We sit at the table together for dinner almost every night. Sometimes we have 'picnics' on the carpet and watch tv, but again, it's together and it's only if we have something like pizza or toasties. We talk alot together at this time of day and it's often a good time for DH and I to catch up a little on our days too, as well as the kids telling him what they have been up to for the day.

I think it's also an important social skill to learn, for young children to be able to sit at a table, eat with cutlery and then also talk and engage in the rules of conversation (eg waiting to talk, asking appropriate questions). It also makes time for us to be quiet and for one of us to take the spotlight for a little while, to feel special in the family unit, particularly with my children at the ages they're at, alot of the time is spent in chaos of some sort, be it playing like crazy chickens, them having tantrums, or me ranting at them for not doing what the should be, what ever. But the rest of our day is loud and raucus, so dinner time is a good time to respect each other's time to talk. To really listen and hear each other and to learn something small about each other each day. It's also a good wind down from a hectic day and a great way to lead into bath and bed time.