Parental Filter

While we want our kids to have fun and stay fairly relaxed, there are times when a bit of formality is called for.

How often do you stop and teach your children about manners or etiquette during a normal week?

I have seen many kids eating with utensils as if they were little apes, all because their parents didn't teach them something as basic as holding a fork or spoon properly.

Won't missing some of the finer point of civilized social eating and conversation lead to problems when children become adults?

I think manners are very important and it is disgusting when you see young people who have not been taught to eat properly. Lack of table table manners and lack of manners in general will be a social handicap.

Yes good manners are important and parents who don't teach their kids manners while they are young are making life hard for themselves and their children.

Table manners are about the most important etiquette rules to impart to your kids. They can get a bit disgusting, it's true, especially if a guest isn't used to eating with kids.
I never made my kids call adults Mr or Mrs. I did insist, though, that if a guest tried to make conversation with them that they answer with more than "I dunno".

I always tried to teach my daughter manners and etiquette, yes. Whenever a teaching moment came up, I just grabbed the bull by the horns. Luckily she picked it all up very easily.

And yes, things kids learn when they're little surely do stick with them through adulthood.

Do you think schools should teach table manners during lunch?

Since the kids are there more than they are at home, and many bad habits are picked up while they eat together, instituting some lunchtime expectations in the behavior department would be a good idea, don't you think?

My school did that, they were very strict about it. But really it is the job of parents to do this, we shouldn't have to rely on schools to do this for us.

It is the job of parents to teach good manners and social skills. My school was very strict about table manners etc but now it seems that a significant number of kids don't even know how to use a knife and fork. I blame this on the way that many families never sit at a table to eat a meal these days.

I think that has a big part to play in the decline of table manners, it has also led to a decline in communication skills.

Kernow that is a very good point, not only does sitting at a table as a family help to teach food manners, it also aids digestion and it is a bonding time when the family are together and talking to each other.