To do: Practice polite requests and vocabulary at family meals
Time: Daily
Materials: Polite phrases listed below
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Children learn how to communicate their needs and wants at an early age. It might start with pointing, or body language, or even just noises!

As they develop more and more verbal skills, they learn too that words have power. Children are able to ask for things, express their feelings, and communicate their thoughts with others.

During this sensitive period of learning what to say and when to say it, you can give your children some handy tools to get along with others. In this case, during meal times!

Activity: Language at Lunch

A huge part of being a member of a group, such as a classroom family, is learning to get along with one another. In the Montessori classroom, this is called Grace and Courtesy.

You can practice these types of lessons at home as well! During a family meal, introduce new phrases such as these:

• May I be excused?
• Would you like…?
• Do you need help with…?
• Please pass me the…

Start with perhaps one new phrase, “Please pass me the…”. Every member of the family can practice it, asking for a different item they need! When a child sees mom, dad, AND an older sibling practicing, they will be happy to follow suit.

Try regularly adding one new phrase like this to your family vocabulary. This will help your child understand exactly what to say and when to say it!

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