Do you have rules about leaving the dinner table?
Our kids aren't allowed up until everyone is done, and the table is cleared (although sometimes we clean up while they go on their way). We frequently have neighborhood kids knocking at our door 6 minutes after everyone goes in for dinner! So I imagine everyone else has an 'eat and run' policy.
While I LOVE that they play outside, and that we have great neighbors, this rule trumps that.
Again, whatever works for you is cool, I'm just genuinely curious.