10 SCREEN-FREE WAYS TO SURVIVE A RESTAURANT WITH KIDS

Are you one of those families that avoids eating at a restaurant at all costs? Trust me, I get it! Sitting down at a restaurant with kids can be a major source of stress - you can already see the french fries flying, kids whining because they’re hungry, crayons rolling all around the table… but it doesn’t have to be that way! You can still enjoy a nice meal with your whole family without resorting to whipping out the tablets and phones.

Let me be clear - absolutely no shame in pulling out a tablet! But I know lots of us parents want to try to avoid them whenever possible, and instead opt for engaging activities that spark creativity and fun. Reaching for a tablet is easy, but sometimes the “post-screen-time-crash” just isn’t worth it. You CAN dine out screen-free - you just need a “restaurant survival kit” that’s ready to go so you’re set up for success.

So how to keep kids busy at a restaurant? The secret is to bring small, easy to pack, high-engagement activities that are nicely organized so things aren’t rolling onto the floor. It also helps to have special items that only come out at restaurants so they keep their excitement value. I know if I just throw random toys in my purse we’ll lose pieces under the table and the kids keep having to ask me for something different instead of playing independently. By utilizing smart organization solutions, you can avoid this and allow your kids to entertain themselves with minimal guidance.

Enter…the Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer and Snack Boxes!

These create the ultimate restaurant system! They keep small activities organized and within arms’ reach. There are so many ways to pack them to suit your child’s preferences and needs, but let’s go through ten ideas for your toddler restaurant kit:

10 Screen-Free Ways to Survive the Wait

The “Toy Box” Hack (Using the Mothercould Snack Box!)

1. The Block Kit: Fill the compartments of a Mothercould Snack Box with Legos, building blocks, or mini magnetic blocks. The sections can keep the blocks color coordinated and keep them from spilling everywhere as kids are building.

2. Mini Art Kit: Add stickers, crayons, washi tape, stamps, markers, and more to a snack box. Include a small notebook and let kids create! 

3. Sensory Play On-The-Go: Add play dough to the snack box and add themed items to the other compartments. (For example, green play dough and farm animals, or blue play dough and sea creatures.)

4. Treasure Hunt Sorting: Fill the sections of the snack box with small items, like pompoms, buttons, small toys, etc. Include a pair of plastic kids tweezers and have kids sort the items by color in the box compartments. 

5. Beaded Creations: Pack some large beads in the Mothercould Snack Box. Fill the other compartments with pipe cleaners and string - make some beautiful beaded creations!

The “Travel Organizer” Hack (Using the Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer!)

6. Artsy Travel Toys: Have an artistic kid? Fill the hanging organizer with a travel watercolor kit, art supplies, a small coloring book, water pen painting books, and paint by number books. The hanging organizer can fit larger items, so these are great options to bring!

7. DIY Car Tracks: Pack some painters tape or special road tape and some small cars. Create some car tracks on the table and let kids drive!

8. Suction Cup Toys: For younger kids, pack suction cup spinners. For older kids, pack a toy like Squigz or suction cup animals. These are great because they can stick to the table!

9. Magnetic Games: Small games fit perfectly in the Mothercould Hanging Organizer! Make them magnetic and you don’t have to worry about losing the small pieces. Think a magnetic tangram puzzle, Rush Hour, or even magnetic tic tac toe.

10. Reusable Sticker Books: These are a HUGE hit with our kids and are great for restaurants. The puffy stickers can be used over and over - decorate a window or the table! The sticker books work well to keep the stickers contained, and there are so many different themes to choose from. 

The Ultimate “Snack Rescue”

One thing you can’t control is how long you’ll be waiting at a restaurant. Sometimes, toddlers just need a snack while waiting for their food. Packing a Mothercould Snack Box with snacks before you head to the restaurant is a great way to feed kids in an exciting way while you wait for their meal. No shame in bringing some snacks to a restaurant! Check out this post for some fun snack box ideas.

Dining out with your kids doesn’t need to be stressful or a “race against the clock” until the food arrives. Preparing well with organized systems that keep toys contained and easy to access means you don’t even have to pack the tablet - your kids might even enjoy sitting at the table with you! With a solid system and a few simple hacks, your next family dinner can be fun and memorable for everyone.

Grab your Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer and Snack Boxes to set yourself up for a parenting win!