Family Dinners: Why Eating Together Is Important
I remember back in high school my ideal night was heating up pizza rolls, grabbing my cell phone and heading to the computer to chat on AOL with my friends. Sitting down to eat with my parents was the last thing on my mind. My parents continued to require my sister and I to sit as a family for dinner each night. Looking back, I am so thankful and have adopted it with my own family.
The statistics are shocking.
Conversations at the dinner table with children can provide added comfort when tough conversations need to be had. Dining together, families are more inclined to discuss schoolwork, classes, what was learned that day, which can in turn help increase grades and children’s interest in education. Outside of educational benefits, family discussions at dinner can cover upcoming holidays, birthdays, current events, and local activities.
Keeping your children interested in these things helps to build structure, and provides a lens on life outside of their little bubble.
Because our daughter is still so young we don’t need to worry about her cell phone use, but between my husband and I, we make an effort to put our phones away. Providing a much needed break from technology, emails, texts and social media, our no cell phone rule at the dinner table is so refreshing for us.
Dining together at home opens the door to trying new recipes. Encouraging children to try new foods outside of their comfort zone can be tricky, but if the family does it together odds are more in your favor.
Young children watching their parents eat balanced meals regularly lead to a healthier choices for the kiddos.
The benefits of family dinners are abundant, so I encourage you to aim to increase the number of times per week your family sits down together. I’m curious to hear what else you have put in place for your family and the benefits you see. Please feel free to share your thoughts!
