Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece shares her tips on dining etiquette for little ones from her book ‘Manners Begin at Breakfast’. The popular book is being re-released this month in a revised and updated version to coincide with her beautiful new crockery collection…

Now more than ever, I see the importance of a family meal. This is where storytelling happens, and we learn about our children. Some of my fondest memories are of sitting around the kitchen table with my parents and siblings. The family table is a place where children develop not only healthy eating habits but also good manners and conversational skills. Carving out a few minutes each morning to have breakfast with your family creates a structure that is both nurturing and stabilising. As I say, manners begin at breakfast. Here are a few rules that have worked for my family and some that I have gathered from my friends.

Same time, same table

I love routines! Many parents allow their children to eat in front of the television or computer, or while playing a video game, as it may seem easier and we probably think that it makes the child happier. However, children who routinely have meals in front of the television or at different times from their parents don’t get the chance to engage in conversation on an adult level. Family conversations give your child a sense of belonging and help to raise children who feel comfortable around adults. The family table is where these social skills are cultivated, from holding a knife and fork properly, to engaging in meaningful conversation. It teaches children to be good listeners, which helps them to foster empathy. Encourage your children to join in the family conversation and to talk and to share news of their day at mealtimes; dining at the family table should be an enjoyable experience.   

Clean Hands

Washing your hands before a meal is a simple task and a healthy habit. I remember my grandmother insisting on it when I was a child. Children are often a bit resistant to the idea, but try to get them into the habit of always washing up before dinner and coming to the table with clean hands. The bottom line is that it removes any germs from their little hands; after all, we want to pass only dishes around during mealtimes, not diseases!

How to hold cutlery

The only time a child should use their hands is when eating bread and other finger-friendly foods! Cutlery training should start early, when your little one is experimenting with finger food. As soon as they seem ready, introduce them to a baby spoon and fork. When my children were very young, I used to take little forks and spoons along to restaurants, and would ask for their food to be placed in a bowl, making it easier for their spoons to grab hold of the food. It’s okay to insist on, and continually reinforce, manners while your child is eating. They might resist at the time, but they will thank you for it later.

Clearing up

When one of my children’s friends dines at my house, I find it incredibly polite and it melts my heart if they ask to be excused from the table, or offer to bring their plate to the kitchen or to help clear up after the meal. It’s a lovely gesture toward an adult, whatever your circumstances. In some cultures and settings, however, offering to help clean up could be seen as rude or unsophisticated, so always teach a child when it is and isn’t appropriate. Everyone has their house rules, so stick to the rules and you can’t go wrong. A good tip is to teach your children to observe what the children of the house are doing, so that they can follow their example. As a rule, when in very formal situations it’s better not to offer, but in a casual home setting, an offer to help or a polite “May I be excused?” will generally be well received.

Adapted from ‘Manners Begin at Breakfast: Revised and Updated Edition’ by Marie-Chantal of Greece. Illustrations by Nicholas Child. Published by Vendome Press. Manners Begin at Breakfast and the new Marie Chantal crockery collection is out now.

mariechantal.com