How To Properly Dine With Children

As adults, we are expected to practice proper etiquette when dining out; children should do the same. While dining with children is acceptable at mid-scale restaurants like Bennigans and Chili's, many upscale restaurants are adapting and becoming more kid friendly. Below are some suggestions on how to make your evening pleasant, not only for you and your child, but for other patrons as well.

• Bring an activity bag – Stock an easy to grab bag filled with coloring books, small games, activity books, markers, crayons and pencils. 

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  Children should be encouraged to engage in conversation with adults, but uneasy and active children who become easily bored should have the necessities at hand.  Many family orientated establishments often supply crayons, but upscale restaurants may not have them handy when dining with children . This will eliminate the possibilities of a discouraged child growing tired of the establishment. A cup with a lid should also be included in the activity bag in case the restaurant is unable to supply one for your child. Packing an activity bag will also prevent your children from playing with items that are on the table (salt and pepper shakers, sugar caddies, etc.)

• Clean up after your messy child – Don't take advantage of the staff when it comes to cleaning up after your child who has decided to throw their entire meal on the floor. Kindly ask for some extra napkins and try to gather up as much debris as possible. The staff will sweep and mop if needed.

• Be polite – A demanding parent is really not setting a good example for their child if they are being bossy and demanding on the waitstaff.  Politely asking for extra napkins, refills or special requests should be done in a respectful manner, especially when dining with children.
  

• Remove noisy children from the establishment – Stepping outside or retreating to the washroom is a surefire way of not disturbing other patrons. Once your child has calmed down, return to the table and proceed with the meal. Request the bill immediately from your server. With bill in hand you can settle up the check having the opportunity to leave in a hurry if need be.

• Call ahead – Some restaurants may not be equipped to accommodate young children. Highchairs and booster seats may not be available. It is best to call ahead, especially if your child has certain dietary restrictions.

• Be honest – Never use your children as an excuse to be cheap. If the restaurant has a policy when it comes to a cut-off age on a kids menu then abide by it. Don't try to pass your 13 year-old off as a 10 year-old. It won't work. If your older child is persistent on ordering an item off the kids menu then kindly ask your server or management if this would be possible. Most of the time it is not a problem, but be prepared. Some restaurants will tack on a charge for an item ordered off the kids menu when the age requirement has not been met.

• Encourage good manners – Children should always be on their best behavior, but we all know this is a hard thing to achieve sometimes. If bribing the child with dessert for good behavior must occur then do so.

• Have the order ready – Indecisive and shy children should never be given the responsibility of ordering their own food. Parents should know exactly what their child is having before the server returns to the table for the order even if the child insists on placing their own order. A parent should be there to interject if the process encounters hesitation. It will only ensure prompt service not only for your table, but for the entire restaurant.

• Kids eat free – When visiting an establishment that offers a kids eat free evening make sure you go above and beyond when it comes to tipping. Children are hard to serve since they require a lot of attention and cleanup.

• Keep children seated – Children wandering around a restaurant is a disaster waiting to happen. When the staff in bustling about, whether its with a pot of hot coffee or a tray full of piping hot food, they are focused and looking straight ahead not to bump into another adult. Looking down at their feet for small children is not a priority. Also, when dining with children, keep the child faced forward and quiet. Even though the table next to you is smiling at your child as they are smearing ketchup all over the window while screaming, does not mean they will enjoy this type of behavior for the next 45 minutes.

Following these guidelines when dining with children will make the event more enjoyable not only for you, but for other patrons. This will also enable the staff to perform the abilities to their best potential to make your dining experience a pleasant one.