Enjoy a Formal Table Setting for the Holidays
Now that the holidays are approaching, think of all the wonderful learning opportunities that meals will present for your children to learn dining etiquette. Pull out the tablecloths, bring out the bread plates, use the grape scissors, set several glasses for beverages, and introduce a cheese course before dessert. More importantly have your children help in the preparation. After all, the best way to learn dining etiquette in a formal setting is to set the table for a formal dinner.
It’s amazing how quickly you remember something when you have to do it. Every day, my girls are responsible for setting the table for dinner. We use a complete place setting because I think it looks nicer and helps teach them proper placement of basic items. In the beginning, I had to show them where to place everything. Periodically, items will still be in the wrong location so I call them over and show them the correct arrangement. Sure I could rearrange it but then they wouldn’t learn basic dining etiquette.
Impeccable table manners involve knowing the ins and outs of a place setting. Rest assured that your children will know that the coffee cup goes to the right of the glasses when they have to set the table using the coffee cup. Years from now when they are seated at a round table they will instinctively know to reach to the left for the dinner roll because years ago you made them set the Christmas table with a bread plate.
