Does a typical dinner at your family sound like this? You put together a delicious meal, set the table and call everyone to eat. But instead of gathering around the table for a family dinner, each person comes and grabs a plate, and then heads off to their own room or spot in front of the TV.
Family dinners have become rare occurrences in many households, but they’re an important tradition we should make an effort to bring back. But how can you get your family to sit together for dinner when they’re so used to doing their own thing?
Make the Dining Room Look Nice
One of the reasons why your family may not want to sit together for dinner is because they don’t find the dining room appealing. Maybe it’s too cluttered, or the lighting is too bright. Take the time to create the perfect dining room for your family. This could involve decluttering, adding cozy lighting, or even painting the walls a color everyone loves. When the dining room looks nice, your family will be more inclined to spend time there.
Set a Consistent Schedule
Family dinners may not happen often because everyone’s schedules are different and conflicting. To overcome this, set a consistent schedule for family dinners.
Whether it’s every day at 6 PM or just once a week, make sure everyone knows the designated time and sticks to it. This will help your family plan their schedules accordingly and ensure they’re present for dinner.
Order Less Takeout
The convenience of takeout meals has made it easier for families to skip the traditional sit-down dinner. While occasional takeout is fine, relying on it too often can lead to a lack of family dinners.
Instead, try to cook more meals at home and involve your family in the process. If you’re not the best cook, don’t worry; there are ways to improve your cooking skills that don’t involve a lot of time or effort. You can also encourage your family members to take turns cooking so that the task becomes a shared responsibility and everyone feels more invested in the meal.
Create Conversation Starters
Sometimes, the reason family dinners become boring is that there’s nothing new to talk about. To combat this, come up with some conversation starters that will spark interesting discussions at the dinner table. This could be anything from discussing current events, asking thought-provoking questions, or even playing a game like Two Truths and a Lie.
Lead by Example
Lastly, the best way to get your family to sit together for dinner is to lead by example. Make it a habit to gather around the table for meals and show your family how important it is to you. They’ll be more likely to follow suit when they see how much it means to you.
If it’s important to you that your family has dinner together, then it’s worth putting in the effort to make it happen. By following these tips and consistently making an effort, you can bring back the tradition of family dinners and get everyone to sit together for quality time and delicious meals.