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Kids in restaurants - Should parents try harder to control their children?
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Silly, loud kids are fine
at home but not in
restaurants!
We went to two different restaurants in the Seattle area this weekend and both times there were unruly children. I’m talking out of control, rude “kids gone wild” type behavior! This seems to be happening more and more often - it is hard to go out for a peaceful family lunch anymore!
I’m a firm believer that children should be taken to restaurants and other public venues from infancy. I am also a firm believer that they should behave themselves while there. I know how restless kids can be, I have been tested by the best! And, I have more than once been forced to leave a restaurant before finishing my meal because my child refuses to behave.
But that is the difference! IF one of my children misbehaves, we speak to them and go over again how we act in a restaurant. If their actions show they are going to continue misbehaving, we remove them from the restaurant. End of problem. Many times they just need the break and come back in a few minutes just fine.
I am always amazed at how some children are simply ignored by the adult at the tables. They sit there on the phone or visiting with another adult while the kids are left on their own. What do the expect from a hungry toddler?
Both times, the kids were loud, jumping around in their seats and/or running around the tables. We even had one little pre-schooler running after her friend yelling “butt head, butt head” over and over while the other SCREAMED until the waitress (holding the food) had to ask the adults to please keep them in the booth. That lasted about two minutes.
At the other restaurant, the kids were crawling under all the other patrons’ tables, including ours. Never once did one adult talk to the children or help settle them down. They didn’t get them to do something quiet (like color) or offer them some crackers. They either screamed or simply ignored them while they rest of us paid the price
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