More on Manners
Christmas festivities have already kicked into high gear to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. It’s the time of year when families and friends draw close, sharing stories, traditions and of course meals. To make this joyous time less stressful when visiting with the relatives, take some time to work on manners with your children. Hearing “Your little ones are so polite,” from Great Aunt Beatrice is a gift for a parent!
Meeting and Greeting
•Prior to the party, review the names of the guests. Look at photos to remind younger children who is who.
•Encourage eye contact. Evan the littlest ones can offer a hand to shake. “It’s nice to see you,” is an easy statement to welcome a guest.
•Give your child a job. My boys act as doormen, answering the door and hanging up coats.
•If you are the guests, have your child give the hosts the hostess gift with a polite, “Thank you for having us.”
Table Manners
•Put into practice all you’ve been working on at home.
•State what you expect, keeping in mind the ages and developmental stages of your children. Be specific.
•Typical good table manners include sitting at the table until excused, keeping the napkin in the lap, using a quiet voice during the meal, eating with utensils rather than fingers, saying please and thank you, and complimenting the chef…especially Grandma!
•Encourage your child to try new foods. Many Christmas delicacies are served just once a year. Your child might really like pickled herring or lutefisk!
•Most importantly, plan ahead for your child to say grace for the Christmas meal.
When the celebration is over, have the kiddos retrieve the coats and thank the guests for coming. End the evening on a note of appreciation, as the host or the guest. Spending time with family and close friends during Christmas is a blessing. Enjoy every moment!
© 2011 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
If you’ve been encouraged by this post, please take a moment to subscribe to the Faith First Parent e-newsletter, join in the conversation on the Facebook page or share the post with a friend.