T.E.A.M. Habilitation & Respite

If you are interested in having an Etiquette Consultant work with your child, please phone Donna M. Barelski, PhD, to arrange an in-home consultation at 480-816-1866. We look forward to accommodating your request.

 Etiquette Consulting Services

T.E.A.M. providers teach your child how to prepare to mature into adolescences gracefully, with a tasteful sense of style and gain an appreciation for social graces. Etiquette consulting consists of five lessons in the following areas:

• Social Etiquette
• Communication Skills
• Table Manners

To help your child's manners shine during the holidays or at that special event, parents can apply these five helpful tips.

Communication Skills 

Knowing the tools for effective communication builds self esteem and leadership ability.

Example Coaching:
Proper Greetings and Introductions
Conversation
Listening
Nonverbal Communication
Public Speaking
Telephone Etiquette
Acts of Kindness and Respect
Communication in School
The Use of Please, Thank You, Excuse Me
Thank You Notes
Meeting Persons with Disabilities
Compliments
Interviewing
Electronic Etiquette

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Order of Lessons

Lesson One: Introductions and Greetings
Introducing Yourself
Introducing Others
Meeting a Person with a Disability

Lesson Two: Social Etiquette
Common Courtesies
Avoid Rude Behaviors
Being a Good Host
Being a Good Guest
Etiquette of Public Places
Theater

Lesson Three: Communication
Conversation Skills
Telephone Etiquette
Listening Skills
Complimenting Another Person
Accepting Compliments
Showing Respect for Self and Others
Public Speaking Skills
Use of the Body and Voice
Use of Visual Aids
Mode of Delivery

Lesson Four: Image
Clothing
Grooming
Image

Lesson Five: Dining Skills
Place Settings
Proper Use of Utensils
Use of the Napkin
Handling Accidents
Difficult to Eat Foods
Body Language at the Table
Dining Decorum

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The time to brush up your family’s party manners is before the holiday season or that special event. Just like your house, a little polish goes a long way! Here are five tips to help your child—and you—shine this season:

1. As much as possible, make sure your child is rested and well-fed as being tired and hungry leads to crankiness.
2. Say“please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome.” Your consistent use of these phrases will help your child make them a part of everyday speech.
3. At the table:
   • Have a few ‘practice’ meals. Begin by dressing up your own family dinner table. Candles make everyone and everything look better and suppertime seem like a special occasion.
   • Model and help your child to use utensils, to put a napkin on the lap, to pass food around the table (to the right, by the way) and to engage in basic conversation.
   • Keep dinner conversation fun, positive and inclusive. Everyone should get a turn to talk. Suppertime is NOT the time to take children (or spouses) to task.
4. Review the basics of greetings. Even a young child can shake hands and say ‘Hello.’ Older children can be reminded to greet adults with ‘Hello, Aunt Mary,’ or ‘Hello, Mrs. Jones.’ Let your child know who she is greeting – she may only see Aunt Mary once in a blue moon. 
5. Help your child write thank you notes—a must for gifts. Make it a family activity so that children see that grown-ups write notes, too. The more it’s fun (cocoa and cookies) the less it’s a chore. Have gift lists, address book, note cards, paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, crayons and stamps at the ready. Younger children can draw pictures or sign notes they dictate to you; older children may need help with spelling and addressing envelopes.