To let kids eat dinner on laps?

[oifrogs]

As in the title. Kids ages 3 and 6 and the table isn't really practical and no space for a larger one so they eat on Laps. I do feel a bit bad but equally is it the hill to die on?

Is there no room just for the children to sit at the table? Ota difficult to sit at and in laps, for a 3 year old especially if have thought.

Sounds like you have no other really option really.

It is pretty hard for them to balance plates on laps and use cutlery, surely?

Why is the table not practical?

We mostly do. 14 and 12 here. The table is used at weekends. There are a whole bunch of reasons I won't go into neccessarily but sometimes the reality of life means that whatever is meant to be 'best practice' just can't happen. They are fed, comfortable, and safe. That's enough sometimes.

@MojoMoon they manage ok

@MumMumMumMumMumMumMum no there isn't room

Sounds messy to me but it's your house! Could they sit on the floor at a coffee table? Or a little kids table and chairs? Personally for me the issue would be, is the TV on or are you speaking to each other. I think that's more important

Hard to imagine what sort of table you have that can't seat two small children but it is what it is then. If you've no choice not much point worrying about it.

Do some people eat at the table and not them?

Anyway, I don’t think it will be harming them. We used to eat at the kitchen counter on stools when I was a child. Didn’t seem to harm me.

Might be easier to get them trays.

are they watching tv?

Well I had to from about 8 because where we moved was too small for a table, it’s fine. I eat at the table as an adult so it hasn’t damaged me

Well if its best in the space you have then it's best!! Not everyone has space for a table do they..

In our first flat we had to eat dinner sat on the sofa with trays.

Would be an issue for me. At that age can you squeeze in a little kids table and two chairs? Double it up as an arts and crafts table area? It's better to have one than not - just thinking ahead for school dinners and restaurants..

What are they sitting on, the sofa? Are they watching tv?

I mean, you know it’s not ideal. They won’t learn decent cutlery use or table manners with their plates on their laps but if it’s not a priority or somehow impossible (if you have a table it’s not impossible) then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks does it.

I don't think it matters where you eat, it's more about whether everyone is together and present and chatting... Or just staring at the TV mindlessly, or ignoring each other generally.

When I was young, we did the latter. And at the time I loved it, (Simpsons! Bernard Matthews chicken shape thing five nights a week! 😅) but it makes me sad to think of it now. All that precious time to chat and catch up as a family, missed. Because my mum preferred to sit apart from us, in the kitchen, to eat. We had a dining table too, it's weird. We didn't use it except at Christmas.

Which is why I now force my kids to sit around the table and talk every dinnertime 😅 (I'm not too arsed about breakfast or lunch though unless it's a particularly good lunch). It also teaches them how to behave socially, if you go out to eat at a restaurant and so on.

It’s not the end of the world; I’d be more bothered by the potential mess

We ate our dinners on trays on our lap for years growing up as we didn't have one. Don't think I sat at a table regularly till I had my own flat in my mid twenties. You work with your circumstances.

Get a folding table.
No TV

folding table, or trays with legs that goes right over their laps.

As long as the TV and other screens are off, no issue with the actual seating, if that is what you have got

When my DDs were little we used small children’s table and chairs. DH and I would eat on our laps but I felt DDs needed something. If it’s not possible to do that then it’s not possible. Nothing wrong with throwing a towel on the floor for them to sit on either.

It depends. Are they watching TV/internet at the same time? Do you have family meal times together even if it's on laps?
One thing I've always prioritised is family meals round the table (although when very young they often ate their evening meal earlier than us parents on weekdays). Now they're teens who are not so keen to hang out with us at weekends anymore (this will happen, even if they're nice kids who actually like you) the daily family meal round the table is where we get most of our quality family time and conversation.

My daughter had a little fold flat table.. grandson sits on sofa and uses that.. then it's folded away.

I've no idea what room you have, but could you not get a small folding table and chairs?

If nothing else, it's the mess I would struggle with. Maybe my kids are feral (13 and 12) but eating anything "sloppy" on their laps (i.e. casseroles or stews) would result in food all over them as well as the furniture.

Well, if you feel bad about it, is there anything else at all that you can do?

It isn’t the end of the world, obviously, but eating at a table and using a knife and fork are useful skills, especially for school lunches and if you’re eating out anywhere other than fast food outlets.

I’ve seen a teenager attempt to eat a roast dinner whilst lying across a banquette. It was messy.

But, your children , your choice.

It’s not ideal obviously and I would do everything I could to avoid it (because I think talking at the table is important for conversation and family cohesion, leads to a better relationship with food, and teaches table manners naturally).. but it depends how high it is on your personal priority list, and what your options are.

Would a folding able work?