My kids are 5 and 7. We all eat together at the table, around 5.30-6pm. Miss P is usually awake and she sits at the corner of the table in her swing. The kids can choose how much they eat, but as a PP said sometimes they have to have 'three more mouthfuls of...' in order to get dessert. My kids like their vegies so usually they don't need to be encouraged. They have to stay at the table until everyone has finished eating and they have to put their napkin in their lap and their knife and fork together on the plate when they are finished. At the end of the meal they clear the table to the bench but DH or I load the dishwasher and do the rest of the cleaning up. I usually set the table but DD likes to help sometimes. The telly is turned off and we talk about the best and worst part of our days - it's a really good way to keep in touch with what is going on at school!

The kids have afternoon tea when they get home from school and then nothing until dinner. DS is a grazer and would be happy to fill up on rice crackers and cheese and never eat dinner! Dessert is usually yoghurt, ice cream, fruit or whatever I have been baking. Sometimes I make their favourite - pikelets with jam and cream - about once a month.

Friday and Saturday nights are more relaxed and we sometimes eat on trays in front of the telly while the kids sit at their kiddie table near us. Funny, they actually prefer the big table and no telly!