Moments A Day

Personal growth for kids and adults

Mealtime Moments: Printable Activity Cards to Build Character at the Table

Mealtime Moments main pic

Mealtime Moments is a set of 30 printable activity cards for building character over a family meal. All you will need to follow the activities is what you will already have at the table!  (Some activities require some food or a utensil, for example.)

Each card offers a simple activity which focuses on exploring one character trait (also called a “virtue”), such as responsibility or friendliness.  The “games” are simple and will offer a few minutes of fun at the table, while discussing something meaningful as well.

To get you cards now, just sign up for my monthly newsletter and you will be sent the link to download them shortly.

How can you use Mealtime Moments?

Pick a card at random during breakfast, choose one during the weekly family dinner, or just select at random when you want to perk up lunch a bit. Enjoy laughing and learning {about values and priorities} together.

reading card

Character traits in the set include:

Acceptance, Attentiveness, Caution, Cleanliness, Compassion, Courage, Creativity, Curiosity, Determination, Enthusiasm, Focus, Friendliness, Generosity, Gentleness, Humor, Independence, Joyfulness, Justice, Love, Moderation, Patience, Peacefulness, Reflectiveness, Respect, Responsibility, Self-Discipline, Thankfulness, Trust, Truthfulness, Unity

cards

Directions for making your Mealtime Moments:

There are many ways to make this “game.” You may wish to print on regular printer paper, colored paper, or card-style paper.  Cut the cards.  Laminate or paste onto thick card for more durability.  If you wish, you can print the Mealtime Moments cover card (duplicated 4 times on the last page of the printable) and paste it onto the backside of your cards.  Then choose your selected container to keep them in!

directions

Here are some ways you may like to keep your cards, other than a jar:

Use an empty tissue box. (Let your kids decorate the box, if you want.)

tissue box style

Keep the cards in an envelope (stick it in your purse and use it when you are at a restaurant!).

Or punch a hole in the cards and bind them together with a a ring or a piece of ribbon.

envelope style

Mealtime Moments is a free gift to everyone who “likes” my Facebook page. 

I am now giving this resource as a gift to all those that sign up for my newsletter or posts via email.   You can do that here.

dinner time

To see 8 fun ways to make this resource, visit this post.

8 Ways to Make Mealtime Moments

mom

This resource is dedicated to my mother who always made sure we had healthy family meals growing up, together around the table, and did her best to teach me the values that would help me lead a successful life.

I love her more than words can say and she is my inspiration for being a mom.

Thanks also to the illustrator of the Mealtime Moments logo who you can find here.

 

I hope you enjoy Mealtime Moments as much as my family has!

Feel free to leave feedback below.

Mealtime Moments Collage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Awesome idea! Would love to borrow these ideas for around our dinner table…so sad for those of us not on Facebook, we miss out on a lot!

    Reply

      • hi,
        just looked at the introduction to the ideas about mealtime moments.Really a great idea for character building.
        I donot have facebook account.I already subscribed for your newsletter.
        Could you please send me the link to download free mealtime moments activity cards please
        Thanks
        Om

        Reply

    • I too am not on Facebook, but love this awesome idea. I have been looking for something more then small talk at the dinner table. This would be perfect for my family.

      Reply

  2. These are so incredible, Chelsea! I am sooo lazy when it comes to doing stuff with my kids and even *I* can do this! They are so creative. I would’ve never have thought to do these SIMPLE games with my kids at mealtime. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Are you trying from a phone or Ipad Drue? I hear it does not always work unless you are on a computer. Let me know if you are still having trouble.

      Reply

  6. Hi! Awesome idea. I am not on FB either. Please may I have the pdf upon signing up for your newsletter also?
    Thank you for your kindness!
    Cris

    Reply

  7. THANK YOU…just found these today & printed a copy off for my family! Can’t wait to try this the topics look well varied and I can’t wait to see how my kids ages 2,7,8,12, & 14 will all respond!

    Reply

  11. I signed up for your newsletter…. and I am not on FB either! 😉
    Can’t wait for the link! My kids will love this……

    Blessings,
    Janet

    Reply

  18. Hi! Love this idea. I would love to print them however I already get your emails. Could you send the link to me please for download? Thank you

    Reply

  19. Hi! This is awesome! I am already subscribing your blog. Could you send me a link so I could download these cards please?
    Thanks from New Zealand

    Reply

  21. This reminds me of a game I made up for my grandchildren, we called it “The Nickle Game.”
    One day we sat down (4 young boys) and made up a list of table manners (with much input from Grandma) which was added on to as more ideas came to us. At each boy’s place at the table was a small ramekin dish with 20 nickels, and at Grandma’s place was an empty dish. Each time one boy broke one of the “manners” Grandma reached over and removed a nickel from his dish and put it into her dish. Nothing was said, just a nickel removed. That stopped all conversation for a few seconds, then they all tried to guess what was done. No scolding, no lecture, just a nickel removed, then much laughter, except from the boy who lost the nickel. At the end of the week the remaining nickels were added up and put on a list. (The boys usually spent 9 weeks at Grandma’s for the summer holidays). A quarter was added to the name of the boy with the most nickels left. Then the dishes were filled up again for the next week. At the end of the summer the boy with the highest total got an extra dollar, then they all received the money they had “earned” throughout the summer to take home with them They are all in the high 20’s now and Grandma still has that bag of nickels.

    Reply

  22. Hi Chelsea, like always your stuff is brilliant. And I think because of all the awesome resources you have out there, my son loves me a little more ;).
    But also I was wondering if you have or have plans to translate these resources to spanish? Because for us that would be the topping on the cake.

    Reply

    • Hi Johanna what a lovely comment to receive 🙂 I don’t speak Spanish myself but would be more than happy for someone to translate into Spanish, then I could host it on my website! Would you or anyone you know be willing to do the translation? Email me! 🙂

      Reply

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