The idea came to me suddenly as I was thinking about what to have for dinner one night. The kids would love it if we lit a few candles during dinnertime! Then I thought, why not go all out? I ran the thought by my husband, and luckily, he's a good sport and was all for it.
Here's how we threw a formal dinner party for our kids:
1) Present each family member with an official invitation. Click HERE for a FREE, printable invitation template!
2) Set the table as elegantly as you can with what you have on hand. I must admit, I wasn't sure about the details of where all of the tableware and utensils should be placed for an elegant dinner, so we used THIS article from Real Simple to learn the difference between basic, casual, and formal table settings.
3) Request that each guest wear their "fanciest" attire. Allow the kids to have fun and be creative. Remember, it's nothing to stress out about because this party is in the privacy of your own home with your loved ones! Our kids loved picking out their own "fancy" outfits, as well as getting a chance to put on a little make-up and style their hair. They were especially excited to pick out outfits for Mom and Dad (a great use for an old bridesmaid dress!).
4) Prepare dinner. We planned a few different courses, but our kids are very picky, so we didn't go out of our way trying to create an exquisite meal. Chicken noodle soup, a tossed salad, chicken nuggets and apple slices, and a scoop of ice cream with half of a cupcake was our menu!
5) The grand entrance! We formally announced each guest as they arrived at our dinner.
6) Sit down and enjoy!
This experience was fun and educational for everyone! It opened up a great discussion on proper manners and etiquette, the kids all loved being involved in such a "grown-up" activity, and we all agreed that we can't wait to do it again!
Welcome to Macaroni Kid North Huntingdon-Greensburg-Latrobe
LET'S CONNECT!
Follow Macaroni Kid North Huntingdon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Don't miss out! Get a FREE event calendar for the North Huntingdon-Greensburg-Latrobe area full of free and low-cost, family-friendly events!
