| I am finding that like myself, my friends are also | | | | (I understand that the entertainment of your |
| building families, and like myself they also find the | | | | children is not the responsibility of the restaurant, |
| prospect of worrying after children while at a | | | | but in reality I find that we all tend to favor the |
| restaurant unappetizing. When a bunch of my | | | | places that make our lives easier, and the clever |
| friends and myself want to meet up, we can | | | | restaurateur will leverage this to attract |
| have around 10 children in tow, aging form 6 | | | | customers. I also understand that not all |
| months up to 6 years old, I think we strike fear | | | | restaurants are child friendly, but make it known |
| into the heart of many a restaurateur. | | | | that you do not cater for children upfront so my |
| Don't get me wrong, My kids are well behaved, | | | | children do not ruin your romantic dinner, and I will |
| sure they could be better, but they are kids and | | | | expect the same when I go to a place like that.) |
| listening to a bunch of adults prattle on must be | | | | So in order to make it onto my list of top child |
| boring. That said on a recent visit to Australia I | | | | friendly restaurants an establishment needs to |
| was astounded to not find one restaurant with | | | | really understand that children and their parents |
| any child friendly facilities. I am not sure if this is a | | | | can both have a pleasant experience at their |
| South African thing, but to be child friendly a | | | | establishment. |
| restaurant needs to have a kiddies menu, a | | | | Necessities include: |
| separate play space, climbing frames, crayons... | | | | - Good food and a menu for all ages (even gran..) |
| stuff kids like. In reality where I live, children have | | | | - A safe place for children to play. |
| an expectation to at least be able to order food | | | | - Crayons, paper, coloring in, Jungle Jim's, climbing |
| that they are familiar with if they want to. | | | | frames, slides and swings, some selection of stuff |
| We struggled to find anywhere apart from the | | | | to keep little hands and minds occupied. |
| local McDonald's that even considered little children, | | | | Extra marks for: |
| and there is only so much McDonald's you can eat. | | | | - Child minders to keep a tab on the chaos. |
| I did notice however how well behaved the older | | | | - Activities, like face painting, Pizza making |
| Australian children were at the table, but there | | | | - Dedicated play area for children of different |
| where a very few young children around, and | | | | ages to play, the three year olds tend to get |
| those that I saw where just as rambunctious as | | | | knocked about by the seven year olds. |
| mine. My wife and I joked that there must be an | | | | So here is my list so far, these are all places that |
| eight year training course for Australian children on | | | | I have been to and can personally add the child |
| table etiquette before they are allowed out. | | | | friendly stamp to. |