Chaplains Chat 

A recent study of over 500 children aged between 8 – 12 years, were asked what they wanted more of each day.   98 % of children said that they would enjoy sitting down with their family for dinner, 83 % said they really enjoy helping out in the kitchen and 80 % said they enjoyed trying new foods for dinner.

Study after study consistently reports that when families sit down around the table and share a meal together, that this is like a “superfood” for the development of young hearts and minds. Who would have thought that the simple event of gathering around the table together and sharing a meal together is pretty much is one of the most important things you can do for and with your children.

This family practice, helps to set up a healthy relationship between food and nutrition, it wards off obesity and other health risks too. The benefits of eating together around the family table are more than just nutritional – they are psychosocial and relational too.

The conversation boosts their language and development (vocabulary & comprehension), it helps establish healthy family connections, protects young minds from anxious and lonely thoughts and even strengthens children’s identity and resilience – which helps keep the bullies at bay and lowers risk-taking behaviour for teens.

In a time where the mental health of our children is under increasing pressure, the research reminds us that the family mealtime is a protective factor for our children’s mental health. It provides them with a sense of rhythm and regularity in the busyness of life, a sense of familiarity and a deeper sense of contentment and security. Being present together as a family provides the unique opportunity to “shake off the day,” strengthen identity, remember that we belong together, share stories and maybe even have a laugh.  In current times, these things are so very important for our children.”

Sadly, modern day living provides us with many reasons that stand in the way of families being together at meal times. However, a sobering 61% of children wish their parents were not so busy so they could share more time together. Ouch!

Any intentional efforts towards making family mealtimes happen, is definitely worth it. Taking just one small step towards making it a priority to eat together with the people in your home will help build stronger and healthy families. And may I suggest that you make a rule that mobile phones and devices are excluded from the dinner table. You want to encourage face to face conversation.

And remember, a simple act of sharing mealtimes together, helps lay down a solid foundation for the future for the future of your family.