A day full of running errands can be exhausting, especially with little ones in tow. Come the end of the day, the last thing you might think of is making dinner. You are already out and about, it is getting late, and everyone is getting hungry, so what is the plan? Do you have time to get home, spend an hour or more making dinner, then another hour struggling to get everyone to eat everything on their plate, followed by cleaning up the mess, all in time to shower everyone and go to bed at a reasonable time? Probably not, but that is okay.
I am a big supporter of home cooked meals, as they are healthier for the body and soul. However, there comes a time where eating out is just more practical. That said, it does not come without its challenges.
You pull into a restaurant and the parking lot is packed, so you expect the inside to match. Everyone is hungry, and probably closer to hangry. You park and shuffle your entourage inside and wait to be seated.
You finally get to your table and place your order, but the little ones are restless and about to cause a scene. How can you diffuse the situation? What can you do to keep them calm and entertained while you wait for your food during the dinner rush?
First, do not panic. Life happens, but you are strong enough to adapt and overcome.
Next, pull out a deck of cards you keep stashed in your purse. You read that right, a good old fashion pack of playing cards. A pack of cards is smaller than most phones these days, so they hardly take up any extra space in a purse.
Go Fish, War, Crazy Eights, and many others are great, quick and easy card games you can play right at your table while you wait for your meal.
Plastic cards are recommended, as they are waterproof, do not require any breaking in, are crease resistant, and easy to clean off any spills or stickies that are part of a restaurant visit. Further, they are made to last for years. Bicycle and Bee brands are made in the USA and make fantastic playing cards for a reasonable price.
A deck of cards can be used in any situation where you need to keep your little ones occupied, such as the car shop during oil changes or any waiting room in which you are stuck for more than a few minutes. It is a healthy, and even educational way to keep them busy when you do not want them playing on, or fighting over, your phone or attention. Certain games help teach counting, strategic thinking, math, and even memory.
Card games are fun for the whole family and are a great distraction from the waiting that comes with almost everything in life. Keep that deck handy for those times of need, and you will be amazed at how quickly it can turn around a stressful situation.
Here is a list of games geared towards children with links to their instructions.
Concentration (Memory)
Crazy Eights (Uno)
Love it!