Keeping Kids Busy in Restaurants

[DevilDuckie]

We have found something really helpful for meals away from home...Wikki Stix.

PF Changs gives these out instead of crayons! They are awesome!

 

[DevilDuckie]

Spongebob...REALLY?

Yep. And singing LOUDLY.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Yep. And singing LOUDLY.

Try listening to Barney for 2 to 3 hours while dining. There will be a lot of people who choose not to sit with that family during dinner ever again and will request a different table for the rest of the cruise.

 

[tnd]

My son is pretty good when we go out (which we do way too much), but he's 2.5 and he can get antsy, especially when he's hungry. I always carry a couple hot wheels cars or Thomas trains in my bag and break them out while we're waiting for food. He loves them, and they're quiet.

I can't imagine using a DVD player in a restaurant. I think that's really intrusive to other diners.

 

[jodifla]

We used our DVD player on several trips in restaurants when DS was younger. We kept the sound off, so I don't think it was that intrusive for other diners.

When DS got to be older, we don't take it to restaurants, but I do pack his Leapster if I think we're going to be sitting down for a couple of hours.

 

[r4blessings]

LoveTwoTravel, well said! Again, I think the world would be such a better place if other people didn't feel the need to judge each other's parenting decisions, practices and styles all the time.

When it is not directly interfering with another family's dining experience, I don't thtink anyone should have a problem with it. If you are against it, then you will raise your kids without doing that at restaurants, but really it is not up to any of us to say what other parents are doing is right or wrong. I would not let my toddler be disruptive in a restaurant b/c it would ruin other families dinner, nor would I let my own child play their game system loudly but other than that, to each his own.

 

[nemomama]

Personally I wouldn't bring a DVD player to a restaurant, for the same reasons that we don't have a DVD player in our car...I just feel that TV doesn't need to be everyplace. I feel like some kids are too dependent on TV these days for entertainment. JMHO...like other aspects of parenting, everyone needs to do what's best for their family.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

You know what I think is actually very unthoughtful of people? Talking on their cell phones in a restaurant. Or as they grocery shop. I've even seen people talking on them as they exercise or lay out by the pool (not that the pool thing is that rude).

Or smoking in public (ouch--don't even bother blasting me on that one, I DO realize we live in a free country, etc., etc.) THAT'S actually harmful to other people (as compared to children watching a movie while they wait at a restaurant).

What the world needs is just a bit more civility.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

You know what I think is actually very unthoughtful of people? Talking on their cell phones in a restaurant. Or as they grocery shop. I've even seen people talking on them as they exercise or lay out by the pool (not that the pool thing is that rude).

If they aren't speaking any louder than they would to a dining or shopping companion, I have no problem with people using cell phones in those places. What, really, is the difference? You can only eavesdrop on one side of the conversation ? (I'm kidding about the eavesdroping!)

Now, if they're using those Nextel (or whatever the brand is) phones that constantly beep a thousand times during their conversation, that I think is annoying.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Personally I wouldn't bring a DVD player to a restaurant, for the same reasons that we don't have a DVD player in our car...I just feel that TV doesn't need to be everyplace.

What? Do you expect the poor little things to *talk* to you or something?

 

[Zeebs]

I would never have even thought about bringing a DVD player into a restaurant. Don't care if you do as long as it is being used with earphones. I don't buy into that it is so low that only they can hear it, because that just isn't true there is always a small amount of noise from it and I usually find it more annoying when I cant hear it properly and just some annoying mumbling in the background. We only have one in the car if the trip is longer than 2 hours.

Cullen is normally very good as long as he is eating, but we don't have time anymore to sit back and eat at a leisurely pace. (so I get antsy when the service is slow) He plays with the crayons and I have a few little cars etc in my bag for him.

Then I can normally bribe him with ice-cream.

Kirsten

 

[brandylouwho]

Wow, I see nothing wrong with letting my daughter watch shows on the iPhone during a 2 hr meal, especially on a cruise where we have far less choices of when, where & how long it takes to eat. That being said, we don't offer it up right away, it is usually after talking, coloring, etc have failed or been worn out. I find dragging a portable dvd is a pain in my butt, so I probably wouldn't do that--but if that is what it takes to get through a nice meal once in awhile then I am all for it.

Heck my 30 some year old hubby gets antsy when we eat out. He is just a hyper/always moving type of guy. (So I often get DD & DH to play tic tac toe or something to keep them both occupied).

In normal life I'd never take her to such a long meal. I know we can barely make it through Applebees sometimes. Other times we make it through just fine. There are just so many variables (mood, tiredness level, hunger level, etc.)

