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Dining Out With Children

Cloud Montessori
DINING OUT WITH CHILDREN

By: Cheryl Chretien | June 1, 2023

Dining out with your child can be successful, with some small preparation beforehand. Each time your child has the opportunity to experience eating at a restaurant, they will be better prepared for the next time. It is also another way to show them how family meals or gathering of friends is a time for conversation, connection and enjoyment of food.

To Prepare in Advance: Create a Meal Activity Kit

Makeup bag (something novel they have not seen or used before, reserved only for restaurant experiences). Filled with (and rotated out) with some of the following options:

As your children get older you can invite them to pack their own go-bag.

During the Meal:

Set up expectations and guidelines around how the bag is used when you first introduce it. They can play while they wait for their food, but when the food arrives it is time to focus on eating.

Encourage conversation too! Engage your child with topics that they can participate in so they feel included throughout the dining experience.

Invite your child to order or participate in the ordering. Make eye contact with the waiter and ask politely for what they would like to eat or drink.

As your child gets older, offer some autonomy in their independence. Send siblings to the bathroom together, or send them alone and wait outside so they can manage on their own.

If necessary, invite your child to go on their own to ask the wait staff for crayons and paper. Or order their dessert at the end of the meal.

After the Meal:

Debrief! How did it go? Even if there were moments of your child under the table, or struggling to sit still, it is a good time to process together to prepare for the next time. Note and appreciate the well-behaved moments, and comment on the moments for improvement. Everyone enjoyed when you were sitting so calmly and talking with us about your day at school. Remember when you crawled under the table? I know the next time we eat at a restaurant, you’ll remember to stay in your chair.

Cloud Montessori is a parenting resource empowering parents to raise confident, independent, and successful children. Co-founded by two local moms and experts in their fields, Cloud Montessori uses the Montessori educational philosophy to provide support and guidance for families in their home and on adventures. Follow @cloudmontessori and learn more at cloudmontessori.com