Just like your kid needs to be taught how to speak, walk and eat, he/she needs to be taught how to behave when dining out. Leaving them at home or waiting for them to grow up before you introduce them to the world of fine dining and restaurant dinners, may not be a very good idea. Going only to the kid-friendly restaurants is not much better either. More so, if the ‘kid-friendly’ restaurant offers only burgers and fries and you are trying to teach your children healthy eating habits. To make your family dinner outings more fun and less stressful, here are some tips you can follow.

10 Handy Tips to Dine Out with Kids

An important factor to keep in mind when you decide to go on a dinner outing with kids is that, kids are very apt at picking up signs of nervousness from their parents, no matter what the age. If you are restless and constantly nagging them, they are not going to enjoy themselves and you know what an unhappy kid entails better. So, relax even if things don’t work out the way you want them to. (The floor is not going to crack if your kid drops a fork.) Your kids are still learning and the things that are embarrassing now will amuse you later. Kids grow up and all you will have is memories. Do you really want to remember yourself as the anxious parent, ready to punch holes in the wall?

♨ 1. Table Manners at Home: If your kids follow acceptable behavior during dinner time at home, it will be easier to teach them restaurant etiquette before you leave home. Table manners begin at home, so start early. You can have a ‘pretend restaurant night’ once in a while. Set the mood by having everyone dressed up like they are going out, bring out the cutlery and show them how it is used. Ask them to tone down their voices and behave like ‘ladies and gentlemen’. It is not necessary that you cook an elaborate meal, but make something that will make the night special. If you are planning to expose your children to fine dinning, do it at home first (or at least as far as you can). Have everything ready but take your time in setting them out. Start with an appetizer – anything simple will be just fine. Then bring out the ‘main course’ followed by ‘dessert’. Make sure everyone is seated at the table (properly) for the entire meal. This will give them a feel of what will be acceptable behavior in a restaurant.

♨ 2. Choose the Right Restaurant: Deciding to take your kids out for dinner on the spur of the moment is never a wise decision, more so if it is your child’s first dining out experience. Plan the outing well in advance. Don’t restrict yourself to kid-friendly restaurants, but it is a good idea to take your children there initially (especially if your kids are fussy or cranky). Unless you expose your kids to different places, they are not going to learn how to handle themselves there. Call in advance and ask for things kids need for dinner outing (like a high chair, changing table) and if possible, make reservations. Though this rule cannot be generalized, in some places where high chairs are not provided, it is a sign that kids are not very welcome. Taking your kids out for fine dining can be a great experience, just avoid very upscale and uptight places (people go out to expensive restaurants on special occasions and you sure don’t want to spoil their mood even unintentionally).

Restaurant Etiquette for Kids

★ Be Polite – say ‘please‘, ‘sorry‘, ‘thank you‘. ★ Speak softly and play quietly. ★ Don’t disturb others or move around too much. ★ Sit up straight – you will look good. ★ Be careful with condiments and objects. ★ Respect the cook and the food before you. ★ Food is for eating, not playing or throwing. ★ Close your mouth while eating. ★ Eat slowly – food will taste better. ★ Don’t speak with food in your mouth. ★ Use a napkin to wipe your face and hands.

♨ 3. Decide the Outing Time: As a parent, you know your children’s routine well, try not to interrupt it when you plan a dinner outing. If your children are better behaved during the day, take them out for a lunch. For a dinner outing with kids, reach the restaurant early. The ideal time to take kids out for dinner is 5 to 5:30 p.m. The reason is that it is before the rush hour at restaurants. This means there will be less crowd, you will be able to sit where you want, the service will be quicker and the restaurant staff will have a little free time, which means they will be more helpful. Besides, going out early will give you more time to linger on your food and will allow you to return home before your kid’s bedtime. For the same reason, you might have to avoid places that have very slow service and meals which take a very long time.

