Eating out with kids?

[Lovingeachday]

How do you find the best way to entertain your children when eating out? I’ve found that I hardly do it now it’s just me and them as they often act up when out.

All of you lot who are falling over yourselves to tell the rest of us how much you judge us for letting our kids use tablets etc - you do know that no-one gives a shit what you think? Why on earth would you imagine that anyone did? So yeah, carry on being outraged and judgy, you're the only ones wasting energy on it.

When they were little we had small toys and crayons, now they are older we talk and sometimes play hangman and tic tac toe. We have always eaten out with them, food is important for us so we have prioritized teaching them how to behave in restaurants. Other parents have done a better job teaching their dc how to ride a bike or tidy up after themselves which we haven't focused on.

Sadly buggering on a bad day some know it all tutting away could be all it takes to push a stressed parent over the edge.

I just don't get why it's of any interest to them, Sirzy. It doesn't affect them, their kids or their lives. When I go out with DD to eat I'm not remotely interested in how other diners amuse their DC - why would I care? Those who judge must have the most boring lives imaginable if other people's kids watching an iPhone in Pizza Express gets them worked up!

I just don't get why it's of any interest to them, Sirzy. It doesn't affect them, their kids or their lives.

Because in their heads they're congratulating themselves that they're better than us because apparently stimulation for Little Tarquinius comes from mummy's smiles, a limerick competition and reciting a bit of Dostoyevsky. They miss the irony that judging someone they know precisely nothing about, someone who's life will never affect theirs, is a pretty scummy move.

That was meant to say Tarquin but my phone autocorrected to Tarquinius. My phone is very middle class don't you know

I love Tarquinius - I fully expect to see it crop up on the baby name threads now! And of course you're right about the smuggery - they get to feel superior for an hour or so. So daft.

I think it's best to take them out from when they are quite little so they are used to it. At lunchtime, somewhere noisy and family friendly. We like Pizza Express. Bribe with ice cream, take them to the loo before ordering, bring colouring or a magnetic drawing board etc. Don't order starters and praise them discreetly for doing well- no performance parenting!

Personally I don't like seeing children with tablets in cafes and restaurants, however I'm a hypocrite as my DCS are currently watching TV at home whilst I eat my dinner and MN in peace (they had a hot meal at the childminder's).

I suspect people are only telling us what they think because the thread asked for it.

My ex dh and I took our two DD’s out for a three course meal when they were two and four. Nice family run Italian restaurant. We didn’t take anything to entertain them. They sat and talked to us (and other customers when they talked to my dd’s) and we had a lovely time. I do insist upon children sitting nicely and eating when out and not running around the venue.

You are right I probably do feel superior in my parenting when I see other dc plugged in with headphones and iPads, I wouldn't say anything, or tut or roll my eyes, my life is far too short but I do feel a small wave of smugness that I have taken the harder parenting route. There is no particular sense in it and I suspect other parents feel the same when they observe the amount of plastic clutter my dc own or the fact they play computer games. I am a bad enough person to score my parenting against others but not such an arse I would make any judgments known, added to which why would other parents give a hoot.

“Taken the harder route” or have been bloody lucky not to have a child with additional needs which means that’s the only way he can go out at times?

When I have just my seldest son, I am one of these smug people who can say that we just chat and he is fine. When we take both children out, the whole ordeal is quite stressful. The boys wind each other and play-fight all the time, so it’s an absolute nightmare thatno amount of colouring books, sticker books or an iPad will resolve. Sorry to be of absolutely no help.

Depends on the child. With our middle child, we just couldn’t do it while he was 1, 2 or 3 in age. One day we were away and had to eat out so went to a dreadful pub but it was ok because of the soft play area for said middle child. Now they’re ages 7, 4 and 2 and we can eat out quite happily with conversation, drawing and sticking. But anyone who tells you it’s easy is probably lucky...

Taking them out regularly gets them used to it. My two have never needed entertaining because we go out once a week from birth. If the restaurant offers pens and paper then it’s a bonus.

Conversation generally. Phones only allowed out after everyone has finished (adults too!) I can’t stand places that give activity sheets out- dh is totally distracted by them

Colouring and phone - not whilst eating obviously. Also talk to her. It is a mixture really. I tend to use the phone when we are out with a grown up friend so I can talk to my friend more. If we are out on our own, I try to entertain her myself more.

DD and I talk, colour and eat. She's fine.

And she's 22 months

And also only 22 months! I wouldn’t get too cocky yet

We generally just talk to them. They colour or draw sometimes.

We tend to go to family friendly places and earlier on around 5/6ish before the main dinner rush when it's usually full of other families. Normally the kids will colour, do some stickers (love pizza express kids menu!) and we chat! Always a bit trickier with toddlers but we managed okay with the three of them as long as we had a couple of toys and none of them were runners they always knew to sit to the table! I guess we sit to the table for dinner every evening though at home so it was kind of normal for them and expected if that makes sense?

If they can't behave don't take them

I love when a place has booth type seating so I can trap the three year old in