The experience of dining out changes when you bring your children. It requires a bit more strategizing, from the type of restaurant you select to the timing of your meal. Whether you’re going out for barbecue, pizza, or burgers, follow these tips for a successful dinner out that the entire family enjoys.

Dining Out Tips

1. Choose the Restaurant Wisely

When you’re dining out with your children, you need a family-friendly restaurant that caters to your needs. An easy way to identify if the restaurant is suitable is to confirm that it offers a kids’ menu. Opt for more casual places with kid-friendly food like barbecue and all the fixings. Save the white tablecloth restaurants for date night.

2. Go Early

Timing is everything when you’re dining out with youngsters. First, make sure that your meal doesn’t coincide with naptime, which can result in cranky kids. Also, go out to dinner early before restaurants get crowded. You can avoid a wait, which can make your children antsy and you frustrated. Plus, you’ll be home early for a bath and bedtime.

3. Check Out the Kids’ Menu Before You Go

If picky eaters rule your household, make sure you’re choosing a restaurant that they’d enjoy. Review the kids’ menu ahead of time to confirm there’s something for everyone. By age 3, your child will probably want to have a say in what’s for dinner, so tell your kids the menu choices before you go to avoid any battles at the dinner table.

4. Bring Some Entertainment

Bring some items to keep your little ones occupied while you wait on your meal. A small notebook and a pack of crayons provide a quiet, fun activity for even young toddlers. Tossing a few small toys in your purse or backpack is an easy way to provide instant fun as well.

5. Ask for Kids’ Meals First

Since you’ve already surveyed the kids’ menu, you’ll be ready to order for your children when you arrive. Ask your server if you can put the kids’ orders in right away so that their food comes out first. After all, they take longer to eat, and a meal that arrives quickly will keep them nourished and occupied. If the restaurant doesn’t offer this option, consider ordering a kid-friendly appetizer instead.

If you live in the Ferguson, Missouri area, bring the family to Red’s The One and Only BBQ, which offers a family-friendly menu and atmosphere. This family-owned and -operated restaurant has been delivering flavorful barbecue dishes to the area since 1997. The menu includes an array of meats with all the sides you love. To learn more before you dine, call (314) 395-0513, or check out the menu online.