There are so few family dinners nowadays that table manners have gone by the wayside and family dining is swiftly becoming a rare treat rather than a common end-of-day ritual. However, with some organization and an emphasis on table etiquette, family dinners can become a calm oasis where members can reconnect and share the events of the day. Learn the top five most common areas where family dining etiquette mistakes occur so that you can correct the behavior in yourself as well as in the children.
Chaos at the table
Everyone should arrive at the table after washing hands and straightening themselves up. Muddy shirts and dirty hands have no place at the table. Each child should have an assigned place and should sit respectfully while the last of the food is set on the table. If your tradition is a family prayer, family members should be respectful during its offering. Napkins should be placed on laps and never used to wipe the face or blow noses.
Improper serving
In dinner table etiquette, food should be taken from communal bowls and placed in small portions on the plate. Serving bowls should also be passed from left to right. No member of the family should start eating until everyone is seated and each family member has been served. It's rude to start eating before passing everything along.
Sloppy eating
Children and adults are guilty of chewing with their mouth open, putting too much in their mouth and licking utensils clean. Other offenses are licking fingers, reaching across the table for another serving and making rude comments about a food item.
Poor conversation
An important part of the dining experience is to have a good conversation. However, talking and eating may be tricky to manage in children. Nobody should talk with food in their mouth and interrupting another conversation is also poor table etiquette. When asking to pass a serving dish, the person should get another's attention by saying their name and then requesting the food item to be passed. There should always be "please" and "thank you" in every request or response. Offensive noises like burps or smacks should be eliminated. Also, grownups and children should never answer the phone during dinner.
Early dismissing after the meal
When someone is finished eating, it is poor etiquette to jump down from the table. Proper table manners require the person to ask the host or parent if he or she can be excused. Parents often instill the rule that the child must clear his or her own plate, utensils and glass to the dishwashing area as part of the dismissal.
 | The culture of dining has, in many respects, become more relaxed over the years, but the basic table etiquette rules remain the same. Knowing how to dine properly is as important as ever. |
 | Your proper dining etiquette says a lot about who you are whether you are trying to impress someone with a fine meal or sitting around a restaurant table with loved ones. Make sure you make the right table etiquette statement. |
 | Setting a table is a special kind of art. You can set the scene for a magical meal by following proper table setting etiquette. |
Proper table manners reflect the tutelage of their parents. Teach your children proper table etiquette so they - and you - convey grace and courtesy in the years to come. |
Taking your kids to a restaurant can be an opportunity to show off how well they can behave. Here are some tips for teaching kids good behavior at restaurants during a dining outing. |
