When was the last time you had dinner with your family?  This week?  Last week... or even longer?  It is the most skipped meal because often times we work late or the kids have extracurricular activities.  Everyone in the family has a different schedule.  While one child has soccer the other has piano... dad is working late and mom is doing her best to get the kids where they're suppose to be, when they're suppose to be there. 

Having family dinner time is an integral part of the family dynamics.  So why are so many of us skipping it?

Family dinner is more than just a meal... it's often times the only time families can share time together.  A time to connect.  A time to communicate with each other about what's going on in each family member's life.

It really doesn't matter where you gather for dinner - at the dinner table, with trays in the family room or out at a restaurant... just that you are all together as a family. 

A number of studies show that children who eat dinner with their families regularly are less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol than those who do not.

The study by the Columbia Center says,

compared to teens who have five or more family dinners per week, those who have two or fewer are:

• More than twice as likely to have tried cigarettes;
• One and a half times likelier to have tried alcohol;
• Twice as likely to have tried marijuana; and
• More than twice as likely to say future drug use is very or somewhat likely.

Why is dinner so important? 

For one, it is a time to share thoughts and feelings. All day, our kids are influenced by teachers, peers and the outside world. At the dinner table, our kids get a chance to connect with us, their parents, on issues like schoolwork, peer pressure, friendships and other things that may be going on in their lives. They can each share and help one another with helpful suggestions or ideas. Parents can even talk about work or family finances over a meal... something I think is important.  By sharing with your children your lives (relevant to their age, of course) you are making it easier for them to be open with you.

You are showing them you trust them enough to discuss issues that are important to you.  So they will feel more comfortable in disclosing their important issues.

If you have young children, they will learn how to communicate with their siblings and parents. They are the center of attention with questions about their day and it makes them feel important.  We know that kids, especially younger children, want to be in the limelight.  If you have more than one child... this helps them learn to share the spotlight with their siblings.

Studies also show that families that eat together have better grades.  From the Coumbia report,

Teens who have dinner with their families five or more times a week are likelier to say that they receive either all A’s or mostly A’s and B’s in school compared to teens who have dinner with their families fewer than three times a week (63 percent vs. 49 percent). Teens who typically receive grades of C or lower are at twice the risk of substance abuse as those receiving all A’s or mostly A’s and B’s.

Another reason family dinners are so important is for body image.  For teenage girls (and more and more prevalent teen boys), body image is everything. Learning to prepare and eat healthy meals with their families is a sign that eating right will keep their bodies in shape. Teens are less likely to become the victim of an eating disorder but develop a healthy view of food and their bodies when they eat dinner with their families.

Having family dinners will:

• Inform you of any issues or concerns that may be troubling your children. 
• Open up lines of communication. 
• Make it less likely your kids will smoke, drink or take drugs. 
• They will be more likely to make better grades in school. 
• They will have a healthier body image.

I have a six-year old so who is with me pretty much all the time, so it isn't an issue in our family... yet.  Although, we are already making dinnertime a family must.  Maybe if we start now, it will develop into a habit that will stick with us throughout the teen years too.

So if you and your family are not having family dinners... there is no time like today to start!