Teatime Benefits
Taking time out of a busy or chaotic day to slow down and enjoy a cup of tea and conversation can be a great benefit to you and your children. Here are some of the advantages of incorporating teatime into your schedule:
- It’s a great way to facilitate family bonding. Holding a warm drink naturally causes you to slow down and still a bit. Share a pot of tea as you sit together and chat.
- It provides a break from screens.
- Teatime is a great way for kids to practice serving others. Take turns preparing tea and setting the table. Additionally, it is the perfect time to teach basic etiquette.
- Tea is known for its numerous health benefits, such as reducing stress, improving digestion, and boosting the immune system. *
- You can use teatime as a way to reduce food waste. Teatime is synonymous with bite-sized treats and is the perfect opportunity to use up small portions of fruit, veggies, and other snacks before they spoil.
- It can be an asset to your homeschool lessons. For example, you can learn about tea in different cultures or the botany of tea leaves, or tie in a certain type of tea to what you are currently studying. Here at Field Trip Texas, one of our favorites is Prickly Pear Cactus tea. Prickly Pear Cactus is the Texas state plant.
Teatime Activities
Consider pairing a fun activity with teatime. Here are some suggestions:
- Arts & Crafts – Bring a box of craft supplies or sketchpads to the table and get creative. One of our students prefers to bring putty or slime to play with instead of crafting.
- Book or Audiobook – Take turns reading aloud or listening to an audiobook together. Go a step further by creating an informal family book club.
- Conversation Cards – These come in different styles and topics ranging from hilarious to thought-provoking. Take turns answering questions and getting to know each other better.
- Try New Foods – One of our students loves to bake creative treats and afternoon tea is the perfect time to showcase new recipes.
- Poetry Time – Read or write poetry or bring a poem to share. Check out our new Poetry Activity Booklet.
- Play a Game – Set up a board game to play together.
- Snacks – This one probably seems obvious, but small treats are always a big hit.
- Make it Fancy – “Pinkies up!” Set the table with cloth napkins and grandma’s teacups. Add some flowers (and maybe a tiara) for a bougie tea party.
- Create your own “Finer Things Club.” (Thank you to Pam, Oscar, and Toby for this idea. But not you Andy…not you.) Everyone brings something they want to share. We have been treated to many funny videos at the “Finer Things” family teatime.
- Garden Party – Take teatime outdoors. This can be in your backyard, or you can pack to-go cups for the park.
Tips:
- *Don’t forget about the caffeine content. Most herbal teas are safe for kids over 2 years old and do not contain caffeine.
- Keep it relaxed. The point is to take a break and enjoy each other’s company. If someone complains about tea, just let them put something else in their cup.
- Keep it flexible. This can be a daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever the mood strikes event.
- Don’t forget ambiance. We enjoy modern songs remixed to classical music during teatime.
- Pick up books about tea or tea parties from your library.
- Presentation is a great way to make it feel special. This doesn’t need to be a great deal of effort. For example, serve strawberries and cream in a champagne glass or add an orange slice to the rim of the teacups.
Resource Suggestions:
- Picture Book: Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman
- Picture Book: Teatime Around the World
- Reader: Madeline’s Tea Party
- Cookbook: American Girl Tea Parties: Delicious Sweets & Savory Treats to Share
- Talking Point Conversation Cards
- Poetry Book: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Free Resource Library
For more fun and educational resources, subscribe to Field Trip Texas and get access to the Free Resource Library.
We offer a range of educational resources designed to be both enriching and fun. Happy learning!
