I discovered a great way to get Lewis use to eating out at a restaurant.
It all began when we on holiday in Singapore. Whilst I enjoyed the majority of the holiday, eating out became a nightmare! I began to cringe when it was time for a meal. He would not sit still! It didn’t matter if he was given colouring or had a toy he was just up and down constantly. Always ruining our meal and those around us.
Not only was I frustrated but also embarrassed – I looked like a terrible mother. As the year progressed I took him for coffee with my girlfriends, but it was just as bad. I was beside myself as I just had to stop socialising with some friends for a period of time.
Finally the year drew to a close and I began Christmas shopping. To bribe Lewis (ok maybe I am a terrible mother) to behave I offered him a ride, then he started asking to go for a coffee. Why not I thought, this could become my opportunity to train him.
Take the kids for a coffee
So with that thought a new tradition began. Whenever Lewis and I go to the shops for anything other than groceries I allow him a ride and we have a coffee. I have scouted the coffee shops and discovered the ones that offer a free babyccino with a cappuccino. Seriously who wants to pay $2 for a splash milk and a marshmallow on the side?
The upside of this new tradition is that Lewis has now learnt how to behave in restaurants. Whilst we have a coffee we chat about what we going to buy, we talk about the letters and numbers on the menu, we create shapes with the sugar sachets or napkins and we discuss how to behave when seated at a restaurant.
It has resulted in such an amazing change in his behaviour that we are now venturing out for dinner in our hometown with him.
How did you get your kids use to eating out?
Fantastic idea! I really think that kids need to be taught how to behave in new situations. What a great way to practice his new skills (and you get a coffee too!).
Yes the trick is not to be yelling at them in public. Always feel like am terrible mother if that happens.
Wow. Food for thought. If its a win/win scenario and isn’t teaching him any crazy bad life habits where’s the harm. Surely none of this scars them for life, it just makes it a smoother ride (one would hope) up there for thinking and down there for drinking 🙂 well done!
Yes I’m all for win/win!
What a great tip! I can’t believe what some of the places charge for a babyccino! Glad to hear you found the ones that do them for free!
I know the price of babyccinos at some places is outrageous, and some don’t even supply the marshmallow. For my son the whole point of the babyccino.
Thats an awesome Idea. My kids are always constantly asking me to take them on those rides. Don’t know if it will work with my 17mth old though lol.
Lewis started asking for the rides at around 18 months, I just restricted it to one ride per outing. At $2 it can get pricey.
As for the coffee whilst I had trouble at the 18-30 month mark I know other mothers who were taking their kids to coffee shops at that age. It’s what inspired me to keep persisting.