The University of Florida’s IFAS Extension states that a child’s development is positively affected when families dine together at least four times per week. This institute of higher learning also points out that family dinners increase a student’s chances of graduating from high school, as well as reduce the risks of teens abusing drugs. Here are three ways you can get your family together to enjoy a delicious dinner.
- Take Turns Choosing the Meal
The best way to get the family invested in the evening meal is to give each member a turn in selecting the dishes. Parents can teach their little ones about nutrition and encourage them to help prepare the dinners they have chosen on their assigned day.
- Give Everyone a Time to Talk
Family members may not look forward to dinner time because they don’t feel like they are being heard. Getting together for the final meal of the day allows parents and children to bond, but only if they each get a chance to talk. If it typically takes your family an hour to eat, schedule 15 minutes for each person to have the opportunity to talk about their day uninterrupted.
- Get Kids Excited with a Themed Dinner
One way to entice the family to supper is to plan themed dinners. There are several ways you can go about this. You can go with days of the week, such as Meatloaf Mondays or Taco Tuesdays, or opt for different ethnic foods. Thursday, you could serve Italian, while Friday is for Chinese, and Saturday features Greek cuisine. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even organize a mystery dinner one night a month.
Lake Forrest Prep, an Orange County private school, aspires to create an atmosphere where school is an extension of the family: a school environment where teacher, parent, and student interactions involve solid connections, enriching lessons, and responsibility on the part of all three participants. We encourage parents to visit our campus blog for helpful tips or contact us for a tour of our campus!
