Before we had our little one my husband and I rarely ate together. If we did eat together it was usually in front of the TV.
Since we had our little one, it has become increasingly important to me that we eat together as a family and without our phones.
If I’m being completely honest, it still isn’t something we do every night but it is something I want to strive to do more often.
Family dinner has already become uncommon for many families.
Teacher moms and children wander into the kitchen to get their food.
For many teacher moms, it would be much easier and simpler to forget about family dinners. Jobs, children, after-school activities all contribute to families being constantly on the go, thus feeling the need to eat on the run.
It turns out that sitting down for a nightly meal is great for the brain, the body and the spirit. And that nightly dinner doesn’t have to be a gourmet meal that took three hours to cook, nor does it need to be made with organic arugula and heirloom parsnips. Which is good news for me because I will not be winning any cooking awards!
Here are reasons why eating together as a family and is important for everyone:
Developmental Boosts - For the littlest family members, sharing a dinner at the table with teacher moms does several awesome things. First, it helps promote language skills as you talk with them, and your partner, about the day. It also helps them develop patience and dexterity through the use of utensils. Researchers found that for young children, dinnertime conversation boosts vocabulary even more than being read aloud to.
Improved Mental Health - One study found that kids who regularly enjoyed family meals were less likely to experience symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts and less likely to get into drug use. In addition, a stack of studies link regular family dinners with lowering a host of high risk teenage behaviors teacher moms’ fear: smoking, binge drinking, marijuana use, violence, school problems, eating disorders and sexual activity.
Bonded Families - Research also suggests that when a family eats together they feel a strong bond with one another. Everyone leads disconnected lives at work and school, and this time allows them to reconnect.
Better Grades - One study showed that kids who eat with their family less than 3 times a week were twice as likely to report receiving Cs or worse in school. Kids who ate with family 5 to 7 times per week did much better, reporting mostly As and Bs.
Physical Health - Families that eat together make better food choices. One study reported that kids who eat family dinners are less likely to grub on fried food and saturated fats, while seeking out stuff like fruits and veggies. Children who eat regular family dinners also consume more fruits, vegetables, vitamins and micro nutrients, as well as less unhealthy foods and soft drinks. And the nutritional benefits keep paying dividends even after kids grow up: young adults who ate regular family meals as teens are less likely to be obese and more likely to eat healthily once they live on their own.
Increased Savings - Consider that eating home-cooked meals is also cheaper. A sample estimate finds that a family of 4 could save nearly $40 a week, per person, by simply shifting meals into the house.
Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your family dinners:
Expectations - The purpose of a family dinner may differ from family to family. In one family, good table manners might be the most important thing teacher moms want to teach; in another, it might be communicating with one another, learning how to listen, and learning to respect each other.
Communication - Dinnertime is a break from the stresses of everyday life. Your family can review the day that's passed and plan for the day that's coming.
Teach By Example - Divide tasks, so Mom alone is not responsible for preparing food, serving, and washing dishes. The chores and joys of feeding, nurturing and cleaning up should be shared.
But the best part about getting together for dinner is that it becomes ingrained in a family’s tradition if you start the habit early. While eating with a little kid may feel chaotic, it’s also very beneficial.
Of course, the real power of dinners lies in their interpersonal quality. If family members sit in stony silence, if teacher moms yell at each other, or scold their kids, family dinner won’t confer positive benefits.