How to Keep Kids Off Their Phone or Tablet When Dining Out

Dining out with kids often feels like a race against boredom. One minute you’re ordering, the next your child is climbing out of their seat or throwing a tantrum. Handing over a phone is the fastest fix, but it also cuts them off from the real-world experience you came out for in the first place.

The better strategy is simple: pack a “restaurant kit.” With a few well-chosen items, you can keep kids engaged, curious, and calm, no screen required.

Art supplies work best for quiet, focused play, but stick to low-mess options since some restaurants call for quick cleanup and minimal disruption. Skip anything that rolls, spills, or requires too much setup.

Go for:

• Mini sketchpads or small notebooks

• Washable markers or crayons

• Colored pencils with a compact sharpener

• Reusable sticker set

• Magnetic sketchpads

For big kids, try giving a task. Ask them to “review” the restaurant or draw their meal. It adds structure without pressure. These keep kids engaged longer than basic toys because they encourage problem-solving and pretend play.

Books are another essential. Even if your child is not yet reading independently, flipping through pages or listening to you read helps pass the time and creates a calmer atmosphere at the table.

Bring:

• One familiar favorite

• One “high-interest” new or rarely used book

For younger kids, choose books with detailed illustrations or interactive elements. For older kids, early chapter books or comics work well.

Quiet, compact toys can help toddlers stay busy while waiting for food. Small puzzles, magnetic toys, finger puppets, or toy cars keep little hands occupied without causing a mess or disturbing other diners.

One key trick: do not hand everything over at once. Start with one item, then slowly introduce others as needed. This keeps each activity feeling fresh and extends their attention.

You can even save a “special” item that only comes out at restaurants. That exclusivity makes it more exciting than anything they have at home.

Packing activities helps, but what parents model matters just as much.

If children are expected to stay off screens during meals, they notice when adults are scrolling through their phones at the table. It sends mixed messages when kids are told to engage with the people around them while parents are tuned into a device.

Using restaurant time as a screen-free moment for everyone helps reinforce the behavior you want to see. When parents make conversation, stay present, and participate in the meal, children learn that dining out is about connection, not just staying occupied until the food arrives.

This matters even more as children get older. Restaurant habits eventually carry into school functions, family gatherings, and formal meals. Practicing now helps them learn how to behave appropriately in different settings, including fine dining restaurants including fine dining restaurants where more formal table manners are expected.

Simple reminders can help reinforce key developmental and dining etiquette habits:

• Speaking in an indoor voice

• Staying seated unless necessary

• Waiting for everyone’s food before starting

• Using utensils properly

• Taking part in conversation

• Saying thank you to staff politely

Dining out with young kids doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little preparation and the right expectations, it can be a calmer, more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Discover 10 simple etiquette lessons to help your child grow up well-behaved.