We’ve been celebrating my birthday the last few weeks (yes, it’s a month long celebration) and there are little ones in our family. Keeping them patient and happy when we’re out can sometimes be a challenge!
So, you’re in a restaurant and you need to keep your little one entertained until the food comes out, what do you do? Sure, we know that we should be teaching them how to be engaging with humans but, realistically, if they’re really young, you won’t get much more than “Hi Gamma, I wuv you.”
When my boys were little I would bring drawing pads, crayons, and Hot Wheels to restaurants to keep them busy while we had adult conversations. Now that they are a little older they are active participants in the table chatter. Once in a while they’ll pull out the mobile devices.
I’ve noticed more and more families are travelling with mobile devices and using them in public such as restaurants. When it comes to keeping kids busy in these situations, we all know their limits and patience…especially if they are younger.
We also know that technology isn’t going to go away. But it just keeps getting better…and, let’s face it, it’s easier than bringing a bag full of little toys, books, and crayons!
And what about when you, or other family members, travel? It’s nice to “see” the kids and devices are great for that. But again, what if you want more than a face zipping by the screen?
I’m keeping an eye on this company called Kiddology, a new concept that aims to bring families back together with co-play using tablets. It sounds great for parents who want to stay connected and interact with junior.
It’s meant to be used together and not alone.
Kiddology provides a real-time video connection that uses interactive books and games to bridge families together. The space will offer the ability to connect with a list of family/friends that you’ve approved. So, while mom (or dad) is travelling for business, she can keep up the ritual of reading books together and interacting in a space that is designed for the little one.
What’s also unique about this new technology is that it gives everyone (me, you, grandma) a platform where you can create your own story or game. You won’t need to know all that computer coding stuff as Kiddology it aims to be user friendly. Now Grandpa can re-create his story, with the Kiddology mascot “Kiyoshi” about walking 5 miles to school in his snowshoes when he was a little kid.
Now, as mentioned, I’ve got my eye on this one. It’s not available yet but I’ve spotted it on Kickstarter. Projects like this takes significant funds to move it to the next level and what’s also worth checking out are the incentives for backers. And BONUS….Kiddology is a Canadian company created with a team of technology specialists, designers, story-tellers and artists!
Link here for more information: Kiddology
So, back to the restaurant, how do you keep your kids entertained?
I think we’ve always expected a lot from our kids, especially in public, so we probably refrained from taking the kids to restaurants when they were too small to manage their own behaviour – I’d let them have crayons if we were in a family-style eatery, but they were always provided by the waitress – I didn’t carry any. Sometimes we brought a book or two… but I think we just don’t eat in restos very often, so it’s never been a huge issue for us. I don’t believe in screens at the table for anyone… but that’s just me. 😉
Do you think it’s a good idea to train kids early on (like my parents did with me)?
Well, though I don’t like the term “train” when it comes to kids, but I think it leading by example is the way most things get taught – the problem lies in how badly behaved many adults are, combined with having very low expectations of children – they’re people! They’re just small people, with less experience than adults have… of course it’s a bit unreasonable to expect a 3-year old to sit through a four course meal, (especially when it’s not a family-style restaurant) but having lax expectations about staying seated throughout a meal, volume control, tantrums, etc. is just bad for everybody. And children often behave in restos pretty much as they do at home… so plan accordingly, I say.
No kids, yet, but when I was little (back in the dark ages known as the 80s), my mom or grandmother would always have a note pad and a box of crayons for me. As I got older, I brought a book (because it was all about keeping up with the BSC or the Wakefield twins). However, I also knew what “proper places” (or as I called it in Cantonese, “see mahn day fong”) were. I was expected to not only dress up (skirts and blouses or dresses, usually), but to also be in my best behaviour and not ask for crayons and paper. This goes back to the age of 4 (or maybe even 3 1/2!). I remember one time, a waitress asked my dad how old and told me that I was very grown-up. I was 4 at the time. She thought I was (a very tiny) 5! Looking back, these “proper places” were not fancy restaurants at all, just hotel coffee shops. However, because they used “real” plates and cutlery, I had to behave like a “lady.”