Table Manners .. important?

[Twiglett]

Do you teach your children

to use cutlery correctly
to chew with their mouths closed
to sit properly at the table
to not talk until their mouths are empty

if you don't, why not?

yes
yes
yes
yes
'Remember your manners' is one of our house rules.
but then so is 'no hitting/smacking'

Would be rather pointless at the mo as he's only 8 months. But when he's older yes, yes, yes and yes.

Yes to all of those.

But despite my efforts, all three DCs will frequently eat like bears at a picnic (all hands and no cutlery) and DD2's feet often appear above the table. She's 2.5yo and does it to make her older siblings laugh. She's a right PITA

I also have to endlessly remind them to say please and thank-you and 'may I leave the table'. Good manners are essential.

am trying all of Twig's list. Ds is three so not entirely successful atm but hope it will happen, one day...

Will plan on doing all these - DS is only 10 weeks at moment! I still remember nephew aged about 2 telling me very confidently in the car that "cows chew with their mouths open, people don't!" I should say that we were driving past some cows at the time, not that he was telling me off

DD (3) has always followed rules and is naturally neat so without trying she has beautiful table manners.
DS (2) doesn't abide by social conventions full stop - he's not quite special needs, he's just a weird kid. Fingers crossed I'll be able to negotiate with him at some point (he won't speak but understands everything) but at the moment he comes and goes from the table as he pleases.

Yes to all of those. Doesn't always happpen especially the cutlery one with ds1 but he's getting there I always tell them both to chew with mouths closed and not to speak with mouths full. I do accept ds1 not sitting properly all the time yet but dd is older and always does. Most of the time he will sit properly though so that's good.

I also don't like to make a big deal out of leaving food as that creates food issues. I don't think it's good to teach children to ignore their own signs of when they're full up so if that means leaving some food on the plate then so be it. After all I don't eat everything on my plate all the time as I know when to stop as only I know when my stomach feels full so I give them the same respect.

Just reading through and wondering would anyone correct a grown up's table manners? Some of the stories are really sad, it's like not telling a friend they have bad breath.
My last exboyf had rather shovelly speedeating habits and I told him he ate like a baby. He just said "whatever gets the job done". Although I dumped him for the myriad incompatibility reasons, his table manners are the most memorable one - just couldn't have sat opposite him for the rest of my life!

When I first lived with DH (before we were married, shock!) I had to tell him that his eating was really noisy and offputting. Bless him, he took note and slowed down and stopped the overly loud chomping noises. I am guilty that I sometimes gulp my drinks though, and after all this time he still has to reprimand me for it.

I asked my DH the other day if he would like me to replace the dining table with a trough? As if he was going to eat like a pig perhaps he should use the same receptacle. And as for licking the knife Aaaargh.....

Yes I do. But I think the most important things to learn are those that make other people feel comfortable, ie don't eat with your mouth open, don't belch loudly at table, don't sit with your elbows all over the table, say please and thankyou, don't keep getting up from the table and wandering around. Those are the things that really matter. My DS#1 uses his knife and fork in the 'wrong' hands - I personally don't care as it's not inconveniencing anyone else. An older female friend of ours told us that if he couldn't do it properly he would basically lose out in life - who would employ someone like that???? I think she's lost touch with reality personally...

Yes, definitely. It's an uphill struggle with my stepsons (10, 12) who eat most meals either in the school canteen or with their (ill-educated) nanny. My daughter (2.5) is still quite little for proper table etiquette but she's a neat child so seems to be getting the hang of things quite easily.

no
no
no
and
no

Can't be bothered

Right now, I'd settle for underpants being worn at the table....

..I mean, it's so offputting.
''don't play with your food dear.
Oh. I see. That's not your chorizo, is it...please go and wash your hands. And put some bloody trousers on while you're at it...'''

manners

nah

maccky dees are scoffed out of a tray

Sorry I was being a bit flippant but filthymindedvixen's post had me rofl

Anway for a more serious reply ds is only 2 so it is early days yet but he seems to eat with his hands a lot. My cm noted last week in his book 'ds was eating with his hands a lot today and needed reminding a few times to use spoon/fork' Blimey I thought - 'thank god I 've got a decent cm' - otherwise ds would be completely uncivilised.

I've also noticed she reminds him to say yes intead of yeah. Problem is I think dh and I both say yeah - and dh a university professor

Note to myself yet again after reading a MN thread - really must try harder to care about manners (i.e thank you, please and table manners) as it is so important to others and I don't want ds to be a pariah!!

We have that problem Califrau - DS#1 eats as if food is going out of fashion. DD plods slowly and delicately and is easily distracted. DS#2 hasn't quite grasped the concept of meal times but usually eats something. DH eats huge amounts and always has more....and gets annoyed when the kids want to leave the table. Drives me to distraction...and them!

i cant stand kids who eat with their fingers the meals that are only meant to be eaten with cutlery (eg) roasts there really is no excuse