Tabletime. It happens three times a day at most houses. From the time our tiny tots are holding their own cups and grasping their own spoons, we try to teach them “good manners.” Of course, there are the mealtime mishaps and suppertime sillies, which are fun and sometimes permissible here….but I also believe that kids need to know how to eat at the table correctly and well-mannered. After all, sometimes mealtime is at someone else’s house….or at a restaurant….and you want to make sure your children know how to eat and act there, too.
Growing up, manners were important in my family. “Meg, Meg, wise and able — get your elbows off the table,” Mom would have to say repeatedly to me. I still say that verse to myself when I realize I’m leaning or propping up while eating. Napkin in lap. Small fork first. Asking politely to be excused. It’s all a bit overwhelming, especially for little ones. Thankfully there’s a pleasant, simplified, age-appropriate guide to help make sense of the ins and outs of dinnertime: Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids.
Though this book is intended for the reading age level of 8-12 year olds, the tips and methods inside can be taught to younger ones, as well. Chuckle-worthy, comical characters are strewn throughout the book, demonstrating the ideas or providing jokes and antics about the subject.
Here’s a sampling of what’s inside. I admit many of these questions I have oftentimes wondered about myself, though I’m grown. I learned a lot, too!
- Why is food sometimes served in courses?
- How do you eat a salad with huge lettuce leaves in it? And what about those squirty cherry tomatoes?
- What foods are best for fingers, and which ones should only need a fork?
- How do you eat corn on the cob without making a mess?
- What are “line manners” when you’re going through a lunch or cafeteria line?
- How do you host a party?
As you can see, Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids isn’t just about formal gatherings and elaborate spreads at holiday time. Its tips are fully useful for everyday meals at home….for girls AND boys alike. I know we’ll be referencing this book often….and even working it into a mini unit this fall on food and etiquette.
You can purchase Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids for $15.99 at your favorite local bookseller or at select stores online. E-book formats are also available for this title.
Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you can win Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids for your own use! To enter to win, tell me, in a comment below, your greatest mealtime manners challenge when it comes to your kids. I’ll close the contest next Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #16, Annette W, the winner of this book!
Sylvia (2 years ago)
Elbows on the table are a big probem
Staci A (2 years ago)
Our biggest issue is getting the little one to actually try new foods. But I’d love to teach him proper table manners too!
Sara (2 years ago)
talking too much at the table, which leads to a very slow eater
Cindi (2 years ago)
I think it would be grabbing for the dish to have another serving, without asking for help! Many thanks, Cindi
renee (2 years ago)
My three year old never stops talking, not even to sleep or eat it seems, so talking with food dangling out of her mouth really grosses me out!
amandasue (2 years ago)
Using forks, she thinks everything is finger food which makes a big mess, and then she has a hard time remembering to wipe her hands on a napkin instead of her clothes (which makes me want to scream lol) Thanks for the chance to win this book it would be SUPER useful.
Kim (2 years ago)
mine is getting him to NOT throw food!
Katrina (2 years ago)
right now my daughter is young, so it is not throwing food on the floor
ykatrina at hotmail dot com
Marissa (2 years ago)
My two year old talks (or babbles) with his mouth full. He also loves to throw food on the floor!
Kate Etue (2 years ago)
Getting up and running around during the middle of the meal.
marina (2 years ago)
Talking talking and more talking….but not much eating!
Mozi Esmes Mommy (2 years ago)
Talking with her mouth full is an issue. And spitting food out! She takes a bite, chews it, and spits it out only to make room for more food! I don’t know why…
Beth (2 years ago)
Getting my daughter to use utensils instead of her fingers is a problem.
Heather (2 years ago)
Remembering to put down their forks once in a while! I had never seen food disappear so fast until I had kids!
Spoodles (2 years ago)
My biggest challenge is keeping the kids seated and quiet enough so the rest of us can enjoy our meal. I have two very rowdy boys, and a baby girl who is learning to imitate her brothers very quickly, so meal times can be noisy! Also, how do you keep a kid from stuffing too much food in his mouth?
Annette W (2 years ago)
My oldest is 2, so our problem is staying at the table until everyone is finished. I am not concerned about elbows…yet.
Debbie Perkins (2 years ago)
My 2 year old always throws her food on the floor, and it drives me crazy!
Cynthia (2 years ago)
JeansandTs@hotmail.com
Singing is our current problem. I keep telling her not to sing at the table but she just can’t help herself. Maybe I should just be glad she is happy.
Shanna (2 years ago)
Our daughters are great eaters, but our son seems to live on air. He refuses even his favorites and then wants dinner an hour later.
sandra (2 years ago)
my greatest challenge is to just have them sit at the table during mealtime
lorene \ (2 years ago)
Just getting my 3 year old to sit during dinner is difficult
Courtney (2 years ago)
GREAT giveaway! I know lots of other people’s kids that I’d love to give this to too!
Our biggest mealtime challenge right now is not talking with her mouth full. Thanks for the giveaway!
annasmama0702@gmail.com
N. krsulic (2 years ago)
my greatest mealtime manners challenge when it comes to my daughter is getting her to wait until everyone is at the table, and getting her to refrain from speaking about unpleasant things like blood and guts while we are eating. thank you for the chance to win.
Roberta Skolfield (2 years ago)
eating with their fingers & wipeing their hands on there clothes instead of the provided napkins YIKES !!!!!
tina reynolds (2 years ago)
sitting at the table instead of in front of the tv and not talking with a mouth full of food thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
kerri r (2 years ago)
to not play or throw food!
Jen H (2 years ago)
Since my kids are still quite small, deciding to leave the table without being excused and in the middle of the meal is our big one.