If you dread eating out with your kids, you are far from alone. With worries that they will make too much noise, disturb other diners, and basically run around like lunatics, many parents forgo the enjoyment of eating out just to be on the safe side.
That being said, with a bit of careful planning and a lot of patience, you can enjoy dining out at a local restaurant, even with young kids in tow.
Read on to discover five top tips for eating out with kids, with practical advice that can be applied to children of all ages.
Practice makes perfect
If you have never taken your kids out to eat before or it has been quite a while, it can be a good idea to practice at home first. Role play is effective for most ages and can help your children learn how to and how not to behave at the dinner table.
For little ones, why not invite their stuffed toys or even a couple of their friends to dinner and then show them the importance of table manners so that they know what is expected of them when you next go out to eat?
Choose the right restaurant
When choosing a restaurant to eat at with your kids, it is vital that you pick one that is family-friendly, as this will help you to feel more relaxed. Furthermore, the employees at family restaurants are more likely to help you if you are struggling with your children at any point during the meal. You can usually identify staff who are used to having to deal with children with men’s or women’s style chef shoes that are designed to be slip-resistant (good for chasing around and not falling over) and also by their friendly demeanour.
Also, make sure you choose somewhere that offers child-friendly foods, as you will want them to be able to easily find something that they want to eat.
Time it right
Although you may like to go out to eat at around 7 or 8 in the evening, this is typically too late for young children who, by then, will start to get over-tired and over-hungry. Instead, go out to eat between 5 and 6 pm, depending on the age of your children, as this is when they are most likely to behave.
Alternatively, if dinner seems too much of a stretch, go out for lunch a few times as a family first and then gradually build up to eating out in the evening.
Keep them busy
Eating out can be boring for young children, especially if they have to sit around waiting for long periods between courses. This can result in them acting up or trying to get up from the table.
To prevent this from happening, make sure you bring some activities to keep them busy, such as a colouring book or a small game. Some parents prefer to bring some form of technology, such as a smartphone or iPad, which is fine as long as it doesn’t disturb other diners.
Set expectations
As mentioned briefly earlier, children must know what is expected of them when they go out to eat, so make sure you are clear about this before you arrive.
If you want them to stay seated for the entire meal, tell them this. If you are happy for them to get up and go to the toilet on their own, make this clear. By setting boundaries and expectations, you are all much more likely to enjoy the overall experience.
Leave a Reply