WCHY
WMMM
WOLX
Balance Madison
family_relation_05_617x130.jpg

Poll

Sit Up Straight!

So, you’re sitting in your favorite family restaurant peering over at the table of well behaved children across the room.  Cut to your table full of comparatively restless monsters who can barely keep it together before the entrée arrives.  There has to be a solution so you can enjoy a family meal in peace.

Small children can be especially difficult because of their short attention spans and energy for days.  You can’t expect them to sit quietly for hours on end.  Instead of waiting for the inevitable freak out, take hold of the situation.  Take them for a walk to the bathroom or outside at opportune times, such as right after you place your order.  Your kids should be hungry but not starving when they go out to eat.  You don't want them to be so hungry that they are cranky and on the verge of a tantrum (we all know that hunger is a trigger!). However, you also don't want them to fill up on crackers and the bread basket before their meal comes; otherwise, just when you are ready to dig in, they will be full.  It’s a delicate balance. 

If you are trying a new place it’s a good idea to get your kids something they are familiar with eating (hamburgers, mini pizzas).  Too many new situations can cause chaos.  Don’t count on built in entertainment at restaurants.  Sometimes you get lucky with a set of crayons and a maze, but the best thing to do is have a back up plan just in case.  Try taking turns with your partner in working with the child.

Focus on teaching one lesson at a time – the main objective here is to understand how to behave in a restaurant and eat a meal with a group, engage in conversation and other normal mealtime activities. Until those basics are mastered, forget about trying to get the child to put his napkin on his lap or keep his elbows off the table. Those manners are important, but might be lost on a child at this age who is trying to understand so many other concepts at once.  Don’t get discouraged if your outing doesn’t go well.  With some help from you, they will outgrow this stage soon enough.

Source: www.RachaelRay.com