Keeping Kids Busy in Restaurants

[tinkandpan]

We are currently planning a cruise with our 2 kids (6 and 2). So I headed over to the cruise boards to get some information. Interesting conversation going on regarding taking children into the cruise dining room (cruise line Royal Caribbean). Someone complained about a DVD player a child was using and that launched into a whole stream of debate as to what is appropriate entertainment. It actually got into if your kids needed crayons and a coloring book at the table, then they were too immature to take to the dining room for a 2 hour meal. So obviously different than over here! So what say, dis? What's appropriate entertainment- crayons, ipods, little toys, ninetendo ds, something else or IF YOU CAN'T TALK TO YOUR KIDS DO NOT TAKE THEM IN

For the record- i believe in crayons and I am okay with a ds after the meal with headphones

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I think anything that doesn't infringe on the diners around you is appropriate. If it allows you to have a nice meal and your children aren't running around, go for it. We usually bring a few little action figures (for 2 yr.old), crayons, coloring book, paper and pen for word games. I wouldn't be opposed to a Gameboy as long as the volume is turned off. (although we never have done that). I think a movie is a little too much.
The kids sit and eat nicely, but we need to entertain them while we wait for the food.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I think that children need to learn at an early age to act appropriately, and it is my opinion that we need to teach them to do that without having to take the entire contents of their rooms with them. I'm not opposed to crayons and a coloring book or having them read quietly, but having them play with electronic gadgets is a bit much.

My son is a teen now, but when he was little and we ate in restaurants we didn't linger. If he got antsy, we took turns taking him out so he wouldn't disturb other people.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Remember that they are your kids and you know what will keep them busy and quite or relatively so. My feeling is that if and iPod or gameboy with headphones keeps them entertained then whats it to anybody else.

 

[ChelleinNC]

My neighbor and I just had this conversation a week or so ago. We were both of the same opinion.

Crayons/drawing quietly is fine, but that's about it.

I think a lot of kids today don't know how to behave in public and don't know how to entertain themselves. The amount of videos playing in cars from my neighborhood to the grocery store around the corner is unbelieveable. I've seen too many kids with gameboys at restaurants that even with out hearing them, they were distracting to those around them. I also wonder why bother having the kids there if they're not going to be part of the dining experience

DH & I talk to our kids while we're out eating (strange I know ) We'll have "games" like "who said "blah blah blah" and why? what did he mean?" We talk about politics, current events and of course Disney

JMHO

 

[HeatherN]

There is a neat little toy called "water wow".It's a little book that comes with a timy brush that you fill with water. The kids can "paint" the page and the water makes the picture come out.The page then dries and you can use it over and over again. No mess at all. I have two of these little books and we bring them to resturants and that is the only place they play with them.They work like a charm and my kids are usually silent because they are so excited about seeing the pictures come to life.You can find them in most toy stores/walmart etc.if you bring things for them to do that they don't normally do it will hold their interest longer.

 

[jshelley]

We usually just use crayons or the water pens like someone else pointed out, although we have also brought books and let them look through them or read them to them. Our two year old still gets quite squirmy while waiting for food and this certainly helps make it easier for us and those around us, to keep her focused and quiet. We also sing songs, talk to her about what is on tv (if in a sports restaurant where there are tvs everywhere, etc). But at some point at that age they will get squirmy.

The four year old will chat with us about lots of things, color, etc. She often asks us to help her color her pictures, which makes it much easier to engage her in conversation as well.

On really difficult meals where the kids were cranky due to the meal being late or their naptime being near, we have resorted to using a downloaded kids show on the iphone for entertainment. A little Sesame Street or Mickey Mouse to focus them until the food arrives. Volume very low where only they can hear it. We try to use this as an absolute last resort, and it is put away once the food arrives.

While they may have some entertainment for their seat while waiting, toys are usually put away while eating, and they have to remain at the table until everyone is done. My kids aren't really big enough to let get up, but even when older, DH and I already have said, no getting up and going to the arcade games while eating, etc. Once the meal is done, we can decide if we have time for a game, but none of this running back and forth to the table while eating that I see so many kids do. Even now, we eat our meal, then get to go to the slids at McD's etc. No going back and forth.

