Restaurant Etiquette for Kids

It's Friday. The kids have been driving you nuts all day. Now it's 5 o'clock and you haven't even started to think about dinner. Pizza again? Fast food? Or are you in the mood to go somewhere with real utensils?

But wait! The children...

Going to a restaurant is ideally a very relaxing experience. However, eating out with children can be anything but relaxing. At your typical fast food or mouse-themed pizza restaurant, manners and etiquette aren't often on the menu. Just getting the kids to sit and eat their food is a success. However, when dining in a slightly more upscale locale, it's important to try to keep some sort of lid on the kids' natural exuberance, and teach them about the etiquette and manners that are appropriate to the situation.

The first situation requiring manners is for the parents - choosing an appropriate restaurant. It is important to choose a restaurant that is child friendly. If there's no highchair, or there is a customer dress code, this is not the restaurant for you. Also take into consideration the usual wait - both for a table, and for the food. Even the most restaurant-savvy kids lose their patience. So calling ahead, if possible, is a good idea. Buffets are a good idea for children, as they are generally very family friendly and the food is available immediately.

Additionally, on the weekends especially, the earlier you eat, the better. Restaurants tend to start filling up with romantic couples as the night progresses, and romantic couples and kids don't mix well. Plus, eating early assures that no one gets too tired and cranky before the meal is over.

Before you leave for the restaurant of your choice, talk to your children about what you expect. Children who do not eat out often or who are very young may not know or remember what appropriate restaurant behavior looks like. Let them know what is appropriate, and what is not. Make them aware of the consequences for rude behavior so that everyone is on the same page and you don't feel flustered in the moment if they do start to act up.