Keep them busy, in a restaurant

Taking your child to a restaurant can be a little hairy sometimes. If you're like me you want to be able to enjoy dining out with your family without needing to entertain them with your phone while you wait for your meal.

With a three year old this can be quite the feat, and yet we attempt it weekly (either because we're insane or because the luxury of having a night off from cooking is just too tempting).

So to avoid the whole "here's my phone just play a game and be quiet" technique (which we're totally not above doing), I came up with a few busy bags to take along to the restaurant with you. These are family oriented activities sure to keep your 2-7 year old happy until the meal arrives. I promise!

Check them out...

Altoids Coloring Kit 

materials:

empty Altoids tin

crayons

small magnet

scissors 

paper

get to work:

1. Begin wiping out the tin so that it's clean and free of dust from the mints. 

2. Next cut the paper down to small pieces that will fit inside the tin. (You can also use a small pad of sticky notes). 

3. Place the paper pile in the top of the tin and secure it with the small magnet. 

4. Put the crayons in the tin. 

5. You're ready to go!

Altoids Fishing Game

materials:

washers

buttons

beads

paper clips

Altoids tin

get to work:

1. Gather the materials and drop them in the tin. 

2. Play the game: Bend the paper clip so that one part of it has a "hook" end. Take turns trying to scoop out the pieces using the hook with one hand only. (This seems easy, but it's a great way for young children to work on their fine motor skills). 

3. Keep score: 5 points for washers, 2 points for buttons and 1 point for beads. (This is optional, but adds another level to the game by having your child add up the points at the end). 

Tell Me A Story Bag

materials:

small bag with zip or ties

small toys/magazine pictures

get to work:

1. Put about 10 or more small toys or picture cut outs from magazines into the bag. 

2. Have your child pull three things from the bag without looking. 

3. Now help them tell a story with the three random pieces they pulled out of the bag. When they are finished they can put the pieces back and start again or you can take turns. 

*Alternative - You can also play memory with these pieces by pulling out about 7 toys/pictures, showing them to your child and then hiding them under the table cloth or mat and asking your child to recall which items you pulled out. 

PS - Here is a story Max came up with about a ghost, an astronaut and a space ship. He went on to play about 5 rounds of this game without getting tired.