Any parent has been there. Screaming child in public. Feeling other’s eyes burning through the back of your head as they judge your parenting style. Even if you’re at a kid friendly restaurant it can be exhausting trying to make sure your little one is quiet, not running around or disturbing other customers. You deserve a nice relaxing meal out. Here are six tips to get that fun family dinner.
- Prepare in advance.
Children learn best from repetition and clearly communicated expectations of their behavior before they are in a new environment. Children can become overstimulated and excited when they are out of their typical routines and in a new place, which can make teaching appropriate etiquette in the midst of a new experience very challenging.
Don’t wait until you’re at a restaurant to beg them not to scream or run around. Prepare now.
The Peaceful Restaurant
Rushing out the door, packing diapers, getting everyone dressed, clean, shoes on, diaper explosion – change outfit, shoes back on, bottles, okay ready to go out to eat! Whew! It can be crazy getting a family out the door. Most of us forget or don’t have the time to discuss your expectations in advance. That’s why I wrote The Peaceful Restaurant. You are doing story time every day anyway. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and set expectations for restaurant etiquette well in advance.
Read Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting. This book completely changed shifted my perspective on how little kids can behave in public. I highly recommend giving it a read. It helped me tremendously.
- Practice at home.
This kind of goes with number one in preparing in advance. If you let your kids throw food or get up from the dinner table or not sit with you at dinner then it will be much harder to enforce when you’re at the restaurant. Practice how you’d like your children to behave at a restaurant at the dinner table. If you don’t want them running around the restaurant, have them stay seated during dinner. If you don’t want them screaming at a restaurant, work on quiet voices at the table.
3. Activities
The more activities you can fit in your bag the better. Keep your little ones busy so you can enjoy adult conversation. Here are some of my favorite go-to activities when we are eating out.
- JesPlay Thick Gel Clings. These reusable glass window clings are sooo much better than bringing stickers with you. They won’t ruin furniture. Are so squishy and fund to play with. Your kids can stick them to the table, the booth, the window. And they just peel right off. Order JesPlay from their website and can also be found on Amazon where they offer PRIME shipping. www.jesplay.com and an Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/A81F059C-B1B1-4E3D-BE51-49E23D5847EC
- Dry erase placemat and markers. This is a huge help. I keep it in my bag so the only time they get to play with it is in the restaurant or on a trip. Makes it more exciting and not old hat for them. Also great to put food on instead of a plate that the baby or toddler might accidentally pull to the ground.
- Quiet book
- Water Wow Book. These come in so many varieties. Just fill the pen with water and children “paint” the pictures and colors appear. Even adults have fun doing this. Once they dry the color disappears and waits for your next outing.
Keep these items for only time when out so they seem new and special. If they get to play with them all the time the allure will wear off sooner. Bring multiple items because children may lose interest shortly. Bring them out one at a time when they start getting bored with the previous activity.
- Consequences
If you are going let your child know they will have a consequence for their behavior don’t say we’ll go right home, unless you are actually prepared to skip your meal, get up and go home. Or if you say, “you can’t have your iPad when you get home” Who are you punishing? Yourself. So maybe they earn stickers for good behavior. Or if you want to make a removal, maybe it’s because you wont play with them or they can’t have a treat after dinner. Whatever it is make sure it’s easy to enforce.
- Sit Outside
Even in non-covid times, I always prefer to sit outside with the kids if I can. If they make a mess it’s less of a hassle to clean up. And the sound travels a little less when you’re outdoors.
- Well rested
You know your little ones the best. If they can’t ever skip a nap then make sure you aren’t going to the restaurant during nap times. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that all the tips in the world won’t be a match for an overtired kid.
What other tips have you found helpful? Leave them in the comments!
Behavior Books 