You could have a piece of plexiglass made to fit the top. They are not cheap, but easy to clean. Plexiglass will scratch as well and they best way to clean it is with dishsoap and water, no windex.

You might also want to consider until the kids are older, a quilted round table cloth, they are thicker and help protect the table. a darker color will prevent you from washing it after every use, as it hides a few little stains.

I think the first thing I'd do is contact a local glass/mirror company and ask them what could protect the glass from minor scratches...they may have an application of some sort, or they may be able to take the scratches out from time to time when you find it necessary. The plastic cloth isn't very attractive, so maybe a fabric cloth is best for a while, something permanent press, maybe with a nice contemporary design that fits your style. Several of them would allow you to toss one in the laundry and change to another. When not eating at the table, remove the cloth and enjoy the glass. And always listen to Mama!

4PintoBeans,
I'm with you, honey! I wish someone had told me glass scratches so easily before I bought almost the same table for my eat-in area. I thought it would hold up better than wood under the daily onslaught of homework, etc. But after just a few months, it has deep, long scratches. Somewhere I read that just sliding a casserole dish over a grain of salt can leave a scratch! Having a tablecloth on it constantly defeats the purpose of having a smooth, hard surface for homework and crafts.

Judy M. is right. Plexiglass will solve the problem. It scratches but it can be replaced easily.

If you are really good with Contact paper, you could cover it with clear Contact. Or get a new piece of clear vinyl, cut doublestick tape to fit the vertical edge, tape it down and trim to fit.

In about 15 years, you can uncover it again....

HI -- Any scratches can be polished out by a glass company . Plexi -glass is a good idea for protection now , also the glass company can tell what they can do in way of protecting the glass . I would change out the glass table top for a wood or something else until the kids are a little older .

A glass top for a glass top is an elegant solution.

check this out... http://www.strippablecoating.com/furniture_protection_film.aspx

Thank you for sharing your dilemma. I have a glass table and is always covered because I don’t t want it getting scratches. Because of this I can’t display and use the table like I want to !!