Is it important that a family eats meals together?

Having a family meal together is one of the best ways to spend some quality time with your family. 

Throughout your day, you are busy with your job, your daily chores, helping your child get ready for the day and you might sometimes forget to sit down and spend some quality time with your child. 

When a family sits down and eats meals together, it will help them handle the daily stresses of the day. It promotes sensible eating habits and helps every member eat their meals in proper portion control. 

Here are tips on how to teach your child to have a family meal together: 

1- Expectations 

The expectation while you have a family dinner is that you bond with each other. 

You can ask each other about how your day was, communicate with each other, learn to listen to each other and respect everyone’s opinion. 

If this happens, then your children will learn this and ask you questions to initiate a conversation with you.

2- Communication

Communicating with each other about your day is what family meal is all about. 

Sitting down, talking, laughing while eating your favourite meals together is a great way to bond with each other.

You can improve communication between you and your child by discussing topics they like reading about or watching. 

Talk to them about their favourite book or puzzle that they like playing with, which will help initiate them to keep up with the conversation.

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3- Role model

You can teach your children to feel like they are part of the family by being a good role model to them.

You can assign them to set up the table or clean up the dishes after dinner.

This will ensure that they don’t sit down for dinner and then go back to their room but also take part in other chores helping you out. 

4- Topics

Certain topics should not be discussed at your family dinner. 

Family meal time is not the right time for you to discuss topics which your children don’t like talking about or  humiliating them or scolding them in any way.

5- Self-esteem

You can build self-esteem in your child by having a healthy, matured conversation with your child. 

While listening to them, tell them how much you value having these conversations with them. 

6- Opportunity 

Teach your child to view dinner time as an opportunity for them to bond with the rest of the family instead of a chore time. 

If they view it as a chore they might not take part in the conversation or help you out and it will hinder bonding time. 

7- Seating

You can allow your children to find their own seating in the table. 

If the siblings are fighting to sit on the same chair then you can help them come up with a solution.

8- Family dynamics

If your child protests against some meals that are served, instead of agreeing with them and allowing them to eat some other meals ask them to at least try out the food because it’s essential for their growth and development.

If you agree with them, then they will see you as the better parent and this will distance a child from the other  parent who doesn’t succumb to their wishes all the time. 

As parents, you both should decide on things together no matter whether your child likes it or not if it is in their best interest. 

9- Model eating behaviour 

You can teach your child on how to behave when they sit down for dinner. 

You can educate them on good table manners, how to use spoons and forks properly and to try out new meals. 

You can trust your child when they say they are done eating. It is important for them to stop when they are full instead of over-eating. 

10- Social benefits 

It gives your child an opportunity to listen and learn new words when they hear others communicating. 

They become more confident when they feel like they can contribute to certain conversations. 

11- Health benefits 

Families who eat together tend to eat better. 

Children show healthier eating habits, healthier body weight, low risk for eating disorder, fewer behavioural problems and show better self-esteem. 

12- Routine

Always make sure that you eat your meals at a certain time everyday so that your child learns the routine and keeps up with it without any fail. 

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