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Tools for Surviving Restaurants and Teaching Table Manners to Kids

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight  campaign with Pollinate Media Group and BJ’s Restaurants, but all opinions are my own. #DineInOrderAhead #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

It’s hard to go out to eat when you have little kids.  They’re crawling under the table, jumping on the chairs, trying to maim each other with the silverware, and the minute you turn your back, someone’s spilled their drink all over the floor.  Sounds like a great evening, right?  Not so much.  In an attempt to make our dining out experience a little more enjoyable I created a game to teach table manners to kids.

Free printable game to teach table manners to kids. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

We also tested out the BJ’s Restaurant App that has Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features.  The Dine in Order Ahead allows you to order all of your food before you get to the restaurant.  No waiting around for your order to get placed because it gets done as soon as you get there!  When you’re done eating you can pay through your phone with the Mobile Pay feature.  The app is available to download here for iPhone or Android.

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #adAfter I ordered our food at home, we played our “mind your manners” game. Use any kind of bead or token to be game pieces and place them on the start space.  Take turns drawing cards.  The good table manners cards will let you go forward, and the bad ones will make you go backward.  First person around the plate wins!  The kids had lots of fun with it, and learned some new things too.

Free printable game to teach table manners to kids. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Game to teach table manners to kids. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Download your own copy of the game to print here.

Printable game to teach table manners to kids. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Then it was time to go eat!  When you use Dine in Order Ahead, they put your order in as soon as you get to the restaurant, cutting down on wait time.  You also get put on the preferred waitlist so you don’t have to wait as long.

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Our food was at our table in no time and LOOK, a napkin on the lap!  She was so cute, I didn’t even have to tell her.  “Remember, Mommy.  Like from the game!”

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Pizza and handcrafted root beer in a frosty mug?!  Yes please!

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Usually when we’re done eating I have to take the kids outside while Joe waits for the check.  The kids are done with sitting still at that point, and the chair jumping begins.  This time, we chose to pay with the new Mobile Pay feature without waiting.  It even had a really cool sliding tip calculator that made it a breeze to tip the waiter.

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

Paid, ready to move on, and still smiling. 🙂  We still ended up with a cup of milk spilled all over the floor, but there are some things you just can’t control.  Overall, it was a success!

Use BJ's Dine in Order Ahead and Mobile Pay features to cut down on wait time at the restaurant and keep the kids happy. #DineInOrderAhead #PMedia #ad

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Ame

Sunday 13th of December 2020

I would like to try this with some students have autism spectrum disorder. I will be doing it online. I’m concerned that with so many spaces ahead for the sample you said excuse me movie had four spaces or five spaces etc. With so few spaces around the board Isn’t this game over quickly? Any suggestions of how I may present this online via zoom I’ll have a keyboard in the game questions. The kids are 1415 and 16 years old

Kristi Keller Westover

Tuesday 22nd of September 2020

I would like to use this for my 8/9 YO activity day girls, but I can't get the d/l or find instructions. Does each girl get her pwn plate or do they play as a group on one? Could I get some card ideas?

Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts

Tuesday 22nd of September 2020

Hi! There's a link under the photo of the kids playing the game for the download. I had my kids play on one board.

Karen

Wednesday 8th of January 2020

I am a before and after school childcare Site Manager and Teacher. We have 63 children. I will be using this game to help my class (2nd-4th grade) learn manners. Thank you for sharing this.

Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts

Friday 10th of January 2020

You're welcome! Glad you can use it!

Kari Zoetewey

Monday 9th of September 2019

This will be great for my Tiger Cub scouts. Thank you so much for your creativity!

Ashley

Friday 15th of February 2019

Thank you so much for this❤❤❤ This is definitely going to be helpful!

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