Oh-and always use headphones (she has even watched cartoons with no volume on occassion). Definitely should try not cause a huge distraction for other people. But you never can please everyone all the time, someone will be annoyed that a kid is nearby (even if behaving well), someone else might be annoyed by a loud talker, someone else might be put out that the person next to them is sneezing (spreading germs), so I say use common sense and try to keep things quiet & discreet, but do as you need to do.


It does seem (at least from my point of view) that people get more judgmental about technology or think because a kid is watching a movie that you don't parent well. I personally find my daughter is louder & more annoying when I give her matchbox cars to entertain her at the table. They are always vrroom vrooimg about or crashing off the "cliff". Drawing can work for awhile, but she does a lot of arts & crafts at home, so coloring isn't that exciting sometimes. She doesn't get the iPhone all the time (wouldn't want her to come to expect it), but it works when we really need it and it is entirely my business if I choose to use it or not.

 

[Liltx]

I don't really care what other parents do as long as the DVD is quiet.

We usually bring books, crayons, etc. but only bring them out when needed. My girls 3 and 5 really don't have a problem sitting for a meal. If it's a 2 hour thing then we get a babysitter. Not for their sanity but for ours. When we spend $200 or more on dinner I want to enjoy it and not have to parent. When they are old enough to enjoy it then we will bring them.

On the cruise I would suggest asking the server to bring dd's food out ASAP and then taking her to the kids club. That way you will have dinner together but then you can enjoy the rest of dinner and she can be doing age appropriate things. Which a 2 hour dinner is not as shown by the need for electronic devices.

Monica

 

[JimR24]

Wow. There are a bunch of people on here who should be up for parents of the year awards.

Would I bring a DVD into a restaurant, no. Woud I say something to someone sitting next to me with one, no. You have to do whats best for your family and kids at the time and I am no going to judge anyone for getting through a meal.

 

[nemomama]

What? Do you expect the poor little things to *talk* to you or something?

LOL...whatever was I thinking!

 

[dznygurl]

While books and crayons worked well for for first two children when they were much younger, that just won't do for my DS4. My hubby and I would feel ill at the thought of bringing him to a restaurant between the ages of 1 and 3. I remember asking the waiters/waitresses for a high chair or booster seat with straps! If he wasn't physically strapped into a seat, he was all over the place. Forget bringing hot wheels or toy trains...he would throw those. For the safety of other diners we stopped bringing toys.

My older two kids never had a problem in restaurants. They would get a little antsy...but not too bad. They are very calm. My 4 year old is, and has always been, a total opposite of his siblings.

We always play with the pictures and word searches on the childrens' menus. Then I can occupy him for a bit writing his name and drawing pictures. Oh, we also visit the bathroom a couple of times (once while waiting and then again when MY food arrives ).He gets bored very easily. We just started letting my little one bring his Nintendo DS occasionally. If we know it will be a while, I'll let him play with it. The volume is off and he is staying in his seat.

Judge me if you will...but I have found this to be the only way to keep him under control when the outing is taking a long time. Otherwise, he would be crawling on the floor and under the table bothering EVERYONE .

 

[tboneski]

I would suggest to go to restaurant with kids lounge or playground just like in many fast food joints. I have an ADHD kid and its always a headache when we brought her in a restaurant. So instead we make rules that if we bring her along we have to be in a restaurant with facilities for them. That way we will have peace of mind. Also you can start clearing the tables so they cannot find anything to play with. Bringing portable gaming console is a help too.

--thomas

Don't be a victim. Stop credit card debt now. We can help.

 

[azcater]

On our disney cruise, we always asked for our sons meal to be brought at the same time as the appetizers, it worked reasonably well. Even when "rushing' through dinner it still took 1.5 hours. A long time for a 1.5 year old. So, our vice is play doh! It's his favorite thing to play with and I bring a few tools and that will keep him occupied for a bit. We've also done the crayons and cars, etc. But playdoh is the only thing that really holds his attention.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

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!

Absolutely! Why does anyone really care? Are their own table discussions so dull they need to resort to speculating about others?

 

[TwoGirlsandDisney]

We took our then 3 year old, and a 10 month old on a 4 night cruise with Carnival. Thank goodness the dining room staff was great. They were quick to bring out the food, and were entertaining with the kids. They would make the girls animals out of the napkins, and would stop by a play peek a boo with them. They get antsy, they are kids. Crayons are totally fine. Maybe have some of there favorite snacks along with you, just incase. Be prepared to eat quickly, because once the kids are done, they are not going to want to wait for you. We took them to the dining room every night. We never had a full pledged fit where we had to leave. We also went out to dinner a few times before the trip to see how they would be, and what we needed to do that worked for them. Pipe cleaners worked well for my three year old, she would make shapes and animals from them. Very easy to stick in your bag and take them out if you need to. I think goes as long as it doesn't disrupt the other diners.

Have a great trip.