Busy schedules can make family dinner-time a precious commodity. Connect with your kids and spouse by heading out to dinner at your favorite pizza restaurant, and enjoy the following benefits of dining out as a family.

4 Reasons to Eat Out With Your Family

1. Help Young Children’s Social Behavior

If you have little ones, eating out in a casual setting can help them become more comfortable in noisy or crowded spaces. Let kids practice social skills by ordering the food or requesting their preferred drink. Or, choose a new flavor for them to try to encourage flexibility and a sense of curiosity about new items. Pizza is a fun food that most kids enjoy, and the informal setting of most parlors is an easy way to start getting your kids used to eating out.

2. Teach Manners

It’s easy to let table manners slide at home, especially if you can’t dine together as a family. When at the restaurant, teach kids good manners, from saying “please” and “thank you,” to a server to how to properly use a fork, knife, and napkin. Keep it simple and light, as eating out is also an opportunity to relax and have fun.

3. Create Quality Family Time

If possible, choose one night a week where you eat out as a family. This can establish a family tradition and ensure there is at least one night of the week when you all can eat together. Rather than allowing everyone to be on screens while waiting for food, have a no-devices policy that will encourage conversation and connection. Use this family dinner to catch up with your kids’ and spouse’s activities.

4. Fun for All

Dinner in a relaxed setting somewhere with food everybody loves gives parents and kids a fun treat to look forward to. There’s no dinner prep and clean up for parents, and kids enjoy the change from sitting down at the table at home. Eating out can be a chance to celebrate important occasions, such as birthdays, but also a way to try new types of cuisine and explore different areas of town. Let kids select where to go sometimes to give them a sense of choice and fun.

Enjoy a weekly family night out at Riverfront Pizza & Sports Bar in Covington, KY. Offering gourmet pizza and other favorites, this family-friendly Italian restaurant serves made to order pizzas, salads, pasta dishes, and delectable desserts. Family owned and operated since 1981. Order online or call (859) 261-4800 for take-out or reservations.