How to Teach Your Child Polite Table Manners

Table manners seem to be a lost art. In this article are some ideas for basic table manners to teach your child(ren) without the process being painful.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. This step may sound silly to some but given our habits today it might need to be said. The first step is to require everyone in the family to eat at the table together. Statistically families that have at least one meal together each day are closer emotionally to each other. That makes for a happier families which is a bonus for everyone.

2. Number one rule: SIT UP STRAIGHT. Grandma wasn't kidding about that. If you sit up straight you feel better, you can actually see what you have on your plate. Make it fun. Have a contest. The one who wins doesn't have to do the dishes or gets a privilege of your choice.

3. Number two rule: DON'T REACH IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. ASK SOMEONE TO PASS FOOD IF IT ISN'T IN FRONT OF YOU. It's easy to ask politely. Follow the request with a please. Once again make a game out of it if necessary to keep it all from seeming "a drag" to your kids.

4. Number three rule: KEEP YOUR BODY PARTS TO YOURSELF. Elbows off the table, keep your fingers out of your nose and mouth, chew with your mouth closed and swallow before you speak, no tickling poking or other standard annoying things that kids do to each other. :-) Remind your kids that a meal doesn't last forever and they will have plenty of time to tease one another while they do the dishes!

Tips & Warnings

• Start teaching kids manners at an early age. It will be easier than suddenly trying to enforce the rules out of the blue.
• Make it fun if at all possible. Give incentives.
• Don't forget to teach your kids that table manners are just general consideration for others and the right thing to do.
• Teaching manners of any kind is meant to teach consideration and kindness. It is NEVER appropriate to hit a child for not observing the rules for manners.

[carldunn]

on 11/23/2009 I think some adults need to be taught this too...

[sabrinacareer]

on 11/2/2009 great article

[look4writing]

on 10/18/2009 more families should practice manners at a young age. 5s and recomend.
look4writing

[jaredbangerter]

on 10/9/2009 Definitely something I will do for my own kids someday. All these rude adults now days are the result of the last generation of parents doing a terrible job teaching manners. 5* and rec

[randomthoughts]

on 8/10/2009 A needed and well-timed article for what seems to be our current societal practices, 5*