Teaching Table Setting and Manners for Kids

Fun Hands on Activities with Kids

Building Practical Skills: Table Setting and Manners


Learn how to set the table and eat properly with good table manner with your kids (with using their toy foods) Fun indoor activity with kids

Main Idea

Learn how to properly set the table and practice good table manners with your kids using their toy foods.


Activity Prep

(What we used)

  • Plates

  • Glass cups or any type of cups

  • Utensils (knives, spoons, forks)

  • Napkins

  • Food toys, including bread, salad, main courses, and desserts, allow kids to choose their favorites. (If you don't have food toys, you can draw meals on paper or make them with Play-Doh)


How We Played

We often played with food toys, so I wanted to try something new.

Kids role-playing in a restaurant to learn proper table settings and good table manners

We decided to try a formal table setting, just like you’d find at a nice restaurant or a party. I had no clue how to set the table properly, but it turned out to be a fun learning experience for both of us! It just goes to show that it's never too early or too late to learn something new!

A child role-plays in a restaurant, eating a salad made of toy food to learn proper table settings and table manners

Salad, bread, main courses, and desserts

A child is role-playing in a restaurant and is eating a toy chicken dish as the main course to learn about proper table settings and table manners

I played the server at the restaurant, while my son pretended to be a customer. Our food toy playtime turned into a nice restaurant, and we can use what we learned sometimes!


We should have done this activity at the dining table, not the coffee table! Although it was a fun experience. Setting a table and knowing which utensils to use first can feel a bit overwhelming with all the different styles and options out there, but once we understand how it works, we could use that knowledge for any occasion!


Resources URL

We found so much information about table settings and manners out there! Here are some resources we checked out before diving into this activity.

Previous
Previous

Counting to 10 with LEGO Brick Cars

Next
Next

DIY Foam Stamps for Kids