If you’re planning your restaurant to cater to families, you must consider the most important type of customer you’ll ever have — kids. Kids can be picky eaters, and more often than not, their needs and tastes are most likely to determine where the family eats. As a restaurant owner, you must find the perfect balance between satisfying the kids and their parent’s needs.

However, creating a kid-friendly restaurant involves more than adding a kids’ menu or having kid-sized chairs. You must design a holistic atmosphere and experience that caters to the preferences of young diners and their families. A kid-friendly restaurant design requires meticulous planning and thoughtful consideration as it impacts every asset of your restaurant business — from the menu and interior design to the staff and even the music.

Everything must work in cohesion to portray your restaurant’s brand while attracting families. Make parents and their kids feel comfortable and appreciated, and you can expect your customers to return many times, and you can enjoy drawing new families to your business. This guide outlines everything restaurants must know when making their business more family-friendly.

What Is a Kid-Friendly Restaurant?

A kid-friendly restaurant is an establishment that welcomes and caters to families and their kids. Such restaurants understand the specific needs of their customers and find ways to meet those ways. That’s where a defining factor comes in.

The degree to which a restaurant is kid-friendly can vary per establishment. For instance, some restaurants are considered kid-friendly because they offer a kids’ menu or coloring placemats. Other restaurants are more kid-focused.

A kid-focused restaurant specializes in creating a special atmosphere just for kids. These restaurants offer different menu items that appeal to young palates and include exciting play areas for kids to enjoy. Kids look forward to going to these types of restaurants, and parents enjoy taking their kids somewhere made just for families.

What Makes a Restaurant Family-Friendly?

Four ingredients make an establishment a family-friendly restaurant:

1. Welcoming atmosphere: A welcoming atmosphere attracts and retains new and returning customers.
2. Kid-friendly menu: Have a menu specifically designed for kids, which includes main meals, sides, drinks and desserts.
3. Practical amenities: Add thoughtful touches to enhance the customer experience, like high chairs, changing stations and kid-friendly cutlery and utensils.
4. On-site entertainment: Whether at the table or a designated play corner, entertainment is a must.

How to Design a Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Before you create a kid-friendly restaurant, it helps to think about your goals, budget and customer base first. Consider what your existing customers want and the unique needs they have. Also, think about the type of customers you’d like to attract and how your restaurant’s upgrades can make that happen.

Once you have a clear vision of where you want to be with your family-friendly restaurant, you’ll be ready to explore your options. Here are five family-friendly restaurant business ideas to give you a head start.

1. Upgrade Your Menu

The very first task to prioritize is creating a dedicated kids’ menu. Little kids have tendencies to be picky eaters, but that doesn’t mean all of them refuse to eat anything other than chicken nuggets and french fries.

Some kids like to eat “grown-up” foods, while others don’t have much interest in food at all. It all depends on the kid and their age. The trick is to appeal to various tastes and age ranges and also consider what parents want for their kids. You can give existing and potential customers greater options and more reasons to visit by upgrading your menu.

Here are several tips:

