No Kids Allowed

What's the matter with kids today? The “Bye Bye Birdie” musical created an entire song and dance to depict the problems with kids during the '60s.

According to an article in the Daily News and TV reports nationwide, a restaurant in Pennsylvania called McDain’s has decided that since children under 6 years old can’t control their volume, they're banned from the popular restaurant.

Apparently, it is legal to ban children. New York City has several restaurants that either ban children, children can only eat in one portion of a restaurant, and other restaurants have created rules regarding what age group they will allow.

Why did this subject gain so much attention?

Have children changed? Parenting changed?

Are we a “Me” oriented society, becoming more open regarding our opinions, possibly less tolerant?

Another option is that our time is so precious and we want to enjoy the moments and not be interrupted by the “volume” from children.

The restaurateur from Mc Dain’s believes parents should get babysitters for their children.

What do you think of this rule created by the owner?

Indeed, parents should come prepared when bringing a child to a restaurant. Yes, organization is key to creating an enjoyable meal and the meals of others around you.

Plan ahead and keep these items in a tote bag in your car:

·      Paper, pencil, crayons.

·      Games, ones that work well on the placemat in front of them.

·      Tech games.

·      Games that you can play with your child at the table like 20 questions.

Any of the above ideas are certainly simple enough yet, we don’t always remember. Success depends on a few factors:

·      Consistency is the key to success regarding parenting.

·      Communication prior to your excursion.

·      Rules set up and communicated.

·      Positive reinforcement.

During the formative years, parents have the opportunity to shape and teach their children right from wrong.

I am not aware of any local restaurants banning children, but, I certainly witnessed the owners wincing a few times as children run through their restaurant.