Going Out to Eat with Kids Doesn't Have to Be a Nightmare

The stereotype of a family going out to eat in a restaurant isn't a good one. Usually it involves frustrated, embarrassed parents, and screaming children! But that doesn't have to be the case. In fact, going out to eat as a family can be a wonderful thing... It gets you away from the distractions of the TV, telephone, pets, doorbell, etc, at home, and sticks everyone together to eat. Here are a few tips to make sure that your dining-out experience is like a dream, instead of like a nightmare!

Start Young! Some people decide that they don't want to take their children out to dinner until the children are older. But learning to behave properly in a restaurant is an important part of childhood. Try to take even your youngest children out to eat once in a while, to get them used to the routine. It is better to deal with a squalling two-year-old who is upset about being in a restaurant than to deal with a squalling six-year-old who has never learned the rules of eating out!

Let Your Fingers Do The Walking! When thinking about whether to choose a restaurant for your family's night out, check out the restaurant's website. Does it have a kid's menu? Does the kid's menu include things your child will actually eat? You can also look for reviews of the restaurant. Do other people say the restaurant has friendly and helpful staff members, or short-tempered and impatient ones? Do people report having to wait forever for their food to come?

Show Up Fashionably Late! (Or Early!) Avoid the lunch and dinner "rushes", and try to go to a restaurant at a less popular time. Try one o'clock for lunch instead of noon, or have an early dinner at four. You might even want to call the restaurant to see when their quietest times are. If you practically have the restaurant to yourselves, your family will get better service than if you have to compete with fifty other families who are in the same boat as you!

Be prepared! A lot of restaurants provide menus with crayons to color, but that can't be depended on. Besides, many of those menus include things like crossword puzzles and secret code games which will be fun for older kids, but not so much fun for kids who haven't mastered reading yet! Sticker books or paint-with-water books are fun alternatives to crayons and coloring books. Or, go to the dollar store and stock up on small, cheap toys and games. When its time to go out to eat, stash a few in your bag, to pull out when your kids start getting antsy!

Involve your kids! If they're old enough to talk, let them tell the waiter or waitress their order (although you may have to translate), let them put the money into the folder when its time to pay, etc.

Quit while you're ahead! If you're almost finished eating, and your kids are starting to get antsy and whiny, it may be a good time to ask for a doggy bag. If you were hoping for dessert, or you promised it to your kids, you can always order it to go!

Going to restaurants can be a good experience for kids, and a good way to bond as a family. So, don't be afraid! Gather up your family, and go out to eat!