Family Dinners and Increased Academics
How Eating Meals as a Family Benefits YOUR TEEN
Did you know studies show that eating meals as a family several times a week is positively correlated with improved psychosocial development and high academic performance in adolescents?
That’s right!!!
Sitting down and eating meals as a family can improve your child’s attitude and school success.
Children Feel a Sense of Togetherness
When children share space and experiences with immediate and extended family members, they gain a sense of belonging and togetherness. As much as they may huff, puff, sigh, and complain, they actually enjoy spending time, swapping stories, teasing, laughing, and bonding with those closest to them. This helps improve their sense of stability in a space where they may be filled with uncertainty.
Children Have an Opportunity to Share and to be Heard
When children are given the space and opportunity to express themselves by sharing their experiences, they feel seen and heard. Giving them this undivided attention can increase the likelihood of them sharing their thoughts, hopes, dreams, disappointments, questions, uncertainties, and the like. They may be more willing to speak if they know that someone is actually listening.
Children Are Safe to Relax and Destress
When children are in school all day, and perhaps involved in some sort of after school activity, they may feel the pressure the conform to the behaviors and expectations of their peers and/or adult leaders (teachers, coaches, etc.). They may or may not be comfortable with being themselves authentically. However, in the stress-free environment of the dinner table, they are able to relax and just…BE. Children need space and time to release stress without feeling like they are being judged or singled out for being themselves.
Children Gain Healthy Perspectives
When families relax and enjoy meals around the dinner table, children gain healthy perspectives of others, are able to question and ponder various viewpoints, and can explore and challenge opinions of themselves and others. They may also feel more comfortable with expressing their emotions and feelings about current events in their world and the larger global community.
When children leave home feeling empowered and emotionally stable, they arrive at school better prepared to face social, academic, and personal challenges.
With increased self-esteem, they are more willing to take healthy risks and are able to recover more quickly from set-backs. Academic challenges do not overwhelm them and they are more motivated to accomplish tasks. This leads to higher grades and overall increased academic development.
Try these SUCCESS practices with your child. Be sure to hit REPLY and tell me all about it.
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