Hospitality Chart – Teaching Hospitality to Kids

Hospitality is the word of the week in our character development series. Teaching kids to be hospitable can be so much fun. If you model it, I bet they’ve picked up on how to properly care for guests. However, to transfer it to a natural behavior, it can be trained. This year (as was last year since we’re following the same schedule), the word “hospitality” fell on the 4th of July. We were hosting a party, so what a great way to continue the discussion as well as practice what we have learned. Before the party I sat down with the girls to ask them if they remembered what hospitality means. I related it to the word “hospital” saying it means taking care of others’ needs and making our guests feel comfortable, welcome and served while they are with us. I then had them brainstorm ways to be hospitable, and this is the list they were able to come up with in our discussion (I helped provide some other ideas as well):

After brainstorming with them, I printed up our hospitality chart. This was a way for them to earn stickers by showing hospitable behaviors to our guests. There was no other reward attached. I was hurrying a bit for the party so printed out a rough version. I made you a printable and made it look a bit more pretty for your own use.

If you are not entertaining people anytime soon, I would try and find a reason to have people over. That might be way out of your comfort zone. A friend of mine always invites new people over that are visiting her church. I think that is a very inspiring goal. She had to let go over her standards of a perfect house and perfect meal every time to make it happen, but building that relationship is more important. It will give your kids great practice in hospitality as they both take part and witness your own loving actions. If asking someone over isn’t a possibility right now, you could always play host with your kids. They could plan a party for you where they get to be the hosts and act out all of the hospitable behaviors.

I snapped one quick, not-so-good picture of Abby talking care of people’s garbage at the party. I thought this might be a good time to share some other pictures from the 4th of July too. Thank you to all who has served our country (and wives!!!) to give us the freedom we celebrate daily.

The annual 4th of July kids’ photo shoot.

Goofiness.

The five minute tablescape with the crepe paper flag we made and pinwheels and napkins I bought at Party City. I used some decorations my mom had for the rest. I put so much effort into Abby’s party, just days before that I tend to go simple on 4th of July. I tend to make my own pinwheels, but I loved these ones at Party City, and it was just easy.

Great Grandpa & Corban

Family Gathering for Hot Dogs and Burgers – What else?

More family

Abby, Kenzie and their Cousin Elena

My husband, Jeremy, and his dad

Abby being hospitable.

First exposure to Pop Its.

Corban got really into the fireworks. He had all sorts of commentary with each one.

Another cousin shot

My sister’s husband bought some fun, smaller fireworks at…of all places…Costco. We are lucky to have a number of neighbors doing the big ones. It feels like our own personal show coming from all angles.