren on August 13, 2009, 1:07 PM

I think what we are talking about is not so much about DVD's in a car, whether rental or personal, but rather if there needs be family interaction or the idea of discovery of something new. Though a DVD may help in a rental car when transversing a well beaten path, it also eliminates a sense of anticipation, such as passing certain milestones on the way to grandma's house. To espouse the joy of DVD's in cars, as comercials do as the car passes through beartiful scenery, is to miss a couple of points of the joys of life. I have traveled much with my family - wife and five children - on road trips and overseas (I taught school in a couple of foreign countries), and the aspect of traveling together and engaging the family in observations and discussions is life lasting. It unites the family with sharing and respect, moments that are always recalled in family get togethers. That is a major point of family travel. A DVD in a car cuts much of that short.
Marvin Neumann

Posted By marvin neumann on August 13, 2009, 1:42 PM

Speaking as a mom of three who just returned from a two-day, 18 hour trip via car, I'm all for DVD players. Parents can be parents and get kids to look up occasionally to see pretty views or things that are interesting--or take video breaks as they see fit. We had them turn off all technology, for instance, when we were driving through Glacier Park. I think the whole fam will be happier with an option of some diversion, especially with younger kids.

Posted By Lisa Bergren on August 13, 2009, 1:57 PM

Y.G.B.F.K.M!!!!!

Why? Let the little twerps look out the windows and learn something about the world. Let them read the signs and billboards.

Posted By Rich on August 13, 2009, 2:26 PM

To me there are enough electronics in children's lives these days and not enough direct interaction with the environment or with each other. If the videos being shown were about the place they were going, a travelogue or a historical video; or even a popular movie that shares the history of the area, that would be great. Otherwise I would encourage some creativity with road games.

Posted By Barbara Elser on August 13, 2009, 2:43 PM

If you like it then don't turn it on ? Why is that so difficult?

Posted By Mitch on August 13, 2009, 3:23 PM

I can see a DVD for long boring hours traveling down a nondescript highway, a diversion during a rainstorm or when a young one needs a break, but I am SO tired of seeing both children and adults walking through museums, national parks, etc. with their heads bent over devices, busily texting and absolutely oblivious to the sights or those around them. Why bother traveling if you don't/won't give your attention to the sights?

Posted By Cynthia on August 13, 2009, 3:34 PM

To each his own...but we give up quality time with our kids by giving them a player for long trips. I remember getting great lessons from Mom and Dad when we went on long trips (such as hearing about the river in the box in the Great Smokey Mountains). Those times inspired me to come up with road games once I had a child. I taught my daughter to read a map and she was always my navigator. We never got lost while she was in command of the map. But we did fun things, too! We also tell stories made up from characters we create out of hiway exit signs. I always set the location and time period of the story and then she and I filled in the rest. The rules are that you use the names on the exit signs (in any order), make up a character complete with backstory, and where they fit into the story. It was never boring on those long drives because the story could go on and on as long as we had an interesting exit sign!

Posted By Sharon on August 13, 2009, 3:45 PM

I, too, would like to see children caught up in the wonder of the drive rather than glued to a mindless tv screen. Many children are plugged in for sound so it would be a compromise to enjoy viewing the scenery of the road. Parents should make the effort to encourage ways to enjoy a trip that doesn't revolve around a dvd or at least set parameters on how long the children are allowed to watch a show if there is a tv in the vehicle.

Posted By chris on August 13, 2009, 4:28 PM

I'm absolutely against video devices/watching during car/plane travel. Pretty soon children will have no concept anymore what interacting means. Or what is wrong with just learning to entertain themselves with books, crayons etc. according to age. What happened to 20 questions, counting states or giant trucks!
I'm so sick of seeing families in airports with a couple of kids and all of them talking to individual phones, Ipods etc. Do they ever just talk to each other or do they TEXT!

Posted By Marie on August 13, 2009, 4:59 PM

What is the purpose of taking children anywhere if they are not going see the new sites around them? This is a tragic idea. If children can't entertain themselves without a boob tube, parents are in real trouble as well as the kids. Who's in charge here?

Posted By roseadelaide, on August 13, 2009, 5:09 PM

I agree with Maureen that we'd be better off not having video screens in rental cars so that we can engage with our family members rather than remain glued to our screens in one more setting.

Posted By Tina on August 13, 2009, 5:11 PM

If my children are more interested in watching a DVD than where are they traveling,they should stay home. The getting "there"is often more important than the arriving.

Posted By Sydney on August 13, 2009, 5:19 PM

Let's face it: Not all trips are for fun and not all children can be FORCED to enjoy traveling no matter how much their parents may want that. Without some form of distraction children who aren't enjoying the trip can make everyone else miserable. We've used notebook computers with headphones and a collection of DVDs with considerable success. Those who want to see the scenery, if there is anything interesting to see, or interact with the rest of the family can do so and those who want to bury themselves in electronic entertainment until everyone reaches the destination can do that without ruining it for the other travelers. In most cases...especially on long trips...we've experienced a little of both. Our "democratic" approach to trips usually makes for a much more harmonious travel experience.

Posted By Lewis Edge on August 13, 2009, 6:26 PM

This is why parents should have a license. No skills, no children!

Dump the distractions and start singing, start talking!

