photo credit: Jennie Faber
It’s not uncommon for families to struggle these days with finding the time to eat together as a family. It might be because both parents work into the evening hours or the kids are busy with extracurricular activities.
While it might not be possible to eat together every night, like you might have been able to do when the kids were young, it’s still important to try to eat together as often as you can.
Here’s why:
Eating together strengthens family bonds and encourages communication. Families don’t spend as much time together as they would like, so sharing the time it takes to eat a meal is huge. You can catch up on the day’s activities, offer advice, sympathize, and know what’s going on with everyone at the table. Family meals are a great way to create family memories together.
Food is more enjoyable when shared. It just tastes better because it’s salted with love and peppered with conversation.
Conversing at dinner helps kids’ expand their vocabularies. Young children listen to their parents and older siblings speak and they learn new words.
Young kids thrive on routine, and if you have dinner together often, they look forward to that time. And when kids are happy, parents are happy.
The dinner table is a great place for children to practice social skills. Yes, that includes table manners and the art of conversation.
When you dine together at the table, you’re more likely to eat foods that are traditional to your ethnic background. This helps children identify with their heritage.
Dinner at home is usually healthier because what’s served comes from acceptable food groups – not the menu at a fast food restaurant. Parents usually provide better choices than kids would pick on their own.
It’s not always easy to gather around the dining table for dinner, but it’s worth the effort. It’s not only a time for nourishment, it’s a time for strengthening family ties. Make dinner time your family time.
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