How to Get Your Child to Behave at a Restaurant

I like the idea of keeping kids entertained, but I wouldn't do anything different than what we already do at home. Coloring and playing handheld electronics aren't allowed at the home dinner table, so why in a resturant? You aren't sitting for that much longer. Entertain your child by making them part of the conversation. yes, menus with games and colors are an exception, but those are provided by the resturant so they are a treat for going out.

II like the suggestion that Irene had about teaching our kids to behave at our table. Some kids, though, are more prone to distraction than others. And distractions in a restaurant are different than distractions at your own dinner table. I like the suggestion about bringing small toys, etc. When my son was small, I always carried a tiny box of crayons, small notebook and two cars. It kept him busy. As he grew up, we gradually introduced him to the art of conversing in a restaurant (my son has a hearing issue so this was not as easy at it sounds).

Try preparing more meals at home and actually sitting down around the table with your entire family for meals. This is how you teach your child to behave properly at the dinner table. The manners they learn at home are the ones they will bring with them to the restaurant table. The suggestions given here...the bribe, the distraction and the avoidance of certain types of restaurants...doesn't teach your child anything about how to behave when dining out.

regarding to the reward i dont think the necisarly mean a new toy or a treat a reward can be something as simple as telling your child how well they did, it may seem like just words to an adult but to a toddler being told how proud you made your parents is a big deal

Well said Irene!

I too agree with Irene. Taking a small bag of toys or coloring books is also a great idea with a little one. One more thing that I have found super important is setting and voicing expectations once a child reaches a certain age. With my daughter, we told her before hand where we were going and how she was expected to act, and what would happen if she didn't. I can honestly say I never had even the first problem with her.

I don't like: Reward kids for good behavior. Do all parents do this? I don't think I want to practice that with my kids.