♨ 4. Make the Dinner Outing Special: Kids are more fun and easygoing when they are excited about something and if that ‘something’ is an occasional treat, they become more pliant and willing to obey instructions. Just like you did for the ‘pretend restaurant night’, get them to wear special clothes. Make them realize that eating out is a privilege and that if they want a repeat, they need to behave themselves. That said, bring some quiet toys you can carry in your personalized restaurant kit to keep them engaged. But make sure that these toys will not create disputes or make too much noise. Make these games and toys ‘exclusive’ by using them only when you are eating out with kids. That way, they will not be bored very soon.

♨ 5. Pep Talk on Restaurant Etiquette for Kids: When you are on your way to the restaurant – not in the car though (kids will already be distracted by then) – take some time out to gently tell them what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Kids as small as 2 or 3 years old are capable of understanding instructions and following them, if done properly. You can promise them a reward for good behavior to reinforce your words. At the same time, don’t put them under pressure – a dinner outing is meant for enjoyment, not stress.

♨ 6. Sit Comfortably: If you have followed the tip of starting early, you will have many choices of seats to choose from, so choose wisely. Sitting in a booth or on a corner seat near an exit is recommended because, you or your kids will not get in the way of the hotel staff and other restaurant patrons while moving around or settling. Choose your seat near an exit so that you can easily take your child out if he/she has a meltdown or take him/her out for a short walk while waiting for the food to arrive. An added benefit of this arrangement is that, you will find it less embarrassing to make a quick exit if your kid refuses to be calmed down and you are forced to leave the dinner halfway through.

Checklist for Children’s Restaurant Kit

☐ Booster Seat (if needed) ☐ Crayons or color pencils ☐ Plain papers or color books ☐ Quiet toys (like magnetic writing board) ☐ Plastic drop cloth (to put under baby’s chair) ☐ Baby wipes (plenty of them) ☐ Light snacks (Cheerios, cut fruits, etc.) ☐ Sippy cups and small forks (if needed) ☐ Pacifier and bibs ☐ Camera (to capture the cute moments)

♨ 7. Keep Kids Engaged: In the beginning, your kids will be busy taking in the new atmosphere and will be quiet for some time. You can introduce them to the hotel staff to foster a kind of attachment between them. The staff will be more obliging to help your kids settle and enjoy. Once the kids have become acquainted with the surroundings, they will become fidgety. Give them a little freedom to look around, go to the patio or walk in the lobby, as long as it does not disturb others. After sometime, get them and bring out the ‘restaurant games’ you brought along. Make sure to keep the noise levels in check all the while and see that their behavior is not inappropriate for an outsider – NOT from your parental point of view (like jumping on the seats or questioning someone at the next table incessantly). The key here is to let them enjoy without making anyone (including the staff), seem like an unofficial babysitter or intruding on someone’s night out. Another thing to keep in mind is to include kids in a conversation. Use this time to strengthen your bonding and create lifetime memories.

♨ 8. Food Choices: Ordering from a ‘Kid’s Menu’ may seem hassle free, but those who have actually seen some, know that they have nothing much to offer. There are some exceptionally good ones, but majority of them will offer the American staple of cheese and fries. Instead, you can order from the main menu and share. This will broaden the culinary tastes of your kids and make the dinner all the more special. While you are placing an order, don’t order food for your kids before yours. If the kids finish their food before your food arrives, they will want to leave before you finish yours. Order an appetizer or two and split it up. One important point is to mention any food allergy or restrictions that your kid may have before ordering without presuming (different people use different recipes, a cook might use some ingredients that are normally never used in a dish). Discussing how and what all is required to make a particular dish is a nice way of giving an impromptu food education without evoking boredom. Encourage questions and opinions to keep the dinner table conversation on, and their interest alive. When the food arrives, taste everything that’s served before dishing it out to your kids. To reinstate good behavior, treat your kid to dessert or juice he/she likes (that is, if there is enough time before a breakdown).

