Presentation 19:
MEALTIME MADNESS - What do mealtimes in your house look like? Why?

Should mealtimes be all about the food? Or, is eating food lower down on the priority list?

Is the opportunity to connect, to share, to celebrate or commiserate the day with people who love each other more important than how much a child eats?

I'd like to propose that family meal time is an opportunity to keep up with what everyone is up to, and how they're feeling about life. The research around 'dinnertime' is very clear.

Those who eat dinner with their families more frequently do better, academically, than their peers who don't. And, it's long been known that pre-schoolers from families that regularly eat together develop better language skills than those families who eat sporadically together. Since the 1990's researchers have discovered that extended, good-natured conversations provide young children with a chance to listen to language, build new vocabulary, contribute to discussions and think - this enhances global development and relationship.

So, how do we create a mealtime that works? Come along and let's share, discuss and tweak what we're doing so our kids can be advantaged too!