We allow our kids to somewhat not use silverware on certain things, spagetti and rice. I am a heck of alot older than them and these foods can be hard to get on the fork!
Some times our older child ( she is 4) is not hungry at dinner time. Which is fine. BUT she must sit thru grace and sit at the table for a short while. Considering she is 4 that is a short while.
Sue

Right now I am just trying to get her to sit at the table. I have found that NO distractions, TV, computer, phone works best but sometimes I forget and that makes for a long meal. My daughter uses utensils, but will often forget to use her napkin and wipe her hands on the side of the table. I have my work cut out for me!

Kim in WI

There's food to "play" with -- like the recipe you had awhile back in food creations, Tammy -- and I think any child old enough to help make that food would understand that not all food can be turned into smiley faces with ears. :)

Really, what is wrong with volcano potoatoes though? Isn't it important to encourage creativity and imagination in our children? (All within reason.) What better time than at a family meal when everyone is together enjoying food and each other's company. Just think of the memories a child could carry forever.

It should be remembered that foolishness and gross conversation should not be allowed and also if the child is only picking and playing and not eating, then I believe that those are the real issues. But, if they're respectfully eating their food while creating a picture from their imagination, what is wrong with that?

I guess lately I've been thinking about the atmosphere as a mother that I set in my home. Am I staunch and stuck on practicing manners so much that my kids can't see the fun in any normal, everyday activity -- even as monotonous as lunch time? I believe meals should be a fun and important part of the day, not a time to practice drills and procedures to the point that all family-mealtime joy is lost because someone isn't using their fork right.

I am 32 years old and a friend of yours...(I think). Do you think I'm too old to play with my food???

I have no particular opinion on this, actually. I was just curious, because you and Joshua seem to teach good manners to your children!

I just think food should be respected and apperciated. After all we are the lucky ones. We can go to the grocery store and buy what we need. Even today, not all are that fortunate. We can choose to eat what we want, when we want and why we want... We can even be picky and complain! :-)

I am sure that a child can tell a difference between "good" playing and "bad" playing when it comes to food. I certainly didn't mean this personally against anyone when the question popped to my mind! I personally think that playing with food is a way to enrich child's imagination and I think if a grown-up is involved with the playing, a child can certainly learn a lot. But there really is a difference between "good" and "bad" playing - first one should be somewhat, sometimes encouraged, the latter one should be discouraged. It is tiring to eat a meal with a child that has no simpliest table manners, but even more tiring are his/hers parents who just look away, ignore the whole situation and think that a child is too small to learn table manners (or something similar) - or they simply aren't interested in and just shrug.

I am good at this! :-) I start by saying "I don't have a particular opinion..." and then my writing goes on and on! :-D