Make It Blog

Want to know a secret? For over a year now, I’ve been a princess on the weekends. I dress up for children’s birthday parties (between 1-3 parties most weekends) for a local company to earn some extra cash. Of course, I’m not always a princess. Sometimes I’m a pop star or a clown (my least favorite). Sometimes I assist the “head” characters (your purple dinosaurs, blue monsters and explorer girls) and just do face painting and games. One day, I’ll share all the tips I have for children’s birthday parties. Today, I’m going to share a mini-lesson I gave at the last party I did. The mom was having a princess tea party and wanted me to give a tea party etiquette lesson.

Here’s the lesson I gave:

First, ask the girls if they knew what “Tea Party Etiquette” is. Listen to their answers and explain that “Tea Party Etiquette” is how princesses act during a princess tea party.

Here is some tea party etiquette (from easiest to hardest):

• Remember to say “please” and “thank you” “you’re welcome” and “excuse me.” (have the girls each practice this)
• You should not reach across the table to pick things up. Instead, politely ask someone to pass the item to you. “Excuse me (birthday girl), could you please pass the sandwiches?”
• Drink your tea by holding your cup and saucer up to your chest, then take your teacup off of your saucer and bring your teacup up to your mouth and take a drink. (this one was the most fun)
• Don’t slurp or gulp you tea. Just take small sips.
• If your tea seems too hot to drink, place your cup back on the saucer and return your cup and saucer to the table to let your tea cool off. Never blow on your tea.
• Stir sugar or milk into your tea with your teaspoon. When you are finished stirring, place your teaspoon on your cup saucer.

When the tea sandwiches arrive, here are tea party etiquette for eating:

• Put your napkin in your lap. (this was fun too)
• Since most princess tea party foods are finger foods, it is perfectly okay to eat with your fingers! But, if something is a bit messy, use your fork or spoon.
• Take bites of small sandwiches. Even if the sandwich is tiny, never put the entire sandwich in your mouth.

 I didn’t get through all these (they were 5 year olds, after all!). There were two different tables, and I got further down the list with one than with another.

Original sources of information here and here.