Between rushing from work and soccer practice to the dry cleaners and dance rehearsal, it’s difficult to gather everyone in the family for quality time. However, there is one place where family time shouldn’t be neglected—the dinner table.
The average family meal lasts 18 to 20 minutes, and only about 50 percent of American families say they eat together three to five times a week, according to a report by the Society for Research in Child Development.
“Eating together as a family is very important in developing a child’s social ability and tightening family bonds,” explains Kimberly Sirl, PhD, clinical psychologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Dinner provides time for parents to model conversation skills and manners, as well as an opportunity to stay involved in each other’s lives.”
Pull up a Chair
Here are some helpful ideas from Dr. Sirl to keep dinnertime dynamic:
- Play some music and turn off the television.
- Try not to bring up homework, trouble at school or other embarrassing topics. Make mealtime fun, relaxing and enjoyable.
- If conversation is lacking, try starting a family topic jar. Create fun topics, put them in a jar and take turns talking about the different subjects.
- If you’re trying to eat as a family for the first time, make a goal to do it twice a week at first. After that, try adding more days gradually. Utilizing the topic jar can make the transition smoother.
For more information about the importance of family time, call the Answer Line at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS.