Sheer Elegance
Lessons in Afternoon Tea Etiquette

by Cheryl Hinton
(Suitland, Maryland)

Tea Party Table Setting, So Darling!

Hello,

I hosted a Tea Party at my church from ages 3 1/2 to 7. We sent a flyer out and required the parents to register their child because seating was limited. We then sent personalized invitations to each child that did register listing the dates for the etiquette lessons.

Before the Tea Party we gave two Etiquette lessons, teaching the girls how to properly sit at the table, place their napkin in their laps, how to hold the tea cups, and just proper manners at the table in general.

We requested each child to come in their best dressy outfit and to wear gloves. We did not require them to wear tea party hats. The room was set up very fancy with linen tablecloths, chairs covered with satin sashes, real china, real stemware and name place cards. Also at each place setting was their take home gift, a doll dressed in a crocheted tea outfit which included a dress, hat and maryjane style shoes.

Each table was a different color and everything was coordinated to that color. The room was also decorated with balloons of all the colors of each table. Each child entered the room one at a time as their name was called and did a curtsey before taking their seat. Each table had a three tier tray. The top tier had the mini cupcakes and brownies, the middle tier had sliced apples and grapes and the bottom tier had strawberry jam and peanut butter sandwiches and turkey and ham sandwiches cut up in triangles.

For entertainment, I had someone read the story, the "Teacup That Could Talk by Emily Barnes" and also we had the parents and children participate in the song "I'm a little Tea Pot". Each child received a certicifate at the end.

The parents were so amazed at how the room was decorated and how well their child used their lessons. Words can not describe it so I am including the link to the slide show which was posted on Youtube. Just copy and paste into the address bar and watch the slide show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ8iycdfS5o&feature=player_embedded

Sheila's Reply:
Cheryl,
This is wonderful! This is a prime example for making it fun to learn proper manners for dining and social etiquette.

I love the video! Thanks for sharing it with us! The girls look so polished and 'at home' with their new lessons on manners.

Add this to your list of event ideas for fundraisers, Ladies! It is something all parents feel is worth investing in, it's fun and easy to do. Children learn so much easier when their peers are partaking and practicing along with them, and having fun doing it.