For Your Dinner Table Tonight- the silent Signals of Silverware

Confidence, kindness & consideration begin at the family table!

An important part of good table manners is using silverware correctly.

Do your children know…

• the Continental or American method of using the knife and fork?
• how to cut food correctly?
• what a proper bite size is?  Hint- it’s the same size as a quarter!
• the silent signals of silverware?

These are all important for children to learn so they will be confident dining anywhere, with anyone.
In this post, I’m sharing the silent signals of silverware how to’s.
This is a simple table manners skill to teach your family and can be learned quickly by even young children.

Use these four teaching points to teach your family the silent signals.

#1– Used silverware should never be set back on the tabletop. It should always be resting on a plate.
#2– Servers in restaurants are trained to recognize the silent signals. Use the silent signals at every meal (when dining out and at home).  Your good table manners show you’re confident and considerate.
#3– There are two slightly different variations of the silent signals as you’ll see in the pictures below. One is for the American method of eating and the other is for the Continental method. Both are considered to be good manners!
#4– Use the resting position between bites. When you’re finished eating, put your knife and fork in the finished position. This signals to the server that he may clear your plate. Note- the knife blades are always turned inwards towards you.

The American Method