Your Children's Table Manners while on Holiday

Teaching kids table manners is as important when you’re at home as when you’re on holiday, but there’s something about being in a strange place amongst strangers that makes bad table manners stand out glaringly. You don’t want fellow travelers and restaurant guests to think disparagingly of your kids. Make sure your kids have some basic table manners in place before you introduce them to restaurants. Room service is always an option, but there will be times out sightseeing when you’ll need to make a quick tuck stop.

Before you set out on your holiday, teach them the proper use of cutlery. It doesn’t have to elaborate Victorian style table manners we’re talking about. Just simile things like not touching food with their hands, not smearing their faces, and not talking with their mouths full will do. Tell them they’re not to be noisy, or create a ruckus.

If you have toddlers or preschoolers and you’re dreading taking them to a restaurant, try to find a family friendly fast food restaurant where the setting is more casual, and a little noisy. Your children’s natural rambunctious behavior won’t be so obvious in a setting like this.

A restaurant that offers a buffet spread is also another convenient option if you have kids. There’s no ordering and waiting time; all you have to do is grab your chow, eat it and go. The point is to not keep them waiting too long which is when they turn antsy, and get into mischief.

Tell them they may not under any circumstances be excused from the table, except to go the restroom with you in tow. Other diners won’t approve of kids coming up to their table, and annoying them with questions. You might think his baby talk is really cute - that does not mean every one else will feel the same way, and you have to respect the rights of other places at the eatery.

Order their food when you order drinks for yourself. That way their food will arrive faster, and will also give you free time to help them eat their food.

If necessary, bring alone crayons and some plain sheets. If the food is taking a while to arrive, they will have something to occupy their time with.

If all fails and your kids are getting to be too noisy to handle, ask the waiter to pack up your food, and leave. Don’t yell at them or create a scene; you’ll only make other diners uncomfortable. Packing up the food and eating in your room is actually the best thing to do in the circumstances.