Dinnertime can sometimes start to feel like more of a chore than a family bonding experience. We have compiled a list of ideas to help your family have a more enjoyable dinner experience.
- Set a Goal: Set a goal for the family as whole or for each family member (including parents). This is more effective if your child(ren) is involved in setting the goal. The goal could be one thing related to manners, staying at the table for a certain amount of time, having a positive attitude, trying everything on your plate, no technology at the table, or making conversation. Once the goal is set, write it down and put it on the wall so that everyone can see it each day. Set a date that you plan to accomplish the goal and agree on a family reward if everyone in the family has been successful. Once the goal is accomplished, you can set a new goal with the understanding that the previous goal is expected to still be followed.
- High-Low: Each family member can share a high and a low from their day to practice sharing about the good and the hard parts of their day. Other family members can be encouraged or expected to make comments and ask questions (this is a great way to practice listening and asking follow up questions).
- Mistake Jar: a mistake jar can be used to help normalize the process of making mistakes. Check out Mistake Jar Blog Post for more information.
- Building Empathy: support your child(ren) in building empathy by asking about something that they noticed someone do well during the day, someone who was having a hard time, and something that they did that was kind for another person. You can ask them about how they felt when they did something kind and how they think the other person felt.
Games/Activities: there are many products that can be fun at the dinner table including topic talk cards (Topic Cards) and sentence completion cards (Bright Spots). Playing games like Would You Rather, “I’m thinking of an animal,” or 20 questions can help to keep everyone engaged and create a more enjoyable experience.