Dinnertime Friendship

I did an activity that my family does around the dinner table now. It helps get our conversation going and allows us to get to know each other better. Totally simple and inexpensive to do.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• An empty can from your pantry, which you probably already opened to get dinner ready
• Popsicle sticks. I bought these thick colorful ones because I have small children and the colors attract their attention. I'm sure they work for everyone no matter the age. 
• At the end of each stick, I wrote a question. Each person can choose a question to answer or you can apply it to everyone around the table.

ABOUT FAMILY DINNER TIME:
According to Purdue University's Center for Families, family meals spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S.

Smarter Children
Unlikely to Smoke, Drink or Do Drugs
Courteous and Conversational
Connected to Family
Eating Better
Sharing Food and Conversation at Meals
Strengthens Families

The reason why I use family dinnertime? I use this quote from the NY Times as a thought:

"Given that eating is universal and routine, family meals offer a natural opportunity for parental influence: there are few other contexts in family life that provide a regular window of focused time together. 

But our findings suggest that the effects of family dinners on children depend on the extent to which parents use the time to engage with their children and learn about their day-to-day lives. So if you aren’t able to make the family meal happen on a regular basis, don’t beat yourself up: just find another way to connect with your kids." {I love this last section. We're not perfect. Getting to know our children should be fun and not misery. If dinner time is not your thing, find something that is. Spending quality, unadulterated time with your children, is what matters.}

FAMILY DINNER STRUGGLES?
If family meal time is a struggle, Here are some suggestions from Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. I think these make sense to all parents but thought I should back up these suggestions with a name we probably all know and trust as an expert.

1. Set a goal to have regular family meals at least 3 times per week, if possible. Even if that means snacks in the car between half-times.
2. Be consistent.
3. Remember, quality is just as important as quantity. Focus on each other while you eat. PUT THOSE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AWAY. Get off the grid for a little while and reconnect as humans.

Happy Motherhood!
DeeDee