• Do you get annoyed when you go out to eat and see little kids acting like fools and being disruptive? I do. I’m a parent to three, and it drives me nuts.

    I’ve been on the other side and worked in a restaurant and seen kids do some pretty amazingly crazy things while eating out. In addition to being rude to other people, sometimes kids are allowed to do things that are down right dangerous. If you don’t want your child to run around the restaurant like a monkey, take some simple steps to teach them proper manners at home.

    If they are allowed to get up from the table whenever they feel the need at home, they won’t understand why they can’t do that at a restaurant.

    If they are allowed to get up from the table whenever they feel the need at home, they won’t understand why they can’t do that at a restaurant. The same goes for yelling, throwing food, being “finished” before everyone else and so on. All the things that I expect my kids to do in a restaurant they do at home. For example, while I am cooking, my kids get to sit at the table and color in a special “dinner time” coloring book. They are required to sit there practically every single night for about fifteen minutes while I prepare and plate their dinners. Once dinner arrives at the table, whether it’s at home or out, the crayons and toys disappear. We all eat together. Even at home, if my kids finish eating before I do, they are expected to stay at the table with me. Just like I stay at the table with them if I finish first. My husband and I make it a point to make sure that any dinner conversation is relevant and easy for our kids to participate in. This helps them feel like they are part of the party, and keeps them occupied.

    It is easier to teach these things to your kids early on and when you’re at home. This way if there are any temper tantrums you can handle them appropriately. Then, when your kids can handle it at home, you can confidently take them out to a restaurant and be proud of their behavior!