What Are the Benefits of Families Eating Dinner Together?
Parents know that instilling a strong foundation of love and cooperation makes a solid family. There are many things families can do to strengthen their relationship as a whole. Eating dinner together is a building block in forming a cohesive family unit.
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Parental Involvement
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Eating dinner together as a family instills values and keeps parents involved in their children's lives.
Responsibility
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Cooking and eating together keeps families interacting and encourages problem solving. Delegating tasks in preparing and presenting a meal teaches children responsibility.
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Open Communication
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Eating dinner together as a family keeps the lines of communication open. It allows parents and children to discuss fun and serious topics. It lets children feel secure in knowing that there is one part of the day that parents are always there for.
Foundation
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Eating dinner together fosters an environment of trust and openness for children and adults to communicate and discuss important issues in the future. This foundation will be beneficial as children grow and begin dealing with more difficult problems in the teenage years.
Expert Insight
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A study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that the children of families that do not eat dinner together five or more nights a week are three and a half times more prone to abuse prescription and other drugs than children that eat dinners with family consistently.
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