Taking toddlers to restaurants – why it’s really good for them
Does the thought of dining out as a family fill you with joy or worry? With young children, things can change suddenly, and let's face it, we never know what will happen next!
Thankfully, most UK restaurants are very welcoming towards families with young children, and TV chef and restaurant owner Simon Rimmer commented that he enjoys seeing children in his restaurants because it helps them develop important life skills.[1]
Restaurants inspire life learning and with research suggesting families eating together brings better outcomes for children, it gets a big thumbs up from us
Evidence strongly points to families eating together being the best for young children.[2]
It shows that young children grow up healthier when they eat in family situations,[3] and family mealtime conversation boosts vocabulary even more than being read aloud to.[4]
With everyone ordering individual meals sharing can be encouraged, giving your toddler a fantastic opportunity to explore new foods.
We get less and less family time in the UK and eating out often brings people together
Sitting around a table brings concentrated time for families to connect with each other and to find out what has been going on.
As parents, we needn’t feel that our social lives should stop because we have young children. It's part of our culture
Taking toddlers to restaurants that are child-friendly supports their growing knowledge of the world. If they are kept out and away from such places, their opportunities to learn are taken away from them.
Restaurants can be large and noisy, and toddlers can be curious and active! Yet this needn’t be a source of concern
Eating in a crowded, unfamiliar environment may be both exciting and overwhelming. Sometimes your toddler might act in a way you mightn’t feel comfortable with, and this is fine.
If this happens, think about what the best way to support your toddler is. Often a distraction or a breath of fresh air can relieve some of what your toddler might be feeling or experiencing.
Toddlers require the same level of attention when dining out with their family as they do at home. A game-changer is having an accessible restaurant toolkit that everyone can use
Many everyday games can be played when taking young children to restaurants.
Games like copycat, peek-a-boo or even singing bring everyone together, along with having a few favourite story books tucked in a bag.
Things like sticker books, coloring books, or small toys are ideal for keeping younger children busy. But remember that they will still need lots of attention while they play.
References:
[1] Rimmer. S. (2022) Speaking on Steph’s Packed Lunch. Episode aired 9/11/2022
[2] Dwyer L, Oh A, Patrick H, Hennessy E. (2015) Promoting family meals: a review of existing interventions and opportunities for future research. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2015 Jun 22;6:115-31. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S37316.
[3] The Family Dinner Project. Benefits of Family Dinners. Available online at: Benefits of Family Dinners
[4] Snow, C. E., & Beals, D. E. (2006). Mealtime talk that supports literacy development. In R. W. Larson, A. R. Wiley, & K. R. Branscomb (Eds.), Family mealtime as a context of development and socialization (pp. 51–66). Jossey-Bass.