Julie

 

[luvthattink]

Last year when we went to Disney it was the first time on the dining plan, which meant way more table service dining than what we have done in the past. So we thought we may need a little extra entertainment at the tables with four kids (7, 6, 2, and 1). We go out quite frequently for meals (probably once a week) so my kids are used to eating out and usually only have the crayons and coloring sheet that is provided by the restaurant. But with having a table service everyday we wanted to be prepared. So we bought two boxes of Crayola Model Magic along with us. The box probably had about 7 or so different foil packets in a variety of colors. We would just pop it back into the foil and then seal it in a ziplock back and save it for the next meal. It worked wonderfully for us and we had fun creating things with the kids but were also able to hold some adult conversations (my parents were with us) as well. I swear by that stuff. To this day it is still one of the favorite things for my kids to play with. While I don't tote it around with me, my kids will sit at my kitchen table forever and play with that stuff. It has literally taken the place of playdoh here because its not messy and doesn't crumble and ball up everywhere. So there is a quiet, shouldn't disturb anyone else, alternative!

 

[carj]

I personally think that as long as it doesn't distract the other patrons, then they are your children, you should be the one to decide.

I guess the problem is that we have different ideas about what we find distracting!

My children are 7 and 4. We have always eaten out a lot. We generally time our meals so that we are there during less crowded times. This minimizes the wait and the frustration level for all. Also, we patronize places that have things that my kids enjoy eating and experiencing. We don't do any fine dining really. Mostly we go to Chili's, Logan's etc...Generally we are in and out in 45 minutes.

We don't let the kids bring their Nintendo's. We play the games that are on the menu and our daughter will usually bring a small stuffed animal. Our feeling is that we are eating together and we should interact.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

Walk a mile...someone else's shoes...

In my own personal opinion, it's exhausting to have small children. Especially, several small children. Exhausting when it's being done the way we want to raise our children. We do a lot of enrichment activities at home every day: art, small & large motor skill development, reading (to them), coloring, and just plain "go play" time.

When we go out to eat with them it's a RARE circumstance and we make sure they are well rested and so are we. We talk about having "restaurant manners" and what will happen there (EVERY TIME WE GO).

Now, on a vacation, most people eat at a restaurant (be it McDs or 5 star) for EVERY meal. That is a LOT on the children and the parents. That's just the way it goes on a vacation, but I think parents of children know that and prep for that and do the best they can.

So I think people should be given the benefit of the doubt on how their family is operating on that day. If their kids are watching a DVD at dinner who are any of us to judge? Maybe if it's day 400 of their vacation it something that they felt is appropriate. They know their own children. Maybe their 2 year old WAS having a political discussion on day 1 but by day 10 they just can't manage past the grilled cheese.

So I say: it's none of our business what creative things parents come up with to keep everyone happy and at the table for 45 minutes (after an exhausting day at the parks for instance). I'd like to think those same DVD loving parents plan on quality family pool time after dinner.

Love and peace everyone!

 

[inloveindisney]

We eat out often (my daugther is one) and we feel like it's important for her to experience that atmosphere on a regular basis so she knows how to act when we're out.
That being said, it's definitely getting more difficult. We recently started bringing our own booster (that buckles and has a locking tray) that is great for keeping her "IN". She likes to stand up in those standard restaurant high chairs. We usually take some cheerios or fruit puffs of some sort and that tends to keep her busy for a while. If it's a long wait for food, it gets rather interesting. If we know it's a place that is typically slow with that, we tell them to bring her food asap. We have been to a few places taht just "know" to do that and it's quite nice.
Toys don't usually last long with my daugther, but another poster mentioned one thing that caught my attention. She said the toys used in restaurants are ONLY used in restaurants. I am thinking this is a great rule to live by. That way the toy doesn't get boring.
I've found that we find odd things all over the place that she wouldn't normaly play with but because it's new, she thinks it's great. Tonight we ate at a chinese buffet and the waitress brought her a fortune cookie and patted her on the head. You'd have thought she brought her gold the way she reacted. It was the best thing! She went from crying to laughing in an instant. Just keep it fresh and they'll probably stay happy-or try to schedule buffets so the food is ready when you get there!

 

[tchrrx]

Generally my daughter (8) just participates in the conversation or uses crayons/coloring book. However, if I get a night out with the girls, but don't have a babysitter, she gets to watch a movie on my ipod after the meal. It allows me a little bit of girl talk w/o worrying about what she's overhearing!

