| The holidays are here and it's time for food and fun. | | | | and "laminate" them with clear contact paper. Mom |
| For a different twist, why not host a fancy holiday | | | | and Dad take on the role of chef. Not only do we do |
| dinner party... for your kids and their friends? Our | | | | the cooking, but we are transformed into French |
| whole family had so much fun with this that it's | | | | waiters with dubious accents and are dressed the |
| become a yearly tradition. | | | | part. We don't hover around the table, but disappear |
| A fancy dinner party for the younger set has many | | | | back into the kitchen when not needed. |
| benefits. Your kids learn to plan, organize, shop, clean | | | | It's a new thing for many children to sit at a table, |
| house, be good hosts, and everything else that goes | | | | order their own food off the menu, and be |
| along with hosting a party. They get to dress up in | | | | responsible for themselves without any grown ups |
| their finest clothes, practice their "company" table | | | | telling them what to do. And they love it! In order to |
| manners, and learn dinner conversation. This is a night | | | | promote good table conversation, I write up some |
| where kids are king, and boy do they feel important! | | | | conversation prompts on paper scraps and put them |
| You can certainly make your own rules, but this is | | | | into a bowl. While they are waiting for their meal or |
| how we do it. First, the kids create an invitation list. 8 | | | | dessert to be served, they read their prompt out |
| kids is the maximum our table can comfortably hold | | | | loud and answer it. Examples are "If you could get on |
| and I can comfortably cook for. Next is the hard one | | | | an airplane right now and go anywhere in the world, |
| - trying to pick a night when there are no | | | | where would you go and why?" or "What do you |
| extracurricular events we've already committed to. | | | | think would be the worst job ever to have?" or |
| The kids then make formal invitations on the | | | | "What do you have sitting on the dresser in your |
| computer and mail these out. I admit I tend to | | | | bedroom right now?" Of course, all the kids chime in |
| lecture a bit about what the RSVP in the invitation | | | | with their answers! |
| means and how important it is to always respond | | | | We've come to think of the fancy holiday dinner |
| when someone asks you to RSVP. | | | | party as a Christmas gift we give our kids. We are |
| While we wait for our invitation responses, we | | | | there to serve them, no strings attached, and they |
| decide what will be on the menu. The kids come up | | | | enjoy it immensely. The other benefits for them are |
| with two choices each for the main dish, sides, and | | | | learning how to host a gala and all that it requires - |
| dessert. They pour over my cookbooks (mostly just | | | | planning and organizing the party, making seating |
| look at the pictures), pick recipes, and make up a | | | | arrangements, learning how to set a fancy table, |
| shopping list. One of the things they pick out is an | | | | planning the food, etc. While this is maybe not at the |
| easy appetizer that they will make themselves ahead | | | | top of the list, it's just something nice for children to |
| of time. Mom and Dad shouldn't do all the cooking! | | | | learn. Every year the flavor of the dinner party is a |
| On the day of the party, the kids set the table with | | | | little different, because they grow and change. This |
| our good china and lots of candles. Rather than taper | | | | makes every year so special in my eyes. |
| candles, we use tea lights in small glasses as a safety | | | | If this sounds like fun to you, give it a try and adjust |
| precaution. | | | | it to fit your family. I guarantee it will be a night to |
| On the eve of the party, all the kids dress up in their | | | | remember for all of you. Don't forget to take |
| finest attire. This alone, makes the night feel so | | | | pictures! |
| special. As a surprise, I create fancy dinner menus | | | | |