♨ 9. Restaurant Rules for Parents: Use baby wipes to wipe a high chair before putting your kid in it – they may or may not have been cleaned after the last use. Place a small plastic cover under the chair of your small kid so that even if your kid spills anything, the carpet or the floor will not get stained. While leaving, clean up after your kid has done so, when things have been soiled more than what is normal in a restaurant. If there is any mistake on the part of the restaurant staff, try to keep your fuse in check. Most restaurants are more than willing to rectify their mistakes and an over-the-top reaction from you will embarrass your kids. Besides, the key to make your kids behave is by behaving yourself.

♨ 10. Tip Graciously: Even when your kids behave as adorable as angels, the restaurant staff will have to work more at your table than anywhere else. Chances are that he/she had to leave a table with less work and more tip, to wait on you and your kids. While it is enough to tip 15% when only adults are present, 20% of the bill is what you must tip if you are eating out with kids. If your kids have been fussy or the service was exceptional, give more if you want. You might even receive a happier welcome and better treatment the next time you visit that place.

Kids are adults in the making and like in every other instance, exposure to culinary treats will help develop their taste buds and culinary knowledge. Eating out not only enhances their love for food, but they will also learn to appreciate the food you cook at home. Besides, dining out with kids is a great opportunity to hone their social skills. If your kids learn to enjoy a good meal at a restaurant without a meltdown (or breakdown!), you can assume that they have learned to behave well at any social gathering, at least to some extent. Respect their food choice (those within reason), and you will soon be looking forward to try out a new restaurant or cuisine with your kids!

It is noteworthy that the digital age has simplified lives beyond description and made the world a smaller place; however, it is also a great distraction to kids and adults alike. If rules were an important part of child discipline from the ancient times, in today’s digital age, they have become quite a necessity. But then there’s this other thing about rules, making them stick!

Being Objective and Rational about Setting Rules
It is human psychology (perhaps curiosity of what the consequences will be) to wonder what happens if we do something we’re not supposed to. The first thing that comes to a child’s mind when you instruct them not to do something is, “why not?”! Why is it forbidden, what is the big deal? Remember this basic psychology while setting house rules, especially for kids. Any prohibition without explaining the reasons behind it will only lead to building up of the curiosity and eventually flouting the rule. Allay the suspense about the consequences of flouting the rules. Explain why the rule exists in the first place. The child needs to see the consequence as a result of his/her own actions.

Strategy to Build House Rules
Now let us build out a strategy for coming up with clear and unambiguous rules that will stick. At the core of this strategy should be the objective, that house rules must be meant to promote togetherness and an atmosphere of peace and order. From a discipline standpoint, rules should serve more as standards and not punishments. The idea behind setting any rule must be to encourage children to develop a sense of responsibility. Children need to make sense of the rules such that they follow it on their own, even when you’re not watching. Rules should NOT serve as virtual leashes to hold back children from anything! If you do that, the harder you pull the leash, Newton’s law of motion will ensure an equal but opposite reaction.

