There are many ways to keep your child amused while waiting for your meal to be served. Placemats can be turned into treasure maps, sugar packets can be used for a game of concentration (by hiding coins under some and trying to remember under which packet they are hidden), and when all else fails, keep your bag stocked with a pair of child's safety scissors and crayons to turn paper mats into beautiful snowflakes or creative artwork.
Thinking up games when the focus is on dinner may not be your top idea of a good time, but think how much more enjoyable the experience will be when everyone is having fun. Use this opportunity to involve your child in your dining plans and create a fun learning environment while you wait.
Keeping Young Children Amused
Here are a few ways to create some fun without leaving the table.
- Napkin Puppet. Slip your hand inside a paper napkin. Bend your hand in half to create the mouth of a puppet. Let your child add facial features with a pen or crayons. Make a puppet for your child and one for yourself. Have your puppets "talk" to one another.
- Line Game. On the back of a paper place mat or piece of scrap paper, draw several shapes in a column. Draw the same shapes in a different order in a second column. Give your child a crayon or pencil and have him draw lines between the matching shapes. As a variation, write letters or numbers in the columns instead of shapes.
- Coaster Game. Collect three paper coasters. Let your child draw a design on the back of one of the coasters. Place the coasters on the table with the printed side up. Lift up the coaster with the design to show your child where it is, then put it back in place. Slowly move the coasters around to rearrange their position. (One move is a challenge for a young child, two or more challenge an older child). Ask your child to point to the coaster that has his design on it. Turn the coasters over to see if he was right.
Game Ideas for Older Kids
- Crazy Dinner Combos. Take turns crossing out key words on the paper menu's list of options. Ask your fellow diners to fill in the blanks as you read the choices aloud. Anyone for a dinosaur burger topped with yellow sneakers?
- Capture the Squares. Make a square out of dots, say eight by eight, or 64 dots altogether. Take turns connecting two dots with a small line. The goal is to complete a box by drawing the fourth side. When you do, write your initials inside. Whoever initials the most boxes wins.
- Photographic Memories. Have the entire family stare in one direction for about 30 seconds. The object is to see and remember as many details as you can. Then, turn away and write down every detail you saw, from the ceiling panels or colors to the type of wallpaper on the adjacent wall. The one with the longest list wins.
- Talking Stick. Whoever holds the talking stick (a pencil or straw) commands the floor. Pass the stick among the family and create a story.
So you have to wait a while for the meal to arrive - that's OK, and with these fun games to keep even the youngest child happy the time will pass with good memories.
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