Dining out with kids can actually be fun....

So if you are vacationing you are more than likely going to be eating out at a restaurant. While it's possible to stick to only fast food or take out, where's the fun in that?!! One of my favorite parts of traveling is the food!

My first rule of advice when it comes to dining out when traveling is practice!! Meaning, take your kids out to a sit down restaurant when you are at home. Get them used to what it's like so that traveling isn't your first and only attempts at a meal at a restaurant. The saying is true, that practice makes perfect (or at least tolerable!!).

My first rule of thumb is to research the restaurants. 95% of restaurants these days are fairly kid friendly, meaning they have high chairs or special menus. But you probably don't want to make your first time eating out with kids at a Michelin starred restaurant. I would give thoughts to location (not picking something too far away or maybe something with a view to give the kids to look at) and the foods available. Do they have a kids menu or is there something on the menu that your kids will eat??

Second, come prepared! If you have a baby this may mean bringing your own seat (I love this one) If bringing a younger child or baby I would bring my own cups, utensils and bib. It just makes it easier for them to eat and you don't have to worry about them dropping and breaking anything. They may not be ready for metal utensils yet either. One of my fav items to bring to restaurants when my kids were babies were disposable place mats (linked here). It definitely helps manage the mess kids make and your waiter or waitress will very much appreciate it!

One thing I'm always sticking in my diaper bag even now for restaurant visits are toys! Think small because you don't have that much room and know that your kids are going to constantly drop them. (So maybe bring disinfectant wipes too!) My boys love hot wheels so I always carry a handful of those. I also love reusable stick books! We've had the same ones for a couple years now and I bring them everywhere. I got mine at a local store but I'll link a similar item here. Coloring books and puzzle books along with crayons are also great ways to pass time while waiting.

Waiting and patience can be difficult lessons to teach with little ones. Eating out at a restaurant can be the ultimate test in patience for both kiddos and parents. Ordering an appetizer or bread always helps when waiting for a main course. When my kids were small I loved bringing puffs or some sort of cereal/small snack to keep them occupied. Rewards have always worked well too for us! It might be ordering dessert after dinner or giving them a lollipop when they're all done.

Lastly, know that eating out doesn't always go smoothly and you can't always enjoy a nice relaxing conversation with your spouse or other family members. We really try to instill good manners and patience but I know that kids can't be perfect. When kids are small it can be especially hard to sit still for long. I've definitely walked my child around many restaurants while waiting for food. And also, I know many parents are fans of tablets or playing videos on the phone during dinner. I really strive to make dinner time a time for family and togetherness. But I would never judge anyone for using a tablet at dinner; you have to do what works best for your family and sometimes you're just in survival mode! I will also admit that I have done that a few times when my kids were melting down or dinner was taking way too long.

I hope that all these strategies help you to venture out with your families on vacation. It takes practice but I promise you can get to a place where you actually enjoy dining out with your kids!! Please reach out with your own comments or suggestions!