Combat the messy self feeder

My son is 9 months old and is always grabbing for the spoon. He pretty much has the idea down on how to feed himself...but he is SO messy! The entire kitchen needs a scrubdown when he is done. Any advice on how to keep the mess minimal while still

giving him his independance?

Plastic table cloth
In the discount shops (2 buck shop etc) you can get flannel backed plastic table cloths in rectangles or circles.  I suggest that you get a couple and place one under his high chair , at the end of the day it can be shaken outside and tossed in the washing machine and they dry very quickiny savin you a lot of sweeping and mopping. 

Also if you hold his bowl of food and actual feeding spoon in your hand and give him a spare spoon to bang and suck on in between mouthfuls he is still learning how to use the utensil and having fun, but isn't splattering goo all over your house or up his nose.  having bits of finger food on the tray of the high chair is also a great idea, a couple of bread crusts a capcicum circle etc for him to chew and toss as they are easily either picked up or tossed outside for the birds from the tablecloth (on the floor).    

 I have also used reading during feeding,  get a book stand for your kids book and place it on a bench or table close to the high chair so bub can see the pictures and you can read.  read as you feed, it is just distracting enough to keep the splattering to a minimum and the food intake to a maximum.