• Offer a mix of menu items: You’ll want to create different menu items to appeal to older and younger kids. For example, a 10-year-old may not want to eat the same thing their 4-year-old sibling is ordering. To appeal to older kids, you might offer dishes that are similar to adult menu items but have been modified to suit a younger taste.
• Provide kid-sized portions: You’ll also want to provide smaller portions for tiny tummies. Just as you’d create a special menu for kids, so should you with dishes. Although many people of varying ages enjoy chicken nuggets or spaghetti, kids can’t eat as much as adults can. Offering kid-sized portions of kid and some adult dishes is a strategic move to lower your establishment’s food wastage.
• Keep it affordable: Since kids’ menu items come in smaller portions, parents expect to pay smaller prices. Consider creating combo meals for kids so their drinks and desserts are included in the price.
• Keep it simple: Kids are generally more sensitive to different flavors than adults. They also rely on their sense of sight and smell to help them determine if something’s worth eating. Aim to create simple menu options for kids and avoid anything too adventurous regarding flavor.
• Consider presentation: If a plate of food doesn’t look familiar or appetizing, a kid might be more resistant to giving it a chance. You can add a few fun-shaped items or colorful fruits or veggies to the plate and make it more exciting.
• Offer customization: Kids love to build their own meals. For instance, some restaurants have put “flights” on their kids’ menus to meet the demand for customization. This strategy enables young diners to choose samples of sides, ice cream flavors, dips or other food items. Consider ways you can let little ones design their meals, and you’ll be bound to have loyal customers.
• Make it nutritious: Today’s parents want and expect healthy options for their kids. You might have to get creative and find ways to combine nutrition with kid-friendly foods. You could offer a turkey sandwich with sweet potato fries instead of a hot dog with mac and cheese, for example.
• Accommodate allergies: Give parents peace of mind and accommodate different allergies. Clearly list dish ingredients and highlight common allergies such as peanuts, soy, milk, eggs, wheat, fish and shellfish. Try creating “allergy-free” alternatives so young diners have variety without limitations. This includes food intolerances like gluten, dairy and nuts.
• Consider special dietary needs: Not all kids will be able to eat all the dishes on the menu. Some have special dietary needs, excluding allergies. How much you want to accommodate the various needs depends on your goals and main customers. Key dietary needs you can cater to include vegetarianism, veganism and even religious diets like halal.
• Provide colorful menus: You can either add a kids’ section to your menu or create an entirely separate menu just for your young customers. If you make a menu just for kids, try to use bright, cheerful colors. You might also incorporate cartoon characters or images of menu items so little ones can have an easier time deciding.

Lastly, if you haven’t done this already, consider making your menu available online. That way, parents can check out your menu and figure out what to order for themselves and their kids ahead of time. They’ll appreciate being able to order right away once they sit down at their table.

2. Bring Entertainment to the Table

Let’s face it — kids can get bored easily, and sitting and waiting at a table may not be the most fun activity for them. What you can do as an establishment is bring entertainment to them. Here are a few classic restaurant activities for kids you can offer to keep kids entertained:

• Coloring papers, books or menus and crayons
• Interactive table games like word searches, crosswords or puzzles
• Entertainers like magicians or balloon animal experts

However, there are digital options to think about. You might invest in tablets with touchscreen activities and games to keep little ones occupied. You can also use digital games to spread brand awareness. For example, you might incorporate your company’s mascot into a game or activity. Consider choosing tabletop systems that are easy to remove in case a family does not want this form of entertainment.

3. Don’t Forget the Basics

Parents expect kid-friendly restaurants to offer basic amenities. If they don’t, or if they only have a limited supply, parents won’t hesitate to look elsewhere. Kid-friendly equipment and facilities form part of the dining experience. Ensure you have essential items, such as:

• Family-sized tables: Have enough space to accommodate families. You can have different sizes, but aim for spacious and comfortable tables, seating and layout.
• High chairs: Everyone must be able to comfortably sit at your tables. Have plenty of high chairs and booster seats to go around so babies, toddlers and their parents feel welcome at your restaurant.
• Changing stations: Provide clean, well-maintained changing stations in all restrooms.
• Restrooms: Make restrooms kid-friendly by including lowered amenities like sinks, so they can easily access them.
• Kid-proof supplies: Prevent messes and accidents with kid-friendly supplies. Offering cups with lids, break-resistant plates, kid-friendly utensils and bibs are a few ideas.

4. Add a Play Area

Restaurants with play spaces offer an exciting way for kids to stay engaged, potentially prompting them to ask their parents to take them there again. A designated kids’ play space in a restaurant gives them a chance to play freely, burn energy and stay happy when they go out to eat. Parents enjoy play areas, too, as they can relax while waiting for a table or for food to arrive.

Just ensure your restaurant’s play area is visible from the tables so parents can always keep an eye on their kids. Also, aim to include play equipment that engages all kids, from toddlers to school-age kids.

