Search Results for: blog teaching table manners

Preschool Etiquette: Table Manners

One of the most popular areas of teaching etiquette is table manners. We all want to sit and eat with others who are clean, respectful, and enjoyable to be around. Poor table manners can turn a lovely meal into a disaster. Kids have a hard time understanding why they shouldn’t spit out food they don’t like or yell at the table. Kids have a tendency to do as they please. So it is a parent’s job to instruct them and teach them the table manner rules. Table Manner Rules Sit while you are at the table. Do not stand on … Continue reading →

Manners Matter

Are you shocked by the social ineptitude of today’s youth? How many times have you been greeted by a tween offering an outstretched hand and a courteous, “Nice to see you again, Mrs. or Mr. So-and-so?” Or, answered your home phone and had your child’s friend identify himself and actually use the word “please” when asking to speak to your son or daughter rather than demanding to talk to Junior without even saying “Hello” first? Is the lack of etiquette exercised by today’s youth an epic parental fail? I am a stickler when it comes to manners; much to the … Continue reading →

Teaching Mini Manners, Part 2

Manners to be enforced in preschool years: Do not make fun of someone’s appearance or call names: As mentioned, children are bound to say anything that crosses their minds. It is important to teach a child that insulting someone is unacceptable. A child may not understand she is insulting someone but only pointing out a fact such as someone has a large nose or is overweight. A child also may not understand that laughing at another person is hurtful. Children are egocentric and need constant direction in this area. Take swift action if your child insults another person or child. … Continue reading →

Teaching Please and Thank-You to the Toddler

I want my children to be well-mannered. I want them to know how to properly sit at a table and eat and drink correctly. I want my children to be polite as well as friendly and kind. When I was a little girl my family ate dinner together at the kitchen table. Mom and Dad taught us kids how to behave while we tried to or not to kill each other. My family’s lifestyle is different, though. We don’t typically eat dinner together. Jessie has her own table and chairs where she eats her dinner early. Chris and I eat … Continue reading →

Teaching Table Manners

We all wish our kids would sit up straight and eat their dinner nicely… as in use silverware, don’t burp, and say please and thank you. However, teaching them takes patience on our part and for parents of children with special needs, it may take even longer than we can imagine. When teaching table manners, consider your child’s ability level first and for most. Just because your child is a certain age, doesn’t mean his maturity level is right for certain behaviors. In addition, if your child has developmental delays or deals with a sensory condition, he will probably struggle … Continue reading →

How to Teach Your Baby Table Manners

I think sometimes we forget that table manners are learned behavior. We’ve been eating our spaghetti with a fork for so long that when we’re confronted with the task of teaching our babies how to eat, it’s a little overwhelming. Sometimes it’s just easier to spoon feed them or limit them to “neat” foods. They’ll never learn, though, unless they practice on their own. Bring out the bibs, the miniature forks, and the spaghetti; it’s time to learn table manners! First of all, have a list of goals or milestones in mind and work towards just one at a time. … Continue reading →

Do Your Kids Need a Manners Makeover?

One of my preschooler’s favorite animated shorts on Playhouse Disney is called “Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?” In it a little boy is challenged with the task of teaching his pet alligator Al how to behave properly. Young viewers help Mikey to instill good manners in his scaly sidekick by answering questions, such as: What should Al do when playing on a slide at the park? A. Shove the other kids off, so he can have a turn B. Sit at the bottom of the slide to prevent anyone else from going down C. Take turns My daughter loves … Continue reading →

Teaching Children How to Be Good Hosts

Some have told me that they think being a good host or hostess is an art form, but I disagree. I think that hosting is a skill and can be learned and practiced just like any other skill. Since we are such a social society, it only stands to reason that, as parents, we should spend some time teaching our children how to be good (or at least, adequate) hosts and hostesses. I know this sounds a little old-fashioned, and maybe even sounds like some sort of parenting advice you would read in an old, Victorian book geared toward the … Continue reading →

Young Men: Teaching Respect for Women

One of the most important things that we can teach our young men is to respect and honor women. Today the media is full of images that often degrade women. It is surprising the attitude that many men have towards women. Many men look at women as objects or fail to find their true value. The church teaches us the how important a woman’s role really is. Teaching young men to respect women really begins in the home. The father in the home teaches by example. If he honors and cherishes his wife, then his sons are likely to do … Continue reading →

Teaching Our Kids to Pray

A Children’s Protective Services caseworker visited our home one Thursday evening. It was not an unannounced visit. We knew she was coming and anxiously awaited her arrival; she was delivering our new family. Our angst was well founded; our life as we knew it, was about to drastically change from an empty nest home to a family of four with two very confused and frightened little boys. Since that special day, we have had many learning experiences with the boys. I became a teacher on a regular basis. I have taught them daily hygiene, good manners, the importance of self … Continue reading →