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Get Your Kiddos to the Mansion’s Children’s Etiquette Class

When I was young, my parents would threaten bad behavior with a trip to etiquette school. Etiquette is not only a really difficult word to spell, it also used to inspire complete and total mortification on my part. I’m not sure what I thought might happen there. I mean, there are surely worse places to have to go as a child, like, across the street to the weird neighbor’s, or to North Platte, Nebraska (sorry, Grandma).

But anyway. It probably would have done me some good, because my first thought when I looked at this picture was, “that’s how I’m supposed to hold my knife and fork?” If you don’t want your kids to turn out like me, drag them to the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek on April 4. Etiquette expert Colleen Rickenbacher will teach children (ages 5–12) the finer points of table setting, silverware usage, and mealtime manners. Lunch will be included, but it won’t be any old lunch. It will be an “obstacle course,” featuring soup (no slurping), peas (yikes), and meat with a bone.

Jump for the details.

Credit: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Etiquette expert Colleen Rickenbacher demonstrates the proper way to hold a fork and knife.

Children’s Etiquette Class at The Mansion

DALLAS – (March 2, 2009) – Continuing in the tradition of Southern gentility, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek will offer a spring Children’s Etiquette Class with etiquette expert Colleen Rickenbacher. No more elbows on the table or talking with a full mouth, after this class your children will be the picture of politeness.

The Mansion’s class includes Colleen Rickenbacher’s hands-on etiquette instruction, during which the children learn the finer points of table setting, the proper use of silverware and appropriate mealtime manners when at home or dining out.

After learning the essentials of table manners, class participants get a little practice with a specially designed lunch menu. The Mansion’s menu poses an “obstacle course” of dining, from eating soup without slurping and cutting meat from the bone to keeping peas on the plate.

“You can’t expect your children to know how to act, eat or even just sit if you haven’t started them with some guidelines,” Rickenbacher said. “Children are never too young to learn to set a table for a meal or practice proper manners.”

What: Children’s Etiquette Class

Where: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

When: Saturday, April 4, 2009

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Who: Children aged 5 to 12 years old

Cost: $60 per person

Reservations for the Children’s Etiquette Class can be made by calling 214-443-4747. Seating is limited, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Visit mansiononturtlecreek.com for more information.