Make the Most of Family Meal Time

Summer is a great time to reconnect with family. Use this slow-paced time of year to rediscover family mealtime. Children, both young and old, can benefit from time spent at the family dinner table. Family meals can improve relationships between parents and kids, provide a feeling of safety and security, and improve your children's social development. Here are a few tips for making the most of your family mealtime together.

What to Expect

* Don't set your expectations too high. Family mealtimes give parents and kids a chance to discuss the events of their day together. Try not to focus on who is cleaning their plate and put more of the emphasis on being together and sharing stories.

* If you set a routine of eating together for five or more days a week, your kids will come to expect it. If they are used to eating at separate times or worse, eating in front of the TV every night, it may take some time to make family mealtime a habit.

* Try to eat together as often as possible but realize that older children have many activities that might prevent them from joining your family at mealtime. Try to be flexible and work around their schedules.

Mealtime Problems

* What if your kids don't want to eat what you are serving? Do not become a "short order cook". Make sure that you have some familiar foods like biscuits and jelly or a fruit salad if you are preparing a new entree. Kids won't starve if they can find something they like to eat at the table.

* What should you do if your child says they are not hungry? Ask them to join your family at the table. Maybe they could just have a glass of milk and join in the conversation at the dinner table. This will let them know that family dinner time is about more than eating.

What Can We Talk About?

* The most obvious topic is to discuss what happened during everyone's day. Did your kids have a good day in school? How was work? Does anyone have a funny story to tell?

* You could discuss what you want to do for the rest of the evening or the next day.

* Your family could talk about current events or the latest books they have read.

* Parents can pass down stories about their childhood. Talk about family traditions and memories.