When you have cooked a meal for others it is nice to be able to set the table properly so everyone can sit together and enjoy the meal.  This is a job that your child could do once you have shown them how to set it properly.

Below you will see a step-by-step guide.

1. Start by laying a cloth on the table.  Tablecloths come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours and they don't need to be expensive.  You can also get paper tablecloths that can be thrown away once they have been used or get dirty/damaged.

2. Placemats are great for putting hot plates and food onto so if you have some then put one on each place at the table. Spare ones can be used in the centre if you are putting hot dishes on the table for people to serve themselves.

3. The fork should be placed on the left hand side of the placemat and the knife on the right hand side.

4. Are you having a pudding as part of your meal? If so you will need to decide what cutlery you need. You should ideally display a spoon and fork but if you are serving something runny e.g. custard, a spoon will definitely be required.

5. Cups or glasses should be placed at the top right hand corner of the place setting. Make sure they are within easy reach to avoid drinks being knocked over.

6. If you have napkins you can display these in many ways. The simplest option is to fold them into a triangle and display on the right hand side or on the plate.