The opportunities for family members to sit down for dinner are becoming less and less due to the busy working days, night shifts, or the tuition of children. In earlier days, at least at dinner, everyone would sit together and share their stories among them. But now nobody gets time even to talk to each other. Even if all the hustle and bustle are kept aside, the villains will be TV serials and the internet. Nowadays dinner turns out like everyone sits around in front of the Tele Vision.
In fact, we are destroying the very foundation of our family and the upbringing of the children while we miss out on such good practices like having dinner together. Many scientific studies have shown the benefits of the family having the dinner together every day. Here are a few reasons why they recommend such practices.
- Keep Children Out of Trouble
Children who live with their parents and eat dinner together are less likely to get involved in dangerous associations. According to a study in the year 2000, by the National Center on Addiction and Substances at Columbia University, children who did not eat dinner with their families were 61% more likely to become alcohol addicts or tobacco addicts than the rest of the children. In short, children who eat dinner with their families every day of the week and share their stories are likely less than 20% to become addicted to alcohol and tobacco.
- A Time to Strengthen Relationships
Family mealtimes help build stronger and happier relationships. Dinnertime gatherings are a solution in these times when we struggle to find meaningful gatherings in our busy lives. The members of the family can grow physically and mentally through such interactions and sharing of experiences.
- Offers Stability
Dinner times together can help molding a family uniquely strong. Mealtimes together can help develop a sense of belongingness among the members of the family. A stable and safe environment could be created through this routine in the family. The children also get the opportunity to grow up as good citizens through the positive energy generated such interactions.
- Sharing of Family AffairsÂ
During the dinnertime together it is possible to share about anything new that has happened in the family. It can be an opportunity for children and parents to share all the news at school, at work, at home, and among friends.
- An Opportunity to Air the Differences
Daily family dinner provides a natural opportunity to resolve problems and propose new plans. Arranging a family meeting to discuss family matters and resolve any differences is a difficult task. But it is possible if everyone gets together at dinner time. Therefore, daily dinner times can be used to solve problems and propose new plans. It will become a good example for the children.
- Experience can be imparted to the Children
Dinner times together can help sharing wisdom. Everyone can gain wisdom during dinnertime discussions on different topics. Children from such homes have more vocabulary and experience.
- Healthy Family
The last point is that the children who eat with the whole family get all the nutrition they need. It is a fact that children who eat with their parents eat much better. By avoiding buying fast food from outside, children will be able to eat low-fat and healthy meals prepared at home.