In short: A restaurant visit with kids can be managed without a phone or tablet if you prepare in advance. Choose a family-friendly restaurant, check the facilities and menu, bring age-appropriate toys or creative supplies, and use games while waiting. After the meal, plan a walk or head home, keeping in mind that occasional mishaps are part of the experience.
- Check in advance whether the restaurant offers high chairs, suitable meals, and a kids' corner.
- Pack age-appropriate supplies: teethers and suction toys for babies, building sets for preschoolers, and creative materials for older kids.
- Avoid waiting with hungry kids by feeding them before you leave or ordering a starter right away.
- While waiting, use conversation starters and simple games instead of screens.
- After the meal, continue with a walk, move to another spot, or head home.
An experience awaits!
You want to take the family out for a meal, but as a family with young kids, the thought of dining in a restaurant can send you into a panic.
The temptation to rely on screens to keep kids entertained in restaurants is understandable. You've no doubt seen a child glued to a phone or tablet while the adults at the table enjoyed appetizers and civilized conversation.
You might have thought, "I would never do that." Or maybe it was more like, "That looks amazing," as you wistfully wiped up a spilled drink.
But a dinner or lunch without a phone or tablet has many compelling benefits, from opportunities for family bonding and better conversation to simply teaching your kids important social skills.
What will you do? Let them play on phones or tablets while the adults at the table enjoy appetizers and civilized conversation? Or give in to the temptation and let them play on phones or tablets while the adults at the table enjoy appetizers and civilized conversation?
Here are a few tips for enjoying a screen-free restaurant meal.
Do your restaurant research
Baby food and high chairs are two important things to consider when choosing a restaurant.
If you're heading out for a meal with the family, it's important to consider the specific needs of each member of your group.
Do your research in advance and call ahead to confirm the restaurant has high chairs if you'll need them (and as a rule, find out whether the chosen spot welcomes little guests).
Explore the menu options and, if needed, pack infant food or toddler snacks.
To avoid waiting with starving kids, feed them before you leave or plan to order a starter right away.
Finally, make sure there's a kids' corner nearby with toys and books to keep them entertained while waiting for the food.
Pack kid-friendly supplies
Babies
When you're out and about with your little one, it can sometimes be hard to find a place that's willing to accommodate them too. Restaurants usually aren't set up for infants and toddlers, and even when they are, it can be tricky.
It's important to remember that your baby or toddler goes through many changes as they grow—and so do their restaurant experiences!
Spill-proof cups and appropriate utensils are a recipe for success for babies and toddlers in a restaurant.
For kids who might tip over plates, a mat that sticks to the table can be a lifesaver. This mat can be easily wiped down at the end of the meal and rolled up to fit in your bag.
Pack a few teethers or sensory toys that can be attached to your child's wrist, clothing, or carrier handle, so you don't have to crawl around on a food-strewn floor to retrieve dropped items.
For a child using a high chair, an engaging toy that suctions to the table is a great choice.
Preschoolers
Preschoolers can get a bit wild at mealtime, but if they have something to do, they'll stay focused.
A small set of building toys with locks or magnetic building blocks is an ideal choice for preschoolers at the table.
Giving little hands something to do will steer them away from alternatives like silverware symphonies or making snow out of salt.
Don't worry—you don't need to buy a whole set of building toys. Just one or two pieces will do!
Older kids
Older kids are always looking for new ways to express themselves, and with these fun art supplies, they can do it without getting their hands dirty!
First, consider products that let older kids draw or paint without making a mess.
These products are great because they give older kids the chance to create art without the cleanup. They're also perfect for introducing younger kids to the magic of drawing and painting without worrying about dirty hands!
Another option is to pack a few small containers of beads for stringing. This gives older kids the chance to explore geometry and color theory while creating something beautiful.
Make waiting fun
When you head out for a meal, make the wait part of the fun!
Whether you're at a restaurant or a grocery store, it's helpful to have a few waiting games up your sleeve.
Start by asking each person at the table, "What was the best part of your day?"
Then follow up with, "What are you most looking forward to tomorrow?"
You can also try a waiting game that involves making funny faces or silly sounds until it's time to order.
The possibilities are endless—just remember the goal is to keep everyone entertained and engaged while you wait for the food.
After the meal
After a great meal, it's tempting to linger at the table and chat with the kids.
But if you want the fun to continue after everyone's eaten, plan a walk, move to another spot, or simply head home with the promise of another meal soon.
Going out to eat with kids is doable (after all, your parents probably survived such outings with you), and everyone involved can leave full—and unscathed!
The occasional infamous evenings full of spilled food, botched orders, and annoyed sighs from other diners who apparently don't remember life with young kids will happen regardless.
But rest assured, with some advance preparation and a few tricks up your sleeve, you'll be the one basking in the glow of compliments from fellow diners.
