Bring Family Values Back to The Dinner Table by Carol Ann
When so many people are leading busy lives it essential that they family sit down together to enjoy dinner. As children our mothers father made sure that we were at the table for dinner each night. On Sundays it was customary to not only sit with our immediate family but with aunts uncles cousins grandparents as well. Every got together shared a meal company conversations.
Many families have gotten away from that tradition it might be a good time to get back in the habit. Especially considering the cost of eating out at a restaurant home cooked meals that can be shared re heated for left over might be a good way to save a few extra dollars.
By sitting down to a family dinner I do not mean watching television eating microwave meals. This is not considered quality family time. For families with older children it may not be realistic to expect this every night as this is an easier task with younger ones who you have more control over. Here are a few tips to get your older more independent children at the dinner table with your family.
First you need to realize that a sit down family dinner will not be possible each night. Schedule a time that all families member are to be home to prepare sit down as a family to eat dinner. Then allow the children to help even though the help of a younger child may feel like more work for you. The second thing that gets everyone together at dinner time is to allow the child to help pick the meal if you allow this they will be more likely to get excited about the meal help prepare it.
Picking out food is another helpful tip. There is no need to force kids to eat anymore with the large variety of healthy food available. This does not mean let them have mac cheese each night as it still important that they try everything at least once. The rule in my house is that you must try at least one serving of what I am cooking for dinner. Then if you truly do not like it it will no longer be put in from of you. If it meal that everyone but the one child likes these are the nights that this child gets a "special meal" for the evening. For example I have a child who does not like baked potatoes so on night that I make them I take one make mashed potatoes out of it for him.
When face to face with difficult parenting parentinginformed. com challenges remember that there are numerous useful parenting resources parentinginformed. com available online. One website that has all the latest on parenting information log onto parentinginformed. com. Bring Family Values Back to The Dinner Table
