Family Dining Out - How to Stay Sane

Family dining out ventures can sometimes turn into arguments among family members about everything from the choice of the restaurant to the food on the menu to the seating choices at the table. Some families have well-behaved meals with pleasant conversation, featuring family members who respect one another and are willing to try new or unusual dishes. For the rest of us, consider these tips to keep your sanity when you take the family out for a meal.

• It's about the kids. Parenting experts say when it comes to eating out as a family, it's not about the adults. The kids should be the focus, and when they're not, that often explains how children get out of control when dining out. After all, you and your spouse can get a babysitter and enjoy an adult meal.
• Choose a kid-friendly restaurant. Make sure there is a good selection of food - and drink - for your family. If the restaurant doesn't have a kid menu and choices like chicken nuggets or pizza or hamburgers, you might want to go elsewhere. The best way to teach your kids the way you want them to behave at restaurants is to practice at home first and then bring the show on the road.
• Talk to your kids about their order. It can be difficult for some young children to decide on a meal away from home. The fear of the unknown - it's not mom's cooking - is often an issue, according to parenting experts. But if you talk to your kids about what's on the menu and help them decide before the waiter is standing at your table, which could help the meal move much more smoothly.
• Choose a lead child. If you are bringing more than one child on your family dining out excursion, select one of your kids as the one who makes all the decisions for the meal. That child gets to order first - or least if he or she chooses - and gets first choice picking a seat at the table. If there is a rotation of family-friendly restaurants, let the child also pick the restaurant. Your other kids will defer because they know there is a rotation and everyone gets a turn.
• Bring quiet distractions. Parenting experts say it's OK to have different rules when it's family dining out time as opposed to the daily meal at home. So while phones and games may not be allowed at the dinner table at home, consider allowing them for a restaurant meal. Kids who are occupied are much better behaved. For the sake of the other diners, try to make sure the distraction isn't a toy that's too loud or something that might get the kids worked out and out of hand.