The Family Meal: Key to Better Behavior?

New information gathered by Child Trends reminds us of just how valuable spending quality time together over a family meal (dinner, lunch, or breakfast!) it is to children’s development. Child Trends reports that children and adolescents who regularly eat meals together with family members experience better outcomes than children in families that ignore the family meal table.

Dr. David Murphy summarizes the frequency of family meals by child’s age for the Child Trends report.

• 63% of parents with young children 0-5 years old report their families eat meals together 6-7 days a week.
• 17% of parents with young children 0-5 years old report their families eat meals together 3 or fewer days a week.

• 53% of parents with children 6-11 years old report their families eat meals together 6-7 days a week.
• 20% of parents with children 6-11 years old report their families eat meals together 3 or fewer days a week.

• 37% of parents with children 12-17 years old report their families eat meals together 6-7 days a week.
• 31% of parents with children 12-17 years old report their families eat meals together 3 or fewer days a week.

To set the stage for deep, meaningful togetherness, turn off the TV. Even as background noise it tends to limit the length and breathe of the conversation. As we in early childhood know, a meal table with conversation feed the body, mind and spirit—and builds better language skills in the early years. Benefits of sharing a family meal on a regular basis are many including lower likelihood of:

• Behavior problems,
• Depressive symptoms,
• Substance abuse (including cigarette smoking),
• Fighting,
• Suicidal thoughts

When a child begins to misbehave or shows a change in behavior pattern, ask the family to make a point of sharing more meals together. Make a snack or lunch date with the child at your program too! As hard as tit is, help families see that the quick fix “fast food in the back seat meal” junk food for the soul. When we sit around a table, and look and listen to each other, we teach our children that they are worth our time and attention. What they have to say is worth hearing.

Trend Lines blog, posted January 24, 2012 available at http://blog.childtrends.org/2012/01/24/eat-and-be-merry-together-at-the-dinner-table/