I don’t know about you, but nothing puts me in a better mood in the morning than a strong cup of coffee served in one of my favorite French breakfast bowls. I’ve lived in France for 27 years and have adopted the French style of drinking coffee from a bowl. If I can find a bowl as sweet as Elisabeth Dunker’s new “Arbour Harbour” design, I’ll definitely be smiling all day.

But what about the little ones? Well, as a lover of Herzensart’s melamine sets, my youngest son Miles will confirm that there’s nothing like a colorful, quirky Viking plate to give you a healthy appetite—I suspect that’s true at any age.

Do your children use their own fun tableware? There’s certainly no shortage of original products out there, and I’d like to share a few of my current favorites with you today.

Camping Plate
Available for $14 from Urban Nester.

If black and white’s your thing and you are drawn to a minimal aesthetic, I’m guessing you’ll like Molly Kid’s one-of-a-kind Camping Plate. I  love the simplicity of this piece, and of course my kids would appreciate the three separate food compartments. Made out of chip- and scratch-resistant glass, with naive, hand-drawn designs, this plate is so simple and fun!

Beau Blue & Ebony Plates
Available for $31 from Sketch Inc.

Who can resist a face plate, even if one of these faces looks a little grumpy? Becky Kemp’s two new plate designs caught my eye recently, and I’d love to display them both at home. Made from 100% bone china with fired decoration, her tableware is entirely hygienic and practical (proudly tried and tested by her 8-year-old nieces, she assures me).

Elephant Plate
Available for $23 from BOBO Ceramics.

I really didn’t know which of these to share, but I think the elephant is my favorite. Lalitha’s kids’ ceramic tableware is handmade on the potter’s wheel using porcelain clay. It is durable, food-safe, and approved for use in the microwave and dishwasher, as well as being 100% adorable. I love everything in her Animal and Transportation tableware sets, not to mention the fact that a portion of all of BOBO Ceramics’ sales go to charity!

Paper Alphabet Plates
Available for $15 from PaperMash.

If you’re looking for something original for picnics and parties this Summer, these 26 paper Alphabet Plates (with separate matching cups) will go down a treat.They’re pretty, educational, and practical—the only problem is I’m afraid it might be hard to imagine throwing them away! I’m loving that F for flamingo!

Pictured at top of post: Arbour Harbour Bowl for by Elisabeth Dunker / House of Rym, two-bowl pack available for $77 with free worldwide shipping.