Parenting Pointers: Holiday Manners

You and your family may be guests at a lot of different places this season. Before you go, here are some tips to help your children show good manners at the dinner table, courtesy of Parents.com and Dallas Morning News Manners Expert Elise McVeigh.

Practice with your children as often as you can at the dinner table between now and the holidays:
** Be seated at the table after the hostess (lady of the house) sits.
** The napkin goes on your lap right after you sit.
** Start eating after the hostess takes her first bite.
** Practice cutting and holding utensils.
** Forks and knifes have a proper place to rest on the plate in between bites, and after the meal is finished.
** Chew with your mouth shut.
** Do not interrupt others when they are speaking.
** Try everything on your plate.
** Do not make negative comments about the food being served.
** Do not asked to be excused or get up from the table until everyone is finished eating.
** Thank the hostess for the meal when the meal is done.
** Place the napkin nicely folded on the table to the left of the plate.

Nationally known Manners Expert Elise McVeigh has re-released The Mrs. McVeigh's Magnificent Manners Show DVD This 30-minute children's DVD on manners is based on "Mrs. McVeigh's Manners," a division of Elise McVeigh's Life Camp, which teaches children ages 2-11 and university aged students manners in a fun and unique way. The lessons include meeting and greeting, restaurant manners, table manners, how to set a table, how to write a thank you note, and more.