Parties Can Help Teach Manners

Party experiences lead to habits, attitudes, and knowledge. But the kind and influence of the experiences depends a lot upon the adults behind the scenes. There are the little decencies and etiquette of behavior. To feel at ease at mixed social affairs is a blessing, many times in life. The party offers the chance to give that feeling to children at an early age. 

Your Child’s Manners and School Parties 

In large sections of the country, February is the “party month.” It is because many states observe Washington's birthday and Lincoln’s birthday, and always there is St. Valentine’s Day. I like to think of them educationally, for they do represent opportunities. In the first place, the party itself is an educative situation, since after all education is the acquisition of experiences. In turn, party experiences lead to habits, attitudes, and knowledge. But the kind and influence of the experiences depends a lot upon the adults behind the scenes. There are the little decencies and etiquette of behavior. To feel at ease at mixed social affairs is a blessing. Many times in life, the party offers the chance to give that feeling to children at an early age. 

Through games and stunts, we can help build an attitude toward sportsmanship. We can make fun the primary object of playing. If we’re very wise, we can do more for the self-conscious, shy, retiring child than by any other means at our disposal. The “eats” are always important, of course. While we shouldn’t talk health diets at parties, we can discover attractive and tasty combinations of fruits, custards, ice cream, and cakes. For beverages, fruit punches and iced chocolate milk drinks can’t be beat. A pure sweet at the end is never objectionable. Finally, we can, as sponsors, observe the bedtime rule in the case of evening parties. – Dr. Allen G. Ireland, Director of Physical and Health Education, New Jersey State Department of Public Institutions, 1935

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia