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Mom, can I have your phone?
Did you bring my iPad?
I want to watch a show!
I’ve heard these pleadings countless times, especially at restaurants. Have you?
When my son was a toddler, we were those parents who gave their child an iPad at a restaurant. It was the only way we could get through a meal, and sometimes, even that failed. Flash forward, we created a monster! Whenever we went out to eat, my son would demand that he watch something. So, it was time for a change.
At home, we’ve had a good routine since preschool that involves an hour or two of screen time in the evening on weekdays and a little more on the weekends. Since that worked well, we decided to establish a new one when we went to restaurants or other places on the go.
So what activities keep kids entertained at restaurants?
Card Games
Card games are a big hit with my son, and they’re an easy thing to bring. I throw in a standard deck and Uno. There are also many other options, like Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Matching, etc.
Six-card Golf
If you haven’t played Golf, you’re missing out. This is one of our favorites, and it’s great for kids learning addition and keeping track of points.
War
War…the classic card game that never ends.
Speed
My son learned how to play Speed at after-school care and taught us how to play. I probably played when I was younger and don’t remember because, well, you know. This has been a great addition to our card games.
Uno
Uno! Who doesn’t love this game?! A cool thing about being a parent is experiencing all the fun things you played as a kid that you forgot about.
Board Games
Sorry
Ah, the game of sweet revenge.
We’ve packed Sorry a few times, and it’s fun to play when you have enough space. There aren’t too many pieces, so it’s easy to clean up when your food arrives.
Battleship
You sunk my battleship!
My son is still learning Battleship, but it’s compact for sticking into your bag and easy to contain the small pieces in the cases that come with it.
Connect Four
Find out who has the best strategy to win.
Connect Four is perfect for visiting a loud restaurant or brewery. You just have to make sure the pieces don’t fly all over the place when the game is over.
Chess and checkers
Keep it classy!
The foldable chess and checkers duos are the best. I don’t know how to play chess, nor does my son, but he loves to play with his dad and tries to learn the strategy.
There are also restaurants and breweries, like Topa Topa in Santa Barbara, that have games available to keep kids entertained. We didn’t bring our chess and checkers set, but the brewery had it.
Activity Books
Activity books are small and easy to carry around, making them a great choice for on-the-go entertainment.
Connect the Dots
Numbers, concentration, and coloring!
Connect the Dots is another winner. It’s an all-in-one activity book, so just bring a pencil, sharpener, and colored pencils.
Word Search
Word Search can help improve kids’ spelling and vocabulary.
This is one of my son’s favorite books. It keeps him focused, and he can color the illustrations when he’s done searching.
Color by Number
Color by Number is a fun way for kids to develop their motor skills, coordination, and concentration.
It also boosts creativity by teaching them about colors, numbers, and shapes.
Mega Construx and Lego Building Toys
I don’t usually bring Mega Construx or Lego Building Toys to restaurants because I’m worried about losing pieces, but we do travel with them.
The last time we visited Kauai, I opened the boxes and put all the pieces in zip-lock bags before we left. My son finished both figures during downtime on our trip.
Pro Tip: If you’re missing a piece of your Lego Building Toy, you can order replacements from Lego at no cost. We were missing one small piece of Spiderman, so I ordered it, and it was delivered within a week.
How’s it going
Initially, my son wasn’t thrilled when he realized there’d be no watching shows, but he eventually stopped asking for my phone and has been content with the activities I bring with us.
We still allow screen time at restaurants when we’re with a group of friends, and all the kids have devices to stay entertained. But when it’s just the three of us, he now knows the routine.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me or email holly@howtoholly.com.
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