1. Home
  2. Inspiration

Mealtime manners for kids you should teach – the most important basics

Table manners are a mealtime must for kids

By

Emily Post has been the go-to person for manners for ages. The woman whose name has been synonymous with manners and etiquette since the 1920s passed away in 1960, but her words live on. Post’s great-granddaughter, Peggy, continues the family tradition of writing on manners and even has a book specifically for kids.

Busy parents don’t always have time to consult an etiquette book on proper table manners, but mealtime manners for kids is serious business. Table manners are a life skill and essential if you plan on eating out with your kids. Teaching manners to kids at the table starts at infancy with parent modeling. By the time kids reach kindergarten, they should have a firm grasp of eight basic table manners. Here are the top mealtime manners your kiddos need to know.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mealtime manners for kids

Of course, there are a lot of things to remember when it comes to table manners, but these are basic ones your kids should master by the time they’re heading to school.

Recommended Videos

Sit in a chair

It may seem like a small thing, but sitting in a chair at the table isn’t easy for some kids. Sitting nicely in a chair during a meal is a skill that may take time.

Know what foods need a utensil

By kindergarten, kids should understand what foods are OK to eat with their hands, such as grapes, and when food requires a fork or spoon.

Use a napkin

What parent doesn’t have an adorable photo of their toddler covered in tomato sauce or ice cream? Teach kids where to put a napkin and how to use it.

Don’t talk with food in your mouth

This is a table manner you may battle with through the years. Many adults talk with food in their mouths. Set the foundation early and keep reminding.

Don’t eat until everyone is served

Family dinners have a lot of perks for kids. Meals are meant to be savored and not rushed through. Good table manners include waiting to eat until everyone is served. Then, the family can enjoy the meal together.

Eat slowly

Eating quickly isn’t good for the digestive system. So, teach your kids to take small bites, chew, and taste (and enjoy) their food.

Be polite

Being polite is a broad table manner that encompasses saying please and thank you during the course of the meal. Kids should learn to say thank you to the person serving them as well as the person who prepared the meal.

Don’t interrupt

Mealtime is ideal for sharing what happens during everyone’s day. Learning to wait for their turn to talk is another essential life skill and helps kids to learn table manners as well as listening skills.

May I be excused?

Being polite and having good table manners has never gone out of style. Mealtimes aren’t as formal as in the days of Emily Post, but table manners are just as important. Set a strong foundation by teaching these basic mealtime manners for kids before kindergarten.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
7 avocado-based baby food combinations your baby will love
Mix up these avocado baby foods for your kiddos

It's so exciting when your little one is ready to start eating solid foods. If you're searching for what solids to try, think avocados. Avocados aren't just a superfood for adults. They're excellent for babies and toddlers too since they are infused with healthy fats. Avocado baby food offers a nutritious first step in introducing solid foods to babies.

Avocados earned that superfood tag because they contain 20 vitamins and minerals, including folate, potassium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus several variants of vitamin B. They're also packed with protein and fiber and don't contain cholesterol or sodium. Avocados are very low in saturated fat, too. Babies need omega-3 fatty acids to promote brain and eye development. Avocados are one of the fattiest plant foods and are a great source of oleic acid. Oleic acid is an important omega-3 that's also found in olive oil.

Read more
Keep little ones entertained with the best ‘Would you rather?’ questions for kids
Get a laugh with these fun questions

No one knows who exactly started asking those fun "would you rather" questions, but it seems like they've been around for ages. Little kids love them and so do tweens, but they probably won't admit it between eye rolls. Teens, too, will usually get involved in the off-beat question-and-answer game.

The entertainment value isn't lost on adults either, especially when there's quite a bit of awkward silence going on. "Would you rather" questions for kids are a perfect way to pass the miles in the car or get everyone involved in dinnertime conversation. If you're on the hunt for some laughter-provoking fun, "would you rather" questions are here to help, and we've got a list to get the brains and the fun going.

Read more
12 life skills kids need to know before high school
Things you learned as a child to pass on to yours

As parents, we are our children's first role models. It's from Mom and Dad that kids learn all the important life skills they need to live independently when they head off to college or to live on their own. From eating healthy and exercising to not running up credit card bills they can't pay off; parents impart all sorts of vital wisdom kids take with them when they leave home for the first time.

The problem is waiting until it's time to start filling out the applications to squeeze in all those necessary life lessons. Instead, start early. Kids love to imitate adults. So, what are the major life skills your kids need to know before high school rolls around?

Read more