With the busy schedules of everyday life, meal time is usually the best time for family members to discuss their day and enjoy each other's company. As a parent, it can be difficult to enjoy this time together when children are being rude at the table. It might make a parent feel frustrated and unappreciated. To make the dinner table a fun and relaxing place, teach children good table manners.
Step 1
Begin teaching table manners at a young age. As with any other rules that need to be taught, table manners need to be incorporated as a part of everyday life. Even young children in a high chair can be taught basic table manners. If a child throws food or purposely spills something, remove him from the table. Explain to him in a calm and firm matter that meal time is for eating with family, and he may come back when he is ready to behave.
Step 2
Set reasonable expectations and pick your battles. The definition of good table manners may vary greatly from family to family. Basic expectations may be for children to chew with their mouths closed, say "please" and "thank you," keep elbows off the table and ask to be excused when done. Explain the rules, as well as the consequences. A good way to get children to abide is to a reward for being good at the table, like stickers. Use lots of positive reinforcement. A proper punishment may be no TV that evening if the children don't follow the rules.
Step 3
Reinforce the expectations on a consistent basis. Make sure that children understand that table manners are a reflection of how polite they are and should be used at home, in restaurants, and when eating at the homes of friends and family. Follow through with any punishment, and do not be slack about what is expected. If you are not consistent, the child will not understand that these rules are always to be followed.
Step 4
Use yourself as an example. Children will learn from what they see. If parents burp loudly at the table or talk with food in their mouths, children will think this is normal and do the same. Children clearly recognize when parents are being hypocritical. It is only fair to practice the same good table manners that you are teaching.
Step 5
Enjoy your time together as a family. While table manners are important, the most important thing for any family is being able to spend time together. Make sure not to nit pick so much that you forget to relax and appreciate your children for who they are.
