A Children’s Tea Party – The Best Way To Teach Your Kids Manners And Etiquette
What better way to teach children proper etiquette than at a young age? We all know how proper manners are so vital in becoming socially acceptable in our society. So how is the best way to teach this to children you question? Research shows that kids learn the fastest when you make it a fun learning process, and children between the age of 2 and 5 are extremely receptive in learning manners and etiquette.
The most fun and efficient way I’ve found is to have children’s tea parties with my own kids. It allows me to teach my children of the proper place setting positions that even we as adults sometimes get confused. This in turn will give our kids more confidence and better social behavior when they mature and become adults.
Before the tea party starts, allow the kids to be seated then show them the proper placements for the utensils. As an example, the tea cups and saucers should be placed on the right of the dining plate and forks and napkins belong to the left side. Show them how to properly place a napkin on their laps and get them to check their posture and seating position by making an example of yourself. No slouching!
Now on to the next step. Using yourself as an example again, pick up your tea cup and introduce yourself formally and politely to the children at the table, and have them follow your example in turns. Also teach them that the words thank-you, please, and excuse me should be used and when they should be used. This will be the time when you can point out to them that they should not be talking with their mouths full or slurping their tea etc..
Show courtesy and show them how passing food around the table should be done. Clarify to the kids that they should only take one scone for example instead of many. This will be also a excellent time to teach them the importance of saying “No thank-you” when when offered food they don’t want.
Children all respond very well to compliments and praise, so let them know and encourage them when they show excellent manner at the table. Constant but gentle reminders will help greatly in the teaching process. You should also show them by example on how to thank the host of the party for a fantastic meal, and how to greet, take coats, and also serve appetizers to their guests. Remember that excellent manners and proper etiquette applies on and also off the dining table.
After the tea party, award each child with a small certificate that you’ve made for completing the etiquette course successfully, as this just helps remind them on what they’ve learned on the day. As mentioned before, kids like compliments ( and so do adults )!
I hope this article has given you some useful thoughts on children’s tea party etiquette. Have you got a children’s tea set yet? Click the link for some cute recommendations that are kid-safe.
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