by Wes Fessler |
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November 2 , 2010 |
In a busy world, it is especially important for families to make time together for meals. When faced with busy schedules, where both parents are commonly at work and where kids are shuffled from one activity to another, finding time to get the family together for a meal can be a challenge, but a challenge, nonetheless, deserving of the effort.
Life can truly be busy for families. We are busy with work, busy with play, and when play is over we are busy finding new ways to be busy. With work schedules, extra-curricular activities, televisions, computers, multi-media mobile phones, and video games, there is always something to keep family members isolated from one another and engaged in activities that do nothing to enrich family relationships. Although a family meal should never be considered enough time for family interaction in itself, every family should try to share at least one family meal together every day.
Benefits
There are a variety of benefits available to families that sit down together for meals on a regular basis. Some of the most common benefits are listed below:
Benefits of Regular Family Meals |
Structure and Routine: Routines help children to find structure and stability in their family lives. Regular family meals give children a sense of normality and structure to look forward to daily. |
Better nutrition: By eating together as a family, everyone can help each other to eat healthier foods and appropriate portions. This can be helpful in achieving better health and preventing eating disorders and obesity. |
Strengthening of communication between family members: Sitting at meals together provides a great opportunity to start conversations that may not happen at any other time. Regular conversations at meals can help in maintaining open communication between all members of a family. |
Strengthening of family relationships and cohesiveness: When families get together for meals they find time to enjoy the company of one another in a unique way. It is a time when everyone can sit together comfortably away from external distractions to discover new things about each other. |
Better grades for children: According to an article by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) Children who do not have meals regularly with their families are 1½ times more likely to earn poor grades in school (C or lower) than those who do. |
Decreased likelihood of involvement with drugs, alcohol, or tobacco: Among the results from the same CASA article mentioned above, studies have consistently found that children who frequently have meals with their families are less likely to participate in activities in which drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are used. |
Stronger Families: Although it has been alluded to previously among these advantages, one of the most noteworthy of all of the benefits is the reward of becoming closer and stronger families. |
Ideas for Family Meals
Eliminate Distractions
It is important to set aside anything that diverts attention away from your family. Getting beyond distractions should be the primary concern before beginning a family meal. Turn off the television. Turn off the cell phone. If it makes noises and lures your attention away, shut it down. Make your meal together a peaceful and pleasant time for interaction with one another.
Make Mealtimes Positive
Do all that you can to maintain a positive atmosphere at the table. Avoid discussions that lead to criticism and negativity. Make your family meals something to look forward to – a time in which everyone can find upliftment and acceptance in communication.
Share Experiences
Talk about life (past present and future). Allow your time at the table to be a time to share ideas and experiences as a group. Express what is important to you and why. Let everyone be a part of who you are, and allow yourself to be a part of them in return. Talk about what is happening to your family, and discuss ways to help each other to handle tasks and challenges. Talk about memories of old times, letting your family know details that they can identify with, and may not have previously known.
Dare to Be Different
Although interaction is a major goal of family mealtimes, don’t forget to make food a part of the fun as well. Discuss the kinds of foods that your family enjoys. Talk about what healthy food means to your family. Be willing to try new foods from time to time. Look for creative ways to make mealtimes fun and enjoyable for your family.
Sharing meals together is an important part of strengthening families, but it is startling how rare this tradition has become in the home. While most families would like to have meals together, according to a CBS News report, only about 43 percent of America’s families actually sit down at the table together on a regular basis. Too many people have come to accept complications in life as excuses for not sharing meals as a family. Family time is not a matter of convenience; it is a matter of priority. It is not necessary to allow ourselves to become strangers in our own homes. It is vital to make the necessary adjustments to our schedules that allow us to be together for daily family meals.
In a busy world where there are always distractions that can divide us from our families, we must take extra care to bring them together. Having daily family meals is not always an easy thing to do, but the benefits of stronger, healthier, and more cohesive families are definitely worth the effort.
Related Reading:
10 Qualities of Successful
Parents: Important qualities and considerations for
successful parenting.
Talking to Teens: How to Talk to Teenagers: Teenage years are a time of change and compromise – a time for parents to let go a little at a time, although they may want to hold on forever. Communicating with teenagers is not always easy.
Does Parent Involvement Really Matter?:
The short story of Jed: A boy who needed his father's attention.
References:
Rideout V, Hamel E. The Media Family: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and their Parents. Accessed November 2, 2010
www.kff.org
The Importance of Family Dinners 5, Accessed November 2, 2010
http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=567&zoneid=66
How Americans Eat Today, Accessed November 2, 2010
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/12/earlyshow/health/main6086647.shtml
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