by Calgary's Child Magazine
Going out for dinner is the easiest way we know to tame the
“What’s for Dinner” battle cry. A night
out at a restaurant can be a big treat for everyone in the family. We’ve heard
many stories from families (the good, the bad and the ugly), about their
restaurant experiences. So from the
trenches, we present our favorite restaurant survival tips.
First, identify family-friendly restaurants in your area —
does it have a children’s menu, high chairs, booster seats, crackers and crayons
available?
Before you even step out of the car, outline your
expectations to your children about good restaurant behavior, but keep them
simple. The use of inside voices, the importance of staying seated at the table
(no running through the restaurants) and good manners are our three staples.
Don’t hesitate to cut your dinner short and leave if your
children don’t behave. It’s our experience, that you only need to leave one
restaurant one time and the children learn that you are serious about these expectations.
Breakfast and lunch are an ideal time to introduce your
children to restaurants and teach them the rules. With lower prices, and faster
service, it’s often easier to enjoy a successful outing.
Children’s menus can sometimes become tiresome for diehard
restaurant goers, so for a change try ordering off the appetizer menu for your
child's main dish. And for those with big appetites, some restaurants will bend
the rules and let your children order off the senior’s menu.
Hungry children are not patient. Eat a half an hour before
your child's regular dinner time to reduce fussing. Ask your server for
crackers while you are waiting for your meal.
When you arrive, order the children’s food immediately even
if you’re not ready yet to order yours yet. If the restaurant is busy, this
will ensure yours child’s order gets in early. They’ll have lots of time to
linger over desert, while you finish your main course.
Take along a coloring book, a small quiet toy to play with
or a book to read at the table. Some
inventive parents we know pack a special restaurant bag with toys and treats
that only comes out at the restaurant.
Keep your children entertained with simple games, like ‘I
Spy, or playing tic-tac-toe with the sugar packages. Our children even polished
up on math skills by learning to add creamers and sugar packages.
A trip to the bathroom can be a good distracting technique
for a restless child. Try going after you order and before the food arrives —
it might save a trip in the middle of the meal.
If your child isn’t drinking from a regular cup yet, don’t
forget to bring their sippy cup and we always pack a washcloth or pre-packaged
wipes to help cleanup during or after the meal.
And finally, leave soon after your meal is finished. As much
adults might like to linger over dessert and coffee young children cannot sit
still.
Bio: Ellen is the publisher of Calgary's Child Magazine, Calgary's
favorite and must trusted parenting magazine. For more information, you can
pick up Calgary's Child Magazine free at hundreds of locations in and around
Calgary and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
Image credit: lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo
Image credit: lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo
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