Sorry if this has been done before, but we really need advice - we're not sure if we're doing the right thing by trying to get our typical 2.6 year old boy (ie more interested in playing, with selective deafness, and constant boundary pushing and mummy-testing) to sit at the table for meals. Just short meals, not whole evening gastro-thons. No matter how calmly we approach it, it always seems to end up with him being deliberately naughty (like putting his feet on the table, while looking at me, or just constantly climbing down), and us getting crosser and crosser, then issuing threats of no milk at bedtime. It's all a bit rubbish, and we're worried it's going to put him off for life. Half of me thinks, would it work if we just let him run around the rooms, playing while we eat, and he picks up being civilised by osmosis, and it doesn't actually matter that much in the grand scheme of things, and the other half thinks, don't be so ridiculous, he needs discipline etc etc. I just don't know what to do! Please help....