Similar to the way it is all over the world, dining etiquette for the UAE is specific to the region. Did you know that when you're finished eating, you're supposed to leave your cutlery facing upwards, right in the centre of your plate? Its also frowned upon when eating with your left hand.
Although dining manners and etiquettes may be different, depending on the region you're in, however, there are a few basic manners that everyone, from adults to children should be aware of.
Schools and home learning plays an important in teaching children essential table manners. Opt for the British Primary Schools in Dubai that on learning of academic and social skills to help children become ethical citizens. Read on to know table manner essentials for children.
Essential table manners for children
It is awfully impolite when children chew with their mouths open or speak when they're eating, but its merely because they don’t know better. From discouraging stuffing to encouraging cleanup after finishing, the following article focuses on essentials of table manners every child should know:
Get children to wash their hands
It's important to wash up before children set down to eat. Whether they have been to the playground or not, children tend to come in contact with, and it becomes all the more critical to clean up before sitting down for lunch.
Wait for everyone to be served before eating
At home the person who cooks the meal serves everyone. The server is usually the one who cooked the meal. Let your children know that it's important they wait for you to finish serving to begin eating. It’s a sign of respect for the person who cooked them dinner or lunch.
If at school, children may be short on time and the school cafeteria may be, but it’s still important to wait for everyone to be served before you begin eating.
Avoid talking, don’t chew with an open mouth
This is perhaps the first thing everyone learns as an Emirati kid. Teach your children to eat with their mouths closed. Similarly, don’t let your kids talk while they’re chewing because it's not only bad manners, but it can lead to them choking on food.
Discourage stuffing
There's often something distracting children when they're sitting down eating. Whether it’s a video game or studies they left in the middle. Considering this, they tend to stuff their mouth and wolf down the food. Teach your kids the importance of breaking your food down into small particles and its significance in digestion.
Discourage reaching out
If children need something that’s away from them, it's always more polite to ask a tablemate rather than to reach out themselves. Quite often spill accidents on tables happen only when children reach out to get something!
Always use napkins
The last thing you want is your children’s school clothes getting messed up so encourage the habit of using napkins when they're eating. The napkins once used should be placed on the chairs and not the tables. Pack a handkerchief for them when they leave for school or ask them to use tissues when at school.
Clean up
When at home, pick up your plates after you’re done with dinner, and encourage children to do the same. They should also offer to help with cleaning even if they're not the ones doing it. When at school, children should pick up their trays, and say thank you to the kitchen team and offer a compliment whenever possible!
Take Away
Early years of learning aren’t just important for the academic learning of children. It’s also essential that they learn basic manners that will help them out socially. It's up to the best schools and parents to help children become ideal citizens.
Fortification of what you learn at home is extremely important for children. Opt for British primary schools in Dubai to help strengthen learning. With the best school kitchens, teachers ensure that the students acquire the best table manners!
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