The family that eats together stays sober
Research by the National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse compared the drug and alcohol consumption patterns of teens that ate family dinners 5 or more times per week, with those that ate them 2 or less times per week, and the difference revealed is dramatic.
Families that don’t often eat together have teen children that are:
300% more likely to smoke marijuana
250% more likely to smoke cigarettes
150% more likely to drink alcohol
Although I am a big believer in families having dinner together, I can’t imagine that it makes a difference that’s THIS huge.
I do know that it means a lot to my kids and is something that we do all miss if we go for a period of time without it.
What are your thoughts? Are you a family that dines together? Or do you eat on the run? Do you think it makes a difference?
Tags: parenting, family meals, parenting discussion, teens, parenting teens
I have 7 kids, and I can tell you that we almost never eat dinner together. We eat it at the same time, somewhat, but rarely at the table, or in the same room. Some are upstairs, some in the living room, some at the computer.
But I am certain that most of my kids will not do any of those things. I think one or two will try a drink once or twice away from us, but I know they will not smoke or do drugs.
Not because I say so, but I just know them, and they are all against it without my say-so, and we are all close in other ways. We play together, not eat together.
My 18 year old said he would definately not be smoking marajuana, because he wouldn’t be able to go in the Air Force. My 13yo, the one I wouldn’t put past drinking, says he wouldn’t because he will lose all that is important to him; swimming and football. Zero tolerance! And my oldest dd is just a rule follower.
My younger kids are too young to tell, but I doubt it, we are raising them the same way.
I do think that if you are not close in other ways, that eating together can be a big help to a family, though.
We do eat together every night. It is chaotic, but gives us a chance to talk about things and instill the value of family time. We also do other family oriented activities, but dinner has always been the main gathering.
Although we don’t get around to it as consistently as I’d like to - I believe in eating together. Growing up my mom and I didn’t do it much, but at my grandmothers every meal was served once, on the table, and all together. It always gave me a sense of security and as a teen it really gave she and my dad a chance to really talk to me w/out distraction. I would think for preteens and teens it would also create a sense of accountablilty - for instance, I can see a teen turning down pot after school somewhere because they know they’re going to have to sit across the table from mom and dad in a little while.
One big reason I’d really like to be more consistent about it is eating a MEAL together promotes good eating habits. Everyone eating when they feel like it seems to promote a lot of snacks and not much actual supper..