I’m A Parent
Bring The Back To The Table campaign into your home!
Make A Date
Choose a day every week that’s an absolute, immoveable time for the family to sit down together to eat, whether it’s breakfast before school, dinner on a Friday or lunch on Sunday. Make sure every member of the family is involved, both in deciding when this should be and in making sure it’s kept free. Be clear about not wanting anything to impinge on this important family time, and be firm in resisting invitations or wheedling from your family to allow them to get out of it. Even if your children don’t appreciate it at the time, you can be sure in years to come they’ll relish the memories of this special and regular family meal.
Involve Your Children
Back To The Table is about getting ever member of the family involved. Why not let your children pick a theme for a weekly meal? They can decide what the menu will be, help with the preparation and even choose a guest to invite. Let them be master of ceremonies for the meal – give yourself the day off!
Focus On The Good
Mealtimes with the family ought to be time of pleasure rather than pain! This isn’t the time to bring up the fact that they never clean the dishes/tidy their rooms/do their homework. Or even to whinge at your partner! Ask your children what they did today at nursery, school or college. Tell them what you got up to. Share your stories with each other. Encourage your children’s opinions on topics of the day – let them have their say.
Turn Off The Box
Eating together should be quality time for you and your family. Don’t spoil it by having an uninvited guest, aka the TV set, at your table. Turn it off and keep it off until the meal is over.
