At the table it is good to have good table manners both inside and outside the home. This is not something that is learned at school, but we learn it at home with our parents. It is essential in parenting to educate on how to behave while eating. Today we talk about how to teach table manners to our children from a very young age.
Good manners start at the table
At some point you are going to eat away from home, be it in a restaurant, celebration or at the home of friends or family. It is necessary to understand that they are children, and they do not have to behave like adults but if it is necessary that we give them some basic behavioral keys so that they know how to behave especially when they are away from home. That will help us to have a nice meal.
If we teach them from a young age, they will take it as a routine and it will come out of themselves to do it. This way they will know how to behave appropriately, they will respect others and their food. To achieve this we are going to comment on some basic rules of table manners that we can instill in them from 6 years to 12 years. You don't have to be super strict either, but follow some basic rules of good manners.
Table manners, a basic guide
- Before eating, you must wash your face and hands well.
- We must sit well throughout the meal, with a straight back.
- Do not start eating until the host does or until we are given permission to start.
- Do not get up from the table without permission.
- Put the napkin on your lap.
- Don't put your elbows on the table.
- If there are appetizers, wait for the others to take first unless otherwise instructed.
- If there is only one left, offer it to the others before eating it.
- You have to eat calmly and without haste, chewing slowly.
- Reply "Yes please" o "no, thanks" when someone offers you something.
- If you need bread or salt, don't get up to get it. Please ask them to pass it on to you.
- Do not make noise when chewing and do it with your mouth closed.
- Push food with bread and not with fingers.
- Do not speak with food in your mouth. Wait to swallow to be able to speak.
- Don't over fill your mouth.
- Before drinking you have to clean your mouth and also when you finish eating.
- Drink with an empty mouth.
- If there is soup and it is very hot, do not blow. Wait for it to cool down.
- Finish the dish before repeating.
- Don't speak badly of the food even if you don't like it.
- Don't make rude noises like burping.
- It is not yelled at during the meal.
- When you finish eating, the dirty cutlery is left inside the plate and not on the tablecloth.
- Do not use a toothpick in public, always do it in private.
What are good manners for?
Good table manners are social norms that help us know how to behave in different situations. They are necessary to make us relate and also to avoid problems. It allows us to know how to function especially in other people's houses, to be polite and formal. It creates harmony, there is mutual respect, they are always in fashion and it makes us feel good.
With children we must be aware that there are certain rules that it is difficult for them to follow, because they are that, children. They do not do it to annoy you or to contradict you. Rigid rules are neither understood nor comfortable with. You can kindly correct them if they make a mistake and explain how it should be done. Your example and guide is the best learning to behave in life. Table manners should match the age of the child. We can start with the most basic and then teach him more as he grows.
Why remember ... good manners allow us to behave in society. It says a lot about us having good manners, that is why it is important to include them in parenting.