Mind your manners please

I have come to the realization (after many, many frustrating nights at the dinner table mind you) that you have to TEACH your children manners! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to just catch on as they watch you model perfect manners at each mealtime! Ha! I knew we needed to do a little focusing on manners at our house, so we checked out a few books, posted our rules in the kitchen, and began practicing!Eli has done really well with them. Even though he can't read our poster, he knows all our rules and recognizes key words (like burping!). Caleb doesn't quite understand, but he has started asking to be excused when he is finished eating, because that is what Eli does! Another manner Eli and I are working on is greeting people and looking them in the eye when you talk - instead of hiding behind your mother's leg! We've done several "role plays" and he thinks that is fun. He is getting better at that too which just reminds me that practice makes perfect!

Here are a couple of books we read that were very helpful: Why Do You Always Have to Say Please? and Berestain Bears Forget Their Manners . Here's to more peaceful and enjoyable mealtimes!

Tara