Good manners and proper etiquette are appreciated throughout the year, but even more so during the holiday season when expectations are at an all time high. This is a special time to bond with family, share in special activities, help one another, be charitable, and tolerant. To make the holidays nicer for all, here are 9 quick tips to guarantee a stress free and joyous holiday season!
1. Eat, Sleep & Be Merry. A hungry stomach or a tired body is a recipe for holiday party disaster. Schedules tend to be packed during the holiday season leaving little or no downtime for children to recharge their batteries. Avoid any pitfalls by making sure your children get plenty of rest and eat a light snack before attending any holiday celebration.
2. Dress for Party Success. Encourage your children to dress appropriately for the occasion. If your family is attending a party at a ski chalet then a pair of clean jeans, a parka and Uggs will suffice. However, if the holiday gathering is a more formal affair then party attire, in the form of a dress or a nice pant suit, is a wise choice.
3. On the Road. On your way to the party, make sure to review any rules such as the type of holiday party you will be celebrating, who will be attending, what kind of food will be served, and any special activities your children may be asked to participate in.
4. Arrive on Time & Bearing Gifts. Your hosts are looking forward to your arrival so avoid being late and make preparations ahead of time. Lay out the children’s suggested attire beforehand, make sure all gifts are wrapped and a proper note has been written, map out your route and write down a contact phone number in case of an emergency.
5. Essential Holiday Table Manners. (a) Wait to be seated until everyone has arrived at the table. (b) Follow the lead of your host or hostess for everything. (c) Place your napkin on your lap. (d) Pass all trays of food to the right and all condiments in pairs. (e) Make pleasant table conversation with the person on your right and your left. (f) Chew with your mouth closed. (g) Wipe your mouth before taking a drink. (h) At the end of the meal, place your utensils in the finished position on your plate and your napkin loosely on the left side of your plate. (i) Ask to please be excused.
6. Clean-Up & Be Invited Again. If you are attending a sit down dinner celebration with family or with friends, offer to pitch in. This will guarantee future invitations.
7. Gracious Gift Receiving. Teach children to graciously accept all gifts whether they already have them or not. Focus on something positive to say. For example, if they do not like a gift, they don’t need to say they do. They can simply say “thank you” or “that was so nice of you”. Tell them that being polite pays dividends.
8. Departures. Designate an agreed upon beginning and end time with your family to prevent any potential major meltdowns when it comes time to leave the house or return from a party.
9. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! A phone call or, better yet, a hand-written note of thanks to your holiday party hosts shows your appreciation for all their hard work. If you’ve thanked someone in person for a gift, a thank-you note isn’t obligatory. But, it is never wrong to write a thank-you note. If you receive gifts from family members that you won’t see to thank in person, write them a thank-you note—both to let them know their gift arrived and that you liked it.
The best way to alleviate stress from the holidays is to do something charitable. Look into your local organizations to see how you can donate your time to those in need. Offer to serve a holiday meal, hang decorations, bake cookies, read stories or sing holiday songs. Set a good example for your children while doing something fun and inspiring for the whole family. Take a moment to realize how lucky you are and be thankful for all that you have.
Lisa Gaché is the President and Co-Founder of Beverly Hills Manners™, an education and entertainment company which promotes a “new school” approach to manners and etiquette for both children and adults. Lisa is passionate that good manners can be natural, spontaneous and fun. Her company has partnered with leading brand names to spread the word from American Girl Place and McCormick & Schmick’s to the famed Hotel Bel-Air and Hillcrest Country Club and a host of other Los Angeles-based private schools and social organizations. She is a sought-after lecturer and modern manners maven whose work has been covered everywhere from National Public Radio to the Huffington Post.
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