A family gathering, a birthday party, or having guests over for a meal can be quite an anxious affair for parents who struggle to get their kids to follow table etiquette and be on their best behaviour.

Andheri-based image consultant and soft skills trainer Farida Dahee first observed this about four years ago at her daughter's birthday party. "Even before the cake was cut, the kids had pounced on it," she chuckles about the memory, adding how mannerisms speak volumes about a person's upbringing, values and family background.