Behaviour at mealtimes

[chocinthefridge]

I have two DS very close in age (primary). They are generally pretty well behaved but mealtimes are hectic. They make each other laugh, talk with their mouths full, constantly up and down and generally messing about. We eat with them as much as we can. I don't want everyone sat in silence obviously and I'm trying to encourage relaxed chat whilst they eat etc but they just take it to the next level. We are firm with them about manners. They only want to listen to each other and have fun. If one has finished before the other, then they want to get down as well and it's all game over with half eaten meals. I have separated them into different rooms before and it worked so well. They ate everything (chewing properly etc). I don't want to do that all the time tho. If I put them into front of a screen, they turn into zombies and it takes forever. Has anyone had any success in this area?

*in front of a screen

Honestly? Meal times are just awful with small kids. We've definitely not cracked it as our 6 year old is up and down like a yo yo.

But our 9 year old who could not ever sit still now doesn't move from her chair (much) during a meal. I don't know if it's age and maturity or the constant nagging from us that has done it. She is quite sensitive so I do think a switch has finally clicked that someone has spent a long time preparing a meal for her.

Have you tried explaining how it makes you feel sad that you have cooked a meal and their behaviour tells you they don't care?
We are talking a-lot about how we are making others feel at the moment as our youngest doesn't seem to give a monkeys!