WEST PITTSTON — Learning manners is an important part of growing up.

The West Pittston Library is assisting in teaching those manners to youngsters through a program called “Your Little Treasures.”

The lecture will start with a meet-and-greet so the children will learn how to properly shake hands while making eye contact, and they will practice how to introduce people. They will learn host and guest skills that focus on how to be a good guest at someone’s house and be a good host when people come to their house.

Afterwards, the program will focus on dining skills such as setting a table, sitting properly and practicing skills on cutting and eating food properly with snacks provided by the library.

Related Video

“Your Little Treasures” is part of the Alice Judge Costello Lecture Series, named after the late Alice Judge Costello, an avid supporter of the library.

Youth Services Coordinator Summer Belles said “Your Little Treasures” was not originally planned to be part of the lecture series, but it fell perfectly into place.

“Since it was all about treasures, we put that spin on it,” she said. “Your kids are your treasures, so we thought we could kind of make that work.”

The idea to hold the lecture came to Belles after looking through a brochure left behind by Jill Evans Kryston after she had done a different lecture at the library.

Evans Kryston serves as the director of Defining Manners — A School of Contemporary Protocol in Shavertown that, according to its website, focuses on teaching the proper use of everyday manners such as saying “please,” or “thank you.”

“I’m pleased to be invited there,” said Evans Kryston of coming to the West Pittston Library. “The services I offer in teaching children social skills are valuable to their present and future lives and I’m always excited to get the word out and teach skills that will help them make friends more easily, and teach them skills that can open big doors in life.”

“In her brochure, there is so much and even on her website, there’s much you can do,” said Belles. “I called her and I asked her to help me out and point me in the right direction. I loved the sound of all these things and this lecture will be like a sampler, so she’ll touch on various things but she can go more in depth on specific things if she needs to.”

Belles said a program such as this has not been held at the West Pittston Library before so it will be a new experience for both her and everyone in attendance and she hopes something can be learned by everyone.

“I hope it gives the children self-confidence,” she said. “I hope they gain self-confidence and that they know how to handle themselves without necessarily being prompted by Mom to say ‘Thank you,’ or, ‘Go say hi and introduce yourself.’ After this, hopefully, they will already know that’s kind of the natural thing to do.”

Children take part in a summer reading lecture program in 2014 at the West Pittston Library. The children’s lecture ‘Your Little Treasures,’ which focuses on social etiquette and table manners, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the library.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Treasures-Lecture.jpeg.optimal.jpegChildren take part in a summer reading lecture program in 2014 at the West Pittston Library. The children’s lecture ‘Your Little Treasures,’ which focuses on social etiquette and table manners, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the library. Submitted photo
‘Your Little Treasures’ lecture being held at West Pittston Library

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Want to go?

‘Your Little Treasures’ will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. This class offers children a sampling of social etiquette, communication skills and table manners taught by Jill Evans Kryston, Certified Etiquette Consultant. Participants will learn to shake hands using greetings and eye contact, make proper introductions and practice basic dining skills. Each participant will set a table using a place mat which they have designed. This class teaches the first steps to developing confidence, self-control and increasing self-esteem in communication and social know-how. This program is for children ages 6-12 only. Call the West Pittston Library at 570-654-9847 to register. Limited seating is available.

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher