Did your children remember to bring their manners to the Thanksgiving dinner table? If they need a little extra “polish” before the next family gathering, it might be a good idea to sign them up for an etiquette class where they’ll hone their manners and learn new skills to make you proud at the table and beyond!

The next Mimi’s Manners class will be held Thursday, December 1 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota from 6 – 8 p.m. in the restaurant’s private dining room. Children ages 6 – 12 are invited to attend the two-hour class where they’ll learn their “Ps and Qs” of dining, handshakes & introductions and other important skills in manners. The cost of the class is $80 per child and includes a delicious three-course meal prepared by the Ritz-Carlton Chef.  Children will receive a workbook, certificate of completion and with a set of good manners to help them be the best-behaved kids at any holiday function. For more information and reservations, please call 941-309-2008 or send me message at suzanne@suzannewillis.com.

One of the parents interviewed by a journalist before a recent Mimi’s Manners class said that she was concerned that proper etiquette skills were becoming extinct, especially among children. That was why she had signed up her three children for my class. (View the complete story from the Florida Times Union here.)

I created Mimi’s Manners more than ten years ago to help children learn important manners and basic communication skills that I believe are imperative for their future success, both personally and professionally.  I don’t want manners to become extinct and it’s my goal to share Mimi’s Manners with as many children as possible.

If you have ideas about skills that children should learn or ways that I can help share manners with more children, please let me know. Together, we’ll be able to reach those who need the training and we’ll keep manners alive!

Travel writer Paul Kandarian recently posted a very nice story about Mimi’s Manners in the Boston Globe. I had the pleasure of meeting Paul during his visit to Sarasota. He was a hoot and even though he claims he has terrible manners, I found him to be quite the gentlemen.

The topic of manners did come up during a group breakfast and I quickly found myself giving an impromptu lesson in manners to those at the table. Mostly it was a discussion of manners. Over the years, I’ve found that many people like to talk about manners, (especially the lack of manners) in today’s society. It seems that everyone has a “worst etiquette” story they like to share or a question they have about a particular manner. We enjoyed a lively discussion that morning and this article was a result of our conversation and his visit to my website for Mimi’s Manners.

The story can be read here:  Teaching Children Manners, Mimi’s Way  Enjoy! 

And a big thank you to Paul for the article. Mimi would love it as much as I do!

Flowers? Candy? Breakfast in bed? These are all great ideas, but have you ever thought about giving the gift of manners for kids this Mother’s Day?

I know plenty of mothers (and grandmothers) who would love for their kids to learn (and continue to practice) good manners. Mother’s Day this year is Sunday, May 8 and the day before I’ll be teaching manners to about a dozen children ages 6 -12 at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The class will begin at 11 a.m. where the children will learn the basics of good manners, handshakes, introductions, etc and then move through a three-course meal where they learn how to properly enjoy a meal without making a mess. The two-hour class provides children the opportunity to learn new skills while practicing their manners in a fun-filled environment. I’ve always believed Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote: “Manners are the happy way of doing things.” I make sure the kids have a good time in the class while instilling the importance of good manners in school, at home, and in their future: careers, dating/marriage.

I think all moms would agree:  Kids who have manners make all moms happier. What better gift could mom want this Mother’s Day?

For more information about the class, please call 239-334-7419 or contact Merry Coffman at 239-335-3671.

It’s true with sports, hobbies and anything else we’d like to improve in  our lives: We get better with practice.

During my classes, we discuss our favorite pastimes: tennis, baseball, ballet, art, etc. It’s fun to learn about their interests and watch their faces light up as they talk about the things they love: horseback riding, hockey, basketball, soccer, dance and so much more (ah…to be a kid again and have time for all these hobbies and classes!)

Discussing these hobbies is also an easy way to explain to them that their manners will only improve if they practice. It may be hard to hold the fork and knife the correct way–or take their spoon “out to sea” but as it is with their hobbies, each manner becomes easier the more they practice.

To become better with their manners, I encourage the children to share what they’ve learned in the class with family members and practice at home. Cutting their food becomes easier the more they practice. Shaking hands is easier the more they practice. Writing thank you notes becomes easier the more they practice.

They quickly realize that they new skills they’re learning may be challenging at first, but just like riding a bike, or hitting a baseball–the more they practice, the easier it gets!

