How to entertain your toddler at a restaurant |

Last Updated on April 18, 2024

Going out for dinner is something that Nick and I love to do, and that’s important for our relationship outside of being parents.

However, going out for dinner with a toddler when you don’t want to hire a babysitter isn’t an easy feat.

At three years of age, Ryan has his own ideas of what dinners, and in fact going out in public looks like.

To him going out usually means running around, playing with other kids, and just having a fun time. So getting him to sit still at a restaurant can be a challenge.

I very quickly realised that having snacks on hand for Ryan wasn’t going to cut it in getting him to sit still long enough for Nick and I to get through our mains.

So, in order to actually have a meal out as a family, I researched ways that I could entertain my toddler at a restaurant and came across some ideas of things that you can take with you that your child can play with, which I’ll share here so you can do the same as well.

In this post

WHAT IS A TODDLER RESTAURANT KIT?

A toddler restaurant kit is something that you bring out with you when you go out for dinner, filled with arts, crafts, toys, and anything else that’s small and that will keep your toddler entertained whilst you eat.

WHAT CAN YOU USE AS A TODDLER RESTAURANT KIT?

I purchased a metal lunchbox to hold all the items that would be included in my toddler restaurant kit.

The lunchbox closes with a clasp, so it’s easy for Ryan to open and close it, and I chose it so Ryan could stick magnets to it, for an added level of entertainment.

You could also use a cloth bag or backpack as your toddler restaurant kit, so your toddler can carry it on their backs.

WHAT CAN YOU PUT INTO A TODDLER RESTAURANT KIT?

The options are endless when it comes to choosing items for your toddler restaurant kit.

The key is to fill it in with small items, and things that you know your toddler will love, hence keep them entertained.

Some ideas include:

Magnetic numbers and letters, animals, vehicles, dinosaurs or fruit (if using a magnetic restaurant kit)
Stickers and sticker books
Play-doh with stencils
Pom poms with tweezers that your toddler can put into a cup or bowl
Foil art
Weaving kits
Stencils
Small plastic sea and zoo animals, insects, bugs, or butterflies
Special treats that your toddler can eat so you can eat dessert, Ryan’s favourites are Kinder Surprise Eggs, Smarties, and M&Ms

A great idea is to mix the items up in your toddler restaurant kit every couple of times you go out, so your toddler doesn’t grow bored of their toddler restaurant kit.

I hope you’ve read something that you’d like to try, and if you do that your toddler is entertained long enough for you to at least get through your main meal.

Do you have any great ways to entertain a toddler at a restaurant?

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