Parenting tips from Sun Tzu
Master the Art of War to avoid war as we do life — and meals — with our precious little ones. We're dedicating the month of October to everything family.
But first, here's wishing all our kids, and the kid in all of us, a very Happy Children's Day!
We're kicking off the month of celebrating Family with our own version of The Art of Eating Out with Kids, inspired by the ultimate strategist, Sun Tzu.
Because getting through a meal with children can be a challenge.
But fret not, because if Sun Tzu were a dad in today's day and age, we think he'd say:
"Every battle is won before it is fought."
We're not trying to be dramatic, but really, doing your homework and picking the right places to eat at can be key to an enjoyable meal for everyone.
"If you know your child and know yourself, you needn't fear the result of a hundred meals."
- Sun Tzu (if he were a dad today)
Often, kids start to fidget because they're bored. As long as they have something interesting to do, they'll be okay. So find opportunities to engage them; and better yet, teach them something while at it.
At restaurants like Morganfield's (The Star Vista), the kids' menu comes in the form of an activity sheet. This one-ups the kind that looks like a colouring page; and has a maze, origami instructions and a ‘Count the Ms’ challenge to keep the little ones entertained.
If your children don't like sitting down to an activity sheet, Froth may be a good alternative. This Asian-fusion restaurant located in Ascott Raffles Place Singapore has turned mealtime into permissible playtime with a hands-on kids’ menu.
Order the Burger Builder and let your children construct their own burger from chicken breast slices, lettuce, tomatoes and mini buns. The Volcano Mash is pretty engaging too — mashed potatoes fashioned into a volcano, complete with a crater for kids to fill with gravy. The dish comes with smoked chicken bratwurst, carrot wedges and broccoli.
The menu is big on getting the greens in, with broccoli also featuring in the Noodle Nest, a buckwheat soba dish with hardboiled eggs.
Plus, educating our kids about the concept of ownership and inspiring them to get creative from a young age isn't a bad thing.
"All war is deception (or pretty plating)."
- Sun Tzu (if he were a dad today)
Another common declaration of war at the dining table happens when kids reject their food. You could take a hard-line stance and deal with the ensuing crying/sulking, or you could pre-empt the entire scenario with the most powerful weapon available to adults — cute food.
Miam Miam (Bugis Junction and Westgate) comes to mind. At the French-Japanese restaurant, meals for little ones such as the Kitty Chicken Fingers sport such happy animal faces that most kids will find it hard to resist what's set in front of them.
If your kids decide that animal faces are too cute to be eaten, switch tracks and try O'Coffee Club (Raffles City Singapore) instead. They serve up perennial childhood favourites like Bangers & Mash, Mac & Cheese and Waffles & Ham. What’s better? The dishes are colourful, inviting and have recently been given a wholesome upgrade with a healthy serving of greens.
"The supreme art of eating out is to feed the child without fighting."
- Sun Tzu (if he were a dad today)
At the end of the day, every child and every situation is different. Only you know what works, what doesn’t and why, so keep your eyes peeled for good behaviour and always try to understand what makes your children tick. Eating out with kids is meant to be a treat for everyone at the table, so don’t be too hard on them — and on yourself.
More family-friendly stories are coming your way this month. Stay tuned!