Tips for dining with kids:
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- Be realistic with the atmosphere. Taking small children to fine dining restaurants will only ruin the experience for your entire family.
- Before entering the restaurant, have a talk with your child, explain that eating out is a special treat and what type of behavior you expect from them. Have them repeat back to you, what you expect.
- When you order for your children, ask the waiter to bring their meal out first, rather than waiting for the adult entrees. This will give you time to get them situated with condiments, cutting their food, etc.
- I have found it helpful to stash my bag with dollar store, age appropriate toys that are "new" for them, that keep them occupied quietly for 5-15 minutes: Stickers, silly putty, new pens or pencils. Try to avoid flying airplanes, dart guns and toys that sing or scream!
- Don' t go to dinner with the expectations of having a long intimate conversation with your guests or family. With children under the age of 5, their attention spans are limited and being confined to a booth can make them restless.
- Give incentives for good behavior. Desert at home, watch a movie in the car on the ride home, an extra story at bedtime. Children love rewards and earning your respect.
- Should you need to discipline your child at dinner, or your child is out of control, remove your child from the situation immediately. Take them to the restroom, outside or to the car; keeping in mind that you are not the only people in the restaurant.
- Most importantly, follow through, if you say "this is your last warning", and they don't listen, remove them and talk to them on their level so they understand their punishment. Ignoring your own disciplinary tactics will only show them you are not serious.
- When you are driving home and your child has impressed you with great behavior, let them know how proud you are of them, and that because they had great manners it will be an outing your family will do again.
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