Manner Mats Win Prestigious Dr. Toy Award - Educational Placemats Teaching Manners, Etiquette to Children Awarded Dr. Toy's Best Picks Children’s Products 2010
A new mealtime tool called Manner Mats are making it easy for parents to incorporate fun etiquette and manners learning opportunities into everyday life while also giving them an easy way to prepare their children for holiday parties and family get-togethers. Manner Mats were announced today as the winner of the “Dr. Toy’s Best Picks Children's Products” Awards Program 2010.
Davidson, NC, October 18, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Surviving the stress and flurry of activity during the holiday season can be difficult enough for parents without adding the worry of one of your children being the topic of conversation for months to come because of a manners meltdown. A new mealtime tool called Manner MatsTM from Successful Kids are making it easy for parents to incorporate fun etiquette and manners learning opportunities into everyday life while also giving them an easy way to prepare their children for holiday parties and family get-togethers. Manner MatsTM were announced today as the winner of the “Dr. Toy’s Best Picks Children's Products” Awards Program 2010.
The Awards Program was developed by noted play and child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy) as a service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally oriented, stimulating new toys and products for children.
The report, “Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Picks Children’s Products for 2010”, is being released according to Dr. Toy to “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play as essential to the learning process.”
She adds, “Smart play products selected from excellent companies across the U.S.A., Canada and other countries provide children with exciting new developmentally appropriate tools to help them do better in school, and also provide more constructive activities after school.”
Manner Mats™ include 38 different fun and educational tear-off placemats that teach children table manners and social skills through entertaining games, puzzles, and activities. Parents can use them to teach manners & social skills at home or take them along when dining out.
With the holiday season just around the corner, Manner MatsTM creator and etiquette expert Aimee Symington, founder of Successful Kids, has created tips parents can use to ensure their children are well behaved at family gatherings and parties.
Have polite table manners. If you can help your children remember each step in this acronym “POLITE” they will have wonderful table manners.
Pull out the chair and sit squarely in the seat
Open napkin and put it in your lap
Let the host start eating before you do
I use silverware correctly
Talk to others and make nice conversation
Excuse yourself before leaving the table
Have confident introduction and greeting skills. Encourage children to be available when guests come to the door to greet them. Remind them to look people in the eye when talking, make polite conversation, and if they are meeting someone for the first time to shake their hand and say, “Hello, my name is _____. It’s nice to meet you.”
Be a polite host. Hosting a big meal means extra work for you so have your children help out. They can do things like hang up coats, offer (non-alcoholic) drinks, or serve appetizers. Children can also help to make sure that other kids are having a nice time by playing with them or bringing out toys and games that they would enjoy.
Say it then write it. It is especially hard for little children to grasp the idea that even if they are given a gift that they really hate they still need to say “thank you” with a happy smile on their face to the person who gave it to them. Explain it to your children this way… you are thanking the person for spending the time and money to buy you something that they thought you would like. They were being thoughtful of you, so no matter if you like the gift or not, you need to thank them and be thoughtful of their feelings. Another important lesson to learn is that even if you thanked someone in person for a gift it is also still polite to send a thank you note. If your child has received a gift in the mail they must send a hand-written thank-you note to acknowledge the gift and express their gratitude.
Be a polite houseguest. When visiting relatives for the holidays, remind your children that it’s not a free for all, but in fact, a time to use their best manners. Children need to remember not run or throw things in the house, take off their shoes and observe “house rules”, pick up after themselves, make their bed and tidy their things, and offer to help around the house. Following these steps will ensure you all get invited back next year.
Each Manner Mat pad retails for $9.95, and includes 38 different disposable placemats. Manner MatsTM can be purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond stores and other specialty retailers. For more information and to find a store near you please visit www.blundersmania.com.
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The Awards Program was developed by noted play and child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy) as a service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally oriented, stimulating new toys and products for children.
The report, “Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Picks Children’s Products for 2010”, is being released according to Dr. Toy to “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play as essential to the learning process.”
She adds, “Smart play products selected from excellent companies across the U.S.A., Canada and other countries provide children with exciting new developmentally appropriate tools to help them do better in school, and also provide more constructive activities after school.”
Manner Mats™ include 38 different fun and educational tear-off placemats that teach children table manners and social skills through entertaining games, puzzles, and activities. Parents can use them to teach manners & social skills at home or take them along when dining out.
With the holiday season just around the corner, Manner MatsTM creator and etiquette expert Aimee Symington, founder of Successful Kids, has created tips parents can use to ensure their children are well behaved at family gatherings and parties.
Have polite table manners. If you can help your children remember each step in this acronym “POLITE” they will have wonderful table manners.
Pull out the chair and sit squarely in the seat
Open napkin and put it in your lap
Let the host start eating before you do
I use silverware correctly
Talk to others and make nice conversation
Excuse yourself before leaving the table
Have confident introduction and greeting skills. Encourage children to be available when guests come to the door to greet them. Remind them to look people in the eye when talking, make polite conversation, and if they are meeting someone for the first time to shake their hand and say, “Hello, my name is _____. It’s nice to meet you.”
Be a polite host. Hosting a big meal means extra work for you so have your children help out. They can do things like hang up coats, offer (non-alcoholic) drinks, or serve appetizers. Children can also help to make sure that other kids are having a nice time by playing with them or bringing out toys and games that they would enjoy.
Say it then write it. It is especially hard for little children to grasp the idea that even if they are given a gift that they really hate they still need to say “thank you” with a happy smile on their face to the person who gave it to them. Explain it to your children this way… you are thanking the person for spending the time and money to buy you something that they thought you would like. They were being thoughtful of you, so no matter if you like the gift or not, you need to thank them and be thoughtful of their feelings. Another important lesson to learn is that even if you thanked someone in person for a gift it is also still polite to send a thank you note. If your child has received a gift in the mail they must send a hand-written thank-you note to acknowledge the gift and express their gratitude.
Be a polite houseguest. When visiting relatives for the holidays, remind your children that it’s not a free for all, but in fact, a time to use their best manners. Children need to remember not run or throw things in the house, take off their shoes and observe “house rules”, pick up after themselves, make their bed and tidy their things, and offer to help around the house. Following these steps will ensure you all get invited back next year.
Each Manner Mat pad retails for $9.95, and includes 38 different disposable placemats. Manner MatsTM can be purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond stores and other specialty retailers. For more information and to find a store near you please visit www.blundersmania.com.
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Contact
Successful Kids, Inc.
Laura Baumgartner
630-299-9616
www.blundersmania.com
Laura Baumgartner
630-299-9616
www.blundersmania.com
Contact
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