Enter the Politeness Totoros

How to encourage good table manners, especially for Spencer and eating foods?  What a dilemma.  So my sister in law had tried an idea she found using Popsicle sticks and giving them out when good manners were demonstrated.  At first she tried an idea where each kid got a stack of sticks and if they noticed someone not using good manners they took a stick from that child's stack.  This idea may work, but with children more docile than mine.  Family dinner would quickly become family brawl if I tried this. 

My children love small things and they also love the movie Totoro, which they watched many times while visiting my parents this past summer.  So why not make little Sculpey Totoros that come out only for dinner and carefully watch for good table manners.  Ben mentioned something his family did with eating food.  Whatever food you wanted, usually dessert, was set in the middle of the table.  Each time you took a bite of the rest of your food the desired food moved a little closer to your plate. 

We combined the ideas and the Politeness Totoros came into being.  They sit in the middle of the table and move closer to each child's plate as polite manners are used.  Each one has a specific manner they are looking for.  Brenna: sitting on her chair while eating; Spencer: eating what is made for dinner; Lauren: chewing with mouth closed.  Of course any lack of good manners sends all three Totoros back a few steps, but they come closer a lot faster when these special things are done.

Did it work?  Well, Brenna stayed in her chair all through dinner last night and she kept looking over at me while eating, being sure I noted her mouth was closed while she chewed.  She looked like a rabbit.  Lauren is actually very good at the table, but I had to come up with something for her.  She did well as usual.  Spencer actually picked up and held a piece of chicken and took a nibble, it was a minuscule nibble, but we've never been able to get him to touch new foods before so I was very pleased.  Hopefully the newness does not wear off too fast.  I wonder if we will take them to restaurants and other people's houses.  Perhaps.