Close your eyes and picture Family Dinner. June Cleaver is in an apron and pearls, Ward in a sweater and tie. The napkins are linen, the children are scrubbed, steam rises from the casserole, and even the dog listens intently to what is being said.
Today the reality is that life is fast paced and the Cleaver Family Meal doesn’t happen the same way as it did. That’s ok – as long as we don’t lose the critically valuable part of this scenario in our ultra-busy lives. We can still be a modern family and reap the benefits that come from gathering around a table to eat.
Regular, reliable meals anchor a family even on nights when the food is fast and the talk cheap and everyone has someplace else they need to go. But on those other occasions when the conversation blossoms, you get a glimpse of just how powerful this habit is and why social scientists say that family meals act as a kind of vaccine, protecting kids from all manner of harm.
Family meals provide stability, encourage communication and relieve stress. They allow for checking-in with one another on a regular basis. Research has revealed that teens from families that eat together more frequently have better school performance, lower risk for substance abuse and better social adjustment. So start early and make family meals a habit.
Mealtime benefits are also nutritional. Studies have shown that children from families that regularly eat meals together eat more fruits and vegetables, get more nutrients like fibre, calcium, and folate, and are at lower risk of becoming overweight.
As a parent, use this time to be curious about what’s going on in your children’s lives and be open to sharing yourself – this isn’t meant to be interrogation time! To help you get started and to inspire questions beyond “what happened today at child care or school” – here are some conversation starters. Cut them out, put them in a basket and be open to where the conversation may lead. Adapt them for older or younger children and, better yet, use family mealtime to come up with your family’s custom questions.
If I lived on a tropical island, I’d eat…
If you could cover your bedroom with animal wallpaper, what animals would you choose?
If you had $100 to give away, who would you give it to and why?
What is your favourite game? Why?
In the summer, my favourite thing to do is... How about the winter?
What is your definition of strong?
When you hear the work unfair, what do you think of?
Who is your hero?
If I had three wishes, I'd...
What ALWAYS makes you smile?
