Christmas Formal Etiquette Tips For Kids

Lets talk a little but about taking young kids to an event that is supposed to be formal. So many of us want to run at the thought of it. However, what if I told you that it was possible to not only take your kids to formal events like this, but it was also possible to have fun and embrace the night?

I know that it doesn’t seem like it is possible. Kids get dirty, they mess their clothes up….you wonder what on earth they will say and do! What happens if they don’t like the food or they have to sit next to so and so….

This Sunday evening our Tae Kwon Do Dojang ( school) had a Christmas party! This was so much fun!!! The decorations were wonderful, the fellowship with great people. We have been incredibly blessed by our TKD ( Tae Kwon Do) family in the last year. They have been there for us, loved on us and pushed us when we needed it.

It was such a blessing for our family that Grandmaster, Master Angie, Master Jason and all the Instructors and staff planned such a great event. The food was great and after we all got to dance! It had been a while since my hubby had dipped me on the dance floor. So that was a lot of fun! I also really enjoyed seeing the love and joy in our boys faces. They know they are loved by us and also their extended family at Tae Kwon Do.

This was the first formal event that we took our boys to and I have to say that they did wonderful! Very well-behaved, mannerly, and had a great time. So what I am about to say, I don’t profess to be an expert but I can say this was MY experience.

Here are some tips about taking kids to something formal:

1. Train your children BEFORE you go to a formal event. We are a military family. So since the beginning our kids have learned the lesson of “hurry up and wait”. Basically, they learn early on to go in sit and be patient. We also attend a church that does not always have Children’s church. They have learned to go sit, listen to someone else talk, pay attention, and be good. If you have not worked with your kids on how to sit patiently, a formal event is NOT the time to start the training.

2. Practice Manners ALL the time. If you teach your kids to use manners all the time, you will always be prepared for a formal event. Part of our kids Tae Kwon Do tenements are to be respectful. They are taught to use “Yes Sir, No Sir, Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am” etc all the time.

3. Greeting Others. This can be a struggle for someone on the Autism Spectrum. However, we have always pushed Bookworm and not gave in to his diagnosis. Because of this, he has learned a great deal about how to properly great someone. He now has pretty good eye contact. Tae Kwon Do has really helped with this, it is taught and encouraged in each class to look at the Instructors and to address them correctly. As we enter the Dojang, we say ” Hi Sir, Hi Ma’am” as a formal greeting. So in a formal event, our Bookworm did just fine greeting others. Also, with us being a military family our kids are constantly meeting others and we teach and encourage them to always use correct manners. Don’t let this slide just because they are kids. Kids learn by example and being taught.

365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activities, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children and Teens Learn Etiquette

4. Pretending at home before the big event. If you have young children and a formal event coming up, act out at home how the event will most likely go. This gives you a chance to explain everything before the big day! Have fun with it too. Set up stuffed animals. Explain the silverware and how to place the napkins. Explain what they can do if someone is talking and they get bored.

Emily Post’s Etiquette, 19th Edition: Manners for Today (Emily’s Post’s Etiquette)