wellnesscenterusa.comPosted on 11/27/2007 by Susan Quinn, R.N., B.S.N
Family rituals and routines are a significant source of joy for many families, and often provide a sense of structure for family members that can guide behavior, provide a healthy emotional environment, promote intellectual and social development, and encourage healthy eating among children and adults alike.
Experience tells us, children enjoy becoming more active participants in daily family life as they enter the childhood years (3 years and older). They may ask to help bake cookies, pick out clothes, or feed the family pet. Young children are highly aware of the daily, weekly, and annual routines of family life and want to be involved! With this in mind, parents should be encouraged to incorporate family routines which allow young children to participate. Family mealtime provides the perfect opportunity for their participation, and provides many benefits!
Studies show that the dinnertime routine is rich with opportunities for language development by exposing kids to a broad range of words and meanings. As the meal is served and eaten, families recap the day's events, share stories, and discuss dreams for the future. Research by Beals and Snow (1994) indicated that children of parents who incorporated "rare" words at the dinner table such as "stegosaurus" scored higher on standardized vocabulary tests. Further, families who engaged in more narrative (eg, talking about an event in the past) or elaborative talk at the table, when their children were 3 and 4 years of age, were found to have children with larger vocabularies and stronger story comprehension skills at age 5.
Mealtime also provides opportunities for social and emotional development. During the meal, family members are expected to use manners and behave appropriately. This helps children become socialized to culturally accepted behavior and have an easier time communicating with their peers and developing relationships. Additionally, family dialogue is rich with both verbal and nonverbal emotional expression, and offers opportunities for members to .try-out. emotions in a safe environment.
Lastly, with the obesity epidemic knocking on our front door, studies are indicating that children are not meeting recommended dietary guidelines. Surveys show that only 2% of school age children meet the national guidelines for all food groups. As children's eating practices are directly influenced by parental eating behaviors, mealtime provides an excellent opportunity to encourage healthy eating and socialization- offering nutritious foods and talking about every one of them!