Family Dinner Manners

Now that you’ve used the Family Calendar to get the relatives together for a real family dinner there should be some ground rules for group social behavior. Traditional moreas like table manners need to be placed alongside Twittering about the gravy while eating. There are too few family dinners, nowadays simple manners have been forgotten. Family dining should include activities that strength relationships, build character and share generational knowledge. Family dinners can become the place where relative connect, tell stories and share the day's events. Here are our top five areas where family dining etiquette mistakes happen with thoughts how to correct
the behavior.

Respect at the table

All family members and guests should wash their hands and straighten their attire before coming to the table. At regular dinners family members should be assigned a regular chair. If your family tradition includes a family prayer, everyone should be respectful during its offering. No hitting or kicking at the table. Napkins should be placed on lap.

Serving food properly

Food should be served in communal bowls and platters and then placed in small portions (you can always come back for seconds) on the plate. Serving bowls should always be passed to the right. No family member or guest should start eating until everyone is seated and all have been served.

Messy eating

Both youngsters and adults are guilty of chewing with their mouth open, sticking too much in their mouth and licking utensils clean. Stop! Other offenses are licking fingers, reaching across the table for the serving bowl and making rude comments about a food item. Do not play with your food.

Can't hear you with a full mouth

A good conversation helps the digestion. Dialogue is an important part of the family dining experience. No one should talk with food in their mouth. Interrupting someone else's conversation is just poor manners. When requesting a serving dish to be passed, get the person attention by saying their name and then requesting the food item to be passed. Don't forget the "please" and "thank you". Offensive noises like belches or quiffs (SP reference :-) should be outlawed.

Can I leave now?

No! Proper table manners means ask the host or parent if he or she can be excused. Parents often instill the rule that the child must clear his or her own plate, utensils and glass to the dishwashing area as part of the dismissal.

Getting your family together is important

Keeping a family dinner dates on the family calendar will strength family unity. Every family member will know the time and location, with added clarity about who is coming. The larger your family the more you will love FamilyCrossings's family calendar.