Table setting is a practical life skill that can give your preschooler extra confidence and independence … and give you some extra help. Knowing how to set a table can also help your child feel comfortable in social situations, especially if you’ve given grace and courtesy lessons introducing the placement of dishes and silverware within the setting.
Preparing a Table Setting Activity
Here are some posts with wonderful ideas for preparing a table setting activity:
Table Setting Tray (Photo from My Montessori Journey)
Hand Drawn Place Setting (Photo from My Montessori Journey)
My Montessori Journey has a table setting tray prepared using an inexpensive placemat and permanent marker to trace around the pieces of the place setting. That’s what I did for my school placement during my master’s dissertation work.
Hand Drawn Placemat (Photo from Simply Montessori)
Simply Montessori also purchased inexpensive placemats and traced around the dinnerware with a permanent marker. You could draw a similar setting and just add the outlines for a napkin and glass, or draw a more formal setting if you want to prepare your child for a formal dinner with more forks and knives. Simply Montessori also has links to placemats that can be printed out.
Table Setting Basket (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Table Setting Activity (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Counting Coconuts has a table setting activity with an attractive placemat you can purchase.
Table Setting Mat (photo from Montessori ICI)
Montessori ici used a variation of a tutorial from Simple Kids to prepare lovely placemats.
Shadow Matching Table Setting Tray
I have a shadow-matching table setting tray using a free printable in my Thanksgiving Grace and Courtesy post.
North American Montessori Center has a napkin folding activity.
Montessori for Learning has a post on using table setting as a practice in mindfulness, putting “each piece down on the table slowly, and with purpose… and taking the time to step back and reflect on our work.”
Note: Emily Post has an article “Informal Place Setting” which helps illustrate a typical table setting for a 3-course meal.
Table Setting for Kids at Pinterest
I have a Pinterest board of Table Setting for Kids. There are many links to place settings you can print out, purchase, or make yourself. Just choose the placemat and table-setting activity for your home or school according to whatever type of place setting you’d like. Have fun! 🙂
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I just stumbled on your site, lovely post!
A good and cheap way to really customize the placemat to your liking is to make them out of cardstock and nice papers, and have them plastified.
We did it this way, and out kids love them! You can have a look here:
http://thefreechild.blogspot.com/2011/02/art-of-saying-less-and-having-more-done.html
I’m so glad you found me! Thanks so much for sharing your link! Your placemats are fabulous … I just added your link (and the link to the original tutorial) to my post – and to my Pinterest board!
My mother taught us table setting when my sisters and I were preschool age. We had so much fun following her little crayon-drawn diagram. It’s so practical to have that knowledge today when hosting company. You’ve shared nice ideas to teach children table setting.
Thanks for your kind comment! How wonderful that your mother took such care in teaching table setting! That’s a great tradition to pass on! 🙂
I love this and am going to start working with Super Tot on this so he can assist his sister in setting the table each day!
Thanks so much! Super Tot is at a perfect age to start setting table! 🙂
I LOVE this! I’ve been having the kids set the table haphazardly just to get them OUT of the kitchen, but this is just perfect! 🙂
Thanks, Camille! I’ve had great luck with kids in my kitchen. I hope it works for you, too! 🙂
Thanks so much for featuring me on Facebook. I LOVE your blog 🙂
My pleasure, Laura! I love your blog, too! 🙂
What a great idea, Deb! I think I’ll do that with my kindergarterner (and the 7th grade boys will get a refresher course too 😉
Thanks,5ennie! That is a great way to reinforce table setting with a number of ages at once! 🙂
Excellent resources that mom’s can use when teaching their kids about place settings.
Thank you so much for sharing on my site.
I am going to share this on Facebook.
Thanks for your kind comment – and thanks so much for sharing my post on Facebook! 🙂
Wow Deb, what a great informational post! As an adult I may need this placemat placement, lol! I still have to stop and think a minute! LOTS of great info here for Montessori parents and those on the fence as well. I love your eBook idea and wish you all the best, that’s a wonderful gift!
Thanks so much, Sheila! I have to review silverware placement every now and then, too! I’m thankful for the concept of starting at the outside and working my way in. Of course, I’m very rarely at any formal meals anyway. I could get by with the basic placemat! 😉
This is great. I’m embarrassed to say, but sometimes I forget the right side to put the fork. I’m glad to know the proper way.
Thanks, Michelle! Those sorts of things are so easy to forget … I always loved the reminders I got through teaching and homeschooling! 🙂
This is wonderful!! You always do such a great job of gathering great resources!
Thanks so much for your kind comment! Have a great week! 🙂
I have taught my kids how to set the table and it is one of their chores- they love it! (They are 3 and 5)! Thanks for sharing all of your Pintersts! and Thank you for sharing this on The Sunday Showcase.
Thanks, Aimee! It’s great that your kids are setting table while they’re young! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Your table setting resource post was featured on my site this week. 🙂
http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/09/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-10/
Thanks so much, Crystal! I’m honored! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Great post and lovely feature! I’ve pinned for later 🙂