Golly Gee-Pers Brings Good Manners to the Table

It seems that “grandma’s” table manners have become a forgotten art. Some social critics blame fast food restaurants that encourage a no-holds-barred atmosphere where kids can go wild, or rowdy school cafeterias where staff has a hard enough time preventing food fights, let alone teaching students to keep their elbows off the table. But in reality the problem usually begins at home.

Due to changing family dynamics and busy work/school schedules, many children grow up eating their meals on the run or in front of the TV or computer, so less emphasis is placed on the face-to-face interaction that used to be part and parcel of family mealtimes. Does this mean that we’re destined to devolve back to our cave dweller eating habits? Not necessarily. There are still plenty of parents who place value on social skills, and mutual respect. They understand that table manners are one important aspect of the “big picture” that involves showing courtesy to others and being a successful part of the community.

Staci Erickson is one of the parents leading the back-to-manners revolution. Her product, Golly Gee-Pers Table Manners Cards, helps communicate the basics of table manners in a way that kids will understand and enjoy. The set includes a small canvas bag and 14 table manners cards.

Each card depicts a specific behavior and has a thumbs-up or thumbs-down symbol to indicate whether the behavior is acceptable. When a parent sees a child exhibiting table manners (or lack thereof), the parent can give the child the corresponding card. If at the end of the meal the child has no thumbs-down cards, then he or she can be given a “Ready to Dine Out” card. That means the child is ready to join the family for a fun meal at a restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, the portable canvas bag makes it easy to take Golly Gee-Pers cards out to dinner, or to the homes of friends and relatives.

The idea for Golly Gee-Pers was formed when a family friend told Erickson that her then six-year-old daughter “chewed her food like a horse.” While some parents would have been insulted by this observation, Erickson saw it as an opportunity to address her daughter’s table manners and help other children learn valuable dining skills as well. The result is a business that has won several accolades.

To find out more, visit www.gollygee-pers.com