I have a question to ask you today! How many of you have dinner together with your children each day? When I was growing up dinner time was family time, we would discuss how our day went at school or my parents would talk about their day at work. It seems like more and more families are eating on the run instead of making time to sit down with their families and connect with each other. I know sometimes you work late or just are working different shifts, but spending time together for a meal is important. Try to make this a priority in your house. Children who sit down to eat with their parents and talk about their day will eat better and be healthier. Children who eat at home with their parents tend to get more fruits and vegetables and less fried foods like fries and greasy food. Having dinner at home gives them a time help prepare the meal and have some bonding time. Eating at home gives them healthier choices of things to drink also, like milk instead of soda.
When I was growing up my father worked a lot of overtime in the summer so he could not be home for supper. Since money was tight my mother would take what we had for supper and pack it up for him. We would go to my father work and on his dinner break give him a home cooked meal. All 4 of us kids would go along just to be with him at supper time and to talk about our day. Spending time together was very important to my family and my father really appreciated a warm home cooked meal instead of a cold sandwich. When he worked overtime he would get home late and sometimes we would be in bed already. This was a way we could still have time together as a family.
Children need to be with their parents after school and supper is a time of day to have family time. If this is a problem at least try to have them with a Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle or very close family friend for supper. Children need to talk after a long day at school and dinner time is the best time to reconnect and learn how their day went and if there are any problems that need to be addressed.
Try to make dinnertime together a priority in your family at least 3 to 4 days a week. Your children will be happier and healthier. Having dinner together as a family brings you closer together. This was always a priority when I was little and still is today with my own children. I want my children to know that mom and dad will always be there for them, even if it’s only for a quick meal together. Think of dinner time as a time to share, your children will thank you for it from Suzie Homemaker.
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