Shutterstock/Anna Kraynova
Guide

Who needs a tablet? How to keep your children busy in a restaurant

Katja Fischer
23/8/2024
Translation: Elicia Payne

They’re loud, jump around and mess up the table decorations – going to a restaurant with kids is often far from relaxing. Here are 30 entertainment options that don’t involve a tablet or device.

On a recent restaurant visit abroad, I couldn’t believe my eyes. At the table next to us, two children – around five and ten years old – were slumped over two tablets. Literally, their heads were bent low over their devices and large over-ear headphones covered their ears. Their parents and, I assume grandparents, were sitting next to them.

But it wasn’t just that. After all, it’s also standard to see children in front of screens at restaurants these days here. I’ve also allowed my daughters to watch a cartoon in a restaurant. What was more shocking was the fact that the tablet was in constant use – even during the meal. The children shovelled bite after bite into their mouths, not taking their eyes off their tablets for a second.

Seeing this made me think about children’s entertainment away from screens. After a quick search on Galaxus, one thing was clear – there are plenty of portable, creative and practical alternatives for restaurant visits.

For the little ones

Sticker books

Decorating pages with stickers. The function of a sticker book sounds unimaginative at first. But the cool thing is many stickers are reusable so children can do this again and again. Every time they visit a restaurant they can create a different picture.

My always again sticker book: On the construction site
Stickers
EUR11,90

My always again sticker book: On the construction site

Artista Sticker Book Animals (MQ3)
Stickers
EUR8,75

Artista Sticker Book Animals (MQ3)

My always again sticker book: On the construction site
EUR11,90

My always again sticker book: On the construction site

Artista Sticker Book Animals (MQ3)
EUR8,75

Artista Sticker Book Animals (MQ3)

Motor skills games

Opening buckles, closing zippers, untangling knots. Sliding the puzzle pieces into the right place. Or tying shoelaces. Motor skills challenges like these will keep your child out of mischief.

Painting books or placemats

Painting in restaurants is a classic. Child-friendly restaurants often already offer their young guests colouring books and crayons. Unfortunately, still far too few places do this. Yet it’s so simple.

Diggers, Schleich animals and other toy figures

Again, the simpler the better. A few of their favourite figures or vehicles won’t weigh your bag down and are often enough to keep children happy. Even if it’s just for a few minutes to enjoy your own food in peace.

Siku Excavator
Toy cars
Quantity discount
EUR6,10

Siku Excavator

Polly Pocket Otter Aquarium Compact
Dolls

Polly Pocket Otter Aquarium Compact

Siku Excavator
Quantity discount
EUR6,10

Siku Excavator

Polly Pocket Otter Aquarium Compact

Polly Pocket Otter Aquarium Compact

Puzzle fun

Puzzle blocks are another form of entertainment suitable for a very young audience. Bandolino are also great, handy learning cards. Children use a string to answer the task on the card by connecting the pictures. A solution check is on the back. Alternatively, you can go for busy books – a popular favourite.

Was sucht Lieselotte? Das grosse Such-und-Finde-Wimmelbuch (German, Alexander Steffensmeier, 2020)
Children's books
EUR14,–

Was sucht Lieselotte? Das grosse Such-und-Finde-Wimmelbuch

German, Alexander Steffensmeier, 2020

Ravensburger Mein allererster Rätselblock - Lieblingsrätsel (German, Jessika Zollickhofer, Amanda Enright, Lisa Regan, 2022)
Children's books
EUR5,99

Ravensburger Mein allererster Rätselblock - Lieblingsrätsel

German, Jessika Zollickhofer, Amanda Enright, Lisa Regan, 2022

Was sucht Lieselotte? Das grosse Such-und-Finde-Wimmelbuch (German, Alexander Steffensmeier, 2020)
EUR14,–

Was sucht Lieselotte? Das grosse Such-und-Finde-Wimmelbuch

Ravensburger Mein allererster Rätselblock - Lieblingsrätsel (German, Jessika Zollickhofer, Amanda Enright, Lisa Regan, 2022)
EUR5,99

Ravensburger Mein allererster Rätselblock - Lieblingsrätsel

For the big kids

Puzzle fun

Puzzle books for schoolchildren are more challenging. They include maths, writing, reading and searching. There’s even a kids version of Sudoku. They won’t get bored with those.

Tom Turbo - Rätsel-Boss 1 (German, G&G Publishing House, Children's and youth book, 2021)
Children's books

Tom Turbo - Rätsel-Boss 1

German, G&G Publishing House, Children's and youth book, 2021

Leselöwen Rätsel-Rallye für Leseprofis - 2. Klasse (German, Loewe learning and puzzles, Dominik Rupp, 2021)
Children's books

Leselöwen Rätsel-Rallye für Leseprofis - 2. Klasse

German, Loewe learning and puzzles, Dominik Rupp, 2021

Reading and learning

Reading’s always good. But not all children want to read a book in a restaurant. Nor do they want to learn something. It’s not fun and it’s not cool, after all. However if it’s disguised as a tricky quiz that needs to be solved, they’re usually all over it.

Tessloff WAS IST WAS Quiz Erde (German, Tatiana Marti, 2022)
Children's books
EUR5,95

Tessloff WAS IST WAS Quiz Erde

German, Tatiana Marti, 2022

QuizDetektiv. Allgemeinwissen für Grundschüler (German, Bettina Gutschalk, Manfred Rohrbeck, 2015)
Children's books

QuizDetektiv. Allgemeinwissen für Grundschüler

German, Bettina Gutschalk, Manfred Rohrbeck, 2015

Bibi & Tina: Das grosse Pferde-Quizbuch mit Bibi und Tina (German, Klett Learning Training, 2021)
Children's books

Bibi & Tina: Das grosse Pferde-Quizbuch mit Bibi und Tina

German, Klett Learning Training, 2021

Brain teasers

Here, too, you need a lot of brainpower. And time. In the IQ puzzle, you connect pieces to each other and, depending on the level, on top of each other. The aim of Chicken Shuffle, for example, is to slide the hens over their eggs but your direction of movement is restricted. And everyone knows the Rubik’s Cube, where you rotate the coloured squares to match each other.

Smart Games Chicken Shuffle Junior (German, French, Italian, English)
Games of skill
EUR24,85

Smart Games Chicken Shuffle Junior

German, French, Italian, English

Crafts

Crafts in a restaurant? Yes! Of course, only if there’s little material involved, so the neat bistro table doesn’t become a chaotic work surface. Folding origami, stringing beads or tying loom bands works. For small craft materials, it’s best to ask for a deep plate.

88 x Origami Kids - Unter Wasser (German, Thade Precht, 2023)
Children's books
EUR10,–

88 x Origami Kids - Unter Wasser

German, Thade Precht, 2023

Advanced skill games

Take a playground classic to the restaurant: Cat’s Cradle works by creating specific shapes with a string around your fingers. Four hands are required. The geoboard is also for solo players; instead of string, rubber bands are used for the figures. Spin Master requires a little more skill – you move a small ball through the track to the finish.

BS Geoboard (German, French, Italian, English)
Board games
EUR17,30

BS Geoboard

German, French, Italian, English

Spin Master Perplexus Rebel (German)
Brain games
EUR23,89

Spin Master Perplexus Rebel

German

We’re looking for more ideas! Do you have any other great tablet alternatives to entertain children in restaurants? Let us know in the comments.

Header image: Shutterstock/Anna Kraynova

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Mom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.

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