For many new parents, the idea of going to a restaurant and feeling vaguely civilised will be like a distant memory of your life before nappy changes and baby wipes took over. But, as the children progress to feeding themselves and behaving more reliably, you can begin to venture back into society and enjoy eating out again. In fact, if you can cope with the embarrassment of babies crying and toddlers throwing food onto restaurant floors, it’s probably best to never stop going to restaurants as then it won’t be something that is alien to your little monsters. After all, a screaming toddler is not great for other customers, but much more acceptable than seeing seven, eight, or nine year olds acting up in a restaurant because they’ve never been to one before!
And eating out with kids can be fun. You just have to pick the right places. Pizza restaurants are a very safe bet – the owners tend to be highly tolerant (and even welcoming) to children, and the food is bound to be popular with your children. These kinds of places often set the kids up with crayons and colouring sheets, and it’s a good tip for other restaurants. Go prepared with some quiet activity things to keep your children busy while you’re waiting for the food to arrive.
Remember, too, that children will probably be less capable of waiting politely for their meal. So, if some of your group is having a starter course, ask the waiter to bring the children’s food at the same time.
It helps if you can reduce the cost of eating out – and a lot of restaurant chains have money off coupons in local newspapers or offer a ‘kids eat free’ deal. Check out what the restaurants in your area have to offer.
Of course, eating out is a luxury and you can’t do it that often. But you can practise at home, by setting the table properly and having your partner play waiter. Try out some new recipes on the kids and get them used to different types of cuisine. Look at sites like SuperSavvyMe for some easy-to-make and fun new recipes.
