Etiquette Classes for Little Girls?

Just a thought.

My mother has no feeling in her chin. She often has food on her chin when she eats because she can't feel below her lip. AT times she forgets about it and forgets to wipe her face frequently, but most of the time she just remembers to dab her chin regardless.....because there is probably some food on her face. Growing up I found it very embarrassing as kids can be pretty insensitive to others dilemas. I'm ashamed that I felt that way and I can see how embarrassing it must have been for my mother and probably continues to be to this day.

I would just teach her every night at dinner to dab her face after each bite. Maybe even put a mirror on the table so she can see the food on her face and see what others see. It will make her more concientious.

Before you enroll her in a class, be sure that there isn't a physical reason she's making a mess. My daughter has a slightly different problem in which she seems to have some numbness in her right cheek (due to surgery she had at one year old). Ever since then, she's been prone to cramming her food. I think she just didn't notice because of numbness (that corner of her mouth is also a little saggy when she smiles big).

I like the advice from the woman whose mother had a numb chin. Get her into the habit of wiping her chin.

If there's no physical issue, well, maybe you can show her what a slob she's being by taking a video of her (if you don't have a camcorder, I'm sure you could borrow one) and then showing it to her.

Good luck! :-)

Maybe you should have an occupational therapy evaluation do done. I kow a 13 year old girl who had the same problem her om took her for an evel it turned out to be so me sensory/tactile issues.

The Naperville YMCA or the park district also has a class.

housefairy.com has great videos and motivation for teaching kids to pick up after themselves and have good manners. It is worth looking at. There are available videos and a low subscription fee that gives access to the whole site.

They do etiquette classes at Eliza Jane in St Charles.

Actually there is an etiquette class for girls in downtown St. Charles at a store at Eliza Jane- right in front of St. Patricks Church of route 64.

Very cute store w/lots of girly stuff! Have fun!

I have seen classes offered through the Wheaton Park District. Also, awhile back I saw a newspaper ad about "The Etiquette School of Northern Illinois" at www.etiquette4U.com
or ###-###-####. The website didn't offer much info but maybe a call would prove helpful.

Best of luck!

Check out your park district or the librarian, they know an amazing amount of information on all types of topics. Years ago, LaGrange had "young lady charm" classes.

Tiffany & Co. has a lovely book for manners for young ladies. Additionally, she may be copying the table manners of her younger siblings. The best way for her to learn grown-up table manners is to take her out to dinner with grown-ups ONLY, no kids, to a real restaurant, and make it a game that she needs to copy everything they do. Also, have you examined your own table manners? Do you ever talk with your mouth full, EVER put elbows on the table, or raise your left hand from your lap for anything other then cutting your food? All big no-no's. Napkin on the lap, at home OR away, is always the first rule. If you have any older generation grandparents, they may also be good role models. Good Luck, it can be done. (In fact, I just took my nine year old daughter to an expensive Japanese restaurant last night and was complimented SEVERAL times by adults around us, and those at our table, on my daughter's exquisite table manners.) Good luck!