Age 3-4-5..They can help too!

By Age 3:
Meal time can be a wonderful time for the family to gather and to learn about what the members of the family have done for the day. By age 3 little ones should stay seated and join in with the conversation during the meal time. They should also be able to use dining utensils with ease. Be sure to ask questions and ask opinions of the young members of the family so they can feel included.

By Age 4:
This is a good time to start chores around the house. Some families use a chart with award stars or special privileges can be awarded for completion of jobs suitable for a child. They could empty wastebaskets, straighten out the playroom or fold towels. Be sure to lay a foundation and begin to build on it.

By Age 5:
By this age children can learn to set the table for a meal and help clear the table as well. The whole dining experience has to be practiced in order for the children to feel comfortable and do the chore easily. Little ones love to be praised and they will feel more involved with the family unit.

Take time to teach children to help with family chores and remember, It's Always Time for Manners!

Conversation at the Dinner Table can be Creative!

Dinner time is very important to families. It is a time to reconnect and share the days trials and triumphs. The family dinner table is always a good place to practice learning how to be comfortable with conversation at the table.

Conversation helps with the pace of the dinner too. So many times, I hear about families that rush to eat and the dinner is over. One suggestion is that one person thinks up a topic and each member of the family adds an idea or comment. It could be about sports, TV shows, a new friend, a book or a current event. In the beginning it may feel awkward but with practice. the conversation will flow and everyone will benefit from the closeness conversation can create.

Remember to Mind your Manners at the table!!!

Holly Beth Moncher

Better Manners at Holiday Buffets

In our home, the elders or grandparents are the honored guests to go first in a buffet line. Why do some families allow children to dig in and mess up a beautifully prepared buffet? Grandmas and Grandpas go first, followed by moms and children that need help, followed by the hungry men of the family.

Children need to learn restraint and respect for the older family members. It's the right thing to do.

If a grace or blessing is said before the meal is eaten then it is a good idea to stand by your chair and say the blessing and then start the buffet. That way everyone is together for the blessing of the food.

The etiquette for when to begin eating at a buffet is that when three people are at the table everyone can begin to enjoy their meal.

Again, it is so helpful for children to know what is expected of them before a family holiday meal. They are more comfortable in the situation and the parents can enjoy a relaxing time knowing the children are doing the right thing.

Family meals are a very important time and should be a special, stress-free event.

Happy Holidays and remember, It's Always Time for Manners.

Thank you notes for Toddlers To Teens

When a friend or relative spends time searching and buying a gift for a child or adult they deserve a thank you note. Writing a note takes a lot less time than the effort to go out to find a gift. I received a drawing from a little one recently when I had purchased a gift for them and it was so cute and appreciated. The child's gesture, taught by the mother, teaches them that is it proper to be thankful and gracious when someone gives them a gift.

I hear complaints all the time from grandparents that they never know if a grandchild received the gift or if it was enjoyed.

It is a lot easier to get a child to write a short note or do a drawing than it is a teenager. But all it take is encouragement and consistency with all ages.

Remember: Mind Your Manners!

Holly Beth