Are children taught table manners anymore?

Answer 1

Children now days don't have manners, much less table manners. But, you don't have to look far. Look at the parents. The other day, I was in the store and a woman hit me with her cart and I sort of smiled knowing it was an accident. She didn't apologize or anything. She just gave me an evil look and said "I'm going that way". Promptly after that, her daughter shoved past me, literally pushing me. I couldn't believe it. It's a very sad state we're in right now. You can't blame the kids, that's for sure. They have to be taught it to know. It seems the parents just don't care. There is no such thing as manners or discipline. I have to laugh when we go to the store with our daughter, she'll point things out that children shouldn't be doing. And if we go to a restaurant, she'll get very upset when the kids in a booth behind us stand up and lean over into our section. In fact, one time, even though she's a child, she turned around and said "ma'am, I'd like to enjoy my meal and that's rather hard with your son pulling my hair". It was just as polite as could be, but she'd had enough. I didn't say anything to her either because she said ma'am and didn't show any disrespect.

We have to pray for the children and keep hoping that things change from the current state.

EDIT: I also have to say, that as far as manners go, it's so bad in the school that my daughter used to go to, that during the winter, they send a note home and post it all over the halls.....
"Please cover your mouth if you sneeze"
"Please use a tissue to blow your nose, not your sleeve"
There's more, but I can't remember them all. It's bad if you have to send that home to parents and post it in the school for the kids. I mean really, weren't you taught these basics at home??

Answer 2

Think about what the Baby Boomers did when they were younger. They went from the 1950s or before, a time of manners and respect, etc. They spent this time as children. Mostly playing outside with simple toys and being athletic and whatnot.

They then transitioned into the '60s and 70s. Wild parties, rampant (and fairly open) drug abuse, free love, wars no one wanted and riotous rebellion. The United States looked somewhat like Holland on a 24/7 bender. During these times, they transitioned from childhood into early adulthood.

During the '80s, the boomers started having children of their own (Generation-X), and decided to go against their parents' teaching and be rebellious against the way things used to be. Things were different. Why shouldn't their teachings be?

The Gen-X'ers gained sentience in the late 80s-early 90s, which was the beginning of the corporate stranglehold of EVERYTHING in the United States. Music, TV, Movies, Games, Magazines became playgrounds for advertisers with brash, in-your-face attitudes. Children set their attitudes to reflect said advertising. After all, that's how the world was supposed to be, right? "Just do it." "No pain, no gain." Everything was a neon colored explosion of over-the-top melodrama. Not to mention the introduction of advanced technology into the home. Who needs to go outside when you have a computer and cable to entertain you?

These children grew up to revolutionize industry standards by making everything faster, more complicated, and overall, more shiny. Why, you may ask? Because they'd be able to do so much more in a day! The blackberry, the iPod, buletooth, the pocket-sized cellphone with a million different polyphonic ringtones. These are everyday items for some people, and these people are expected to be doing something all the time. The working man has become a texting, phone conferencing, emailing, instant messaging, faxing, copying, collating machine, and he's expected to do this round the clock. It's almost like the country has self-imposed workaholism combined with ADHD.

The new generation probably sees table manners as something like a rotary phone. They are a thing of the past. They are obsolete. Why? Because daddy and mommy are too busy with their cellphones and other shiny gadgets to pay attention.

Answer 3

I Don't Even Think,Children Know What The Dining Room Table Is For Anymore,It's Not Their Fault Mom And Dad Don't Have The Time,Pretty Sad

Answer 4

Children today are barely taught everyday manners much less table manners.

Answer 5

Every parent I know personally teaches their child manners. That doesn't necessarily mean the kids prectice them all the time! My best friend has a 9 year old son who knows perfectly well how to behave in a restaurant, but I rather suspect that with his buddies in the cafeteria, manners fly right out the window.

I think etiquette should be a class in school, but long before high school.

Answer 6

I have difficulty finding any evidence that children are taught much of anything in the way of manners or respect anymore.

Answer 7

Sadly it seems not. Family don't sit at the table anymore they tend to sit around the television. As they know call it tv dinners. Children should be taught how to eat at a table how to use knive and fork, how to chew ones food, and not to speak with mouth full. Also how to ask for something at the table i.e could you pass me the salt please and thank you etc. Most inportant words should be taught are: may I and can I and thank you

Answer 8

No, it doesn't seem that kids are taught any manners at all. they have no respect for anyone other than themselves. Kids all think that they are the centre of the universe and can do whatever they want, no matter the consequences to anyone else. I wouldn't want anyone to grow up in the house that I did, but at least we had manners.

Answer 9

Unfortunately, not too much.

I used to work as a server, and the way people would let their children talk to me and act in a restaurant was ridiculous. I vowed never to be like them.

I teach my son manners and please and thank you. I was babysitting my friend's son and tried to get him to say, thank you when he was handed something and he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language!!

I have noticed the evidence of our generation being taught poor manners too however. Men, who don't open the door for women, people who don't say hello, people who shove you when you walk by them, etc. So, it goes farther back than our generation.

Answer 10

My kids have known how to PROPERLY use a knife and fork since they were able to hold them. I continually preach to them that if they can sit at a table and do so with class that they can go anywhere in the world and be respected.
I don't see much anymore as far as manners in anything kids do these days. Please and thank you seem to be missing from many kids vocabulary these days.

KaptainK