coffee shop keeping the behaviour

[simonjstone]

Hi Guys

I was just wondering what coffee shops do for you, we have a great one that has a few toys, great alternative to crayons.

How do you keep your little one entertained while having your coffee. Alternative to crayon ideas would be great, I struggle sometimes if going to one of the chain coffee shops to meet friends? he gets bored then shouts for attension and cant really sit still as any 3 yo's

Thanks

I wouldn't really expect them to "do" anything to be honest. At age 3, I relied on feeding them some muffin/croissant and juice to keep them quiet for a bit, otherwise I brought my own books/stickers/fuzzy felt/lump of play dough to keep them entertained.

I only take him to a coffee place when I know he'll be hungry and take his picnic lunch type thing; then crayons and a colouring book, a couple of small books and possibly a toy phone help as well. mine is 2 and a half. There are some amazing places around that have soft play areas as well - we're in bristol now and theres one on gloucester road that has a softplay room and a toddler disco room (!) and a wendy house and slide kind of thing, all within the cafe, you can sit at a table and eat/have coffee with a mate and the kids have a great playtime, theres only 1 ext so they can't get past you and they have a big CCTV screen in the cafe so you can see what they get up to - so you get a bit longer to eat than in a usual 'sit in your chair' cafe. theres some good websites you could browse through to find stuff like this in your area? :)

Small bag of duplo always satisfied mine, or fuzzy felt.

I wouldn't expect a coffee shop to do anything, it's up to parents to do the entertaining. Small toys (cars/trains), pens and paper etc works fine

We have a small bag of Playmobil with us all the time- I change the pieces every few days and keep it in the changing bag. It keeps DD2 quiet for ages (and nicely occupied with imaginative play so that I don't feel guilty!) DD1 is 4.5 and would usually prefer to draw these days but was exactly the same at 2.

The OP (new) has posted the same question three times. Methinks perhaps we are doing some free market research for him!

Hmm....are you looking for ideas to make your coffee shop family friendly?

I'd suggest (and I like Latte's if you want to exchange my ideas for brews)
*Painting a lower section of wall (possibly in a bit of a 'toy spot' with blackboard paint and providing chalks for drawing
*Good sizeable changing facilities
*Selling appropriate drinks for kids (not Cola, Fruit Shoots)
*Free colouring in sheets with some pencils avaliable

Oh there's a great coffee shop in Tintagel, Cornwall called Charlie's with a lovely gated play area with a wendy house and a selection of good quality toys. Things like bead mazes that you can take back to your table and put on a highchair tray/ table.

If the OP would like to open something similar in Windsor I'd be most grateful.

a bookshelf full of kiddies books and puzzles wouldn't take up much room but would be most useful in most cafes! of course if the OP has an unused corner in their cafe they could cordon it off and fill it with plastic balls...... :)

Finger food that isn't just chips, nuggets and fish fingers. So they can feed themselves something healthier.

Cups with lids and straws (McD's style)

would love to open a coffee shop but alas wouldnt have the money. I mearly have a child with some attension needs and first time using mumsnet so didnt know which boards or which place would get answers.

I have a little pot of playdoh in my bag for this exact circumstance, works like a dream