Visiting a tearoom is a splendid activity for the young and old alike. However, teatime is often confined to fancy hotels or upscale restaurants, which aren’t exactly kid-friendly. Thankfully a local etiquette expert (and her business) is helping make teatime and manners more fun and approachable for children in Washington DC.
This maven of manners is the delightful Rebecca Czarniecki, AKA Tea With Mrs. B, who uses a mix of traditional and modern etiquette practices to make her tearoom educational while simultaneously entertaining for young ones.
My daughter and I were invited to attend Toddler Tea earlier this fall at the Tea With Mrs. B tearoom in Falls Church, VA. My 4 year old, who loves playing dress-up, has hosted her own play tea parties with stuffed animals at home. However this was a special occasion, attending a real tea party on location at Mrs. B’s elegant yet kid-friendly space.
We were joined by a handful of other energetic three and four year olds, parents and grandparents. The children excitedly entered the tearoom as Mrs. B. introduced herself and and began chatting with the group.
During the next hour Mrs. B. wove in etiquette lessons such as how to formally introduce yourself and greet someone, how to curtsey, how to properly set the table, and how to stir your tea. All the while, she captivated the children’s attention, keeping them engaged and whisking them around the tearoom to find elegant hats, feather boas and jewelry (which parents were encouraged to wear as well). Mrs. B was a great story-teller, incorporating tales of ladies and magical fairies.
Our time together culminated with a tea party, including lemonade for the children and tea for the adults, finger sandwiches, brownies and cookies.
Toddler Tea with Mrs. B is held on the third Saturdays of every other month from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. This special program is geared toward younger children, and the cost is $35 per couple (adult + child). Boys and girls alike are invited to enjoy a manners-themed story time, crafts and tea.
The Toddler Tea often fills up fast, so be sure to e-mail B@TeaWithMrsB.com to reserve your spot.
Upcoming Toddler Tea dates include:
- Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (a special December date has been added!)
- Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Another budget-friendly offering from Tea With Mrs. B is her Open Play which is held on select weekdays for ages 0 – 5 years old. The cost is only $15 per couple (adult + child) and $5/person for any additional children. This sophisticated open playtime allows children and parents to read from Mrs. B’s library, make crafts and enjoy unstructured playtime in a fun and fancy space. On the third Thursdays of the month they currently have French lessons included during Open Play. Light tea treats are always served, and parents are encouraged to set up their own tea party with their child. You can check out the Tea With Mrs. B. event page for scheduled dates and upcoming events.
If you’re looking to bring some refinement to your playtime and introduce your child to social graces, be sure to visit Tea With Mrs. B! They also offer birthday parties, day camps, spring break camps, manners classes and more. Tea With Mrs. B. is truly a unique experience that both children and parents will enjoy — allowing you to partake of an elegant tea party, enjoy fanciful stories and playtime, all while cultivating politeness and positivity in your child.
Connect with Tea With Mrs. B
Address: 136 W. Jefferson St, Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: 202-448-2930
Email: B@TeaWithMrsB.com
Be sure to connect with Tea With Mrs. B. to find out about future tearoom events and specials!
Website: TeaWithMrsB.com
Facebook: FB.com/TeaWithMrsB
Twitter: @TeaWithMrsB
Instagram: @TeaWithMrsB
Disclosure: I was invited by Tea With Mrs. B to attend Toddler Tea with my daughter. I received no compensation to write this post. The opinions stated here are my own, and I love to share fun events and local family-friendly experiences with my readers. Please note that pricing and dates of Toddler Tea and Open Play are accurate as of November 10, 2015, but are subject to change in the future, at the discretion of the business owner. To read my formal disclosure policy, please click here.
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