Posted By BOC on August 13, 2009, 7:03 PM

Our best conversations with our three children often occur while traveling on both long and short car trips. Granted, we have had trips when the kids were young where they were literally bouncing off the walls. As I look back, funny enough those trips are amongst the most memorable! With todays children having video games, cell phones, computers etc. It is good for kids to learn to entertain themselves. Leave the videos at home and play the alphabet freeway sign game, make up a silly song, or hear about the latest teen gossip!

Posted By Tracey on August 13, 2009, 8:17 PM

Heck, I don't even like the TVs in the airports and doctors' waiting rooms! We have a zoned out society.

On car trip, my parents led us in signing, got us to count cows, play the alphabet game with signs, look for license plates from all the states and foreign countries...we were always busy and engaged.

Posted By Emily on August 13, 2009, 8:48 PM

I went on long trips as a child and we've taken our kids on long trips starting when they were baby's. Some of my fondest memories are our off the wall conversations, singing along with the music and the general family interaction that occur every long trip. We drove from Pennsylvania to Florida with my parents and two of our kids this summer. We had a great time listening and discussing an audio book and just talking. When else do you get that focused time to just talk? We actually had a portable DVD player in the car and never even opened it up.

Posted By Kathie on August 13, 2009, 9:19 PM

I wouldn't pay for one,but if there is one in the vehicle the rental car companies should then have a complementary dvd with information of the locations unique interests,history, FAQs,etc., geared for the backset passengers .

Posted By PHRET on August 13, 2009, 10:47 PM

How much electronic stuff are we going to use to distance ourselves from our children--Why travel? Why not just get on the computer and let them see where they could have gone?

Posted By teach on August 13, 2009, 11:18 PM

I used to really oppose DVD players in cars until I drove from Atlanta to St. Augustine last summer with my 2 small children. We were able to play enough games, eat snacks, read books to keep them entertained until Macon, and then boredom set in right when we were getting on I-16, the most boring highway EVER. The ABC game we had started was pointless because there's no signs. We had done long road trips with just our oldest, but I didn't factor in the fighting-siblings-in-the-back-seat part with having 2. I would have loved a DVD player for that part.

But we also know people who put in a DVD for their kids every time they get in the car. That's a bit much. We're looking at upgrading to a minivan, which apparently come standard with DVD players now, but we've told the kids it ain't coming on unless we go out of state. And even then, only one movie.

Posted By Maureen on August 14, 2009, 7:39 AM

plug the mindless little brats in to the neural-net and forget about them!! i mean, that's what you'll want them to do to you when you're too old to take care of yourself, right?

Posted By william heaton on August 14, 2009, 11:53 AM

Sure, it's a great idea for some larger sedans/minivans/SUV's in the rental agencies' fleets, but don't raise my rental rates to subsidize the technology that goes into cars for people who choose to have children and entertain them in this fashion.

As long as well all get to make our own decisions about what we want in a rental vehicle and don't have to subsidize the choices made by others I'm all for having as many options as possible.

Posted By Joseph on August 14, 2009, 12:14 PM

I fall in the category of those who do not feel that it's a good idea for parents to arrange video entertainment for their children when on long car trips. Seems to me the whole purpose of family (or friends) trips/vacations is to see and learn about where they are traveling and what they are seeing. Of course, this means that the parents need to expend more effort to help their offspring learn how to do this instead of just turning on a gadget.

Posted By polly kinsey on August 14, 2009, 12:40 PM

I would hope parents would focus on teaching their children social skills, car rides are a wonderful opportunity to learn the art of conversation.

Posted By alayne on August 14, 2009, 11:59 PM

Living in the midwest and our families living on the west and east coasts needless to say we drive many miles a year. Come on people just use commoon sense. Do you let your kids sit in front of the TV all day or do you make them sit in front of the living room window all day looking at the scenery. NO. We pack all different kinds of things. Our kids each get a back pack to put what they want in it. It is THEIR job to get that ready. We have many hours that we talk, play car games and sing but they need their time and so do I. I listen to my I-Pod as well as books on CD. The in turn listen to their I-Pods and occasionally watch a dvd. Even if we didn't have a DVD player or satalite TV we do have DVD's on our I-pods so they can be watching something differant from their sibs. Use your brain people. Don't put it on vacation just because you are on vacation.

Posted By Angi on August 15, 2009, 9:41 AM

Good grief! Don't children see ENOUGH TV at home? What's the point of taking children on "vacation" if they are staring at a TV screen most of the trip? When I travel with grandchildren, we look for the most interesting sights, sing-a-long on songs, keep license plate lists, play I SPY, They love doing these things and it keeps them occupied. Just my thoughts:-)

Posted By Shirley Sizemore on August 15, 2009, 11:03 AM

My kids are 10 & 12 and we LOVE to listen to books on CD/tape instead of having them watch videos. I can easily pause it to point out interesting areas and we all get to enjoy it as a family. I like the unabridged versions. It allow them to listen to something they might not read on their own but they love listening to. Every time we get into the car they beg for the story!

Posted By Pam on August 15, 2009, 11:04 PM

This is just an extension of the disconnection of parents and children that is already going on at home because of technology. Family vacations should be an memorable experience. As the children get older how are they going to reminisce "remember that movie of Dora the Explorer that we saw driving to the Grand Canyon?"
Please note I think modern technology is wonderful, but everything in moderation.
No TV's in rental car! Bad idea!

Posted By Terri on August 17, 2009, 8:59 AM

If parents could just find a way to have the kids watch tv 24/7 they wouldn't have to parent at all. This is a step in that direction.

Posted By Norm on August 17, 2009, 9:31 PM