Have you heard or read the studies about the studies that say family mealtime is the an important factor in the future well-being of children? That eating meals together is an effective deterrent against drugs, smoking, alcohol and the like? Those studies weren’t around when our kids were little, but we had a few reasons of our own for eating together at least once a day. This weekend, when some of our kids were here visiting, a couple more came to mind. So here are my top ten reasons families should eat meals together.
10. The table doesn’t accumulate as much junk if it has to be cleared before supper.
9. Setting and clearing the table provide opportunities to earn stickers on chore charts.
8. Someday all that table setting and clearing will lead one of your children to believe parents only have kids because they want slaves to do all their work.
7. How else are little boys and girls supposed to learn knives can be used for more than stabbing bad guys?
6. Mealtime provides a captive audience for telling goofy family stories and thus preserving family history.
5. Mealtime is a perfect venue for creating new family stories – perhaps a story about a daughter who frequently fell off her chair or a son who found giggles in the applesauce.
4. Kids who eat meals with their parents want to know how to cook what they’re eating.
3. Kids who eat meals with their parents learn to cook what they like to eat.
2. Kids who eat meals with their parents eventually cook supper for their parents.
1. Once the kids are cooking meals, the parents have accomplished the ulterior and secret motive of getting the kids slaves to do all their work.
What do you want to add to the list? Leave a comment!
