Breaking bread together is at the center of nearly all our family social interactions. Relatives and friends come together to visit, celebrate and grow closer to one another. As such, dining together regularly can strengthen relationships and provide a learning environment that can enhance the social skills of children, adolescents and teenagers.

Families are striving to return to the time-honored family meal, which has been the foundation of the family unity for generations. It has also been a powerful force behind an individual’s success. In the hustle and bustle of modern family life, the value of families dining together is becoming an urgent priority. There are two important reasons for this:

1. Research has shown that youngsters who dine with their families at least three times per week not only develop healthier eating habits but also benefit from greater academic achievement, increased psychological well-being, and more positive family interactions, and are less likely to engage in substance abuse and other risky behaviors.
2. Developing dining etiquette skills early and encouraging them in a family setting will prepare youngsters for future career success, as employers increasingly are emphasizing soft skills in addition to a college degree. (See “The Three E’s Might Outweigh the Three R’s.”)

Learning and practicing proper dining etiquette is a key element to optimizing the family mealtime experience. Moreover, knowing how to interact with ease and confidence over a meal will prepare a young person for greater personal and professional success.

In this Workshop, children practice with their parents the basics of dining etiquette to prepare them for everyday dining as well as formal and special occasions.