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Question:
My 2 1/2 year old has become very fussy in restaurants. I love to go out to eat with him, but don’t want to embarass myself in front of the entire restaurant. Some kids seem so well behaved! Is there anything I should be doing to get him to behave?- Melissa
Grandma’s Answer:
Ahhh, I so remember those days and am reliving them with my grandchildren now. First of all, you need to set the guidelines and at 2 1/2 there needs to be some. You need to explain that there are other people in the restaurant who are there to enjoy themselves with peace and quiet during their meal. Tell them they need to express themselves in a “normal” voice tone, not screaming. Calmly explain that if they do scream, you will leave. And be prepared to really leave if they misbehave!
One thing that parents do is come up with idle threats. That is probably one of the biggest discipline mistakes that parents make and truly the most annoying one, especially for bystanders. Let me explain one thing: You might think your child is adorable, and you might think that they are the most special person in this world, but when they are acting up in the restaurant and the table next to you has to put up with it, they are not.
I have been out in a restaurant with a misbehaving child/grandchild and I have left with food on the table or even before the order came and paid and never put one morsel in my mouth. So get the rules down. Tell them what is acceptable and what is not and FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THOSE GUIDELINES! Do not give them 50 chances.
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Great backyard summer treat for the kids. Frozen fruit pops on a stick. 
Comment by Annie on Jun 09 2009 05:23:50:
Just to add to what Grandma said, I also think it is important to have similar meal-time rules at home. We all sit at the table and eat together. If someone finishes early they wait until everyone else is done. When we go out to restaurants, the rules are no different. There is no running around, no playing with food, no screaming etc, but it isn’t hard for the children because they are used to behaving this way. I know it is so easy to let kids get away with things at home, but it also easier to follow through when you are at home. “Sit down and eat your dinner or I am throwing it away” is a lot easier to follow through on when A. You can sit your child in time-out and finish your own dinner B. you don’t have to pay the restaurant bill and C. You don’t have to worry about the watchful and very judgmental eye of restaurant patrons. If they have to behave at home, it will be easier for them to behave in public.