Confident at the Table
Dining Skills
Grades 2-7
This dining course helps upper elementary students feel comfortable and capable at the table in both everyday and special settings.
Through guided instruction and a structured dining experience, students practice proper table manners, polite conversation, and host-guest awareness. The focus is confidence, consideration for others, and knowing what to do without feeling overwhelmed.
What to Expect:
Each day build on the last, strengthening confidence, table manners and social awareness. The week culminates in a guided three-course dining experience, where students practice polished dining skills, conversation, and gratitude in a special, real-world setting.
Location details are shared upon registration.
Skills we build:
Proper place settings and utensil use
Posture, seating, and napkin etiquette
Passing food and dining politely in a group
Appropriate table conversation and listening skills
Trying new foods with confidence and respect
Handling mistakes gracefully
Thanking the host and expressing appreciation
Session Dates and Registration
How Families Can Prepare Their Child
We want every child to feel confident and ready from the moment they walk into our programs. A little family preparation goes a long way!
Before Class:
Please have your child eat a snack prior to arrival. Classes are active and engaging and hunger makes self-regulation very hard for young people.
What to Wear:
Neat, comfortable clothing appropriate for the Manners Class Setting. Secure shoes are preferred, there is quite a bit of movement in the class.
We are not formal, but we are intentional. Presentation supports presence.
Dressing up for the Signature Event (Conversation Tea/Instructional Dinner) is encouraged.
At Home Support:
Let your child know that we are practicing new things, even if it is different from how things are done at home.
Family life is naturally relaxed, that is healthy and expected. In class, we are practicing skills for more formal environments. It's common for students to say, "That's not how we do it at home". And that's okay.
Learning flexibility is part of social maturity. We are expanding their skill set, not correcting family culture. When parents reinforce this message, children grow faster in confidence and adaptability.