How do you teach kids table manners??

Question

Mr 4 is polite enough, but i wish he would:
- stop talking all through meals
- go to the toilet before or after the meal, not during EVERY meal
- EAT!

Mr 7 is completely disorganized and can't sit still for a minute, and ends up with food all over himself, the table and the floor. EVERY meal I'm nagging him to:
- sit in the middle of his seat
- face the table
- chew with his mouth closed
- use cutlery: don't pick up food with fingers, and don't lick it off the plate
- use a napkin, not a tablecloth or shirt

He is annoying and embarrassing. I don't want to go out in public - I can't even stand it at home! - with him wiping his hands everywhere and making disgusting chewing noises.

I know I can't expect all manners straight away, but one or two would be nice. HOW????

Oh... and drinking sauce (ketchup) out of the bottle....

Answer 1

try giving them easy foods to eat then just remind them how to eat politely. then praise them each time they do it your way. take one day ask what your kid wants for dinner and make a deal with the 7 year old if i make this will u show me how good u can be at the table. and praise him if hes good maybe he just needs to be re taught or is doing it because your up tight about it. i have also took the plate away if they were licking it and asked is that the right way to eat and then let them answer and give it back then say ok lets try to eat the right way. just keep your cool and try it again til it gets better do it at each meal not just dinner. make a chart and for a certain about of days they r good mannered take them out use a dinner out as a reward and say something like ok here's the real deal lets see if we can show what we are learning at home. i had 3 under 5 with some of these problems including food fights and crawling across the table to hand take food off each others plate. now 5, 7 and 9 they are great. and dinner table is a great time to communicate with your kids.

Answer 2

some of these are typical kids things. Ie. the can't sit still sit in the chair stuff.

I explained to mine if they ever want to go out to dinner at a resturant then they need to learn proper table manners. I taught them to use a knife and fork properly. If they start with there fingers I remind them of their fork. Talking through the meal? This should be encouraged. There is nothing better than a family that sits and talks. As for drinking from the sauce bottle. Easy .,..do this, no sauce for a week. At 7 he should be able to eat with out getting it everywhere. Push him right up toi the table so he eats over his plate. This will also stop him turning in his seat. Tell your 4 year old to go to the toilet before tea and explain that until his food is gone he WILL NOT be getting up. If he does his food will go in the bin and he will not get more. As for licking the plate, that is disgusting, dogs lick their dinner bowls not kids. Tell them if they will act like dogs then you will treat them like one and they can sit on the floor to eat. I did this once because my son was eating like an animal. Never again did he eat like that. ( food on a plate of course but just not at the table) Once they master good manners at the table reward them by talking them to a resturant. Take colouring books and things for them to do while they wait for food as they are little and won't sit still for too long and once you have finished then leave. You can't expect them to sit for hours but they need to be rewarded for their good manners. and it is also good for when you go to other peoples places. Explain to them that it makes you so proud if they were to have manners as you would like to show everyone how wonderful they are

Answer 3

You tell them to go to the toilet before you sit to eat.

On day one, BEFORE YOU SERVE THE FOOD, you tell them that from this meal forward, it will be different.
You will instruct them precisely on what you disapprove of and what you expect of them BEFORE you serve the food.
You also tell them that if they do not behave like humans at the table, they will be sent directly to BED for the night. Period.
And then you stick to it!

Day 2 , you sit to eat.
The first time one of them slips up, they get a warning. The second time, they go to bed for the rest of the night... no dinner.
They can cry and whine and scream... oh well. They will not starve to death overnight.

Day 3, repeat day 2.

It will eventually sink in... as long as YOU don't give in.

If they continue to act like animals at the table, go to the dollar store and buy a dog bowl for each of them and see how they like having thier dinner served in a dog bowl, on the floor.

These kids are old enough to know better. They only do it because you let them get away with it.

Answer 4

Best way to teach them, is to set very clear and understandable rules straightaway. Review these with all of them individually and then as a group. Ask their opinion, so they feel somewhat empowered.

Then explain why this is so important to you.

If one of the kids breaks the rule, send them to their room immediately. Dinner over.

Give them 10 minutes to think about what they did wrong, make sure they apologize and then they can finish their dinner.

I know this sounds harsh, but tough love (with proper explanation is critical).

Answer 5

Hey ...I think you re tighter than Mr. Cleans muscles lighten up they are kids...they will learn from you as you lead them in their lives.

Answer 6

tell them