Youth Good Manners and Dining Etiquette in San Francisco, Larkspur (Marin), and Menlo Park
In this fun and interactive 3-hour introductory seminar, young participants gain the fundamentals to make a great first impression for all occasions, along with hands-on practice of their table manners, through a 3-course tutorial lunch.
- For participants willing to travel to San Francisco or Larkspur (Marin), California, this course is an in-person seminar with a limited capacity of 20 participants. The seminar includes a 3-course tutorial lunch of Soup, Main Course, and dessert, accompanied by bread and beverage service. Special meals are available with prior notification.
- This seminar precedes the Teen Etiquette Confidence seminar, designed for both teens and their parents.
The agenda includes:
Part I: First Impression Communication skills
- Starter Bonus: Name Tag Etiquette
- Self-introductions
- Personal daily grooming habits
- Posture and Poise: Sitting; Rising; Standing
- Proper handshaking techniques
- Appropriate eye contact
- Proper responses to introductions
- Standing for all introductions
- Thank-you notes
Part II: Dining Skills
- Being seated at the dining table: How to enter, exit, and have proper posture
- Place settings… a road map to your dining
- Napkins from beginning, middle, and end of the meal
- Styles of eating: American versus global form of dining
- Proper handling of utensils: Resting finished positions
- When to start eating, passing food, and excusing yourself from the table
- Tons of table manners, including the 4 golden phrases while dining
- Strategic do’s and don’ts of dining
Who should attend
All youths, 9-14 years of age, plus parents, are encouraged to attend to reinforce skills at home (See below)
Why attend
Participants leave this seminar with all the tools to be confident in displaying the appropriate behavior in various situations, when meeting someone new, and how to dine with ease at any dining table.
It is an excellent introduction to the crucial skills for making a great first impression when meeting someone new and when dining at home or elsewhere. These are life skills we all must appropriately display throughout life. Your child will leave this class much more aware of the importance of good behavior in every situation, whether at a party, an adult event, or the dining table.
When to attend
This class is offered three times a year in San Francisco and Larkspur/Marin
In SF: from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | In Marin, from 4 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Spring:
Marin - Monday, 30 March 2026
S.F. - Saturday, 11 April 2026
Summer:
Marin - Monday, 13 July 2026
S.F. - Saturday, 11 July 2026
[We know summer months can be the most erratic in terms of available dates. Contact Syndi for alternative special, private, or group classes. Surprisingly, in 2025, we were able to hold several private family and private group classes in June and August.]
Fall:
Menlo Park - Saturday, 26 September 2026
Marin - Monday, 9 November 2026
S.F. - Saturday, 7 November 2026
2026 Investments
$198/pp* - This includes expert-led instruction, a multi-page Action Guide for home reinforcement, computer-generated visuals, and fun, interactive classroom activities to reinforce learning. The highlight of the course is also the 3-course tutorial lunch. Again, parents are encouraged to attend the first 3 hours of this seminar to learn for themselves and help reinforce skills at home.
See the Add-on Parent listing to register for just $108 extra! Teens can also attend this seminar before their private 2-hour session.
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