Restaurant Busy Kits

Eating at a restaurant with a child (or multiple children!) can be a challenge. Time ticks about 10x slower when you’re awaiting the food for a hungry child. I put together these Restaurant Busy Kits and keep them right in my car. They’ve been a real sanity saver and have made dinners out actually enjoyable again!

Here’s what you need:

Case or Bag

Buy something to keep everything organized. I found this clear plastic case on Amazon, but you could use a tote bag, backpack, or anything else your child can easily carry themselves.

Blank notebooks

These are endless fun for children of all ages. Little ones can scribble and do stickers. Older children can practice writing, drawing scenes, or even making up their own story book. I love them because there are no lines, and with only 8 pages, they’re not searching through a big book for a blank page.

Pens

Colored pens are hit at restaurants for my kids because they’re a novelty. They get markers and crayons at home, but rarely pens. Make sure to get the kind that clicks up and down because no one wants to go diving under the booth in a restaurant for a missing cap.

Activity Packs

Target Dollar Spot has $1 activity packs with kids’ favorite characters. They come with a little activity book, stickers, and crayons.

Stickers

These are great fine motor practice for little ones, while they add fun embellishments for an older child’s masterpiece. The Dollar Tree and Target Dollar Spot are full of fun stickers for super reasonable prices. Encourage older kids to incorporate stickers into their drawings. Use an emoji as the head for a character, make hearts into flowers, or draw an underwater world complete with fish and seaweed. Pick a theme for their art based on whatever stickers they have in their kit.

Make a Scene Sticker Sheets

Stickers and the scene are included on these sheets. Kids can choose from different stickers to complete the scene. Melissa and Doug make reusable sticker books with different themes, but they wouldn’t fit in my case.

Mini Spirograph

This little spirograph has been a huge hit with my 2 & and 4-year-olds. It’s tricky, but even when they don’t do it perfectly, they end up with cool pictures. It takes standard square-sized Post-It notes, so you can stick them all over your restaurant booth.

Printables

The internet is full of great printables to keep your kiddos busy. Here are just a few links. Looking for something age-appropriate for your child? Search Pinterest for “printables for” and your child’s age. (Example: Printables for 6 year olds)

Change out the supplies regularly to keep them exciting. I hope this helps keep your kids entertained and allows you and your spouse to have a conversation. Happy dining!

Original post by Kristin on 2/21/17