In Colonial times children had to follow strict rules.

They were not to make noises with their mouth or any other body parts.

At meals, children could not sit down. When a meal was good they couldn't say that it was good.

Read more in the Book of manners

Manners at Dinner

In colonial days, you had to be quiet at dinner.   Children had to stand at the table for meals. They had to study a book of manners.

SING NOT, HUM NOT, WRIGGLE NOT. 

Make not a noise with thy lips, tongue or breath in thy eating or drinking. 

On the other hand, it was good manners to eat with your fingers. There were spoons but no forks until later colonial days. They used the same knife to eat and to work with wood.