Are you looking for resources to help your students understand restaurant etiquette? In this social skills lesson, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process of what it’s like to dine in a restaurant and what might be expected of diners at each point in the meal.
New experiences can bring about uncertainty and discomfort for your students, particularly students with autism or anxiety who may have difficulty navigating social situations. Set expectations of what they might experience when dining out.
- You may have to wait for a table before being seated
- When you’re seated, look at the menu to decide what you’d like to eat
- A waitperson will visit the table to first ask for your drink order and then to take your food order
- The food is made to order so you may have to wait a little while before you can eat
- When your food arrives, use good manners such as chewing with your mouth closed, waiting to speak until you’ve swallowed your food, saying “please” and “thank you”, etc.
- Your server will bring your check when the meal is over – once you pay, you’re free to go!
Dining out will expose your students to new smells, new sights, and sometimes loud environments if it’s a busy or lively establishment. Reinforce that it’s okay to ask for a break or to listen to music in headphones if the atmosphere feels overwhelming. Its also a good idea to bring something to do in case there is a wait, such as a book, coloring pages, or a small/portable game you can play.
New experiences like going out to eat are exciting when you know what to expect!
PowerPoint Presentations:
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Facilitator’s Guide
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant PowerPoint Presentation
Resource Materials:
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Outline
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Teacher Note
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Parent Note
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Mini-Schedule
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Activity
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Homework
I Know How to Act in a Restaurant Magnet Cards
The special education social skills resources for accepting and understanding consequences were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultant, Andee Morris, M.Ed.
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.