• The Fewer, the Better: Refrain from writing a rule book. You know what happens to those books, they’re pretty useless unless you’re arguing in a court of law or running a redemption center for convicted felons. Having a rule in place for every imaginable circumstance in the house, is a recipe for disaster. Keep them simple and more importantly, keep them few. Keep in mind your child’s maturity level and the values you want to pass on to him/her as the foundation for your rules. If you’re a single parent, or living with a partner who’s not related to the kids (stepfather or stepmother), if the kid has siblings or if he/she has special needs, all these “special” situations will make your rules unique to your family. Select the most important matters to make rules about.
• Get Rid of “Because I said so” and “For your own good”: If you want your kids to stick to the rules, involve them in setting them up. Yes, let’s leave babies and toddlers out of this of course, but as soon as children begin to understand things around them, make them participate in the discussion about setting up rules. If you have allotted an hour every day for watching television, explain to the child why you think it’s a proper duration. Tell them what they’d have to do for the rest of the time. Allotting time for homework, playing with friends, etc., must be done with the child’s participation. This will not only make the child familiar with the rules but also make them aware that you’re taking into consideration his/her needs. A participative process will automatically lead the child to think that he/she has a say in your scheme of things. You can also explain the need to have a particular rule and the consequences of flouting the rule, during this discussion. The rules will then become more effective.
• Write it Down, Put it Up, Stick it On: Once the list of rules (as small a list as possible) is ready, make an artwork out of it and ensure that the kids get to see it easily while going about the house. Enlisting their help in making a poster out of it or hanging it up behind the door to their room will convey the “fun element” about rules while clearly communicating the seriousness about sticking to them. Revise or revisit the rules whenever needed, not very frequently though. After a few months, when you see that the kids are taking to certain rules quite easily and without supervision, you may compliment them for it and remove that rule from the list. You just need to emphasize that while you’re proud that the rule needs no reminding, it is still an unwritten rule. These actions will enable the kids to place you in their circle of trust and they’re more likely to continue following the rules without constant supervision.
• Do Not Underestimate the Power of Positive Reinforcement: Has it ever happened that you have been driving your car safely for several years without breaking any laws and the one fateful day that things go wrong and you inadvertently make that small error, you’re pulled up and treated like a regular offender? You would perhaps say to yourself, “so much for not making a single mistake all these years!”. How great it would be if someone lauded us for sticking to the rules just as enthusiastically as they would punish the act of flouting. Well, while that may or may not happen with traffic rules, at home you can be the harbinger of change. Observe your kid’s good behavior as intently as you look for goof ups. Recognize their efforts at regularly sticking to the rules. Be generous in advertising their good behavior in front of your spouse and/or other relatives.
• Set an Example, Watch Yourself: It is a common occurrence that parents who set rules about obedience and respect openly misbehave with their own elderly parents or even strangers. Children exposed to such ambiguity have no second thoughts about flouting the rules. If you have a rule about not shouting or yelling stuck on your child’s study room soft board, you need to ensure that some errant driver sliding into your lane while driving does not make your child witness your nasty road rage. If you’re inconsistent in your own behavior, be prepared for a power struggle, especially with preteens and teenaged children.
• Teach your Child that Freedom Comes with Responsibility: Enforcement of rules is possible only if there are distinct consequences to flouting them. Ensure that your kids understand that the consequence is the price they have to pay for flouting the rules. Do not position the consequence as a “punishment”. Keeping the rules positive means, not following the rule will result in a minor or major inconvenience. Just like you’d get a speeding ticket for speeding over limits in traffic, let the consequences be clear and non-violent but adequately inconvenient to the kid. Ensure to communicate the consequences well in advance and start with warnings before strictly enforcing the rules. Everyone needs a “warm up”. Remove “harshness” or “negativity” as much as possible. Also, tone down or tone up the inconveniences based on the kids’ reactions to them. Ensure that none of your consequences for flouting the rules border on abusive parenting. For example, take off that rule that says – “if you don’t get home by 11 at night, make arrangements to stay elsewhere until morning”. For younger kids, do not have a rule that says; “if they don’t eat their vegetables, they’ll have to stay hungry”. There can be no positive learning from these kinds of flaming threats. Let helping with minor household chores or cleaning up their own room, etc., serve as consequences for disobeying rules.

Some Best Practices
A lot of young kids understand better when rules are laid out in a “Dos and Don’ts” fashion. Be tuned in to your kid’s reactions to the rules and consequences. If the kid is unable to make sense of the rules or thinks that the consequences are unfair, have a discussion with him/her without being condescending. If you have more than one kid around the house, make sure that most of your rules stay the same for all of them. If you have a teenaged kid with a curfew limitation that exceeds the younger child, explain why it is so. The aim of having rules is to promote harmony within the family, nobody should feel left out. Trust your kid and do not indulge in excessive monitoring of his/her activities. Don’t come across as someone who’s waiting for the kid to make a mistake! Don’t keep on nagging the kid and reminding the rules at all times. Avoid never-ending, unachievable consequences, don’t make the situation hopeless for the child. Another common mistake parents often tend to make is to hold a lasting grudge for certain actions by the child; for example, giving the child the silent treatment lasting several weeks for an act of misbehavior that occurred some time in the past. This is highly ineffective in correcting the misbehavior. Make sure that the result corresponds to the act of flouting the rule. Don’t blanket the consequence over everything else that the child does!

