How to Get Your Child to Use a Napkin

For some parents, dinnertime is the ultimate exercise in patience and restraint, especially if the kids aren't minding their table manners. Though your child might be able to use his fork and knife, he might still be using his shirt sleeve or the table cloth to wipe his face and hands. You can teach your child to correctly use a napkin without an etiquette coach or threats of "no dessert."

Things You'll Need

  • Utensils
  • Plate
  • Napkins

Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your child to help you set the table. Set the napkin under the utensils or on top of the plate.

    • 2

      Pretend you're having a meal together. Sit your child down and put a paper or cloth napkin across your lap. Instruct him to do the same. Explain to him the napkin is placed in the lap to prevent food from staining his pants.

    • 3

      Wipe your hands and face with the napkin and tell your child to do the same. Explain that practicing good table manners means wiping his hands and face with the napkin instead of the table cloth or his sister's shirt sleeve.

    • 4

      Sit down to dinner as a family. Remind your child to place the napkin in his lap and do the same. Throughout the meal, periodically remind your child to use his napkin to wipe his hands or face. Once again, do the same yourself.

    • 5

      Praise your child each time he successfully uses the napkin. When you notice your child using his napkin to wipe ketchup from his fingers or mustard off his face, point it out to everyone that he's using great table manners. Give your child a high five and tell him what a great job he doing.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Transition a Stay-at-Home Child to Day Care
      More than 12 million children 4 years old and younger were in non-parental child care in the year 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With a greater percentage of children -- 25 percent -- enrolled in an organized child-care facility in 2011 t
    • Talking to Kids About Kissing
      There comes a time in life when parents may need to have a conversation with their children about kissing. This conversation serves as a subtle reminder that your little one is not so little anymore, and is necessary in order to prepare your child fo
    • What Do You Do When Your Stepchildren Are Trying to Ruin Your Relationship With Your Spouse?
      New stepparents might find that marital bliss has vanished and conflict with stepchildren has surfaced. Left as it is, this conflict could take a serious toll on your marriage. Learning how to navigate the politics of your new stepfamily can help you