Classes for Table Manners in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

I throw up my hands with my 11 y.o son and teaching him table manners! We need outside help. Does anyone know of any classes that teaches table manners? Or maybe I just need a bigger glass of wine. Acckkk!!!

[Anonymous]

Is he ignoring you but knows the rules? In other words, does he act properly at restaurants, other's homes or more formal family events? The rules aren't that hard but it is hard to model them all the time. But if you don't follow them as a matter of habit, then your son won't either. If he knows the rules but is acting like a slacker at the table even after you remind him, he is just being disobedient. Find an appropriate punishment that you think will work and implement it. My kids know the rules and sometimes forget but if they start to ignore them, they go to their room without supper and that is where they stay until dinner is over. Then they can return to the area. I will not spend the entire dinner reminding them to act like humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he ignoring you but knows the rules? In other words, does he act properly at restaurants, other's homes or more formal family events? The rules aren't that hard but it is hard to model them all the time. But if you don't follow them as a matter of habit, then your son won't either. If he knows the rules but is acting like a slacker at the table even after you remind him, he is just being disobedient. Find an appropriate punishment that you think will work and implement it. My kids know the rules and sometimes forget but if they start to ignore them, they go to their room without supper and that is where they stay until dinner is over. Then they can return to the area. I will not spend the entire dinner reminding them to act like humans.

Thanks for this! That's where I'm these days: spending the entire dinner reminding him to eat like a human. Punishment may work, will think about what to punish him with. He's typically a very obedient child, just eats like an animal. I think he's distracted, in the sense he'd rather be thinking of anything in the world other than please for the love of god would you stop picking up your heavy glass with your fingertips so that it will drop at any moment. And stop picking up some food from the plate and leaning back, letting the crumbs fall where they may! Or maybe it's me ... I grew up in a very etiquette focused family and am maybe too Emily Post for kids today.

[Anonymous]

We had this lady come into our house. http://www.washingtonetiquette.com

I split a Groupon with a good friend. Our 4 children did it together. The older ones got the most out of it. It was table manners and how to speak to adults. I should do a refresher!

[Anonymous]

I threatened my kid with cotillion if he didn't shape up. It worked!

[Anonymous]

I just informed my 12 yr old DD last night that she's being punished by not being allowed to have Madeline cookies any more, since she shoves half a cookie in her mouth each time and then laughs and spits crumbs all over and thinks that's funny.

When she was a baby and toddler, I gave her all her food in a Tupperware bowl. Any time she isn't being careful with dishes, I give her her next meal in the Tupperware. It's a visual sign to her "Hey, you're using the table manners expected from a three year old here!" And if she acts like one, she gets treated like one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I threatened my kid with cotillion if he didn't shape up. It worked!

Ha! I think this will certainly work.