Get Your Kids Talking Over Dinner Tonight
We all know that family dinners are important. It’s not the eating that makes the difference. It’s the talking. Use these questions to get your kids talking over dinner tonight.
1. When you meet another adult, what should you do? (Look them in the eyes, shake their hand and say, “Nice to meet you Mr. Smith.”)
2. After receiving a gift from someone, what should you do? (Say thank you and write a thank you note within the week.)
3. What table manners are important? (Napkin in lap, don’t talk with your mouth full, don’t chew with your mouth open, keep your elbows off the table.)
4. When someone asks you a questions, for example, “Would you like some milk?”, how do you respond. Both if you want it or if you don’t. (Yes please or no thank you.)
5. When sharing vegetable or chip dip with others, what is the cardinal rule? Why? (No double dipping. Germ swapping.)
6. When the national anthem is played, what do you do? (Take off your hat, stand silently at attention with your right hand over your heart, if you have ball cap on hold it in your right hand, and look at the flag.)
7. Set up a table setting and ask, “Which fork should you use on your salad or appetizer?” Table Setting. This is also a great way to teach them to set a proper table.
8. When you have dinner at another person’s home what should you do after dinner? (Thank the cook and comment on how wonderful the meal was. Clear and rinse your dishes and ask if you can put them in the dishwasher.)
9. When you don’t properly hear what someone says, how do you respond? (Pardon me or could you please repeat that? Not huh or what.) When someone asks you if you would like a candy bar, which of course you do, how do you respond? (Yes please. NEVER yeah.)
10. When you walk through a door and someone is following close behind, what should you do? Hold the door open or let it slam in their face, every man for himself?
11. How would you introduce Mr. Smith to Mr. Jones? (Mr. Smith, this is Mr. Jones.) How would you introduce your mom to your friends? (Billy, this is my mom, Mrs. Mullen.) How would you introduce your friend Billy to a group of friends? (Individual, then group. For example, Billy, these are my friends, Sam, Colt, Keenan and Noah.)
I LOVE the picture! Great talking points. I printed it off to talk to my little guys tonight over dinner.
I totally agree that we should start talking to our kids and about subjects like this so that it is second nature by the time their K & N’s age. By the way, one day when I was at your house and one of the boys brought in some friends, I was really impressed with their manners. They all called you Mrs. Mullen.