What I Pack to Keep Kids Entertained at Restaurants
- Mama Bird
- Dec 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 14
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Hi everyone, it’s Mama Bird here! 🐦
Today I wanted to share how I keep my Little Birds entertained when we go out to eat. Waiting for food can feel like an eternity for kids, and I definitely want to avoid chaos at the table.
I’ll be honest—sometimes tablets make an appearance right after we order, and then get put away once the meals arrive. That works just fine for the occasional meal out. But since we eat out fairly often, I like having a small dining-out bag filled with quiet, screen-free activities that keep everyone happily occupied without being glued to a screen.
Over time, this bag has become my go-to solution for restaurants, long waits, and anywhere we need a little extra patience.
🧩 Puzzles
Little Brother Bird loves magnetic puzzles, and the best part is that the pieces actually stay put instead of disappearing under the table. They may not be as challenging as they were when he was younger, but they still keep him entertained—and they’re great for car rides too.
✏️ Whiteboards
Whiteboards are a huge hit in our family—especially for Sister Bird, who could draw for hours. The kids love having drawing challenges, although it can get a little tricky when they expect us to choose a favorite!
Dry Erase Boards: 👉 https://amzn.to/4pBtm7p
Markers: 👉 https://amzn.to/458L4qA
🧩 Plus-Plus
Plus-Plus pieces are one of our longest-lasting entertainment options. Big Brother Bird can build entire fleets with them, and they keep all three kids engaged for a surprisingly long time. We ditched the original tubes and keep them in a small bag now (with a small apology to any server who’s ever found a stray piece afterward).
This set includes a base the kids love building houses on:👉 https://amzn.to/49gYVgZ
Smaller tube option:👉 https://amzn.to/4jedWnh
💎 Bracelet Kit
Bracelet kits are quiet, contained, and easy to pack—always a win. Sister Bird can stay focused for quite a while making bracelets, especially when the kit is just right.
She is very picky about bracelet sets, and a couple didn’t pass her approval. This one, however, checked all the boxes and quickly became a favorite.
🧱 Minifigs
If your kids love LEGO, you probably already have plenty of minifigs around the house. We toss a handful into a small zip-top bag, and they make great quiet entertainment while waiting for food.
🚗 Hot Wheels
Little Brother Bird loves cars, and a few small Hot Wheels take up almost no space in the bag. They’re compact, easy to pack, and perfect for restaurant tables.
📚 Books
Books are always an easy option to toss into the bag—whether it’s a Kindle or whatever physical book they’re currently into. It still amazes me how absorbed kids can get; sometimes we actually have to remind them to stop reading long enough to eat!
Right now, Big Brother Bird is really into The Unwanteds series. He also enjoys manga and light novels, so we keep a mix of library books and Kindle reads available for dining out.
If you’re looking for ideas based on what he actually loves reading, you can find his favorites here:
Big Brother’s Book Recommendations: https://www.mamabirdadventures.com/post/big-brother-s-book-recommendations
Big Brother’s Manga Recommendations: https://www.mamabirdadventures.com/post/big-brother-s-manga-recommendations
Big Brother’s Light Novel Recommendations: https://www.mamabirdadventures.com/post/big-brother-s-light-novel-recommendations
If your reader is just getting started with The Unwanteds, you can start the series here:👉 https://amzn.to/4jrlm6M
Sister Bird’s recommended reading list is coming soon!
🧼 Extras I Always Keep in the Bag
While they don’t count as entertainment, these are absolute must-haves:
Wet wipes
Travel tissues
Hand sanitizer
Because spills and sticky hands are pretty much guaranteed.
Wet Wipes: 👉 https://amzn.to/3L1iQY8
Travel Tissues: 👉 https://amzn.to/4pSiEtC
These are the main items I keep in our dining-out bag, and they’ve worked really well for our family. Hopefully some of these ideas help you too!
I’ll be sure to share updates if we add anything new or if one item turns out to be the biggest hit. This bag is constantly evolving, so feel free to check back as I add additional items that catch my eye.
Disclosure: All items mentioned are things I have personally purchased and used. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Photo Disclaimer: All photos shared here are real images taken by our family. To protect our children’s privacy, some photos have been transformed into an anime-style illustration while still being based on the original images.
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