Scientific reasons for dining with the children as a family
Dining as a family has multiple benefits both for us and for our children. And it is not in vain that it has been shown that children who eat accompanied learn and socialize, since they imitate the good example given by parents. Further, Science has also highlighted how good it can be to dine as a family, we tell you
Benefits in children's performance
An investigation published in 2006 in New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development showed that young children they learn more vocabulary during the conversation of the dinner that reading stories out loud. Thus, the study counted that children could get to learn 1,000 words from their parents during dinners, while reading with them out loud they only stayed with 143. This, in turn, helps our children learn to read before and with greater ease.
In addition, other investigations have found that there is a direct relationship between the frequency of family dinners and the academic performance of adolescents. The professor of psychology at Harvard University (United States) Anne Fishel says that adolescents who have family dinners five to seven times a week are twice as likely to have better grades than those who only dine in family a couple of times a week.
Benefits of dining together in eating habits
This same teacher explains that children who eat regularly with their families consume more fruits, vegetables, nutrients and vitamins that the rest, while it has also been shown that they take less food of a lower quality, such as fried or soft drinks.
In fact, he assures that these benefits can be observed even as children grow up: young adults who ate with their families on a regular basis during childhood are less likely to suffer from obesity and are more inclined to eat healthily once they become independent, according to several investigations.
But it is not the only thing, other studies have found a connection between family dinners and the reduction of symptoms of diseases such as asthma. This benefit, according to Fishel, can be due to two reasons: less anxiety and the possibility that parents "control" in a hidden way how their children behave.
The expert assures that the benefits of family dinners they are not only due to the presence of healthy foods at meals, but also the atmosphere of the dinner is essential"Parents should be affectionate and committed, instead of restrictively controlling their diet, to encourage a healthy life for their children," she explains.
Now, about this also calls the attention of a danger: television. According to other research reported by the teacher, children who watch television during dinner are more likely to be overweight.
The benefits of having a family dinner with teenagers
Several studies have also linked family dinners on a frequent basis with the reduction of a series of "risky" behaviors in adolescents, such as smoking, alcohol or marijuana use, violence, school problems or learning disorders. feeding. In fact, there is research that links dinner with family with lower rates of depression in young people.
In addition, not only is there a relationship between dining with the family and the absence of "bad behavior" in young people, but there are researches that have proven that cenar en familia also encourages the appearance of "good behavior": adolescents who eat regularly with their families tend to have a more positive view of their future if they compare with those who eat dinner alone, according to the Harvard professor.
Let's eat together often!
It is true that many times the work obligations of parents and the children's academic make it difficult to find time to share. But nevertheless, the dinners can be the solution: they are a meal at the end of the day that we can share together and that can be used to "catch up" with ours.
In fact, this expert tells that in a survey in the United States adolescents were asked when they were more receptive to talk with their parents, and most assured that during dinner. It's a time when you experience less stress and this can be used to improve the relationship between parents and children.
Thus, the true power of dinners is not only to sit down to dinner together, but depends on the interpersonal quality we have. To dine in family but in silence or watching television would annul all the benefits described, as if at dinner there are only arguments and anger. Thus, take advantage of family dinner, but do it well: give example, talk, be interested in your children, and this will also be useful for the rest of the day.
Angela R. Bonachera
