8 Ways to Avoid Another Restaurant Meltdown (Without an iPad)
Between Father’s Day and graduation dinners, end-of-school-year outings to Memorial Day BBQs, chances are high that the next few weeks will involve quite a few meals outside of your family’s normal routine—and outside of your home. Going out to eat, whether that’s a restaurant or someone else’s home, can be stressful for those of us with little kids. Will they stay seated? Will they eat the food served? Or will you be walking around the entire time in an attempt to entertain them? It’s really anyone’s guess.
However, all you need to semi-enjoy yourself is a little bit of parental preparation. Below, some easy tips and activities to help prevent a meltdown while you’re out to eat—no iPad or phone required.
Time it wisely. You may not always have control over when a group dinner is happening, but try to plan the meal during your kid’s usual meal time or in between naps.
Lay the ground rules. Preschoolers and elementary-aged kids can understand consequences; decide if and when you’ll pull the plug on your plans, and make sure your child knows the rules before you arrive.
Bring all the snacks. Now is not the time to worry about your kids ‘ruining their dinner.’ Bring healthy options like fruit or veggies to hold them over if you’d rather them not fill up on junk.
Pack a bag of activities. In my house, we have a pouch that’s always ready to go with quiet-ish, mealtime appropriate toys such as coloring books, mini magna-tiles, and action figures.
Aim for a kid-friendly menu. Unless you’re going to a five-star restaurant, chances are there will be a menu with kids’ meals. If you’re eating at someone's home though, it’s okay to ask if there will be children-friendly food; if not, see if they’re ok with you packing something for them yourself.
Bring extra clothes and wipes. You know how much of a mess your kid makes when you eat at home? Multiply that by ten when you’re at a restaurant. Somehow, the floor under the highchair will eat more than your baby will. Bring backup clothes and a ton of hand wipes for the whole family so you’re prepared for messes of all kinds.
Respect your other guests or diners. Anyone with kids (even adult kids) understands that children can sometimes run amok. Still, there’s a fine line between kids getting a little crazy and downright disruptive. As the parent, you decide what that line is and how you’ll handle things once it gets crossed.
Prepare for leftovers. Despite smaller portions meant for kids, your child might still take two bites and call it a day. Don’t expect this meal out to be their most caloric or nutritious of the day.
What are your tried and true tips for eating out with little ones?
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