-
Step 1
Practice at home before taking children to restaurants. Use mealtimes to teach table manners. Role-play being seated at a restaurant, reading menus ordering and making appropriate conversation.
-
Step 2
Set ground rules. Emphasize staying at the table, speaking quietly, being polite to wait staff and using good table manners. Repeat the rules before you enter the restaurant.
-
Step 3
Make sure children are not overly tired or hungry. Provide a snack to tide them over and bring a few toys or coloring books.
-
Step 4
Keep children at your table. Accompany them on all trips to other parts of the restaurant like play areas or bathrooms.
-
Step 5
Intervene immediately if the child gets fussy.
-
Step 6
Remove the child from the situation promptly if the behavior becomes disruptive. Help the child calm down in the lobby or outside the restaurant.
-
Step 7
Ask for the meal to go if the child can't recover. Leaving also reinforces that eating out is a treat that depends on good behavior.
-
Step 1
Develop a policy for dealing with unruly children. Communicate the policy to staff and be prepared to enforce it.
-
Step 2
Post the policy where patrons can see it. Some parents may take offense, but other diners will thank you. Take a "my house, my rules" approach if you are challenged on the policy.
-
Step 3
Expedite children's meals whenever possible. Hungry kids can get cranky.
-
Step 4
Listen to customer complaints. Chances are that when unruly children disturb one table, others nearby are also suffering in silence. Not all patrons speak up, but they might not return to your restaurant.
-
Step 5
Offer to move patrons who are complaining to another table.
-
Step 6
Politely remind the unruly child's family of the restaurant policy. Suggest taking the child for a "walk" to outside or to the bathroom.
-
Step 7
Ask the problem party to leave if the behavior continues. Servers should involve the manager or owner as necessary when confronting the family. Remain polite and professional. Bring their bill when asking them to leave. Remember that restaurants have the right to refuse service to disruptive patrons, whether they are adults or children.
-
Step 8
Be consistent. Don't hold children to higher standards of behavior than adults.
-
Step 1
Call the restaurant before you go. Ask whether there are high chairs, crayons and a children's menu. Inquire about their policy for handling noisy, out-of-control children. Explain that you have had bad dining experiences elsewhere because of unruly children. This is also a good time to determine whether the restaurant seems more "child friendly" or more "adult friendly." Depending on the answers to all those questions, you may want to pick a different place to eat.
-
Step 2
Give the family a chance to deal with the child's unruly behavior, especially if the venue is casual rather than fine dining. Many conscientious parents intervene or remove the child if the behavior continues.
-
Step 3
Ask the server to move you to another table. Explain calmly and politely that the unruly behavior is ruining your meal. This also gives the server the incentive to speak with the family of the child causing the ruckus. If the server can't or won't help, ask to see a manager.
-
Step 4
Cancel your meal and leave if the restaurant doesn't resolve the problem. While this is frustrating and inconvenient for you, it sends the restaurant a clear message that they are privileging one table to the detriment of another. This may also persuade the restaurant to intervene at last.
-
Step 5
Write a letter. If your bad experience was at a chain restaurant, contact corporate headquarters as well. Explain how the problem was not handled effectively.
-
Step 6
Spend your money elsewhere next time.
-
Step 7
Compliment families with well behaved children when you see them dining out.
