Eating Out With Kids: My Top 5 Tips
Going out to eat with children can be a tough task, but it’s doable, especially if you choose fun restaurants for kids. I have five rambunctious little ones, so if I can do it, you certainly can!
I’ve learned a few things through trial and LOTS of error that I want to pass along. In our family, we always choose a kid-friendly restaurant, and then we try to remember to do these five things:
- Stagger seating of adults and kids.
- Bring props, small activities and toys to entertain the children until the food arrives.
- Befriend the wait staff. And leave a big tip!
- Let your kids order themselves.
- No food battles over eating healthy.
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Comments
Jody
bring extra snacks in case it takes a while for the food to come out
Amita
Bring a few smartphones or other portable electronics!
carol
I would bring crayons and a coloring book so they can keep busy while waiting for the food to come.
Melissa Lawrence
good tip!
Janice
have toy or snack to entertain them before the food comes (or during when they get bored)
Melissa Lawrence
Janice, great tip!
Melissa Lawrence
Congratulations Janice! You are the winner of this giveaway and we’ll be in touch about your prize. I totally agree — toys and snacks are key!
Wen
Depending on your child, order more to share with your child or order less and share with the child
Carol K
Make sure the kids are well rested before you eat out, to minimize the meltdowns in the restaurant.
Melissa Lawrence
Carol, this is a very key tip!
Emily
For my four year old daughter we have her order her meal when we order our water/tea and ask that it comes out early. They typically bring it out around the time we would normally order our meal, allowing plenty of time for it to cool, and a happy kid who is not waiting forever for her meal to arrive. We also have a whole ‘restaurant bag’ fully of special toys that she only gets to play with when we go out to make the wait more fun.