How Do You Teach The Table Manners?

[mommiesherie]

I have a two year old that just crams food in his mouth and I am afraid he is gonna get choked. He also puts his hands in and out of his mouth while eating. I will say one bite at a time and he just looks at me like I am speaking a different language. He is super smart and was potty trained at like 18 months so comprehends what you are saying. Without me sitting down with him and giving him bite after bite how do I get him to not cram his mouth so full? Now part two of my question. My 3 year old difficult child. Oh everything is sooooo difficult. He is a child that wants to do as he pleases and only as he pleases. He will not chew with his mouth closed. I mean will not. He smacks that food and I am constantly saying mouth closed please when he eats. I feel like I am constantly on him during meals. That is my pet peeve. Do parents not teach their kids to eat these days? I mean that really tells me a lot about their meal time at home if that's not an issue for them at home. any ideas on how to teach these two how to eat?

[Heidi]

That is the same reason I posted my question about table manners earlier. Some days, meals feel like utter chaos around here. 3 times a week, I excuse the 3yo from the table early because she refuses to use her fork, dances around in her seat, and acts like a freakin monkey at the table. her 15 mo twin brothers pick up their plates and cups and toss them around. I take them away, they scream, but they do it again the next meal.

I was wondering if my expectations were too high.

Then again, the 21 mo from another family eats like a little gentleman. He occasionally uses his fingers to help his fork, but that's no biggie. He's trying....

[Cat Herder]

I teach table manners at circle times, not during meals. It just works better for me and my group.

We practice chewing with our mouths closed with skittles, using our spoon with jello, using a fork with mini-marshmallows, etc.... (you can use "better" choices, my kiddos already get the good stuff during meals ) It makes it more "accessible" to kids and IMHO they develop the skills more readily when they are not hungry.

When I see them using those manners at meal times I reinforce them by telling them how wonderful it is. Meal times are stress free and more about nutrition than education.

Just a quirk of mine... I dreaded mealtime lectures as a kid myself so I broke the cycle.

[mommiesherie]

That is the same reason I posted my question about table manners earlier. Some days, meals feel like utter chaos around here. 3 times a week, I excuse the 3yo from the table early because she refuses to use her fork, dances around in her seat, and acts like a freakin monkey at the table. her 15 mo twin brothers pick up their plates and cups and toss them around. I take them away, they scream, but they do it again the next meal.

I was wondering if my expectations were too high.

Then again, the 21 mo from another family eats like a little gentleman. He occasionally uses his fingers to help his fork, but that's no biggie. He's trying....

I came to post this question and seen your post. Decided to post anyways since its a little different question. I do not allow any monkey business at the table either. I don't think you are asking too much. Honestly I think these children are not taught at home from the beginning. It not that I expect them to have amazing manners but I don't want it to be gross either. I make them sit in their seat. Just have 2 at the age to be at table. They sit and wait on the other to finish so that one doesn't stop eating because the other has gone to play. I find these days that aa lot of parents just don't teach their children things and expect us to do it. That's what they pay us for right? Just kidding its their job to teach from the start!!!!