The Jingkids team is always looking at how we can make the Beijing experience better for you, whether through our weekly events, school news, or fun videos. And we’re always debating what makes a restaurant family-friendly. For example, what’s the difference between family-friendly and baby-friendly? What are you willing to sacrifice for a kids’ menu that isn’t all grease and fried food? Who says they’re family-friendly but then gives you the side-eye when your kid is doing the chicken dance at the table? (Not speaking from experience, of course!)
We are only a few people, but our community is vast, so a few weeks ago Jingkids launched the FamFriendlyEats WeChat group! It’s been very helpful so far, especially for Beijing families who want to plan ahead or ask where to go for a last-minute dinner. One of our community members, Nikki Malek, even compiled all the answers into BonApp!, which I find extremely useful!
Malek also gave us more insight into how what families need from an eatery morphs as they grow. “Seven years ago, I just wanted a clean space for changing diapers. Then during the toddler years we needed soft play areas and children’s plates and utensils. Now, they don’t necessarily need a kids’ menu, but their attention span definitely takes over a meal, so we love restaurants with outside space where they can roam without worrying about scooters, cars, etc. Moreover, our family’s favorite restaurant doesn’t have to be, [by strict]definition, “family-friendly.” As long as the kids love it, we go! As long as the staff is patient and kind, and the environment is safe enough for some independent exploration, then we go.”
Everyone has their own experience and slightly different perspective on what makes a place “family-friendly.” Jingkids Parent Board member Tim Coughlan makes a distinction between “family-friendly” and “super friendly” restaurants. According to Coughlan, “family-friendly” restaurants will “have kids’ cutlery, high chairs, maybe [a]kids’ menu,” and will have thought a bit about the needs of families. A “super friendly” restaurant, on the other hand, is one that has “[a]kids’ room/space, kids’ cutlery, [a]kids’ menu, high chairs, easy parking,” and so on. For Tim, super friendly restaurants are targeting families and have clearly put a lot of thought into not just accommodating the needs of families, but also providing families with a great experience.
Beijing Mom of 2 Erin Crocetti adds to the conversation what I would, that “when helping touches come automatically, like kids being served first or coloring pages or other activities [are]provided at the same time as menus…Those touches make us more likely to be repeat clients, because when the kids have fun and enjoy a good meal, we can too.”
Families with babies also have a somewhat different set of requirements from those with toddlers and older children. They will need things such as changing tables in both male and female restrooms, music that isn’t so loud they’ll simply cry the whole time, and comfortable chairs for those long stretches when the baby just wants to sleep in the crook of your arm and nowhere else. And let’s not even get into stroller accessibility (although we do in the group!). When it comes to the places he patronizes, Beijing Dad Mical Goldberg prefers to know that the restaurant is one “that doesn’t mind a toddler being loud.” Additionally, it is important to him that “the toddler can wander the restaurant. Also that the staff is friendly and doesn’t mind interacting with said child as they wander.”
But let’s see what the group thought as a whole:
Other aspects of an experience that participants counted as family-friendly included: private room, easy-to-find location, and nearby parking.
Want in on the fun? Join the WeChat group by adding CindytheScribe and put “FamFriendlyEats” in the note.
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Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins
