Teaching Kids Through Tea Parties

Throwing a tea party is a fun way to teach kids about tea, and they can learn important life skills too. Children benefit from all forms of play where they're able to use their imagination and get creative. Why not use a tea party to fuel those growing minds? I've written about the benefits of sharing tea with kids, and tea parties are a perfect way to help kids learn the etiquette of tea party manners, taking turns, learning to be mindful, and get a little knowledge about tea along the way. Children as young as 4 can enjoy sitting at a tea party and learn the importance of interacting with friends. I recently written about the history of tea sets for kids, but why not take those tea sets and make them more than just toys?

Setting Up
You don't need a fancy tea set-up for your kids' tea party. Adult or kid sized cups will do, and actually mismatched cups make things more colorful and fun. You can do any sort savory and sweet foods you'd like. I like to serve everything as finger food, since that's a traditional way to serve afternoon tea treats. You can even just keep it to a simple tea sandwich and a few cookies. Get the children involved in the planning and set-up, they'll feel more ownership and involvement in the party.

For the tea, you can use all sorts of herbal blends. I've done workshops for kids using floral, fruity, and herbaceous blends and the kids really are game for trying everything. I wouldn't recommend giving children large amounts caffeinated tea, but a a sip or two of green, black, oolong, or white tea could help them better understand different types of tea. If you're serving even a sip of caffeinated tea to children other than your own, you should get permission from the parents first. Also having the leaves available to touch and smell is a great way for them to interact with the tea.

Learning Life Skills Through Tea Etiquette
Throwing a tea party will teach kids valuable life skills through tea etiquette. Here are a few examples:
-Learning how to behave around a table. Sitting (relatively) still, listening to the individual talking, and learning how to ask questions are all things you do at a tea party, and these are important skills to work on at an early age.
-Waiting your turn is an important skill, and the tea party setting makes it fun. Waiting your turn to take tea and sweets, or waiting your turn to ask or answer a question.
-Sharing! Need I say more?
-The absence of electronics- knowing when to put the devices away is so vital these days.
-Saying 'please' and 'thank you'. This takes constant practice and repetition. Putting it in the context of a tea party makes it fun, and it will become second nature after enough practice.
-The fun in tasting and trying new things. Kids will be more interested in trying new foods if it's in a setting where they see their peers enjoying it. They'll also learn to slow down and taste.
-Learning that tea is for everyone, not just adults, and for both girls and boys.

Learning Basics About Tea
Through a simple tea party, kids can learn simple basics about tea. Here are just a few of them:
-Learning how to prepare tea in a pot. You can use loose leaves or tea bags, but it's helpful for kids to learn how tea is made.
-If you're using loose tea leaves, kids will get to see how tea can vary in shape, size, and color based on how it's processed.
-They'll learn there are different types of tea, and also how different herbs and flowers can be used for tisanes.
-Children will see how a tea set isn't just something you play with, it's for enjoying tea with friends.

Once children are in elementary school other subjects can be added, such as:
-How different cultures drink tea.
-Historical tea facts.
-More in-depth information on tea growing and processing.

As you can see, there is so much children can learn through a simple tea party! Teaching kids about tea is a new series I'll be featuring much more on the blog in the coming months. I've given tea seminars to children in the past, and as a mother of two little ones I have a bit of first hand experience in the matter. I look forward to sharing more with everyone soon.

Sharing Tea With Children

When you think of children and tea, does your mind immediately go to a tea party with tiny cups and a frilly teapot? While I'm a fan of adorable tea sets and could endlessly play tea party with my kids, I've enjoyed introducing them to what tea drinking actually is. When we share tea together we not only talk about the type of tea, the flavors we taste, but also where the tea originated, and how it was made.

Caffeine should be kept to a minimum with kids, it can have side effects and of course cause them to be a bit too hyperactive. But I have been known to let my children steal sips of my tea (sometimes rather large gulps). I think it's important to share my tea with them. There are a few reasons why:

--Tea allows children to get comfortable with interesting flavors, which will inspire them to keep trying new ones. My daughter now enjoys smelling and tasting new teas, and describing the flavors to me. It's a fun activity and it develops her palate. She's an adventurous eater and tea drinker. There isn't anything she won't try. The encouragement to try new flavors has opened her mind up to new things.

--Tea nurtures mindfulness: when we drink we observe the tea, consider how it tastes, and think about where it came from. This in turn helps children become more aware as they sip. I  hope this type of observation and mindfulness will slowly start to permeate other parts of their day.

--Tea promotes patience: Waiting for the water to boil and watching the tea as it steeps helps little ones realize everything takes time, and cannot be rushed. The water also must cool a bit before they can drink it.

--Tea expands the little tea drinker's knowledge of different areas and cultures of the world, where tea is grown, what cultures drink tea. We can look at a map together, see different parts of the world and understand how far away they are. How different cultures drink tea in different ways.

--Tea is an alternative to sugary drinks- rooibos and fruit/herb blends are good choices for kids. They are interesting, have no sugar, and can stimulate conversation. As they get older they can move onto pure teas, and hopefully have less interest in soda and other sugary beverages.

--Tea promotes and understanding of crop to cup- Children can learn how tea is picked, processed, and sent to a store. All of the people that may be involved in the process and how much effort went into one little cup.

--Tea carves out one-on-one time for the caregiver and child. A few moments to enjoy time being spent together.

Taking tea with my children is a way to bring tea happiness, and share something I love with my family.

A Community Institution

I've lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope for well over a year now, but have not mentioned one of the most popular 'hangs', the Tea Lounge. Sitting in the lounge, it feels like this 12 year institution has been in the area for decades. Before I even moved to Brooklyn I remember taking refuge here after a long day of exploring the neighborhood. It is a gathering place for all the different personalities in the area to relax and refuel.

With tea in the name, thankfully the list of hot and iced options do not disappoint. The tea menu is diverse, with something to please just about everyone. Since the weather has been sticky and steamy, I've been sipping on their iced black tea. It's perfectly strong, even when the ice melts. It has a nice bold black tea flavor that lasts through the entire drink. There are lots of flavored iced teas as well, but I always go with standard black. What can I say, I'm predictable. Whether you are ordering a full pot of tea, or just a cup to go, prices are competitive and fair, and service is friendly.

This is a very laid back joint, with dim lighting and lots of mismatched couches and tables. It is a welcoming, comfortable place to sit and read, write, or watch your kids play. It feels like you are sitting in a large living room. There is a bulletin board for events and sales happening throughout the neighborhood, and it is always packed with notices. My children enjoy the space, and they even have music classes for kids during the week. There is a schedule of ongoing events such as musical performances. They serve food and alcoholic drinks as well, but of course I usually just go for a cup of tea and neighborhood charm.

Tea Lounge: 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY: Recommended

Steep Thoughts: The Parenting and Tea Edition

Today I've been digging out the teas that give me the most caffeinated bang for my exhausted buck. Right now I'm once again steeping Taylor's of Harrogate's English Breakfast, because it's the strongest-tasting tea I have in the office. I know that taste doesn't correspond to caffeine content, but at least it helps me think that I'm waking myself up. Our daughter has been having sleep troubles for quite awhile now, and I need every bit of caffeine I can get.

I find that being a parent makes me approach tea differently than before I had kids. Of course I need that caffeine now more than ever, but I am more desperate for a break, and time to reflect. Often I can only steal a sip here and there, but when I have time for a cup, it's a moment just for myself. Not time to answer questions, or make sure no one is going to hurt themselves, or eat a moldy cracker that has been hiding under the couch. Taking a moment to drink tea also helps me brainstorm and problem solve. I get a chance to mull things over. It also keeps me sitting on the edge of insanity instead of hanging off of it. It helps me find patience, which makes me a better parent.

I enjoy sharing tea with my daughter. She already knows the difference between green and black tea, and is familiar with some of the flavors. I hope she develops joyful memories around sharing a cup of tea with her mother. A special time for just the two of us to relax and reflect.

For those that have children, do you share your tea with them?