{"id":7626,"date":"2013-03-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/making-the-most-of-meal-time\/"},"modified":"2013-03-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-03-18T00:00:00","slug":"making-the-most-of-meal-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/es\/making-the-most-of-meal-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Most of Meal Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Family dinner is one of my favorite times of the day. As the Together CountsTM <\/sup>program mission states, it\u2019s important to have a balance of family activities and meal time. It can be hard to carve out time for everyone to eat together, but the physical, mental and emotional benefits for your kids make it worth the effort.<\/p>\n

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According to research from Medical Daily<\/a>, \u00abKids who more frequently ate with their family not only had a lower body mass index, they also ate more fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium-rich foods and vitamins. In addition, the more frequently families share meals together the more likely children will eat these nutritious foods. Finally, they are less likely to experience depression symptoms and were more likely to feel that their family was more supportive compared with teens who ate less frequently at the family table.\u00bb<\/p>\n

One of the ways you really experience those benefits is to make dinner a time when your family really talks and shares. Believe it or not it is possible to get your family talking! Here are some ideas to get the conversation flowing at your table.<\/p>\n

1. Cut out Distractions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s hard to have a conversation with someone who is distracted\u2014and there are plenty of distractions in today\u2019s multimedia age! Televisions, tablets, smartphones and video games \u2013 it\u2019s possible to be \u201cplugged in\u201d anywhere you are. If conversation is important, then you need to make the supper table an electronics free zone. Sure, your teenage daughter might go through a bit of withdrawal at first\u2014but if she isn\u2019t busy finding out what Sally said to Zack in school today\u2026she might actually join in the conversation.<\/p>\n

Mom and Dad\u2014you shouldn\u2019t be exempt from the rules either! Lead by example. Other than truly important business type calls you should be off the phone, off of Facebook and totally present with your kids. Show them that paying attention to each other at dinner time is important enough for you to unplug.<\/p>\n

(See also 5 Ways to Cut Video Game Time at Home<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Ask Leading Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once the electronics are off, it\u2019s time to get them talking. I have found that \u201cYes or No\u201d questions are the death of conversation. Let\u2019s face it\u2014kids and teens will typically take the shortest way out, especially if it keeps them from revealing anything about their personal lives! To get the conversation started, ask them questions that cannot be answered with a single word. Ask about specifics, not generalities.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to participate yourself. The adults can model good conversational skills by asking and answering questions between themselves as well.<\/p>\n

3. Really Listen<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not every topic your kids enjoy talking about is going to genuinely interest you. Personally, I could go the rest of my life happily without hearing about one more Pokemon. If it\u2019s something your child or teen loves then you need to make the effort to listen. Ask a couple of questions. Try to remember a few details for next time. Not only will you be having an actual conversation, but you are teaching your child that when they talk, you listen. Today it might be Pokemon (heaven forbid), but tomorrow it could be something you really DO want to know about, like a problem with a bully at school.<\/p>\n

4. Use Conversation Starters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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If you still need help getting things going, try a game to get everyone talking. The very simplest one I know is \u201cBest and Worst.\u201d Go around the table and everyone says the best and worst thing that happened to them that day. Mom and Dad must play along, and you have to come up with SOMETHING no matter how goofy. These don\u2019t have to be big things\u2014sometimes the best thing that happened in my day was a phone call from a friend, and the worst that my coffee got cold. On the other hand, some days you might hear about being chosen first for a team or a fight with a friend. Little peeks into your kids lives that you might not have otherwise had.<\/p>\n

(See also Starting Dinner Chats: Conversation Plates<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Don\u2019t Give Up!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At first getting your family to talk at the dinner table might seem like pulling teeth. I know I got a bit of eye rolling and (on the part of my husband) a bit of grudging participation in things like the \u201cBest and Worst\u201d conversation starter. Soon enough it just became part of what we do at dinner time\u2014my husband started getting into it, and the kids actually complain if we forget!<\/p>\n

How do you get your family to talk around the dinner table?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more dinner table ideas, check out more resources on The Together Counts Blog:<\/p>\n