5 Weeks of Manners and Valentines Dinner

Valentines Day is in 5 weeks and if your kids are like ours, there's much room for improvement at the dinner table! One of our sisters mentioned she was doing this in their home and we thought it was a great idea. For the next 5 weeks (now until Valentine's) we'll work on our table manners (1 manner per week) and then on Valentine's Day we'll have a fancy dinner where all manners will be used.

If you have older kids then your manners will hopefully be more advanced than ours (I'm really hoping we grow out of "don't put your hand/food in your drink!" at some point).

 

This cute place setting is from Martha Stewart. Print on cardstock and cut out to help the kids learn how to set the table. Maybe once they know where each utensil goes and what they are for they'll start using them!

Some ideas for the weekly etiquette practice:

• Chew with your mouth closed.
• Don't talk with food in your mouth. Chew, swallow, then talk.
• Use please and thank you. "Please, pass the...." and "No, thank you."
• Use your napkin and utensils and leave unwanted food on your plate-not on the table or the floor.
• How to set the table.
• Eat slowly
• Don't make rude comments about the food being served.
• Ask to be excused from the table when finished.
• Thank the cook

Are there other basic manners I am overlooking?

When I suggested 5 weeks of manners and a fancy Valentine's dinner to my 5 year old he responded, "Okay, but me and Dad get to make the dinner!"

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