Come to my Tea Party

The preschool years are the best time to teach manners. Tea sets and tea parties are a great way to introduce manners. Simple things, like saying please and thank you, waiting to eat until everyone has been served, wiping your mouth gently, keeping your elbows off the table, not chewing with your mouth open, can be taught while having fun tea parties. It is even a great time to introduce prayers before eating.

When my children were small I used a  children's china tea set. It is so much easier for them to grasp and control.  Set a child sized table and chairs with napkins, place mats, silverware and your favorite sandwiches and tea. (I used to sit on a foot stool so I could sit low enough to sit at the table.)  Take turns being "mother", the person who pours the tea and adds sugar, lemon or milk. It's okay if your child spills, just let them clean it up. This is a time they can learn without pressure.

Reading books about manners and tea parties helps reinforce, not only manners and the activities, but verbal skills such as reading  comprehension. Reading about real situations gives your child a base knowledge of understanding that will help later with reading comprehension.

Here are some books to consider-

My Very First Tea Party

My Very First Book of Manners