Taking toddlers to a restaurant can sometimes feel like deciding to go for a walk when there's a tornado;
sure a walk is nice, but ARE YOU CRAZY!?! You're going to get hit with lots flying debris, they'll be as loud as the "tornado train whistle sound"everyone talks about; it'll just be a whirlwind of a storm!
It doesn't have to be like that!
Be your own force of nature. Control that storm. And have a nice walk!
I have some awesome tips for dining with toddlers that
I want to share with YOU!
First, some tips for the big picture:
1. Practice makes perfect
The more kids go out to eat, the more familiar they become with the routine and rules
2. Try to go when its not busy
I like to go on weekdays around 2:00 or 3:00 pm
3. Try to order food that cooks fast
If patience is the hardest part of a restaurant visit, then take that into consideration when you order, take that walk before the storm arrives
4. Pick a family friendly restaurant
Our favorite (Midland, MI Bob Evan's) has an awesome staff, nice highchairs, and super cool extra long bendy straws
Preparedness is KEY
5. The Baby Radius
How far can your kids reach from their seats? Make sure anything they shouldn't have (ya know:... salt, pepper... knives...) are set back
6. Extra Napkins
Some waitstaff bring extra napkins as soon as they see two toddlers at my table, but if they don't, I always ask! It's better to have them before you need them than to be napkin-less in a taco meat twister!
7. The Garbage Plate
I keep one of the salad plates or bread plates (or an extra napkin) and pile all the garbage on it as we go
8. Busy Bags
I actually don't utilize these, it's one extra thing for me to carry, but I can see how they could come in handy! Check out a search on Pinterest to find ideas to make your own
9. My Go-To Extra Supplies
Dollar Tree stocks both of my favorite things for restaurants: disposable bibs and these appetizer size forks. The bibs are an obvious one, especially for my Little O, but the forks, I LOVE THEM! Twenty-four tiny plastic forks for a buck, you can't go wrong! Sometimes restaurant forks' tines are so far apart that they won't pick up child size bites, and they're heavy and awkward for their little hands (as you can see, I forgot them on our last restaurant adventure and Little O used an interesting grip in an attempt to wield that heavy utensil!)
Set Your Rules
(here's a few of mine)
10. Use your manners
Please, thank you, stay in your seat, inside voices, you know the drill ;)
11. Keep your food on your plate
Eating off the table totally grosses me out. You never know how clean they get it with the quick swipe of their rag. My boys know that if their food hits the table, it goes to the garbage plate.
12. Chocolate milk is a treat
We use it as a reward for good behavior and for eating a good meal: sips while we eat, and the rest when we're finished
13. Timeout spots are available in a restaurant too
I have yet to need to enforce, since the threat of a timeout is usually enough (especially for Big A) but my plan of action is to take away everything within their reach, and have them rest their head on the table
Misbehavior Thrives in Boredom
14. Have an arsenal of restaurant boredom busters
I'll list some of my favorites beyond the typical: color on the kids menu with the crappy crayons thing
- an ice cube on the table is a fun way to explore senses with easy clean up
- stack up the coffee creamers or jelly packets, who can build the tallest tower?
- make patterns with colors of the sugar/sweetener packets
- pour some salt/sugar on a plate and practice writing letters in it
- play I-Spy
- play pretend; pretend your food came to the table, pretend to eat! I always picture we're at the food fight feast with Robin Williams on Hook
- and every parents' favorite game is the silent game (Big A thinks its easier to win if he plugs his ears!) who can go the longest without talking?
Comment below if you have any tips, tricks, or boredom busters! I'd love to hear from you!