 

[holly7347]

DH and I work opposite shifts and he also works Saturdays and frequently does side jobs on the weekends so we don't get to spend much time together talking. We both spend lots of quality time with the girls alone since I'm home with them all day and DH is with them while I work. So I really don't see a problem with letting them bring things to entertain themselves if we decide to go out to eat together. Generally I wouldn't tote around a DVD player to keep them entertained but I might consider it on vacation when we would be doing alot of eating out. As far as Disney goes all of our table service meals are character meals so I hope that alone is enough to entertain them so I don't have to haul lots of stuff into the parks with us. My DD's aren't too hard to entertain when we go out to eat. DD#2 loves to eat so an appetizer will keep her entertained and #1 can usually be entertained with stickers, coloring, or a a word search. My Ipod does have a few Dora and Calliou episodes downloaded onto it but I haven't used it during a meal yet but I have it available if our weight is long or DD#1 is antsy, it wouldn't work for #2 because she won't leave the headphones on.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Just something to keep in mind for those who see no problem with a dvd player at a rstaurant. Just because you have the sound down low doesn't mean that it is not distracting to others. For example- a family could be having a nice dinner, your family sits close by and busts out the dvd player. The first family's kids see it and now they want to watch what you are watching. Attractive nuisance. Yes you should be responsible for your own kids but it is very hard when others put obstacles up that aren't really neccesary. Of course it is just my opinion, but if you need 10,000 gadgets to get through a meal perhaps take out is a better option. I am all for some coloring etc. but I don't get the need for video games, headphones etc. We would consider it rude if someone was at the table with us and they were doing that. YMMV.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Rule Number One of Good Parenting: My kid never gets to be a pain in YOUR butt.

Video players and video games are inappropriate in a restaurant as they can be disruptive or annoying to other diners. If the children are unable to behave without such items, reconsider whether they are truly old enough for this dining experience.

 

[DevilDuckie]

So I think people should be given the benefit of the doubt on how their family is operating on that day. If their kids are watching a DVD at dinner who are any of us to judge? Maybe if it's day 400 of their vacation it something that they felt is appropriate. They know their own children. Maybe their 2 year old WAS having a political discussion on day 1 but by day 10 they just can't manage past the grilled cheese.

So I say: it's none of our business

Who are we to judge? We're the people who went out to eat and found ourselves forced to listen to Spongebob Squarepants on someone else's DVD player because they cannot or will not get their child to behave without it. It becomes our business when other people's choices intrude on our ability to enjoy a facility or experience.

 

[SLDL]

We have found something really helpful for meals away from home...Wikki Stix. I don't know if anyone has heard of them but they can be found online & at specialty shops. They are simply little pieces of yarn (something like that anyway) with a coating that makes them stick together. The kids can form their name out of them or make shapes, etc. It works great for a quiet dinner & I have even been to a couple restaurants that give them out instead of crayons/paper (Zaxby's, Ted's Montana Grill, etc.)

BTW, I don't think I have ever seen anyone watching a DVD at dinner but we have occasionally let our DS5 look through the pictures on our Ipod...no sound, but he likes looking through them & showing DD2.

 

[texasgirl73]

I am bringing 4 children to Disneyworld, the youngest being 3. The trip is very expensive and being a foodie I want to experience a couple of the better restaurants (Jiko, California Grill, and Flying Fish) all the other meals are character meals and buffets. While I don't even own a portable DVD player I am considering letting them bring their nintendo DS's, if the meals are a little too much for them. My husband and I don't expect them to be entertained by exactly the same things we are entertained by. It's all about compromising, we love fine dining, they like swimming in the pool and playgrounds. I'll sit by while the little one enjoys Dumbo and he'll have to wait while I go on TOT (with a fast pass of course.) We'll sit by the pool sweating in the July heat and they will sit through a couple hour and half meals. They have done it before and they will do it again. The vast majority of the vacation is about doing what the children enjoy with a few things sandwiched in for us, and somewhere in there I hope that they will learn to appreciate fine dining as much as we do. The Ds's will only be a last resort, however, we've never had to use them before and I hoping we won't have to use them there.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

Who are we to judge? We're the people who went out to eat and found ourselves forced to listen to Spongebob Squarepants on someone else's DVD player because they cannot or will not get their child to behave without it. It becomes our business when other people's choices intrude on our ability to enjoy a facility or experience.

We've not done the DVD thing at a restaurant, but we have on a plane. We always use headphones--I think they even make little things that allow two sets of HP to plug in.

Spongebob...REALLY? We have a DVD-R and our kids watch Sesame Street or the like.

 

[EthansMom]

My kids don't have a huge problem sitting still at most restaurant meals... a few crayons and the kids' menu usually keeps them pretty busy.

We do cruise with our children, however, and those formal dinners (5-6 courses) can take 1.5-2 hours. A 1.5-2 hour meal later in the evening can be pretty difficult with (usually tired) small children. We allow our kids (ages 4 and 6) to take crayons and color books and an electronic device (GBA, Leapster, MP3) of their choice. When either of my kids uses their electronics at dinner on the cruise, we require that they use a headset or, in the instance of DS's GBA (which doesn't have a port for a headset) that the sound be turned off. A child sitting quietly, using an electronic device with a headset shouldn't be a disturbance to other patrons.