| These tips and guidelines will help your child and all her | | | | about preparing your tea party. Your tea should be |
| guests enjoy their party and learn proper | | | | served from teapots. Tea bags are just too |
| manners.How much you follow accepted etiquette | | | | messy.Remember It's FunI've already said this, but it's |
| really depends on the age of your child and her | | | | worth repeating. The most important thing to |
| guests.For a very young group you may find that | | | | remember is to make sure your birthday child and all |
| simply instructing them to say "please" and "thank you" | | | | her guests have fun. Observing proper tea party |
| and to ask for things to be passed rather than | | | | etiquette can be a fun part of the party experience, |
| reaching for them is acceptable etiquette at your | | | | but you don't want to make your party atmosphere |
| party.As a parent it might be helpful if you stand beside | | | | too stiff because everyone is "worried" they will make |
| the table and gently offer guidance as you go. You | | | | a mistake.Tea Party Etiquette Tips and |
| could even start your party by giving all your guests a | | | | GuidelinesSince most tea party foods are "finger |
| short lesson in this party etiquette.For older children you | | | | foods" it is perfectly alright to eat with your fingers. If |
| can use more proper etiquette, but in either case it will | | | | something is a bit messy, use your fork or spoon.Break |
| be necessary for you to instruct your child and their | | | | off bite-sized pieces of larger foods unless they are |
| guests in the fine art of tea party etiquette that you | | | | messy. In that case, use your fork or spoonTake bites |
| are expecting them to follow.Have funWhile following | | | | of small sandwiches. Even if the sandwich is tiny, |
| good etiquette will make your party more enjoyable | | | | never put the entire sandwich in your mouth.When you |
| and at the same time provide everyone with at least a | | | | sugar your tea, be careful not to dip the serving tong |
| little education in proper manners, you don't want your | | | | or spoon into your tea.Stir sugar or milk into your tea |
| child or their guests to worry about making a | | | | with your teaspoon. When you are finished stiring, |
| mistake.Make sure everyone understands that if they | | | | place your teaspoon on your cup saucer.Drink your |
| forget and make a mistake, it's all right. Tell them to | | | | tea by holding your cup and saucer up to your chest, |
| have fun and do their best to remember the etiquette | | | | then take your teacup off of your saucer and bring |
| guidelines.Tea Party EtiquetteI've put together a list of | | | | your teacup up to your mouth and take a drink.Don't |
| helpful tips and guidelines that will help everyone better | | | | slurp or gulp you tea. Just take small sips.Hold your |
| understand how to do things properly at a tea party | | | | teacup normally, it is not necessary to "stick out your |
| without getting too stuffy and formal. We are after all | | | | little finger" (your pinky) while drinking your tea.If your |
| putting together a party for young girls.A Birthday Tea | | | | tea seems too hot to drink, place your cup back on |
| Party is a wonderful opportunity for your birthday child | | | | the saucer and return your cup and saucer to the |
| and her party guests to not only have a lot of fun, but | | | | table to let your tea cool off. Never blow on your |
| to learn proper manners as well.Keep in mind the ages | | | | tea.You should not reach across the table to pick |
| of your birthday child and her guests. For very young | | | | things up. Instead, politely ask someone to pass the |
| children you can't expect them to understand or use | | | | item to you. "Excuse me Cindy, could you please pass |
| much in the way of formal tea etiquette, so you may | | | | the sandwiches?" Remember to say "please" and |
| want to try using only a few simple tea party etiquette | | | | "thank you" and "excuse me."It's not polite to talk with |
| guidelines.Send Your Guests The Etiquette GuidelinesIf | | | | your mouth full of food.Cover your mouth if you need |
| you feel that your birthday child and her guests are old | | | | to cough or sneeze.Be careful not to talk too much, let |
| enough to understand, observe and use more of the | | | | everyone have a chance to join in the |
| following tea party etiquette guidelines, you might want | | | | conversation.Remember to use your napkin.Do your |
| to copy the list we've provided here and send these | | | | best to remember and use these etiquette tips and |
| guidelines along with your invitations, informing your | | | | guidelines, but if you forget to do some things properly, |
| guests that you will be following this list of tea party | | | | don't worry, have fun.Thank You NotesAfter your |
| etiquette guidelines. That way, each guest will have an | | | | child's tea party is over, proper etiquette also calls for |
| opportunity to become familiar with tea party etiquette | | | | thank you notes to be sent to your party guests. This |
| and will be more comfortable at your party.A Gentle | | | | is a great project for you and your birthday child to |
| Reminder - The Etiquette GameYou can also take a | | | | work on together.A Closing ThoughtThese simple tea |
| few minutes at the beginning of your tea party to go | | | | party etiquette tips and guidelines will help make your |
| over these simple guidelines with your guests so that | | | | child's birthday tea party a great success and one |
| everyone can have fun doing their best to follow the | | | | they will remember fondly for years to come.Mike |
| proper etiquette that is expected. You can even make | | | | Dougherty has put together lots of successful birthday |
| this into a game and reward the guests who observe | | | | parties for his children and grandchildren. |
| the best etiquette.Preparing Your Tea PartyOne word | | | | |