The key to making rules work is constant positive reinforcement and ensuring that the child is not left alone to deal with the harsh consequences of his/her actions. The aim of having rules is to steer the child towards self-discipline and civil behavior. Teaching the child to behave within the domain of reasonable boundaries needs patient effort. Establishing rules can be very helpful in the process of disciplining children. However, as with all fruits of labor, this one will be sweet and worth all the trouble. With these tips on how to make house rules that stick, hope you can coach your child to become a responsible and independent human being.

Canadian business owners and financial managers assess their commercial business banking and financing needs at different times in their company’s life.

As in many other facets of business, it’s a little difficult to develop a solution and fix a problem if you don’t understand the fundamental problem.

The need to grow your business and be profitable usually drives a bank financing need. A growing business consumes and needs more cash, if only for the fact that you’re building up receivables and inventories.

In Canada, business operating lines of credit are offered by our chartered banks. These facilities finance your A/R and inventory via specific margin calculations.

Most Canadian firms that have this type of credit facility submit monthly financials and aged receivables, which in turn create a new borrowing base under which you can draw funds. Companies that are having challenges (i.e., they are in special loans) or who are in breach of covenants may in fact be required to submit almost daily cash flow and receivable reports .

Although the basic arithmetic around bank financing and commercial banking is simple, in reality there are a lot of other factors that might end up affecting your bank facility.

What are some of these? In the continuum of time, certain industries fall in and out of favor. No better example of this is offered up than the auto industry. Other factors that you as a business owner might not like that affect your bank financing are issues such as your profits (or lack thereof!), the quality of business and outside collateral and your bank’s insistence on personal guarantees.

Bank financing works best under the following condition – your company is expanding but at a reasonable rate. One of the greatest ironies of Canadian business financing is that a hyper growth business, even if its generating profits, is often viewed as financing challenged by a Chartered bank.

Business banking uses a very basic concept that is often misunderstood by the Canadian business owner. That’s simply the fact that with a commercial bank line of credit, you’re drawing on assets of your growing business to pay older items. But wow, when your business ceases to grow or profit, your ability to draw cash flow out of your A/R and inventory business line of credit stops. But you still have operating and fixed-term payment obligations, and it now becomes difficult to pay suppliers.

Companies that have a solid handle on cash flow needs and their historical working capital inflows and outflows are in the best position to manage their firms and access bank financing.

Time and time again, we meet with clients that tell a very similar story – business grew, expansion plans were put in place, fixed and operating costs grew, and .. you guessed it .. sales started flattening or going down. The result – a recipe for financial disaster!

The ability to manage your cash flow or, alternatively, slow down your business is key.

Marc, Seth, and Rene iterate about the iPhone mute switch (sigh), Android interface guidelines, Windows Phone at CES 2012, and PNG compression redux, and interrogate Mike Rundle of Flyosity. Plus, we sneak a question to Joe Belfiore of Windows Phone. This is Iterate!

• Our podcast feed
• Download Directly
• Subscribe via iTunes

• Google’s Android Design site… user interface guidelines for Android 4.0
  • Don’t make your apps look like iOS or Windows Phone 7 on Android
  • The Verge interview with Matias Duarte
  • Khoi Vinh on Android Design guidelines
  • Recap of the Windows Phone $ 100 “smoked” challenge at CES
• PNG compression and iOS apps

• Mike Rundle of Flyosity
• Joe Belfiore of Microsoft
  • Complete interview with Microsoft and Nokia at CES 2012

• Marc Edwards (@marcedwards) of Bjango
• Seth Clifford (@sethclifford) of Nickelfish
• Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) of TiPb.com

Feedback

• Email: podcast@iterate.tv
• Twitter: @iteratetv
• Facebook: Iterate page

If you’re one of the best-of-the-best-of-the-best in mobile design for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, webOS, or Windows Phone, we’d love to get you on the show, or if you’ve found a drop-dead gorgeous app on any platform and really want us to talk about it, contact us and let us know.