At Soft Play®, we offer various stimulating restaurant playground equipment kids can’t wait to use, such as:

• Pick & Play™: Pick & Play™ allows you to choose from five fun pre-made products consisting of soft sculpted foam. Products include climbers, ramps and tunnels so kids can develop motor skills while they play with friends. Pick & Play™ is an affordable and flexible option that’s ready to be shipped to your restaurant.
• Soft-sculpted foam play areas: If you’d like a custom soft foam play area, we’re ready to get to work. We’ll create a unique, tailored play space designed specifically for your restaurant’s theme, size and budget. With our standout designs that stimulate the imagination, kids will remember your restaurant and how it’s different from the others.
• Contained play areas: Allow kids to explore freely and safely. If you’re looking for safe indoor and outdoor play spaces, you have many options. Choose from small to large vibrant options. If you don’t want to purchase these play spaces as-is, try using them as inspiration for a customized space.
• Small play areas: Even if your business doesn’t have a ton of room to spare, you can still add a play area kids love and parents appreciate. Our small play areas offer just as much fun as our large play structures and include slides, climbers, tunnels and more.
• Indoor play sculptures: We understand that each kid-friendly restaurant is different. Make your establishment stand out with durable and delightful indoor play sculptures that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Choose from pre-built options or customize your own.
• Themed playgrounds: Want to build an eye-catching themed playground to attract more families? From castles to candy lands, we offer different themed playgrounds to help your restaurant create memorable experiences. If you don’t see the theme you want, share your ideas with us, and we’ll design the playground you’re envisioning.
• Toddler play spaces: To include a play area designed for toddlers, check out our various accessories, activity panels, soft foam sculptures and fun stand-alone play systems made just for young kids.
• STOMP interactive play: Want to give kids more interactive playtime? Our STOMP interactive play attraction is sure to burn kids’ extra energy while helping differentiate your family-friendly restaurant from others.

Overall, a kids’ restaurant play space is an excellent investment for your restaurant and will make families eager to come back.

5. Train Your Staff

Friendly service is a major draw for young families with kids. Since kids can be challenging customers, it’s important that your staff members are trained in serving families and know how to make them feel comfortable and welcome. Here are a few best practices for staff:

• Be friendly, bright, patient and supportive.
• Know how to work with kids and kid-specific issues.
• Be understanding of the different types of kids and parents.

Waitstaff should treat tiny customers as they would adults — with respect and consideration. However, they should also consider the parents’ wishes. Lastly, if you decide to add an indoor playground to your restaurant, ensure you have employees who are trained to work with kids and can keep the play area clean.

Family Dining Trends in Kid-Friendly Restaurants

The good news is that families are dining out more often. The main driver for this trend is the need for convenience. Parents may have busy schedules and turn to restaurants to alleviate the stress of preparing home-cooked meals.

However, that’s not to say parents aren’t on the lookout for deals and discounts. About 60% of survey respondents say prices and specials are major deciding factors when choosing where to eat. The same survey showed another 30% of families would return to restaurants that offer some kind of loyalty program, especially if rewards are involved.

To become a favorite among families, the following factors — from most to least important — influence their decision:

1. Food
2. Atmosphere and service
3. Friendliness and value
4. Server and wait time

Restaurant owners should consider taking this information and using it in their family-friendly restaurant design to encourage guests to visit and keep coming back.

Benefits of Creating a Family-Friendly Restaurant

A kid-friendly restaurant makes little ones happy to go out to eat and also brings many benefits to your restaurant:

• Attracts more customers: In 2025, there will be over 45 million kids under the age of 12 in the U.S. That’s a lot of potential customers you could appeal to, and that’s not even considering their parents. With a kid-friendly restaurant, you can expect to increase traffic flow and attract new customers who are looking for ways to enjoy time with their kids.
• Keep customers coming back: If you make families feel welcome, and if they enjoy their time at your restaurant, they’re more likely to return. They’re also likely to talk about your restaurant with friends and family, which can bring more customers to your business.
• Increase your return on investment (ROI): Investing in your restaurant to make it more kid-friendly can help your business succeed for many years. For example, if you invest in a quality, durable play area, you can expect to see a long-lasting ROI.
• Set your restaurant apart from competitors: The restaurant industry is extremely competitive, and families have seemingly endless options when it comes to finding a place to eat. By creating a kid-friendly restaurant, you make it easy for parents to decide where to go. They’ll eventually realize they can depend on your establishment to provide the experience they hope for.

Bring the Power of Play to Life With Soft Play

There’s no doubt about it — creating a kid-friendly restaurant will attract families and help you gain new customers. One way to make your restaurant stand out from the competition is to add a unique, memorable play area your young customers will love.

Reach out to us at Soft Play. We’re thrilled to help business owners choose or design durable, creative and inclusive play spaces all ages can enjoy and look forward to. No matter your budget or space needs, we’ll find a custom play solution to help your business attract more families!