How is mealtime at your house? Does everyone take their plate and head to their own room? Or does popping a dinner in the old microwave, sitting in front of the television, computer or video game and no one gets a chance to talk to each other sounds more familiar? Given the hectic schedules many families have today, family dinner time has become a lost art.
Years ago, it was unheard of for a family not to dine together. Even during biblical times, parents ruled the entire family from the table.
They understood that dinner time was more than a time to eat, but it was a time that influenced the family. They realized that this had a profound impact on their family. Many studies have shown the positive force that family feeding can have on a child.
Children who do not eat dinner with their families are 60 percent more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and / or illegal drugs. At the other end of that spectrum, children who eat dinner with their families are twenty percent more likely to drink, smoke, or use illegal drugs.
Teens who eat frequent family dinners are less likely than other teens to have sex, fight, and have a lower risk of suicidal thoughts.
There is a comprehensive list of positive things that can happen when a family makes time for family dinner. This is a great time to be involved in your child’s life. Eating together encourages communication!
Allow each family member to discuss any problems and / or accomplishments they have encountered during the day. This is also a good time to plan family trips, church activities, and upcoming events. Engage children in conversations that lead them to discuss school work, sports, and other things that make them open up and share the details of their life. The most important thing is to keep an open line of communication for each member to share ideas, stories, etc.
Sitting down for a family meal can provide real quality family time and be just plain fun!
Raise the chairs, serve the casserole, and have fun with everyone. Make dinner time fun and everyone will be eager to eat with the family.
Mix it up, have a picnic in the family room on the floor. When the weather is nice outside, dine as a family on the patio. Neither you nor your family will regret the memories or positive impact your family will enjoy around your table … wherever you are. Bon Appetite!
