Etiquette classes for children

Why is it important for children to learn good manners and social skills from an early age?
It helps them make friends and gives them confidence, which is really important as they are growing up. To know how to behave in different  circumstances enables them to mix with people of all ages and also makes them a pleasure to take out to parties and restaurants.

Can you talk us through a typical Little Prince and Princess session for 4 to 6-year-olds?
We teach the importance of politeness, how to shake hands and how to introduce yourself. We also show children the way to walk tall and sit up straight as part of the deportment class. Table manners are a big part of the course, as is how to set the table, use different cutlery and napkins and eat tricky food. Learning how to chat to friends and what to say and what not to say helps children to learn tact and sensitivity so that they can build lasting friendships. We even teach them how to bow and curtsey for when they meet Royalty.

What do you cover off in Young Essentials Stage One for 7-10 years?
The Young Essentials Stage One course is very popular. It gives children a really good introduction to basic etiquette. We cover the art of the handshake, how to make introductions, make new friends and how to deal with people if they are unkind. Thank-you letters and being a good guest at parties is an important part of the course, as are table manners and deportment. We place a lot of emphasis on standing and walking tall, as well as sitting up straight. It helps children to look and feel confident and builds strong backs for later life.

We love the sound of the ‘Limp lettuce or bone crushing’ handshaking masterclass in the half-day session for 11-15 year olds. Tell us more!
A handshake says a lot about someone and we teach older students the subtleties of how to make the right impression. A floppy handshake or limp lettuce certainly won’t cut the mustard, and a bone crusher can play havoc with a lady’s hand if she is wearing rings. The Stage Two course goes into much more detail and covers etiquette conundrums, such as what to do when you forget someone’s name and how to move in and out of a group of people politely. This is very useful as so many people can’t end a conversation and get stuck with the same people at parties, even in adulthood.

Again, table manners and deportment form an important part of the course. Neither of these skills can be learnt properly in a day, so a recap is essential. For this course and this age of students, we also include clear speech, extremely useful in later life for good communication, public speaking and networking. Sending and responding to invitations and the importance of thank-you letters are covered, as well as business and social letter writing. Another of the modules is mobile manners. Learning to use the mobile phone discreetly is vital if we are not to have a generation of young people who can’t connect when speaking to people other than via text or Twitter. Tipping in restaurants and manners when out and about are also included, so this course gives students a really good grounding in social etiquette.

Who, in your opinion, epitomises impeccable English manners?
Roger Moore and the Duchess of Cambridge.

If a child only remembers one thing, what should it be?
Their Ps and Qs. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ help children to think of and appreciate others. It is said that good manners can open more doors than a good education and we like to think that our courses will help children to grow up to be kind and considerate adults.

Diana Mather is British etiquette expert and senior etiquette tutor for The English Manner