Researchers at one of America's most prestigious universities have called family dinner an essential ingredient in the recipe for raising happy, healthy children. In addition, family dinner is a predictor in keeping children away from unhealthy behaviors.
More than a decade of research by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.
"If I could wave a magic wand to make a dent in our nation's substance abuse problem, I would make sure that every child in America had dinner with his or her parents at least five times a week," said Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman and president of the center.
According to researchers, frequent family dinners are associated with lower teen substance abuse.
Compared to teens who have five to seven family dinners in a typical week, teens who dine with their families fewer than three nights in a typical week are two times more likely to have tried marijuana, more than twice as likely to have tried cigarettes and one and a half times more likely to have tried alcohol. . . .
The report also found that frequent family dinners are associated with higher academic performance. . . .
All in all, there are numerous benefits to family dinners.
Families that eat together have children who:
- Eat healthier meals.
- Are less likely to become overweight or obese.
- Are less likely to drink alcohol.
- Are less likely to try marijuana.
- Are less likely to use illicit drugs.
- Are less likely to have friends who abuse prescription drugs.
- Will get better grades in school.
- Will talk to their parents more.
- Will be more likely to tell parents about serious problems.
- Will be more likely to feel that their parents are proud of them.
- Will live in homes where there is less stress and tension. . . .
The First Presidency declared . . . that "however worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform."
Family dinner is one of those things.
In a day when experts have warned against what they call overscheduled children, it seems the best thing parents can do for their children is to stay home and sit down for regular meals.
Research confirms it will do them more good than soccer and piano combined.
So when you are at the end of your wits, trying to meet the demanding daily needs of your family, it may be helpful to remember the catch phrase promoted by the National Center on Addiction and Abuse: "What your kids really want for dinner is you!"
This post excerpted from "Viewpoint" in the March 27, 2010, issue of the Church News.
