Thanksgiving Tips for Children and Parents

Thanksgiving is a great time to teach and reinforce manners for children who will be dining with other adults, most-likely. Here are some Thanksgiving tips for children and parents:

* Prepare for the meal. This means taking a nap, choosing special clothing to celebrate, and using good manners.

* Hostess gift. If you are not hosting, let your child help make or buy the hostess gift so they learn about never coming to someone’s dinner table empty-handed.

* Children can learn to set the table at age 5 and 6. Teach them where the multiple spoons and forks go as well as which side the glasses go on.

* Kids can make place cards for the guests.

* Discuss in advance with your picky eater what the game plan will be. Explain what food will be there, and what the child can do if he doesn’t like the food. Keeping displeasure with the food to himself is a great manner to learn.

* Thanking the host and hostess for the meal and complimenting the cook are good manners.