Recently a friend told me that she’d love to take her family to The Ritz-Carlton for Thanksgiving Brunch but she’s too worried about her 7-year-old’s table manners to attend. She said that no matter what she does, he continues to burp at the dinner table, and she’s concerned that her three-year-old will soon follow in his footsteps.

I can understand her situation. She’s fantasizing about a lavish buffet complete with the a glass of champagne and a service staff to clean up afterward. Instead, she’ll be at home cooking, cleaning and telling her son to stop burping.

Throughout the years that I’ve been teaching manners, I’ve found that most parents do instill good manners in their children, it’s just that kids don’t like to listen to their parents. Sometimes it takes a class and instruction from a manner’s teacher before a child will learn and start implementing good manners.

If your child, or a child you know, could benefit from a manners class (before or after the holidays), here are the next classes being offered in Sarasota and Ft. Myers, Florida:

December 1, 2010 —  The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (941-309-2008)

January 8 and February 5, 2011 — The Edison & Ford Winter Estates, (239-334-7419)

Children at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota recently were baffled by having a fork and a spoon for their molten chocolate cake dessert. One of the children asked, "Why does a place setting sometimes have both a fork and a spoon presented?"

Adults often ask the same question. The two utensils can be used to assist with eating the dessert and should be selected based upon the "softness" of the dessert. For example, the fork for eating and the spoon as a "pusher" or vice versa.

The proper way to set the table for desserts it to either place them horizontally above the dinner plate (the spoon at the top with its handle to the right and the fork below with its handle to the left) or they may be placed beside the plate. If they’re beside the plate, the fork goes on the left hand side, closest to the plate and the spoon goes on the right hand side to the left of the soupspoon (if there is a soupspoon!) With formal place settings that have more than more courses, the dessert utensils will be presented just before the dessert is served. (Rule:  no more than three of any implement is ever placed on the table, except when an oyster fork is used–and then there are four forks!)  Be sure to use your spoon and fork properly and enjoy your dessert!  As you can see, Tegan is enjoying his dessert!

   "Season" in Sarasota isn’t just for the social set at big fundraising events around town. Children have their own set of birthday parties, social gatherings and family events that call for good manners.  The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is offering a one-night class to help the young socialites improve their manners. Mimi’s Manners class will be offered at The Ritz-Carlton on March 12.

The two-hour class includes introductions, handshakes, and proper dining conversation all during a three-course meal. Children, ages 6 – 12, also learn about respect, consideration and how to write (or draw) a thank-you note. Children receive a workbook, a manners’ reminder card, and a certificate of completion. The next class will be held March 12 from 6 – 8 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The cost is $45. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 941-309-3008.

Photo caption:  Instructor Suzanne Willis shows children how to properly use a soup spoon.

Children at LaPlaya Beach Resort learned the importance of good manners, handshakes and afternoon tea during a recent Saturday afternoon class.

Everyone agreed that having friends is important–and no one wants to be friends with someone who is mean, rude and has no manners. Shaking hands (web-to-web style) was taught and practiced–along with looking each other in the eye and smiling while shaking hands. 

While they dined on tea sandwiches (grilled cheese, cucumber and peanut butter & jelly) and scones, the children were reminded to take small bites and chew with their mouths closed. They also learned that it’s important to try something even if you don’t think you’ll like it–some discovered they actually liked it!  They also learned how to sip tea quietly and never blow on it to try to cool it. Other manners and fun conversation continued throughout the class and new friendships were formed while good manners were learned and practiced. 

A story in the New York Times (January 12, 2009) discusses the importance of manners and how it is the responsibility of parents to instill good manners in their children.

The author of the article, PERRI KLASS, M.D. enlisted the expertise from Judith Martin and her book: “Miss Manners’ Guide to Rearing Perfect Children,”

Ms. Martin is quoted as saying:  “Every infant is born adorable but selfish and the center of the universe. It’s a parent’s job to teach that “there are other people, and other people have feelings.”

Ms. Martin has a great point. People do have feelings. Manners help guide us through life and teach us how to behave in the best way so we don’t hurt others feelings. During "Mimi’s Manners" classes, I help instill good manners in children through discussions, examples and real-life situations. Children agree that it’s not right to hurt other people’s feelings and during the class we discuss ways to "treat people the way we want to be treated."

The article takes a medical approach to children’s behavior. I found it very interesting.

To view the complete article, please click here.