Everyone knows the importance of family mealtime. Having dinner together gives you a chance to talk about your day and stay connected. It can also help families make healthier food choices and communicate better. It can be hard to find time in everyone’s busy schedules to sit down together, but it’s something that should be done as often as possible. Try to involve every member of the family at dinner time so that it is something everyone can share at the end of a long day.
Although younger children can be a problem when you’re trying to put dinner on the table, they should be included in the family mealtime. Don’t give them dinner separately before everyone else eats; including them in the meal will make them feel like a big boy or girl. Eating with everyone else can also help young children improve their table manners. Don’t worry if they make a mess, but be sure to draw the line when playing with their food.
Make sure the whole family is mindful of your dinner manners by doing things like sharing and passing food instead of across the table. Make sure everyone says “please” and “thank you” and asks for permission before leaving the table, and encourage conversation by making sure everyone waits their turn to speak. You’d be surprised how interesting the conversation can become if you respect each other and each other’s opinions.
Even before mealtime, involve your children in meal preparation. Help younger children add ingredients or choose their favorite dessert. Slightly older kids can set the table or even make an easy side dish for the whole family. Create dinner traditions by having a pasta night or a make-your-own pizza night. If your child has a culinary specialty, even if it’s cereal, let him help out from time to time. This will boost your confidence and increase your interest at dinner time.
Food doesn’t end just because food ran out. Everyone must take turns doing the dishes each night. Perhaps an older sibling can do the washing up while mom or dad help the younger one dry off. Family members who aren’t washing dishes can take care of tidying up the kitchen or keep the family entertained with a new joke or story they’ve heard. Ask someone to put your favorite late-night game show, such as Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, on TV or radio and keep track of who answers the most questions correctly.
Even if you can’t find the time in your schedule to have family dinners every night, you should try to make it a tradition at least once a week, even if it means you have to go out to eat because you don’t have time. prepare dinner or have to have breakfast together. The importance is not what or when they eat, but that they spend time together as a family.
