Make Dining Out Fun For Children!

Having an 8 year old and a 2 year old makes for interesting choices when we dine out.  More often than not, our choice has an indoor play yard and a value menu, but sometimes my husband and I get lucky and manage to squeak in a “real” meal, complete with menus and waiters!  And, when those chances occur, we are eternally grateful for the activity placemat.

A disposable placemat created with children in mind, the activity placemat has multiple functions.  While it obviously acts as a placemat, it also provides children with a mode of entertainment while they wait for their meal to appear.  Quite often, the activities that are available on children’s placemats can be educational with word finds, puzzles, and activities geared toward using a bit of brain power.

There are a variety of mats to choose from.  Want to go with a sports theme?  Try disposable sport ball mats.  How about larger, rectangular activity mats?  There are also mats that are more durable, made of plastic and available in a couple of styles.  The infant/toddler version comes with a pocket that hangs in front for catching spills and other objects, and it can be adhered to the table to keep the child from pulling their food off of the table.  It also has wipes and bibs that accompany the placemats.  Older children will like the plastic activity mats as well.  They, too, have a catch-all pocket and a sanitary wipe, but they also come with a set of triangular crayons to boot!

One of the most ingenious ideas to go with the placemats is the use of triangular crayons, also known as crayangle crayons.  While triangular crayons eliminate the issue of crayons rolling off of tables (and as a parent, yes, this is an issue), they have another bonus.  As an educator, I look for crayons such as these because they promote correct handwriting positions, regardless of whether the child is right- or left-handed.  So, while the parents can be content that they aren’t chasing crayons off the table, they can also appreciate the educational perk to the shape of the crayon.

Catering to the “younger crowd” may mean a few extra supplies, but the rewards from the parents are ten-fold.  As a family, they will enjoy visiting again and again!