Bonding at Mealtime

 

   What better way is there to nurture your family than to spend dinner together, around the table, sharing the events of your day?  This activity will encourage the development of close relationships between family members.  Taking the time to spend dinner together has proven to be a successful tool in helping families stay closely knitted together from infant to adulthood.  Children feel excited to share about what happened to them at school, what they did with their friends, and what they plan to do the next day.  Parents learn more about what their children enjoy, what makes them happy or upset, and how they are adjusting to school.  It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about one another. 

     A terrific idea shared by the author of the Nurturing Parenting Program is to have a special plate that is given to one member of the family at each dinner.  This plate is given to the family member who is being recognized for an accomplishment or just because it is determined that they need it the most.  The family decides together who should get the plate before dinner and it is set in that individual's place at the table.  This is a special honor and eventually will become a habit and an exciting event for the whole family to see who gets the plate.

Here is a great recipe to start you on your way to a family dinner that is sure to please:

Sausage & Peppers with Rotini Pasta recipe