In this short instructional video, the speaker addresses the common challenge of dining out with young children who may become restless, noisy, or demanding. The core advice is to first manage parental expectations by choosing fast‑service restaurants that suit a child’s short attention span. The speaker then introduces the "GREAT" method – a five‑step communication framework for preparing children for the restaurant experience. The steps are: G – Connect (brief pre‑talk), R – Reflect (acknowledge feelings about waiting and food differences), E – Expectations (explain the process of sitting, ordering, and staying at the table, using quiet activities like coloring), A – Ask (pose clear questions about acceptable behavior), and T – Praise (recognize tiny successes such as holding hands or staying seated). Additional tips include allowing short breaks, using quiet activities, and praising incremental progress. A link to the full GREAT method (myparentingsolutions.com/justlisten) is provided for further detail.
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Haven't we all been there? Sick of cooking, exhausted by looking after the kids all day, and then we think, oh, let's just take them out for some food, only to arrive at the restaurant and they're fighting, whining, wanting to watch our phone, which we're very reluctant to give them, or they get down from the table and we get disapproving looks from the waiting staff and other people in the restaurant. So what do we do? Do we just avoid eating out altogether? Or do we use my great method to prepare? In this little video, I'm going to tell you my advice for eating out. So firstly, manage your own expectations. The younger the child, the shorter their attention span and capacity for sitting still. So definitely pick your restaurant carefully. Basically, pick somewhere where the food comes fast, and the more kids get used to eating out, the more you can widen your choice. But to start with, Somewhere that is fast is better. Next, plan to have a little chat with your child, and here's the great method G. Just connect with them a bit before you tell them what you want to talk about. Don't try talking to them while they're in the middle of watching TV. Then R, reflect their feelings. We're going to go out to eat. You might get a bit bored while you're waiting for the food. It might not be exactly the same food as you have at home. I'm moving through this fast. Then you move on to E, expectations. Manage their expectations about what is going to happen. When we go to the restaurant, we sit at the table and we look at the menu. Then you can choose. While we're waiting for the food, you need to stay at the table. We can bring some colouring pens and paper to keep you busy, but you need to stay at the table and not run around. Then move to A. Quickly ask questions back. What's going to happen? What can you do? What can't you do? Is it okay to shout in a restaurant? Is it okay to throw food around? Go over this a number of times and then move to T, praise tiny steps. So as soon as you get there, praise them for holding your hand while you walk to the table. Praise them for the fact that they've got their bottom on the chair. Keep catching the good. And remember, kids have a short attention span, so don't expect them to be able to sit there for hours. Maybe you're waiting for the pudding and you've had the main course, so if needs be, take them for a walkabout while they're waiting for the food, something like that. So I hope you found this helpful. If you want to expand on my GREAT method, go to myparentingsolutions.com/justlisten, and that gives you the full— it's how to get kids to listen using the GREAT method. And I've just really done a whistle-stop tour through it there now, so I hope I hope that was helpful, and I hope you have a good time eating out in a restaurant.
