Back to School, Back to the Table
August 25, 2008
Did you know...Kids who eat family suppers regularly get better grades in school.
Oh oh oh, that calendrical crush. At this time of high hopes and new notebooks, parents are wondering how they will fit it all in.
May I suggest you begin by adding yet another item to your calendars? If you make a time for family suppers, it's much more likely that they will happen. You will not schedule activities during that time. You will let everyone know that they are expected to be home.
Knowing that you have a time built in when everyone can touch base, catch up on the day's events, can give a sense of comfort and security. Things are less likely to spin out of control when there is a built-in check-in time.
Oh yes, and there's that little matter of better grades. It may be that kids who feel settled can concentrate better on their studies. It may be that the table conversations helps. It may be that parents who see their kids regularly are quicker to pick up on small issues before they spin out of control.
It may just be an idea worth trying.
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today. You can buy this book from our friends at Smucker's® Online Store.
