FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY

We have created this fun family activity that can be done for any meal. It is called the basic five-course formal dinner at home. It is also a good time for the family to get together and make some fun memories. The object is for everyone to learn how to properly set a table for a formal lunch or dinner. It may be a good idea to explain to children that this is an important skill to know. When dining out in restaurants it is good to know how to navigate a place setting. Some employers also look at this skill when conducting restaurant interviews. And please keep in mind that this family activity can be highly inexpensive to do. Most families already have all that is required to do this. When beginning to plan for such a formal meal at home, first know how many members of the family will be present for the meal.

1) Most children enjoy being a part of the meal planning decisions and cooking. Thus, a five-course meal may also be part of the fun when choosing specifically which foods will be used during each of the five-courses.

First course - soup (explain that the large spoon is used for this) And learning the proper way to eat soup can be an art in itself.
Second course - salad (explain that the small fork is used for this)
Third course - main meal (explain that the large fork and knife are used for this)
Fourth course - dessert (explain that the small spoon is used for this) Better idea to serve ice cream or pudding. More simple.
Fifth course - sample plate in the middle of the table providing different fruits and cheeses.

During the meal planning time, it is also a good idea to settle the Division of Labor issue. This may avoid any conflicts after a fun dinner.
Who will shop for the ingredients?
Who will cook the meal?
Who will set the table?
Who will clean off the table after every course?
And who will wash the dishes?

2) Children can learn that at formal meals that everyone who will be present for the meal has a placeholder with their name written to show where family members will sit at the table. Placeholders can be fun to make as an afternoon activity. Leaves from trees can be used or little rocks from the garden. Children can write names on these items taken from nature. Or write names on colored hard-boiled eggs. Or cut out different shapes from construction paper to write names on. Use your imagination. The placeholder is placed above the plate.

3) And then ensure there is enough napkins(cloth or paper), small forks, large forks, main meal plates (ceramic or paper), soup bowls, salad plates, dessert bowls, knives, small spoons, large spoons and glasses for drinking (fine crystal to paper cups). Utensils used can range from using your best silverware to plastic. Once all of this has been collected and the placeholders have been made the table is ready to be set.

4) To properly set a table for your meal, please follow the sequence below at each place:

napkin small fork large fork meal plate knife small spoon large spoon

Square napkins should be folded in half with the folded side facing inward towards the small fork. And place the glass or paper cup above the knife. Soup bowls can be placed on top of the salad plate, which is then placed on top of the meal plate.

5) After the table has been set it can also be decorated with small flowers and candles. When this is complete and the food is ready everyone can sit down in front of their placeholder.

6) When everyone is seated and soup has been served, please explain to the children that napkins are placed on the lap while eating the meal and as a suggestion, elbows are kept off the table. It is also more appropriate to not speak while chewing, but to wait until after chewing to say something. It is good to talk about everyone's day and what has been learned in school. Maintaining a sense of humor and trying to keep the meal time conflict-free makes this family activity even more memorable.

7) First course - when everyone has finished eating their soup, the soup or large spoon should be left inside the empty bowl and be cleared from the table.

8) Second course - when everyone has finished eating their salad, the salad fork or small fork should be left on the empty plate and be cleared from the table.

9) Third course - when everyone has finished eating their main meal, the large fork and knife should be left on the empty plate and be cleared from the table.

10) Fourth course - when everyone has finished eating their dessert, the small spoon should be left in the dessert bowl and be cleared from the table.

11) Fifth course - at this point, the only things left should be drinking glasses or cups. Time to bring out the sample plate of fruit and cheeses. This can be eaten with fingers, so children love this part. When this course is complete, napkins are placed back on the table and ready for final clean-up.

Well, we hope you have tried our fun family activity and learned more about one another. If you have tried this activity, please share your experience with us.



Until next time.....