Hey everyone!

We're a group of year 5 Students from Raffles Institution of Singapore, and we are currently doing a study on acts of social graciousness in society, namely clearing one's food tray after use in fast food restaurants. We have conducted a survey on a few US residents and have found that it is a social norm to clear up after oneself after finishing their meal, quite contrary to the situation in Singapore. We believe one of the reasons why this is so is due to the influence of parents with regards to this aspect. The following questions are to help us gain a better understanding of the influence of parents in cultivating the habit of cleaning up after oneself after each meal, and we seek your help in answering them. All input is greatly appreciated, and any extra points pertaining to this issue will be invaluable to us as well.

Do you teach your children to clear their trays after each meal?

Would you employ the use of incentives of penalties in the process of teaching them so?

How would you set rules with regards to clearing trays for your children?

Do your children know that they should clear up after themselves before being taught so in school?

Do you think you play as big a role (or an even bigger role) as oher influential bodies such as the schools or the government with respect to educating your child on such social graces?

Comment on the general parenting skills practices in America? ( Eg. Is it centered on teaching your child to be responsible / independent etc. )?

We hope you could share some of your views with us.Thank you for taking the time to respond to these earnest inquiries.