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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

When we eat out, we take a box of cards each of which has a question on it. The idea is to provoke conversation rather than having 'right' answers. We've adapted these as our DCs have become older. Each person selects a card and replies - with others responding if they think of something different. Example include; 'what super power would you like and why?' or 'what do you think is the most important thing you have ever learnt?'. Lots of ideas online (or you can buy similar card games ready made). One of the joys of eating out is the chance to talk without the interruption of serving/washing up/competing activities.

We often take crayons and colouring books with us at the table. We sometimes even takes short stories to keep them entertained.

only family friendly ones, use offer ie kids eat for a pound,ask questions do they know what they want to eat choose fish what do fish do swim etc, make it fun.if free colouring stuff offered grag it use it ,take baby wipes to clean up with,encourage them to eat there food ie desert if main finished,

We always take a card game with us like uno

Our DCs are preteens now but I firmly believe in taking them out regularly to get them used to the convention of restaurant eating.
We go anywhere now, they don't require a 'family environment' or kids menu. However when they were little, we really appreciated restaurants that included vegetables as standard on the kids menu, and also the menu placemats with crayons and games.

Talk to them.

Depends on the age,
Toddlers - go somewhere with fast service and that is family friendly, take plenty of small quiet toys and keep it short but sweet
Infants and juniors - colouring and conversation, verbal games (I spy, 'i went to the market and bought...' animals/names/activities etc with each letter of the alphabet)
Upper juniors and beyond - just conversation

DD reminded me today of the bags f & b used to give out! My DC loved them and often wangled another one to take home!

Sticker books when they were younger but now mainly just conversation. Even when they were younger conversation came first and sticker books only came out if service was slow. We don't eat at family friendly restaurants.

We generally choose family friendly places to eat.
If there is a playground the children can play in there whilst the food arrives. Otherwise we tend to take colouring paper and pens or their tablets. Sometimes we will play games like eye spy.

My kids have always just gone to the restaurants we like but I always take things to keep them occupied- colouring books, quizzes, transformers, Lego etc as they have short attention spans!

They do like places where they can get up and run round like pubs with a nice garden.

I take colouring pencils and paper. Find this works better than other toys. I must admit mine will be distracted by a toy from a happy meal too.

I have a variety of things to keep my little on entertained. Whether it be having games downloaded on my phone to keep lo preoccupied whilst we wait for food. A small pack of cards so we can have a game of snap whilst waiting. Colour wonder is amazing the colours only go on the paper not on clothing or the table no mess no fuss purely fun and entertaining. Those are just when food is taking longer to cook than expected as normally we just sit and chat good old fashioned family times. We crack jokes laugh together smile and just generally enjoy each other's company. Kids are only young once I say along as they are happy and not disturbing other gets let them be.

We always talk about the different foods we are going to have and about where they come from.

We always eat together and always talk about our day at dinner, making sure that everyone is involved in the conversation, not just the grown ups. This year we have also had a page-a-day art calendar on the dining table and it’s a really good conversation starter with our little ones. It just starts with colours and shapes and what’s going on in the picture but has been a great intro to art for them.

It’s great to eat at a restaurant who welcome children. Doesn’t have to be ‘family’ places but it’s nice when you can find somewhere that welcomes both adults and families.
Colouring is great. I love Center parcs as they seem to have got it right with places like Hucks.

Colouring is always a winner here!

The only entertainment my DC need is conversation. If a child can't sit at a table for the length of a meal then they shouldn't really be taken to a restaurant. And as much as my kids like squishies, I really don't like the idea of toys being given with a meal. Sorry!

Conversation - lots of it - over dinner is always a time for everyone to catch up :)

Go for lunch not dinner as they're less tired. Talk to them, it does keep them busy. Last resort is ice cream bribery.

We try to keep children entertained with colouring in stuff where possible. we do use phones while adults chat. they are a blessing!

Firstly, I tend to fiddle about in my handbag, looking for a solution which is not there. I then attempt to engage my DS (3.5) in conversation or play with the crayons/stickers which are sometimes provided.
But the best thing for us is scouring the menu for food we like, even after we’ve ordered. We like talking about food, especially ice-cream. We’ve never whipped the phone or iPad out, but it’s only a matter of time.
It’s really great if veggie sticks arrive quickly, or a bit of bread.

And what did you do before iPads??

My children are 13 and 11 so a lot easier to keep entertained now but for the last few years we have taken cards to restaurants with us and we play/teach them poker (or blackjack/21's when they were younger) while we are waiting for our food to arrive. I hate everyone sitting at the table on their phones as a meal out is supposed to be a sociable occasion!

With my eldest 2, it tends to be enough to have nice conversations.

I normally take a book and a little car for my youngest to play with, but failing that, my key ring always a great distraction.