Decorative Packaging

Little ones pick up all kinds of bad manners from their school friends. It can be hard to deprogram the old “see food” routine, elbows on the table and talking with half-masticated food rolling around in their mouths.

Instead of trying to accomplish all these lessons at one sitting, resolve to tackle one etiquette issue at a time.

Create a set of manners index cards, one for each of your family’s problem areas. Affix the cards, one each, to bags of chocolate candies with a pretty ribbon. Set the treats in the middle of the table and tell your family they can have their reward when everyone makes it through an entire meal without breaking the etiquette rule written on the card. Once they’ve mastered the skill, move on to the next one.