The Importance Of Eating With The Family
Eating with the family is one of the most common experiences. It is so natural that we often don’t give it the importance it deserves.
You may think that the greatest benefit of eating all together is that you can ensure that your children eat well. However, sharing the same board helps build habits, builds trust, builds skills and creates a better family environment.
Here are some reasons why you should eat with your family at least six times a week. Even if you have a busy life, try to find time to share with the people you love.
Improve communication and trust
The conversations that occur when eating with the family help create and strengthen the emotional bond between people. Toddlers learn that their opinions matter and adults can see the world from a children’s perspective.
Together, parents and children get the attention they need in a comfortable, safe and loving environment. This is why it is important that everyone devotes their attention and their conversations to other family members.
You can talk about the challenges they faced during the day, but no one needs to focus on just one aspect, such as work. The idea is that everyone shares something, listens to each other and helps each other.
Good manners are learned
How many times have you told the children what table manners are? Do you know what will help them more than your words? See your behavior at the table. By seeing you use cutlery properly and socialize, they will learn the correct way to do it.
Eating with your family will allow you to teach them good manners in a relaxed, simple and loving way. Bear in mind that they will do the same things that you will show with your actions.
You help them learn about new foods
Encourage your children to try new flavors without forcing, forcing or corrupting them. Insert a new food whenever you can. Remember that getting used to a new flavor takes 8 to 10 tries.
Eating with the family is not always the easiest thing when you include vegetables and fruits that are not your children’s favorites. To facilitate the inclusion of new foods in the menu, try to make it a game. Create goals and activities that motivate your little ones to embrace these new flavors.
Develop self-reliance
Nowadays children don’t know the importance of making a dish and cooking. However, cooking basic dishes and preparing food is one way to teach them to be self-reliant.
Involve all family members right from the choice of the menu. Younger children can peel the vegetables and mix the salad. Teens can take charge of slicing, shredding and baking.
With teamwork, the food will be ready in less time and everyone will value this moment more. They will also learn to consider all people equal and to value their abilities.
Eating with the family helps you prevent destructive behavior
When a child gets a little out of hand, parents tend to wonder why. Many times they come to the conclusion that they did nothing wrong because they indulged all his whims, but they don’t see that they were absent. Have you thought that eating with the family can allow you to catch the first warning signs?
Through the chatter around the table you can get to know his friends, his dreams, his goals and his new activities. You will also be able to recognize the first signs of something wrong and talk to your child about this topic.
Your children improve in school
Children who become accustomed to family meals tend to have better grades in school. The first reason is that their diet is healthier and more balanced than when they eat away from home.
Also, when your child knows that you pay attention to him and that you recognize his progress and goals, he feels more motivated. His grades will improve and he will learn to manage school stress in the best way.
Ultimately, eating with the family is much better than sharing just a few minutes a day. It implies that everyone grows and improves as a family. It also helps them cope with conflicts and create a new habit that will leave them with good memories for a lifetime.
