10 Toys to Keep Toddler Busy at Restaurant without Taking Out the iPadI understand the dilemma. When we bring our 21 month old daughter Maeleth Sarah Goh out to eat at a restaurant, she gets fidgety and wants to come out of her Baby Chair after she’s done with her food. Since we give her home-cooked food before we eat the food that we order, that ends up being a situation whereby she’s done but we’ve not even started eating. Sometimes, halfway through her meal she gets bored and rejects food. That’s when we feel tempted to pull out the iPad and let her watch kids programmes on YouTube - they are educational and Mae learned lots of words as well as her alphabets and numbers through the engaging shows. That’s the easy way out, but Mae likes to pull the screen really close to her and that’s bad for her eyes. To counter this, we bring along some toys and items for her to play with so that we don’t have to resort to pulling out the iPad. Let’s face it, when judgmental people see a toddler with eyes glued to the iPad, they tend to condemn the parents whether outrightly or silently in their hearts. No one enjoys that feeling of being judged right? In order for the toys to work as a good distraction for a long period of time in a restaurant, I feel that they must fulfill this set of criteria: A) They must be fun for your toddler. B) They must be portable and easy to bring out, taking up minimal space in the diaper bag. C) They must be non-disruptive to other diners at the restaurant. D) They must be safe, clean and non-toxic especially since it’s your toddler’s meal time. E) They must be able to be engaging so that your toddler can be distracted for a long time. F) They must be affordable (Under $25) - To ensure continued interest, they must be able to be set aside as toys that are only to be played while eating out at restaurants - they cannot be played with at home. G) They must be educational and teach your toddler something new. Using the criteria above, I compiled a list of toys to keep toddler busy at restaurant without taking out the iPad. Enjoy it and I hope that some of them work well for your toddler! 1) Nuby 10-Pack Little Squirts Fun Bath Toys, Assorted CharactersOpinions about Product and Reasons to Buy: Manufacturer's Recommended Age Range: 6 Months and Above. Are they fun? Yes! They are perfect for pretend play. Play idea: Make different voices for each character and act out a story. Are they portable? Yes, being small in size, they fit easily into your diaper bag. Are they considerate? Yes they don't make any mess and are quiet! Are they safe? Yes they are BPA free! Are they engaging? Yes, their adorable designs and irresistible cuteness are sure to keep your toddler interested for a long time! Are they affordable? At $7.89, yes they are! Are they educational? Yes, they can be used as a game while feeding your toddler to test and learn animal names recognition. They can also be used to train color and number recognition, counting and build mathematical skills. This "Nuby 10-Pack Little Squirts Fun Bath Toys, Assorted Characters" is definitely one of the 10 Toys to Keep Toddler Busy at Restaurant without Taking Out the iPad! 2) 3 Bees & Me Bath Toys for Boys and Girls - Magnet Boat Set for Toddlers & Kids - Fun & EducationalOpinions about Product and Reasons to Buy: Manufacturer's Recommended Age Range: 24 Months and Above. Are they fun? Yes, each boat has a magnet that can attach to the next boat to form a line of boats! So cool :) Are they portable? Yes, they are small in size and easily fit in your diaper bag. Are they considerate? Yes, your toddler can play quietly with these, unless he or she bangs them on the table. But then again, that could happen with the plate, fork, spoon, bowl, etc too. Are they safe? Yes they are certified to be BPA free and they don't contain lead or phthalates. They are made to last long! Are they engaging? Yes, you can use them to act out a story that teaches your toddler about colors, numbers and maybe how boats work too! Are they affordable? Yes, they only cost $14.95 and come with a money-back guarantee! Are they educational? Yes, coming in different primary colors and numbers (1 - 4), they are good toys to learn the basic colors and numbers. This "3 Bees & Me Bath Toys for Boys and Girls - Magnet Boat Set for Toddlers & Kids - Fun & Educational" is definitely one of the 10 Toys to Keep Toddler Busy at Restaurant without Taking Out the iPad! 3) AquaDoodle Travel Doodle MatOpinions about Product and Reasons to Buy: Manufacturer's Recommended Age Range: 2 years old and Above. Is it fun? Yes, your toddler can choose to doodle in red or blue color, and be free to express his or her creativity and imagination on the mat. Is it portable? Yes, you can easily make space to pack the mat along in your diaper bag. Is it considerate? Yes, your toddler can sit there doodling quietly and the water won't stain the tables and chairs anyway! Is it safe? Yes, it only uses water instead of ink, so it is non-toxic. Is it engaging? Yes, if your toddler gets bored of doodling, you can take over and keep him or her engaged with what you are drawing! Is it affordable? Yes it's only $15.99! Is it educational? Yes, draw out objects, shapes, numbers, and alphabets and put your toddler to the test! A great open-ended teaching resource in your hands! This "AquaDoodle Travel Doodle Mat" is definitely one of the 10 Toys to Keep Toddler Busy at Restaurant without Taking Out the iPad!
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January 2024
AuthorHi I’m Milton Goh, I'm 31 years old and i'm a blogger who writes about Christianity, Parenting, Life Lessons that I learn from Movies/Shows, and Lifestyle. |