In New York City, Jamie Boxer is passionate about dining out with her kids. This Brooklyn mom participates in a growing trend of “restaurant training,” aiming to instill good dining etiquette in her children while sharing her love for the city’s vibrant food scene.
“New York City offers some of the world’s best food. I really want my kids to share that passion,” said Boxer, 36, from Williamsburg.
According to Boxer, teaching kids to enjoy dining experiences without screens from a young age helps them develop essential social skills and face-to-face communication abilities as they grow up. She’s not just a parent but also a speech pathologist and co-creator of a children’s food review platform called @table4tots.
Some parents, like millennial mom Choice Chou, bring their young children to popular restaurants such as Lilia and Swan.
This phenomenon isn’t isolated to Brooklyn; mothers and other caregivers everywhere are adopting the practice of exposing their little ones to dining out. They’re coupled with their friends and mentors, learning the ropes of restaurant etiquette.
Many parents are concerned about the so-called “iPad Kid” syndrome, which describes children who spend an excessive amount of time glued to screens and lack essential social skills.
Experts suggest minimizing screen time and highlight the long-term behavioral issues that can arise from too much digital exposure. They’re very much advising against letting kids dominate the conversation through devices while at the dinner table.
Research indicates that this reliance on screens can create a cycle that harms children’s behavior. It’s surprising to find that parents spend about 96 hours a year on activities related to screen dependence. Alarmingly, many adults feel that their children are missing valuable moments by being so engrossed in their devices.
Mealtime, when families can connect, often suffers due to these distractions.
Maria Gourmet Humbert, an etiquette trainer in New York, encourages parents to limit iPad use during meals and suggests starting this practice at home to ensure children understand the dining environment.
“Teaching etiquette is more about giving kids tools than enforcing strict rules,” Humbert remarked, suggesting parents can make learning fun by practicing restaurant scenarios at home.
“Kids need to learn basic table manners, like using napkins and making eye contact,” she added. “The goal is to build confidence and social skills.
Dary Ramirez, a Bronx mom of three boys, shares her experience of initially struggling to keep her kids seated at the table, only to realize the distractions were affecting their family time.
After removing the TV from their home, she and her husband found that their children became more engaged, playing games and exploring their surroundings instead of zoning out in front of screens.
Florida’s Daniel Curry makes similar efforts, engaging her six-year-old daughter and four-year-old twins in discussions about restaurant behavior before they even arrive at the venue. She firmly believes that children thrive when given boundaries.
In Alabama, Ashley McCurley values creativity that comes from boredom and opts to keep her children engaged in conversation rather than letting them stare at screens. It’s a choice born from practical experience — a decision made early in parenthood that shaped her children’s preferences.
Across the border in Canada, Tory Halpin ensures her young children are not exposed to screens at mealtime, even acknowledging the challenges of sticking to this rule herself.
In London, Hannah Morgan implemented training with her daughter, taking her to busy restaurants filled with sounds and smells, all part of preparing her for the dining experience.
Back in Manhattan, Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, supports this trend by promoting a series designed to teach young children about proper restaurant conduct. Meier believes that such training allows parents to reclaim a social life while enjoying outings without the stress of screen-related distractions.
Experts’ Tips for Training Your Child at the Restaurant
- Teach what “restaurant etiquette” means—kindness and respect in a public space.
- Encourage the use of napkins, proper sitting, and commend your kids for good behavior.
- Show them how to eat neatly on plates, hold utensils properly, and maintain eye contact during conversations.
- Emphasize saying “please” and “thank you” at the table.
- Don’t hesitate to introduce little ones to dining out early on.
- If things get tricky, step outside for a moment to regroup.
- Reward good etiquette by letting them choose the next restaurant or dessert after a successful outing.
- Remember that your actions set an example that children will mimic.
