Keeping kids occupied at restaurants

[scout251]

I'm in the process of planning 2's baptism. We are having the lunch at a restaurant and there will be 9 kids there ranging in ages from 1-7. What can I put out at their spot to help keep them occupied during lunch that won't drive everyone else crazy. I know I can get coloring books and crayons but looking to see if anyone has any other ideas that wouldn't be too expensive.

[becole]

May 8, 2017 12:22:15 GMT -5 scout251 said:

I'm in the process of planning 2's baptism. We are having the lunch at a restaurant and there will be 9 kids there ranging in ages from 1-7. What can I put out at their spot to help keep them occupied during lunch that won't drive everyone else crazy. I know I can get coloring books and crayons but looking to see if anyone has any other ideas that wouldn't be too expensive.

Play dough and cookie cutters. Toy cars. Those glitter bottles that you can make yourself with different little things in it. Those magna doodles or color wonder things. Melissa and Doug also has that paint with water activity book that DS loves. They also make a sticker thing but they're restickable on different backgrounds so no mess.

[emmagk]

Play doh or silly putty, little cars would be my go to. But only because DS doesn't like colouring. I also agree with Mary that it should be on the parents to bring entertainment

[meggypoo1]

May 8, 2017 12:53:32 GMT -5 emmagk said:

Play doh or silly putty, little cars would be my go to. But only because DS doesn't like colouring. I also agree with Mary that it should be on the parents to bring entertainment

I was going to say these things as well

[bliz1712]

My only suggestion would be that if you're going to provide something you should get one for every child. Otherwise I forsee an issue with some wanting something someone else has. So the doodle thing is a great idea, but I would provide enough for everyone.

Stickers or craft items. You could just hit up the dollar store and get a lot of inexpensive items. They have action figures, and other toys that could work. Or get a bunch of crafty items in the craft isle.

[scout251]

Thanks ladies. I know it should be on the parents to bring stuff and some of them will but at least my cousin has a tendency to let his daughters get up and play and dance at these types of things which I hate. Now that 1 is big enough she wants to part of sitting if other kids are allowed to get up so I was hoping to discourage the whole thing. I was definitely planning on getting each kid the same thing so there's no arguing. I'll roam around the dollar store when I go get the coloring books and see if anything else catches my eye.