With people at work, and children out with friends, sitting together with family round the table is probably seen as a long ago relic of the past.
For us, it used to be a case of whatever you were doing, you had to stop whatever activity you were doing and be sat round the table for 2pm for Sunday dinner.
Dad was under strict instructions to be back from his Sunday lunchtime pint by then, us small people had to ditch the friends and be round the table.
Fast forward twenty years or so, and we still try to keep it relevant.
At least a few times a week, we’ll sit round the table together and have a meal.
Telly off, no, we’re not answering the phone as we’re having our dinner, and absolutely no games consoles or gadgets/toys at the table.
Just old fashioned ‘get on with your dinner’ and a bit of conversation thrown in.
Where else are you going to find out what your children did at school that day?
If they’re anything like mine, when I pick them up from school and ask:
“What did you do at school today, anything good?”
I usually get the answer “can’t remember” back, or “not much.”
They seem to remember more round the table, or at least feel like offering information up more easily!
They both help to set the table properly. Knives and forks are to be held correctly, and no elbows on the table. Please and thank you as well if you want anything passing to you.
Are we old fashioned or does anyone else like to do the same, and think it’s important to instil manners?
All I would add is the Asking To Leave The Table rule. I have to say my daughter (8) is much better at volunteering help than my son (9). For me it’s all part of the wider instilling of manners and etiquette in society. (Plus it’s always nice when people comment on “What nice children you have”, isn’t it?)
It certainly is
I absolutely agree that sitting down to eat together is important. My elder two set the table and clear it, have to ask to get down and don’t have pudding until everyone has finished. I’m not saying it goes perfectly every time but they have better manners than a lot of the kids they go to school with. If we don’t teach good manners then we can’t expect them to just have them one day. It is a good time for catching up and actually being together with out interruptions once each day.
We like to sit together at the table as a family too. We use this as an opportunity to talk about our “day high” and “day low” – the best bit of your day and the worst bit of your day. We are also big on manners too.
Oh Yes! Parents are their childrens main role models and eating together reinforces the model for table manners as well as being a fantastic opportunity for the family to sit together and catch up on their day.
I love eating as a family, its helped my toddler with his fussy eating too. I think kids are much more likely to try new food if they keep seeing mummy, daddy or an older sibling eating it.
That’s interesting – do you have any actual evidence that they start to eat food they see you eating? I think you are right but was just wondering . . .
My kids are now 17 – 30 yrs and they still love the ‘meal time’ ritual. When they were at school manners were never taught and it was a sort of eat as fast as you can and then get to the playground. So when they came home it was a great way just to re-connect with the family and learn how to chat, eat and still have good manners. I love family meal times, the noise and the laughter. Annabel