Six tips for teaching table manners to your toddler
At-home Activities
Playing board games can teach important skills
Playing board games growing up probably seemed like some good ol’ healthy competition between your siblings or merely a fun way to pass the time. But without realising it, you were actually developing some pretty important and necessary life skills. Board games not only help you bond, but they also help develop your little one mentally and socially in a fun way. Who would’ve thought that all those competitions and rivalries during family game night...
Health & Wellbeing
Teaching our kids to be more eco friendly
Raising children is a non-stop teaching process. From table manners to how to be environmentally conscious, your little one is constantly learning from you. Whether you’re a dedicated gardener or just starting...
Teaching your little ones to be polite is no small task. From using please and thank you to the napkin on the lap, the uphill battle of getting table manners to become second nature will take some time. Working on dinner etiquette is a big step for them, so a few tips for success is key!
How do kids learn table manners?
Well, it really all boils down to leading by example. Manners sadly don’t come programmed into us, so setting a good example and frequent repetition are needed. Importantly, good manners start in the home even though the media can influence some other behaviour.
Why teach manners?
Before you know it, your little one will be going over to their friend’s houses for dinner and meeting new people to impress. You want to know that they will present themselves well without you there. It might not seem like a big deal to them, but people always appreciate and remember good manners!
Basic manners to teach:
If you’re starting from the ground up, here are a few important ones:
- Saying please and thank you when someone offers something or you ask for something
- Wash your hands before eating
- Once you sit down, put your napkin on your lap
- Keep your elbows off the table
- Always keep your mouth closed when chewing
- Wait to eat until everyone can
- Sit up straight
- Don’t play with your food
- Clean up when finished
- Put your knife and fork together when you are done eating
- Thank whoever made the meal
This may look like a long list but most of these have been ingrained in you throughout your life. It takes baby steps at first to introduce these new practices, but with repetition and time, these will become part of their routine without thinking.
Tips for toddlers
From the ages of 3-5 you can start adding on new habits at the dinner table. By now, they will hopefully be saying please and thank you regularly (even when they least want to!)
1. Set the example
As soon as you sit down, grab the napkin and put it on your lap. Your little one loves to copy your every move, so they will be eager to do what you do. If you make things like this part of the routine before you eat, they will remember and begin to add them to their mental checklists.
2. Be consistent
Sometimes manners are hard to remember for adults too! Do your best to not fray from the actions you want them to make because they are always watching very closely.
3. Give gentle reminders
Even though it may seem never-ending at first, telling them to keep their elbows off the table will start to click after frequent prompts. Feeling a bit like a nag is normal; their behaviour won’t become habitual overnight!
4. Keep mealtimes peaceful
When your frustration begins to boil over it can be easy to overwhelm them with demands like, “elbows off!” or “sit up straight!” This will only make mealtimes stressful and could backtrack progress. Try to slow things down and have them focus on 1 or 2 specific actions they can work on per week.
5. Remind them why they’re doing it
They’ll be wondering why these actions are necessary and they won’t stop asking you. It’s likely they will push back, asking you why these things matter. Take time to explain why manners and making a good impression are important. To make it more simple, explain that being polite makes others happy. You will definitely have to repeat these reasons a lot but eventually, it’ll stick!
6. Make a reward chart
If repetition isn’t cutting it, make it a bit more fun. Use a chart with stickers to mark off each successful mealtime. Once they complete a full week, they can receive a reward. A little incentive can go a long way as you know!
Related articles
Understanding your child’s behaviour
How to encourage good behaviour in your child
5 things your toddler’s tantrum might be trying to tell you
Other Articles
Sleep Transitions
Tips for helping your child adjust to a bed
Moving to a big bed is a huge milestone for your little one - they grow up so quick! Typically this shouldn’t be any earlier than 2.5 years, it really depends on the child but it’s not something you want to rush. Trust us.
Signs & Symptoms
8 things you need to know about snot in children
Yes we know, it’s not a very glamorous topic but we need to talk about snot. With the chilly winter months well and truly here, you may notice your little one is coming home from daycare with a runny nose. While you churn through the tissues at record speed 🤧, their snotty nose may hang around for what feels like a lifetime and it can be really challenging to navigate. The good news is this...
Signs & Symptoms
Asthma first aid
In Australia, one in 10 children have asthma. This is one of the highest of rates of childhood asthma in the world. More than just a wheeze, asthma is a chronic condition that causes the breathing tubes (airways) to become inflamed and constricted. This causes difficulty breathing. It is also very important to understand that asthma can range from mild to severe, and can be a life-threatening condition. This is why it is so important...
Sign up
Don't miss a thing!
Stay in the loop on all things parenthood as we share tips, hacks, products, inspo & everything in between. We promise not to clutter your inbox.