Do you always eat at the dining table?

[SylvesterTheCat]

DP and I eat breakfast (not always together) and lunch at the table but have dinner in front of the telly on trays
But now that we have a DC about to start on solids I think I'd like to start having "dinner as a family" at The Table. Thoughts?

Always at the table though usually the smaller table in the living room as our actual dining room is bloody freezing in winter!

It’s still a proper eating table in the living room, and tv is switched off.

we occasionally eat in front of the tv, usually at this time of year when it's the only room in the house that is heated!! it's unusual though. We have breakfast at the table every morning, kids are at school for lunch, then dinner is probably 6 evenings out of 7 at the table. Works for us.

Nearly always at the table except for rare occasions if one or both the adults are eating on their own later on.
More sociable
Less area for mess/ dirt to spread in
Part of the kitchen so easy to clean up

DS (7) makes enough mess as it is, I dread to think what the sofa/ lounge carpet would be like if he had to balance and eat... I find it hard enough!

It's useful to eat at the table with a baby as they make a lot of mess. It's good for children to have experience of being able to behave at the table and to learn good table manners when they are little.

We are very relaxed though now and eat in front of the telly or at the table, sometimes together, sometimes at different times, sometimes one or two of us together. Honestly, my DDs are older now and they've got this.

Dinner table. Dinner in front of the tv is a treat.

It's just me and DP and sometimes the lodger, and we more often than not shovel in our dinners while watching telly. It's nice to sit at the table sometimes though, to catch up and/or to eat things that require more complicated cutlery manoeuvres or sharing things.

If I had kids I think I'd do dinner at the table, with telly dinners being a treat.

grew up in front of the TV. spent the last couple years eating at the table with OH family.

Will probably be a 'table' family when we eventually get our own place as i do prefer it.

Although you can't beat getting into bed mid-netflix when you're alone and pigging out on a favourite dinner hehe

We eat at the table. The only time we eat on trays is when guests come over and we basically cram. My son and daughter eat at the table too in their highchairs. It’s family time for us. No phones are allowed either. I use it as a chance to discuss the events of the day or what’s been occurring on the news.

Breakfast is generally on the go because mornings are so rushed but evening meals are always dining table.

OvO - sounds like we had similar experiences. The only time my family ate together was Christmas - I don't come from a foodie family and we had a lot of ready meals etc. I think learning cutlery skills and table manners are important for development - I have to admit to being a little embarrassed when we go out to eat with DPs as everyone just digs in immediately without waiting for everyone to get their food. I love cooking and hope when I have DCs that we can do family dinners at the table and catch up on our days - maybe wishful thinking!

Dinner always, breakfast rarely, lunch sometimes. Depends on what we’re all doing and if one person is cooking for everyone or we’re doing our own thing. DS2 is autistic and would take all meals into his room if he could so we compromise and he has lunch on his own in his ‘den’ and dinner at the table with us.

Yes big kitchen table always eaten at, usually all of us

It’s the best family time

I insisted on it from Day 1 of living with DH

We have nearly every meal, all 4 of us sat at the dining room table.

Occasionally have pizza in front of the tv.

No, because we don't have one. Our house isn't big enough.

We eat on the sofa in front of the tv

Always at the kitchen table. But DC still have terrible cutlery skills

We never eat at the table. Ever. We all enjoy sitting in front of the tv and eating.

We do however eat out a lot, several times a week so both dc have very good table manners etc because of this.

We just don’t feel comfortable unless sitting on the sofas at home. I chat to my family non stop all the time, at mealtimes I just want to tune out and watch rubbish on telly.

We eat Sunday lunch off of the table but it's such a faff and we have to move all the furniture around (tiny flat) so we eat in front of the TV. We don't have trays though

Always at the table - have a table in the kitchen and wouldn’t dream of eating in front of the TV, but then I don’t watch that much TV anyway.

I don't even have a table so we always eat like slobs with trays on knees!

Tables just turn into dumping grounds in our house.

We eat breakfast / lunches at a breakfast bar. Dinner at the dining room table.

No phones, screens at the table and TV off.

The benefits of eating as a family together are well known. When you eat on the sofa watching the TV you mindless eat and don’t communicate with eat other.

Almost always. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We have the occasional pizza/takeaway tray dinner in front of the TV but it's considered a treat.

It's almost the only time I get to speak to DS, apart from the short rides to school.

Unfortunately, DP is from one of those families where everyone sits round a table with umpteen pieces of cutlery and a butter dish, napkins, special historical heirloom napkin rings, ketchup in a little lazy susan, tiny little pearl bread knives, crappy blotting paper white bread( blergh) in a bread basket etc etc. Plus a pretty mediocre meal and reminiscences of Auntie Jan's excursion to Froglington on Sea in 1956.
One time I went there for dinner was three chips, frozen cod and 40 pieces of flatware.
So no, at home we have trays and a spoon.

Yes. Unless it’s pizza and video night or just me, DH and DS1 having a late takeaway.

I’ve got 4 DC and it’s a good touchstone to get everyone together and keep on top of things before they get out of control.

The little ones take turns to tell everyone about their day and everyone else has to be quiet and listen.
Keeps us all connected and has helped my one with fussy tendencies eat better.

The teens still turn up, screen free and join in out of habit. Usually with unannounced friends . Sometimes the friends turn up (still unnanounced) at supper time when the teens aren’t home .

No,never. I don't have a dining table. Nowhere for it to go. Plus it's only me and my son,so no need of one.

grumpy
Back when it was just me and DS1, we used to eat together on the sofa too.
It’s different if it’s just two of you.