Many parents consider eating out in Lakeland restaurants with their kids as somewhat of a challenge. Some restaurants are actually pretty explicit about their anti-kids campaign, which only means kids are not welcome in their establishments because they don’t want other customers to feel queasy with running and screaming kids around.
While there are specific kids-friendly restaurant chains you can go to, it’s understandable if you want to get away from them at times. What happens if you want to eat with your spouse in a fancier restaurant than Chuck E. Cheese? How will your kids be able to handle it?
Check the restaurants first
Always choose a restaurant that is not too fancy that it will look down on screaming kids. Choose a family-friendly restaurant rather than one where businessmen are negotiating with others. To ensure that your kids are welcome there, call ahead and ask. Inquire also if they have a children’s menu, so that you won’t have to worry about what your kids will be eating for dinner.
Talk to your kids
Don’t underestimate a child’s ability to understand situations. Let your kid know that you’re going somewhere where he/she is not supposed to throw tantrums and where he/she should be extra behaved. Do a rewards system–give him/her something in return if he/she does good during your dinner.
Eat early
If you have your kids with you, do eat earlier than the usual dinner time. Kids are especially unruly when they get hungry, so make sure to feed them an early dinner late in the afternoon. You can make reservations for around 5PM. This means that the restaurants won’t be too crowded and you won’t bother more people if and when your kid suddenly throws a tantrum.
Bring reinforcements
The serving may be longer than normal in a fancy restaurant, so make sure you’re providing forms of distractions for your kids such as coloring books and pens, a few toys, and anything that will keep him/her from throwing the utensils in impatience. Try not to give them the iPhone or the iPad because this wouldn’t bode well for you in the future. Your kids will end up screaming at the top of their lungs just so they can get what they want. Try to be creative with your choices of reinforcement.
Play roles
Do your kids like role playing? You may tell them that you’re simply playing roles when you dine out in Lakeland restaurants–that he’s a prince or she’s a princess, so they have to act really noble and gentle. This might actually help them behave throughout the rest of the dinner course.