Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

05-14-2022

Shared Meals Build Strong Families

What's on the menu at your house tonight? A family meal with conversation? Unfortunately, only about one-third of all families sit down to dinner at the same time.

Yet shared meals can be a great way to strengthen families. Casual conversations keep you in touch with what's going on in your kids' lives at school and at home. Regular talks also allow family members to give and get the support and encouragement they need. And studies show that kids who eat daily meals with their families tend to do better in school.

To make meals together a regular part of your family life:

Start small. If you haven't made a regular habit of family dinners, see if you can fit in two or three a week. Just do the best you can.
Start the conversation while you're preparing dinner. Invite your child to help you in the kitchen. It's a great way for some special time alone. Conversations can continue during cleanup.
Make mealtime relaxing. The dinner table is not the place to correct or criticize your child.
Ask specific questions. "Tell me the funniest thing that happened today" will probably get a more detailed response than "How was school?"
Be flexible. Family meals don't always have to be dinners. Try a weekend breakfast or lunch.
Turn off digital devices. Make conversation the main course.

Brought to you by:

Webster County Schools

[School Success Ideas for Families]