If you find one, please let me know :)

I don't know of anything that is totally indestructible.

Stainless steel.

Zalco- stainless steel dents.

The setting-hot-plates-down requirement is not going to be met. I'd take that off the list, and look for materials that can handle the other things you want from it. And really, is it that hard to throw down a trivet? You can buy the thick cloth ones at the Dollar Store. Granite will work as a tough material that can take spills, stains, won't scratch, and will provide a good surface for both homework and eating.

When my kids were young, we had a thick round wood table. Sure, it became scarred and scratched, but that was part of the charm. Who cares. And wood is warmer than granite.

Sorry, granite stains for sure!

The other problem with a stone table is that it would be very heavy to move to clean around.

I do think using a folded towel or trivet or large potholder under a hot dish shouldn't be that much of a problem for you.

Also, they sell table pads, or plastic table cloths with foam underneath with which to cover the table when your children are doing their craft projects. And cover that with a cloth table cloth when they are eating if they are messy eaters.

There is nothing indestructible.

It is probably a good idea for everyone in the house to be careful and learn those lessons from an early age.

If someone in the house is disabled and cannot, that is a serious issue.

I think schools use formica. Spills and crayon and paint can all be wiped off.

But they don't put hot pots down on those tables.

There is also Corian, but you can't put hot pots directly on that either.

You’re looking for a table with a soapstone top. This one from Garden State Soapstone is on a black walnut base. Gorgeous.

Our current furniture is well used and perhaps the wood was never sealed quite right to begin with, but it was ruined the very first time someone set a drinking glass down - and we’ve gotten our use out of it. I was just hoping that something had been invented by now so that when I payed for a new table, it could look nice for a while. I have a friend with a new table and she won’t even let her family eat there right now 😂 and I don’t want that to be me. I see people with glass over the wood or always using a tablecloth —— and no one seems to just use and enjoy their table.

Soapstone although gorgeous, chips, and is not safe from a child with scissors. And it is pricey.

On the other hand, if you are going to be dissecting frogs and building volcanos, soapstone is the way to go!

Well, just how young are your children?

People are supposed to know to use a coaster. Should we never have wood furniture anywhere in the home, not on a dining room table or coffee table or end tables?

Maybe the problem is your guests, not your furniture.

The other thing is, although it is usually not done,

You can get a wood table, and then get it finished with the type of finish they put on wood for the inside of boats, something like epoxy plus varnish.

But talk to a fine woodworker.

This will not allow hot pots on your wood table.

Nor should you put wet glasses on it either.

It will just help for those random bits of water and to prevent UV damage

Really, please buy plenty of coasters and set them on your table and side tables and coffee tables. Your children should learn to use coasters and proper table manners, too if they haven't already.

For crafts but plenty of tablecloths to cover the table.

And you need to supervise closely if they are using scissors if you think they are that wild with the scissors that they are going to gouge or cut the table. Because then they are really not safe with the scissors.

There is nothing wrong with using placemats on a wood table.

Taking care doesn't mean one isn't enjoying something.

If you want a wood table for which you don't want to feel you need to use a table cloth or placemats then you are best off purchasing a picnic table.

Soapstone is heavy - that’s the only real drawback. There are soft and hard varieties, but unless your children regularly stab your tables, this shouldn’t be an issue. It is otherwise impervious to everything.

@loobab - thanks. We're at that sandwich stage of life with elderly, disabled parents and having grandkids....... so that's why I was looking for something kind of all-purpose b/c I can finally afford something nice...... but accidents happen - and I know they'll happen with whichever material we get. :-)