All children need to learn manners, but it doesn’t always need to involve a lecture. There are some fun ways you can teach your kids etiquette without any eye-rolling involved. Read on for a few ideas.
Setting the table
Give each child a full set of cutlery and crockery, including soup bowls, bread plates, coffee cups, and all the cutlery that a meal of several courses will require. Give each child five minutes to arrange a proper setting.
If you have a large group, you can divide them into two competing teams.
Role reversal
At the dinner table, reverse roles between adults and children. Allow each adult and older child to do something that is obviously bad manners, and let younger children call out what they’ve done and why it’s rude.
Etiquette charades
Write down behaviors that are thought of as ‘bad manners’ and ‘good manners’ on small pieces of paper. Fold the papers and put into a bowl. Divide the group into teams, and have them take turns at drawing from the bowl.
Once a slip is drawn, the child must act out the behavior. The opposite team first decides if the behavior is good or bad, then guesses what the action is.