In your childhood, did you and your family always sit at the same spots around the dining table? Each one had a designated spot? Or, no designated spots? Which is better system to have at home in family with young children or teenagers - sit in same spot everyday or keep changing? Assuming that no TV-watching happens while at dining table and no electronics allowed. . .
We grew up with assigned seating : ) After one sibling went off to college, there was some musical chairs for a while till a new normal settled in. Now, we tend to sit at the same spot each day, and I am thinking of bringing in some variety but not sure of any benefits or drawbacks. Hence the thread.
When I grew up no assigned seats. However, we had assigned seats in our house. Son sat across from father, daughter sat next to father, and across from mum. This happened because the children were tall, and there was always complaints about one kicking the other under the table. Diagonally, everybody behaved much better. When we had guests, we added leaves, added chairs, and seating was variable. Boy-girl-boy-girl when we had western guests, and all girls towards one end of table, and all boys towards the other end. Sort of like the Mel Brooks joke I had posted in some other thread.
No assigned seats in our place, and I personally do not like it either. It develops a sense of possession and dependency among kids at their growing age. We do adjust as per others convenience, like if momma has back pain, and wants the corner chair so that leaving the table while others are still sitting would be easy. DD basically doesn't want to sit in the last corner because self serving would be tough for her little hands (mostly the dishes are kept in the center of the table). So, we adjust it among us.
Not just homes even at work places in conference rooms/ meetings some people prefer to sit at the same spot. I guess it becomes a habit over a period of time. At times if guests are used to ones home I have noticed they too prefer their seats and their spots.
Everyone in our family sits down on the floor while eating. We don't use the dining table. If you are looking for a change why don't try this? Actually, cross-legged sitting on the floor while eating has a lot of health benefits.
Our dining table usually has other stuff lying on it, both as a child and now, as an adult!! So we all just eat whereever we find it convenient to eat!! My mom used to joke that she should thank the creator for not making the head flat, because otherwise, we would leave stuff lying on her head also and go about our work!!
There are two coveted spots at our circular dining table. The ones with direct view of the TV. The kids and the daddy generally negotiate. I have often used it as a incentive to get things done. The five year old will eat his veggies if he gets to sit there.