What is mealtime like at home? Does everyone take their plate and go to their own room? Or does it sound more familiar to cook dinner in the old microwave, sit in front of the TV, computer, or video game and no one gets a chance to talk to each other? 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, the fathers of the family ruled the entire family from the dining room table.
They understood that dinner time was more than a time to eat, but it was an influence of time in the family. They realized that this had a profound impact on their family. Many studies have shown the positive force that eating together as a family can have on a child.
Children who do not have dinner with their families are 60 percent more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and/or illegal drugs. At the other end of that spectrum, kids who eat dinner with their families are twenty percent more likely to drink, smoke, or use illegal drugs.
Teens who eat family dinners frequently are less likely than other teens to have sex, get into fights, and have a lower risk of suicidal thoughts.
There is a whole list of positive things that can happen when a family makes time for a family dinner. This is a good time to get involved in your child’s life. Eating together encourages communication!
Allow each family member to talk about any problems and/or accomplishments they 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 lives. 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!
Pull up the chairs, serve the casserole, and laugh with everyone. Make dinner time fun and everyone will be looking forward to eating with the family.
Mix it up, have a picnic in the family room on the flat. When the weather is nice outside, dine as a family on the patio. Neither you nor your family will regret the memories or the positive impact your family will enjoy around your table… wherever you are. Enjoy!