6 tips for well-behaved kids at restaurants

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6 Tips for Well-BehavedKids at Restaurants



Taking kids to a restaurant doesn’tjust have to be about surviving...


You can actually find yourself enjoying a restaurant meal with your family.


How?


It starts at home.

1


Have orderly, routine meals at home.


Eat the same meal,At the same time,

On the same table.


Well, most of the time.

(because, who are we kidding?)


Hold conversations—about school, your family, your work, and current events.


Don’t tolerate poor behavior, even if you’re just at home.

That means...


No: Food-throwing

YellingScreen time

Leaving the table

or whichever behavior you don’t approve.


And make mealtimes a fun, peaceful experience.


Pick a good time to go.

2


The best time? Right after a nap.

When they’re hungry... but not too hungry.


And keep it short.


Pick the right place.

3


Your ideal setting?No long wait.Not too quiet.

Family-friendly.Booster and high-chairs galore.


Don’t bring distractions.

4


At least, not too many.


Why?


Toys, gadgets and distractionsdiminish the value of dinner.


You want to engage your kids, notisolate them from the experience.


Or if needed, stick to simple items like crayons or a quiet toy.

(Even better if you can draw them in: “Let’s write your name on the paper.”)


And bring a light snack just in case the bread takes too long to arrive.


Pick your battles.

5


It’s really okay if he slurped his soup.


Sometimes just going along with it can help avoid tantrums and outbursts.

(Plus, do you really want to cause a scene because he doesn’t want to eat the bell peppers?)


Set expectations.

6


Yours and theirs.


Theirs: Describe the restaurant experience

so they know what to expect.


Yours: Remember: They’re still kids.

What may seem reasonable to you maynot be developmentally accurate for them.


That’s it.


Here’s to a successful dinnerwith the family...

and yes, in a restaurant.

6 tips for well-behaved kids at restaurants

Lifestyle