Taking a toddler out for a meal can be a trying experience. Most young children want to be involved in everything their parents do and they also have short attention spans. That can make it difficult to get through a whole meal. But that doesn't mean that parents have to bypass the restaurant experience until their children are older. With these tips both parents and children can have an enjoyable evening out.
Is the Restaurant Family-Friendly?
The first essential step is to choose the right kind of restaurant. Ideally, this should be family-friendly – and that's not just a label. Find somewhere that offers milk warming services, baby food, bibs, high chairs and a nutritious but fun children's menu. Make sure that the high chairs are clean so that there's no need to worry about hygiene.
Entertainment for Children
A restaurant that also offers options for children's entertainment such as a play area, books or crayons and paper will also help with the entertainment. Just in case these aren't available parents should take entertainment with them. A portable drawing board, pencils and paper or a favourite game – as long as it's small – will make sure there is something to keep children occupied while parents eat their meals.
Timing Children's Meals
Timing is everything when it comes to eating out with children. If children are tired before leaving home then perhaps it's better to postpone the outing for a while. If the outing is on, there is no guarantee how quickly a meal will arrive so take a small snack for a hungry child. Ideally, the family should arrive at least half an hour before the child's regular mealtime to avoid tantrums brought on by hunger.
Parents can also make their lives much easier by ordering children's meals as soon as they arrive. That means that they can help with cutting up and feeding while they wait for their own meals. When the parents' meals arrive children can entertain themselves for a while.
Getting Children Involved at the Dining Table
Don't expect children to handle all the entertainment themselves. Parents can make the occasion go more smoothly by chatting to their children about the experience. Children like to feel included and discussing what waiting staff are doing, what's on the menu, what's in the salad bar and decorations on the walls could stave off a meltdown.
A Quick Getaway
Even when children start to get a bit restless this doesn't mean that parents have to miss dessert but to avoid any other hassle, ask for the bill at the same time. This means that parents can complete payment around the time they take their last mouthful and can make a quick exit once they're done.
Following these tips – choosing family-friendly restaurants, keeping kids amused while waiting for food, timing their meals and getting them involved when dining out – helps children get used to the restaurant experience. As they get older they will be less and less likely to have tantrums and meltdowns and eating out will be even more enjoyable for the whole family.
Sharon Hurley Hall - I am an expert web content writer, with more than 20 years' experience writing for newspapers, magazines and websites. I write ebooks, web ...
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