The Many Benefits of Family Dinners

In this day and age, it seems that parents and kids alike are always on the go. Whether it is work, school, day care, meetings or soccer practice, someone is always out and about.

Dinner is a natural way for families, especially busy ones, to spend quality time together, and the benefits of sharing a meal can go beyond just good nutrition. From catching up on how a child's day went, to learning something new, to just having a good laugh, each meal presents parents with an opportunity to forge a stronger connection with their kids. Here are a few ways in which to make the most out of each dinner, family activities that everyone will enjoy:

Ways to Enhance Family Dinner Time:

Make it educational - Adding a little education to dinner time is a great way for parents and children to learn something new. Cooking a dish native to another country is one way to introduce young children to a different culture. As everyone samples the meal, share a few pre-researched facts about your dish's country of origin with your kids. Encourage them to tell of any information they may know.

Turn dinner time into game time - Games during dinner are a great way to have fun as a family, and the simpler they are, the better. Games like "20 Questions," and "What's Missing from the Table Top," require no preparation beforehand and no extra supplies in order to be played. Games like "Family Quiz," require writing questions about each family member ahead of time, but it's a way for family members to learn new things about one another. Kids love watching as their parents try to answer questions about their favorite animal, color, etc.

Create a family story - Storytelling is another family activity which allows kids and parents to use their imagination. It is a perfect meal time idea to try out, as everyone is conveniently sitting around a table. The first person to go begins telling a story, and then passes it along, giving everyone around the table a chance to add to the tale. This is an especially exciting activity around the holidays, as the story theme can be chosen ahead of time to fit a special time of year.