Read Mumsnet users top tips for keeping their DC entertained during dinner

[EllieMumsnet]

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Trying to keep your children entertained and not act like wild animals throughout meal times can feel like a bit of a struggle sometimes, especially if you go out as a family to a restaurant. Whether you have to make sure your children don’t throw food around or stay in their seat throughout the entire meal, Frankie & Benny’s would love to know what your top tips are for keeping your children entertained during meal times.

Here’s what Frankie & Benny’s have to say: “Launching this half term at Frankie & Benny's, we're giving away a free Squishie with every kids' meal. You're going to need to head down to your nearest restaurant to collect all ten before they’re gone! If you haven't heard about Squishies, they are cute foamy toys that you can squeeze to you hearts content, before watching them magically re-inflate. There are 10 different adorable Squishies up for grabs at Frankie & Benny’s, tick each one off on our Squishies Passport as you collect them!"

Do you only choose family friendly restaurants to eat out at? Perhaps for meals at home, you cut their food into interesting shapes to ensure there’s an element of fun? What about playing games at the table and if so what kind of games do you play? Or maybe you bring colouring and toys along with you to restaurants?

Whatever your top tips are for keeping your children entertained post them on the thread below and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thank you and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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Just in case it hasn’t been drawn yet...

If out, we will take a puzzle book which might get used, a reading book, or play word games. Pretty basic stuff really. If the meal lasts a long time or DS is tired/bored then he can play games on a phone with the sound turned down (only if we’ve finished eating and are just chatting).

We play a game called peaks and valleys, where we take it in turns to say what our 'peak' (best thing) and 'valley' (worst thing) was that day. The children love it and it's a good conversation starter, it also gives the children a guaranteed space to talk about how they feel without being interrupted as one of the rules is to let each person finish before talking. Even my two year old loves this game, she asks to play time at every meal time at home too.

Mine were used from an early age to eating at the table with proper table manners, so eating out wasn't a particular challenge, but they did like to take a book with them in case service was slow or the conversation boring. They still like to tbh, but now they're in their teens and twenties, I expect them to make grown up conversation!