Do you let your dc eat in their bedrooms?

[RibenaSky]

Or always at the table? Or a combination
Just wondering what others do about this

They dont like the table but I dont like crumbs/food etc in bedrooms
Ages 10 and 12
Tia

All drinks, meals and snacks at the table, aside from chocolate and sweets which can be on the sofa in front of the tv. We're flexible on when they eat though, if they don't want to eat with everyone they can eat alone at the table, and if its not a weekend family dinner they can watch youtube on the tablet at mealtimes/ snacktimes. Middle daughter has ASD, other 2 are on the pathway for diagnosis, and I am also autistic, when we all have meals together it is non negotiable that we all sit, eat and talk to each other with no tech or other distractions. In my view its a life skill they need to learn for adulthood, and one I learnt as a kid too. Kids are almost 9, 6, and 4 for context.

We don't even own a dining table, our house is too small

We eat main meals together but I do let the kids eat snacks in their rooms

Mixture here some meals at table and some on knee or in rooms. They have good table manners and can eat out or in company with the correct manners.
I think it’s probably half and half. I do understand the eating as a family at table views too but I don’t feel it’s slack to allow older children to eat in rooms sometimes.
I’ve realised as I get older that a lot of this won’t matter as long as there is balance.
For instance we have just spent 4 days away in each other’s company, talking playing games eating out and travelling in the car. I feel we have plenty of social time but I can imagine it could swing the other way and some families could get used to not connecting at all.
When they were younger we always ate at the table for hot meals.

@BillieSpain

DD eats at home for every single meal. All home made, from scratch. That is what matters.

Does it fuck.

I have never allowed bedroom eating after reading about the state of teenagers bedrooms on here when mine were small. No food limits the type of mess.

Table, nana trays on lap and sometimes ds will eat in his room.

Usually he eats lunch in his room if he's studying or on a study zoom.

I've been known to suddenly be starving as I try and sleep and bring tea and toast to bed for a quick pre sleep snack!

I'm a great believer in Instilling good social habits but also teaching choices and sensible choices. If I ever needed to have an argument with ds about eating main meals in the lounge/dining room I'd have it and re think any eating in bedrooms.

But he's always excepted it's a once in a while thing so it's not been an issue IMO.

Yeah sometimes, if not feeling too well, or really tired. My mum used to make me a tray up when I was a kid , if I wasn’t well, with a boiled egg or sandwich and a pot of tea, and I’d eat it in bed watching my little portable tv. That can be so nice sometimes.
Most of the time we eat together though. On the subject of teens rooms I make mine clean theirs, and don’t understand MN land where there’s mouldy food/ filth everywhere. No rooms like that in my house!!

I say no, but they do it anyway 🙄
Teenage boys who are never full!

I prefer at the table but occasionally on the couch depending on what it is. I used to let DD eat in her room but it just made my work harder having to clean two rather than one eating area x

Absolutely nothing other than a water bottle upstairs
We never ate in bedrooms as kids nor would I expect my children too either - eating food in a bedroom is disgusting

@DinosaurOfFire

I agree whatever the family circumstances learning to eat together round a table is a life skill and it's nice to be together as a family

Almost all meals at the table, snacks allowed elsewhere. Only drink allowed upstairs is water though!

Most of the time we don't, but occasionally we do. We don't have a "rule" on this. Some people seem to like creating lots of rules and regulations to abide by.

Mine have desks so they can have snacks, drinks etc in their rooms. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest as long as they bring washing up down to the kitchen.

I've taken my room eater to many restaurants, she knows exactly how to behave in one, she chose and between them paid for lunch in a Michelin starred restaurant for her and her BF's first anniversary when they were 16 and 17.
You can teach things without insisting on it daily.
She's a dab hand with chopsticks too.

My DC are younger which does influence my attitude right now. Snacks that don't make much mess are allowed.

I do prefer meals at the table TBH. We will have things like pizza and chips on the sofa in front of the TV (DC usually sit on the floor!) as a family.

What is the set up in your house? If they like to eat alone, can they do so in a separate kitchen or living room downstairs? (Our house is open plan downstairs though!)

Food at the table always. Though when I'm not here they do eat on the sofa. No food upstairs. Though DS1 (22) does sometimes at lunch time but he brings crockery downstairs straight away so I haven't really said anything about it.

@BettyUnderswoob

Always at the table, except for Saturday night when we have pizza in front of the telly as a treat. NEVER in bedrooms. I think dinner should be a family time.

Exactly this in my house (do you live in my house?) mealtimes at the table, Saturday night pizza in the living room watching a film. Only time they eat upstairs is if they are ill enough to stay in bed. 8 Dc aged 1-14.

We eat at the table for every meal
Snacks for my DD are often in the living room
Nothing goes upstairs
We have the TV on in the background all the time except dinner then the TV is off and no messing around at dinner time either DD is only 3

Yes for my secondary age dd if there’s a reason (zoom call and not finished dinner, for example) or if it’s a cup of tea and a snack while doing homework. No for my primary aged one, as she still hasn’t got the hang of g her drink in the cup and the food on her plate - she gets distracted, starts playing, and knocks things over then doesn’t want to stop playing to sort it out, so leaves a mess until I find it. That’s bad enough in the kitchen, I’m not letting her do it in a room with carpet. And hopefully, it’ll gradually sink in that she needs to be more careful or at least clear it up quickly when she makes a mess.

Normal meals at the table, snacks can be eaten while watching TV but crumbs etc have to be cleared away by whoever caused them.

I allow food (cakes, sweets) upstairs when DD has a friend over for a sleepover but only during the day.

Not meals but he has snacks up there. That'll bloody stop if he keeps hoarding forks until there are none downstairs though (and we have 24!!)

No eating in anyone's bedroom.

(Except chocolate from your stocking at Christmas)

Occasionally but only when I'm desperate for peace and if its close to bed change/hoover day😂

No food upstairs. Bottles of water allowed only.
Meals at a table, snacks can be on settee if wanted.

No but they still do🤷‍♀️