Content Table:
A Game to Teach Table Manners – MannerIsms
Has anyone ever imagined that there can be a game for teaching table manners to children at mealtimes, helping them display better social etiquette at parties and follow the same at home? For those who haven’t come across it before, you’ll be astonished and excited to know that such a game exists in the gaming world. The game is called MannerIsms. While it is designed for the whole family, it particularly benefits children, making learning about table culture during mealtimes enjoyable.
Origins of MannerIsms
So, how did this game come into being? Roz Heintzman, a woman from Toronto, observed a unique method of teaching manners at a dinner party at her friend Gillian Deacon’s house in early 2004. Gillian asked her kids to take manners out of an envelope and follow them, one for each night. This simple yet effective observation inspired the creation of MannerIsms. Roz, along with entrepreneur Carolyn Hynland (also from Toronto), identified a gap in the market for teaching manners, specifically for children. After some informal market research, a business plan was formulated, and with the help of friends and family, the game MannerIsms came to life.
How the Game is Played
One box of MannerIsms contains twenty-five cards, each bearing a code of conduct that is sweet, lyrical, and easy to remember. For example, one card reads, “Food to mouth, not mouth to food. In this way, you won’t seem rude.” Another says, “Mabel, Mabel if you’re able, keep your elbows off the table!” The game is played over several nights, with children drawing a new card from the stack each evening and spending the meal perfecting that particular manner.
Depending on the age and number of children playing, MannerIsms provides several options for rewarding good manners. You can tailor the game to your family’s preferences. For instance, if your kids are motivated by rewards, try affixing stickers to the manners cards they successfully accomplish. If competition excites them, devise rewards for the child who most frequently uses that night’s manner, allowing them to pick the card for the next night. You can also play cumulatively, having your children keep track of previous nights’ manners and maintain a score on a sheet of paper.
The Benefits of MannerIsms
MannerIsms effectively takes the nagging out of teaching table manners. It also serves as a reminder for parents to reflect on their own behavior. Many parents admit to purchasing the game as much for themselves or their spouses as for their children, finding it enjoyable when kids catch their parents making a mistake.
The game creation team is dedicated to continual improvement, welcoming suggestions for additional manners to include or new methods for scoring and tracking children’s progress.
A Game for All Families
MannerIsms was developed by parents and kids for parents and kids. The next time you gather at the dinner table with family or friends, consider trying out this amazing, educational, and fun game. It’s not just about teaching manners; it’s about creating memorable moments and instilling values that will last a lifetime.
In conclusion, MannerIsms offers an engaging way to teach table manners, making mealtime a fun and productive experience for both children and parents. So gather around the table and let the learning begin!
