Smarty Parents began over a bowl of deliciously sticky oatmeal that the founders’ two-year-old son was spreading into every nook and cranny of their wood dining room table. After experimenting with available placemats and having little success, two determined parents saw an opportunity. Thus, the Piggy Platter™ placemat was born.

During its development however, focus group findings showed that a great number of families don’t eat meals together or do so with the distraction of the television. Child development research reveals that kids who share a family meal together on a regular and reliable basis are healthier, happier and better students. But eating a family dinner together with young kids is not an easy, so in response, Smarty Parents also created the Perry & Penny brand.

An August 2003 survey from Parents Magazine and HIT Entertainment finds that 95% of parents surveyed feel that more people lack good manners today than when they were growing up. Among a list of qualities parents try to nurture in their children, manners was ranked #1 or #2 by 52% of the parents (highest ranking of any quality). Smarty Parents developed Perry & Penny to give parents a complete package to introduce the topic eating etiquette and manners as well as provide educational media for underneath the clear Piggy Platter.

With today’s high-tech gadgets and hurried lifestyles, Smarty Parents’ social mission is to bring back the tradition of sharing a family meal together.

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• Who are Perry & Penny?