Going out to eat is a treat for all of us, but if you have a family you might feel more relaxed at a kid friendly restaurant in Chicago. Usually both parents and their children tend to relax more at a restaurant that caters to kids, but there will eventually come a time when you will probably want more out of your night on the town than kid's meals, hamburgers, and French fries. Occasionally, taking your children to a more upscale establishment gives them the opportunity to learn social skills and civility when in public. Here are some tips you can use to help them learn how to behave in these types of establishments.
Practice at Home
Before you take your children to a 5 star restaurant and serve them these expensive sauces they will likely hate, find a mid-scale restaurant that will be friendlier to them. Practice with role-playing exercises teaching them how to sit, read a menu, place orders and build conversation. Use your regular meal times as a training ground and their trip to the restaurant can be like a graduation ceremony. If the whole family gets in on the action, the whole process could be kind of fun.
Make Sure Your Child Has Had Plenty of Rest
Many times when children get out of hand it is because they are tired. They have either been in school all day or at some other activity that has gotten them all wired up. When children are rested, they are often calmer and less fidgety. Give them a light snack before going to the restaurant so that they do not become too hungry while waiting for service. For very small children, you might want to bring them a small toy or a coloring book to keep them occupied. As a matter of fact, many kid friendly restaurants have these types of things on hand to keep the young ones occupied.
If Your Child Becomes Disruptive
Always remember that the restaurant is not your home, so what may be allowed in your home may not be acceptable behavior in public. Other people are paying for the privilege to eat there too, so when your child's behavior begins to encroach upon those of other patrons, immediately intervene to correct them. Take them away from public areas so that you don't disturb others and if the problem persists ask for the food to go and leave respectfully.
It is a wonderful thing that we have great places where children are welcome to be themselves; it makes them feel a part of our society. But, it is also important that you use dining opportunities to train your children on other forms of etiquette as well. Kid friendly restaurants in Chicago can be a great training ground for your child to develop some wonderful social skills.
