I dont have that problem, they may be a lot less active when the palm is off but they do still do all the things they have been taught. I found that I had to drag them to the bush often enough or else they'd stop going there for food, same as for the table.

While I was alseep last night they managed to have one child. It took me half an hour trying to figure out who it belonged to. Its a good thing the game was new and only two villagers breeded. XD