Tips for Dining Out With Kids

It’s been a long time since I posted about eating out with children and in that time we have grown from a family with one young toddler to a family with a kindergartener and a just-found-her-feet-but-mama’s-not-ready-to-call-me-a-toddler-yet baby. We still don’t eat out that regularly which makes it a treat for all of us, which it can only be if it’s relaxed and stress-free for both the children and the adults. Here’s a few simple steps we take to make dining out as a family as low-fuss as possible;

Success is in the planning: Being just that little bit organised before you even leave home can make all the difference to a family outing. Carefully consider;

  • Your choice of venue – is the restaurant or cafe family friendly? Are high chairs available? Is there a children’s menu? You’ll feel a lot more relaxed dining with children in tow if the restaurant is somewhat informal and clearly caters for family groups.
  • Don’t bite off more than you can chew – dining out doesn’t have to just be about dinner, would a family outing for just dessert, coffee and cake or breakfast be a better fit with your family dynamics and routine right now?
  • Time it right – wherever possible, make a prior booking with the venue so that you are not waiting unnecessarily. We try to book at least half an hour before our regular meal time to ensure that there is time to order and for the food to be prepared before the girls get too hungry.
  • Don’t wait until everyone is ready – we tend to order the children’s meals as soon as we arrive so that their meals come out first and they are not waiting for adults to read the full menu before making their own choices.
  • If dining with a large group, looking up the venue’s menu online beforehand can save valuable time on the day.

Make like a boy scout and be prepared: I know it can be easy to get out of the habit of making preparations for outings once young children are out of nappies but I find it is always handy to have each of the following on hand;

  • Baby wipes – fabulous not only for wiping messy fingers and faces but also cleaning high chairs or wiping over tabletops that have been left suspiciously sticky by the previous occupants.
  • Child sized utensils for young children
  • Children’s water/drink bottles
  • Snacks – It might seem silly to take along food when you are heading out to eat but keeping a few small snacks tucked away can be a blessing if you face lengthy delays.

Tips for dining out with children

Keep them busy: I might arrive looking like I’ve packed for an overnight stay rather than a simple meal but I am always sure to bring along a small but varied collection of quiet activities to occupy the girls during waiting times. These might include;

Encourage social skill development: Eating out provides a wonderful opportunity for children to observe and use a range of good manners and social conventions. Support your children to take (developmentally appropriate levels of) responsibility for what to eat and drink, for ordering their meal and for making suitable requests from waitstaff.

Do you dine out often as a family? What are your tips for making it a pleasant experience for everyone?

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7 Comments

  1. we also try to get a table a little bigger than what we need so the kids have a bit of room for error and clear off everything thats not needed ASAP (sugar sachets, menu stands, advertising). Don’t forget to check the food/drinks …. for some reason a lot of places put HOT HOT HOT food/drink in front of kids which can ruin the event.

  2. We don’t dine out often at all – partly because with three kids, it’s expensive, and partly because I rarely see it as relaxing (with three kids) no matter how prepared I am. I like the plasticine idea though, I’ve never thought of that.

    The other thing we do is try to choose a place that has an outdoor space where the younger kids can play/run around (with one of us outside with them) while we wait for the meal. That way, whatever activities we bring with us are still fresh when they’ve finished with their meal and we’re still going.

  3. I really like that you’ve suggested activities to take along. I always pack a bag full of things to do (even with my older ones). I’ve seen so many kids plonked in front of an ipad or DVD at restaurants and to me that’s not teaching the kids anything (how to behave appropriately etc) and it’s also very anti-social. If we go out for a meal, we’ll do practice runs at home (eg. sitting still, inside voices, manners etc) – things that are everyday occurrences, but we reinforce them that little bit more to ensure the kids are mindful of others when we are out.

  4. I don’t agree with this. When I eat out with my kids (which we do twice a week every week, and weve done it since the oldest one was a baby) I don’t believe in catering to them in exchange for good behavior. I expect them to wait for their meals, just like the rest of us (no early meals). I don’t allow them to have toys at the table- it isn’t permitted anymore than it would be at home.

    I think all this preparing teaches your child that this is not going to be some place fun for them, that you don’t expect them to be able to behave without snacks and treats and toys and planning. If younsetupthe expectation that this is fun, this is somewhere we are all going to go and visit and be on our best behavior and manners and they are capable of it without any of that you mightbe surprised at what they are really capable of.

    And before it sounds like I’m too hardcore- my kids love eating out. We make a game of looking over the menu (none of them are old enough to read yet, so we help them) and finding new dishes to try. E sample each others dinner. We talk about our day. If the wait takes long e ought we might play a round or two of 20 questions but that’s about as crazy as we get!

  5. It can be challenging to take children out for a meal, but you shouldn’t be put off from doing it, as it does encourage social skills and behaviours. Having toys/quiet games is an excellent idea, as children are still children and you cannot expect them to always remain still and quiet, especially if they are excited.
    If budgets are tight (when aren’t they) then try looking out for family friendly offers and vouchers, especially during the half term and summer holidays.

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