All your kid wants for dinner is YOU!
Find time for Family Meals.
Tips to Get Started
Recognize the importance of family mealtime.
Get the family together and discuss the benefits of eating together and make a commitment as a family.
Begin slowly.
Start with one meal a week if that's all that's manageable for your family right now. Then increase your family meals from there. Start small, but stick with it.
Make a schedule
Coordinating schedules can be tough, but it can be done. Make eating together a habit not a special occasion.
Be flexible.
If dinner's not workable, eat breakfast or lunch together, share a snack with your kid, or make a late-night dessert get-together. Figure out what works best in your household.
Divide and conquer.
If there's just no way you can all be together, remember that one parent is better than no parent. The point is one less family member is not going to impact the togetherness of those members that are still at home.
Keep it Simple.
Meals don’t have to be elaborate. The occasion is more important than the menu.
Make it fun.
Keep the conversations fun and positive. Give everyone a chance to talk, share and listen. You can play “High and Low” wherein everyone can share the best part of their day and the worst part of their day. This is never the time for heavy topics or reprimanding.
Focus on family time.
Make it a rule – no TV or phone calls. Everybody should stay at the table until everyone's finished.
