|
All-new content coming soon!
-
Fun games to play online and
offline
-
Tips for making restaurant outings more
enjoyable
-
Information on how to buy Classy Kid
Products found at restaurants for your own
family
Tips for Parents
Top 10+ ways to make
your family-dining-out experience more
enjoyable
- Don't
go to a restaurant hungry! That's
right.
You can but not your kids. Look at
it from the three-foot level… waiting 20 minutes
for anything in one place is not easy. Then add
the wonderful smells of the food around you and
it's no wonder kids often go non-linear. Offer a
snack or appetizer before arriving at a
restaurant, something like fruit or crackers to
take the edge off your child's hunger. That
will remove one of the two big agitators for
kids.
- As
the wait staff for kids activities such as
crayons and activity books.
Sometimes the restaurant will have them
but forget to hand you those items when you walk
in.
Other times their unstated policy is that
they will only give out such items if asked
to.
- Pack
an activity of your own in case the ones given
out by the restaurant are boring (many
restaurants still don't stock anything to engage
kids believe it or not) . You can
find content on the Internet for free such as
downloadable coloring pages - we offer a few on
our site that you can download for free
(ClassyKidsClub.org). Print
them and ask your child to color you a
picture.
This will give your child a sense of
purpose and might get them to the 10 minute
mark.
Longer if you join in and make it a
family craft-type project.
- Invest
in a portable video/DVD player if you can afford
it.
For less than $100 you'll have a device
capable of putting kids under a spell anywhere,
anytime.
If you have a smartphone like an iPhone
you can download a cartoon movie or TV show
right on the spot and put it in front of your
child.
An instant spell of tranquility will come
over them.
- Talk
to your child about what you expect from then
before you head out. Let them
know they'll see lots of people in fancy clothes
going out to talk with each other using inside
voices, and that they will be mad if we use
outside voices. Then
watch your child take an interest in observing
these strange beings.
- Select
a booth where you can block your kids in just by
sitting on the ends. They
might drive you nuts but you'll avoid the
situation where they dart off and start
embarrassing you - or worse run into
someone.
We know of a case where a child ran into
an elderly woman and knocked her down. An
ambulance had to be called. No one
had fun that night.
- Be
smart about the times and places you choose to
eat.
Lists are available of family-friendly
restaurants (again ClassyKidsClub.org) and any
place you choose will be a better experience
before the place gets packed and service slows
down.
For heaven's sake if you're going to a
restaurant that is going to take 2-3 hours in
total spring for a babysitter if possible. It's
just so hard for a typical child to sit still
for that long. It's not
their fault, they have ants in their
pants.
- Use
the straps for infants & toddlers in high
chairs.
If you've ever turned to see your child
standing in a high chair or climbing out you
know the sudden rush of adrenaline is going to
set you on edge the rest of the time you're
there.
There are numerous cases of injuries to
children because they climbed out of high chairs
when a parent wasn't looking. Don't
let this happen to your family.
- If
all else fails take your child without a word
outside to talk with him or her about the bad
behavior.
The change in scenery will make it clear
that you mean business.
- Remember
to relax and enjoy. There's
no need to come down like a ton of bricks if
your child lets out a squeal, though not saying
anything about a slip could lead to a snowball
effect.
Keep your blood pressure down and be sure
to praise your child when they behave like you
want them to.
- Bonus
tip:
Order some ice cream for dessert if the
outing is going well. It's
great positive reinforcement for the next time
you go out. For
example, "Remember the last time you behaved
well, we all got a special treat at the
end".
Carol
Mesalic is GM of Product Development at Family
Hospitality Group, makers of Classy Kid Products
that make dining out a pleasure for
everyone.
www.FamilyHospitality.com
(This
article may be redistributed if the citation is
left intact.)
|
