How to Make Your Restaurant Kid Friendly

There are only a handful of restaurants that provide facilities catered to toddlers and children. Finding the perfect kid-friendly dining experience is quite frustrating, especially when you have a little one curious about the outside world. However, some restaurants have got it right. They know exactly how to entertain kids and make them and their parents feel welcome and contented.

If you are a restaurant owner who is on the lookout for providing your customers with a wholesome experience such as this and want to transition to the ideal kid-friendly restaurant, then you have come to the right place. Read ahead for some easy-to-follow tips which you can adopt to give your customers a welcoming experience. 

Provide Entertainment

Restaurants that want to cater to all age groups often have entertainment options for kids as well. This includes colouring placemats and crayons to use while the food arrives. It helps keep the children occupied and gives the parents some time to relax and unwind as well. Some restaurants even offer toys to children to play with or screen educational videos for them to watch.

You can do the same or have a designated space for a play area. This does wonder for your restaurant's customer experience. It allows children to interact with peers their age and keeps them entertained for a long time. However, make sure to clean and sanitize the play area frequently. Offering a variety of board games or setting up a well-maintained aquarium can also help keep kids entertained.

Set up a Kid’s Menu – Keep the Names Fancy

Restaurants that want to cater to all age groups often have entertainment options for kids as well. This includes colouring placemats and crayons to use while the food arrives. It helps keep the children occupied and gives the parents some time to relax and unwind as well. Some restaurants even offer toys to children to play with or screen educational videos for them to watch.

You can do the same or have a designated space for a play area. This does wonder for your restaurant's customer experience. It allows children to interact with peers their age and keeps them entertained for a long time. However, make sure to clean and sanitize the play area frequently. Offering a variety of board games or setting up a well-maintained aquarium can also help keep kids entertained.

Ensure Kid Friendly Furniture and Facilities Are Available

Items such as bibs and high chairs are a standard requirement if you want a kid-friendly restaurant. Getting a high chair that is comfortable for the child also needs to be ensured. Make sure to opt for one which is of good quality and can last for a long time. Not only this but cups with lids and safe-to-use utensils for kids are also something worth investing in here. Get your hands on colourful utensils if you can, kids love having a mix of colours in front of them while they eat. You’ll be saving up on a lot of time and effort spent by parents to force their kids to eat by doing so. That’s exactly what parents want when going out for a family dinner.

Moreover, changing stations are a must. Parents often stress out when they find out a restaurant does not have a changing station or any similar facility to accommodate them in this regard. They’ll probably not come back again and you definitely don’t want this to happen, so add on a changing station. Be mindful to ensure it's present in both men's and women’s restrooms for their and their kids' ease. 

Train Your Staff

Friendly staff and service is an attractive aspect for families with children. Sometimes taking care of kids can be tough, especially if they’re more than two and of the same age group. You can train your staff to lend a helping hand to struggling parents by offering to escort the kids to the play area or show them around the restaurant.

Providing support to families in this way can help retain customer loyalty. Patience, respect, and consideration of parents' wishes should also be provided by the staff. Not only this, but you can hire staff specifically to keep an eye on children in the play area and keep it clean (if you plan on setting one up that is). In this way, parents will be able to get the ultimate customer experience they want and recommend you to other families who have children as well. You definitely want to create this snowball effect - the more the customers, the better your restaurant’s prospects get!