" Research shows that the most important thing a child can do to assure long time well-being is eat meals with his or her family. The more meals together, the better ! " - Dr Bill Doherty, Director of Marriage and Family Therapy Project at the University of Minnesota.
Well it doesn't get any easier than that does it ? Or does it..... These days getting your family all together to eat a meal isn't always so easy. With after school activities like sports and clubs, with parents working more and life in general, it can become a struggle to actually sit down at the table as a family and eat dinner. It doesn't have to be dinner though- you can sit together before everyone leaves for school and work and have breakfast together. Of course that means getting up earlier. But is the sacrifice worth it ? Research says yes ! Make it a goal to eat dinner as a family at least just one night a week, maybe FHE night, or Sunday night - that is the very minimum. Try to add in days as you can. This is something our kids will remember!
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has stated , " The revival of the family dinner in America will do more to curb kids from smoking, drinking, and using drugs than any law or public health campaign. " WOW!!! Why are we not doing this ? I'm so guilty of it too! We like to eat dinner all gathered together in the living room watching a fun movie or just chowing down as fast as we can. I'm going to make it a goal to do at least two meals a week sitting down together at the table. I saw a neat pin the other day that had a basket on the table and everyone put their cell phones in it when they sat down for dinner together. Love that idea! My kids don't have cell phones yet, but I know that I am guilty of wanting to read a book or do something while I eat and I need to sit down and talk to my kids ! I love this so much.
Here is a small pinterest board that has some cute ideas for family dinner night.
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