Tips for Mystery Shopping With Older Children

Yesterday I posted tips for mystery shopping with young children. These are tips for mystery shopping with older children. Hope it helps you have a fun shopping experience.

• Do not tell children you are secret shopping that restaurant. You never know what is going to come out of their mouths!
• Keep an age appropriate Art Caddy. This might include crayons, markers, color book, stickers, etc. As my son got older, he enjoyed activity books more than color books, the variety of activities kept him more busy.
• Bring a sweater or light jacket. Some restaurants keep the Air Conditioner very low. When kids get cold, they get fidgety.
• Don’t go during their scheduled nap time when they tend to be more grouchy.
• Picture book to look at or read.
• Limit sugary and caffeine loaded drinks. We have a rule that when eating out we only order water.
• Chose your shops carefully, you might not want to accept a shop for a seafood restaurant if all of your children hate seafood.
• Order what you know they like to eat. This might not be the time to try something new. If you choose something they don’t like they tend to be ready to leave before you have finished eating.