Table manners lessons?

my kids SHOULD know how to eat in public by now. They don’t. Despite my reminders every evening how to hold a fork, don’t use your hands, keep feet on the floor etc. I’m thinking that an outside voice may help in this department. Are there any “miss manners” type of people here in soma (or nearby) who can come and show my children the appropriate way to cut food, sit properly, etc at the dinner table?

I can't help with that, but I can recommend Richard Scarry's Please And Thank You Book.

Also, books by Miss Manners are helpful. Her writing style is quite funny, so your kids might enjoy having you read to them. One game I used to play with myself was to read a letter writer's question and predict Miss Manners's response before reading it. I was usually surprised. You could do that with your kids.

A little humor in teaching manners goes a long way.

No personal experience, but you'll get a hit if you google etiquette south orange.

How old are they?

If it’s any consolation, fork-holding was a challenge for us to teach, too. I don’t recall that we stumbled onto any trick; being two of us against one of him probably helped.

How old? Could be developmental. Just can't do it until they are developmentally ready. Now, if you tell me they're 16 ...

Yes, how old?  It's not unusual for an elementary school-aged child not to remember their table manners.  I'd be concerned if we're talking about junior high school age and up...

thanks- they are 7&9! Nine year old should definitely know how to properly hold and use utensils by now and sit properly, but doesn’t do it until I yell 20 times. I would love for another voice to come in and help. (Like many of us, if someone else says it, they will listen)

Don't yell. Tell.

TomR

thanks for the parenting tip, but telling, asking and yelling is not working out here. I will try the above google tip. 

If possible, ( I know this can be tough to find but worth it), I recommend sending them to another family's house for dinner  for several  days in a row (without you) who have exceptional manners. They will catch on very quickly and never revert.  I speak from experience.