"Just Right" Bites

September 29, 2022 Thursday

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We adults learn our etiquette from our parents at home and from school. But being a grown up now, parent or not, we can teach kids some etiquettes too. Just like the Table Etiquette.

Coming from a family of six, our meal table is a bit longer than the ideal family of four. I do remember how strict our parents especially my father on teaching us some table manners. Though father did not follow any list and randomly teach us those manners. But I have a list here to guide us what are the Table Manners for Kids to be teach. So we better check it one by one.

• Napkin in your lap

In my country, we common citizen actually do not use napkin during dining at home. Napkin in your lap can only be applied to fine dining restaurants or perhaps to rich family dining table. But it is still best to teach our kids where to put it because it is one of the basics in table manners. Going to places abroad, this basic thing can really be applied.

• Elbows off the table and sit up tall

This is really need to be teach strictly, elbows should be off from the table during meal and sitting posture must be maintain. Elbows should be off while having foods on the table. Stretching your arms or elbows into the table is strictly no-no in table etiquette. I remember wayback before how my father closely monitor our elbows if it touches the table. Its like eating in a military academy, just kidding.

• Chew with your mouth closed

Nowadays, people do some chitchat while eating and this is not proper. If you eat, there should be no talks. Its rude to eat and talk. Also chew with your mouth closed. Some are disgusting sometimes that you hear them chew their food with mouth partially open and loud. Even a little sound we made before while chewing our food is what he hates the most.

• Food to mouth not mouth to food

Wearing our proper posture while dining makes us clearly demonstrate this food to mouth manners. This means, when we eat, we use utensils to pick our food and carry it to our mouth while sitting still. Not that we lean and forward our mouth near to the food we eat. We should still maintain our sitting posture while dining.

• Use your pleases and thank yous

Well, we sometimes have to reach something or pass on some foods, pleases and thank yous should always be use during these times. Its polite to say pleases when passing some food and give some thank yous too.

• Wait your turn to talk

Of course, while dining some really do some conversation. But do not just talk and talk, wait for turn to speak. Pause and chew your food while waiting foe your turn to talk back then

• Use your indoor voice

While you are in the dining table, talk slowly and in a low tone. Lower your voice as much as possible. Use your indoor voice not the louder one.

• Don't complain about the food

This should be teach strictly too. If you are eating at home with only family then you can open up about the foods in the dining table then. Though in table etiquette, do not complain about the food the host prepared. It is proper to just keep your complain a secret and do not discuss it while dining, it will embarass the host.

• Take "just right" bites

Eat your food in "just right" bites. Do not take a big bite like you can finish the whole platter at once. Its like biting your food with posture too. Get only the food you can consume and take the just right bites. Do not over fill your plates too so you will have no leftovers.

• Take up your dishes when finished eating

I really remember in school that if you are done eating, you should place your spoon and fork horizontally across the plate. Also father teaches us not to spoil some foods on the table and take up our plates and utensils after eating.

Above mention are just some guide for the table manners to be teach to the kids. You can shorten it too and just pick five most important table manners. But what is important is, we should practice these table manners at home first. So our children or the young ones will not have difficulty in applying these manners outside home.

Thank you for reading this far. Hope this can be a help to guide you teach some table manners to the young ones.