Remember when everyone gathered around the table to have dinner each evening? It almost seems to be a thing of the past. Between practice, working overtime, and other activities that affect our family, families rarely sit down to have dinner together. That’s a shame because it can have such a negative impact on our children. Let’s take a closer look at reasons to eat dinner as a family.
Pin5 Reasons to Eat Dinner as a Family
Kids Will Get Better Grades
It’s been proven that kids who eat dinner with their parents are more likely to do better in school. If your kids are having trouble in school, it may be because you’re not eating dinner together. When you eat together as a family, you’re more involved with your children’s lives. You’ll know if they’re having trouble with schoolwork and can step in to help.
Curbs Bad Behaviours
Kids who eat dinner with their family most nights are less likely to be troublemakers. This may be due to the fact that kids are getting the attention they want from their parents and don’t have to act out. Another reason may be that kids have more access to their parents and feel more comfortable asking their parents about risky behaviours.
Access to Healthier Meals
When you eat together as a family, there’s a much better chance that your children will be eating healthier meals. You’ll make more of an effort to have balanced meals on the table. When your kids just grab what’s available in the freezer or fridge, they’re usually eating a lot of processed food. If you want your kids to eat healthier, eat together as a family.
PinIt’s a Way to Connect
Does it feel like your children are growing away from you? Family dinners are a way to connect with your children. You can talk to them about what’s bothering them, the good things in their life, etc. In other words, you’ll be more aware of what’s going on in your kids’ lives.
Better Health
Last, but not least, kids who eat dinner with their family are usually healthier. Not only are they eating healthier meals, but kids who eat with their family as usually less stressed. Stress can lead to a weaker immune system which can lead to colds, the flu, and even asthma. Children who eat with their family are also less likely to be overweight or obese. This is because portion control comes into play. When your kids are left to fend for themselves, they are more likely to overeat high-fat foods.
It takes time and effort to eat together as a family, but you have to ask yourself, “What are the rewards?” If you want your children to do better in school, be good kids, and be healthier, you need to eat together. You’ll also have a better idea of what’s going on in your kids’ lives and be able to fix any problems before they get too far out of hand. Even if it means eating later in the day, make an effort to eat together as a family as often as possible.
I don’t know why more families don’t do this now days. I think it’s all the tech and the amount of homework they have now. But I do think it’s important!
It it so important!
When my kids lived at home we all ate at least our evening meal together and at the weekends breakfast too.
Use to do this a lot, admittedly so everyone got so busy and eats at different times. We still do many family activities and outings, just less meals overall now.
I wish that we could eat dinner together as a family like I did with mine growing up. Unfortunately, my hubby and I have to work into the evening and my kids often have to go to bed. We do eat together on the weekend, though.
These are all important reasons. We eat dinner and sometimes lunches together regularly.
Unfortunately when I was a kid as for many people my mother had to work when I was a kid so my brother and I had to make supper and do the dishes but on the weekend we always had family meals together
I grew up eating meals by myself or in front of a TV; I made a promise that when I had kids, I would try to have as many dinners as possible with them. It has made such a huge difference in my relationship with my kiddos; there is a trust, security, confidence and comfort that they have that I never did. Great post!
These are great points. Dinner time is such an important ritual for family bonding. Thanks for posting!
My pleasure! Yes, it certainly is!