Mealtime Etiquette for Kids: Teaching Politeness and Respect at the Table

Introduction

Eating properly is a trait few people verbally appreciate in adults but always admire subconsciously. Those who chew politely, use cutlery appropriately, and have gentle table manners are always appreciated by people. Such social admiration has multiple benefits in life, often opening avenues to success. However, nobody is born polite and perfect.

Proper initiation into mealtime etiquette and tableside manners from childhood is key to such social intelligence and appreciation. It also helps develop a healthy bond with food and nutrition. Good tableside manners are necessary, whether you are eating out, having dinner at your friend’s, or enjoying a family meal at home.

They serve as important tools for navigating social events smoothly in the future. Therefore, teaching mealtime etiquette to kids from an early age is imperative. Every meal at home can be an opportunity to teach kids how to internalize and exhibit politeness and respect at the table. So, give these tips a try and start the wonderful learning process today.

Tips To Teaching Kids Mealtime Etiquette And Tableside Manners

Make Them Come Clean

Teach kids to wash up and come clean to the table. While washing hands before every meal is a must, rinsing off will help them relax and clean all the outside dust if your kids have just returned from school or tuition. It is also a sign of respect for hygiene and fellow meal-sharers.

Chew Properly

Chewing properly is a cardinal rule of mealtime manners. Everybody should chew their food well to avoid choking and should refrain from speaking at that time. It is also ideal to not overstuff their mouth to be able to chew with it closed properly. Proper mastication aka chewing of food, also improves digestion and helps avoid choking hazards.

Wait For Everyone To Start

Children should not be served and start eating immediately, especially when served at a table with other family members. This teaches them respect and gratitude. They should wait for everyone to be served before starting to eat.

Be Polite

Being polite is a given, as it is the crux of tableside etiquette. Teach them to thank whenever someone serves them food or say please whenever offered a second helping. They should also show respect and appreciation to the person who prepared the meal, irrespective of their own personal taste. For example, your child may not enjoy eating a dish, but they should not say ‘yucky’ at the table.

Use Appropriate Cutlery And Napkins

Cutlery can often faze adults as well, who are used to eating with chopsticks or their fingers. But it is simply a matter of practice. Also, it is always polite to use appropriate cutlery for a cuisine. Therefore, teach kids to eat food using various means, like forks, spoons, chopsticks, and so on. It makes eating less messy in kids from a young age, while proper use of napkins adds a touch of gentility, utility, and hygiene.

Ask To Be Excused

Often, kids finish their meals early and wait to play while the adults drink coffee or beverages and chat. In such cases, instead of them throwing a tantrum, teach them to ask to be excused. Neither will they get bored, nor will adults be distracted.

Maintain Conversational Manners

While younger children may not be aware or conscious of interfering in mealtime conversations, teaching kids about it as they grow older is imperative. Explain to them that it is rude to interfere with somebody when they talk and that it is polite to wait their turn at the table to speak. This helps avoid chaos during mealtimes and maintains an atmosphere of peace and relaxation.

Avoid Wasting Food And Clear Up

It is important to maintain a balance of strictness and leniency when it comes to kids cleaning their plates. It takes them time to understand portion control and appropriate serving sizes for themselves. So, it is up to parents to use their discretion and determine when their child is really full or simply make an excuse to avoid eating the vegetables. But explain the basic tenet of avoiding food wastage properly. Also, as kids grow older, teach them to help clean up after meals by scraping away leftovers and dropping plates off in the sink.

Conclusion

Proper tableside manners take time for kids to develop. However, sincere and daily practice is the answer to the problem. There are no other shortcuts. And as mealtime etiquette is vital for healthy social interactions and relationships, there is no sense in delaying the inevitable. Start teaching kids' proper tableside etiquette from an early age, from when they can sit up and participate in meals. The tips mentioned above will make the process far easier and enjoyable for both kids and their parents.

References

https://www.verywellfamily.com/teaching-kids-good-table-manners-620306