Meaningful Mealtimes

Gathering for meals as a family as often as possible can strengthen family relationships thereby ensuring the ideal climate for inspiring children to greatness! By connecting the pleasant experience of filling your empty stomach with communicating with those you love, you can nurture your children physically as well as emotionally. A couple of friends shared these great mealtime ideas in church this Sunday:

• Becca B. said to have each child share the best, worst and funniest thing that happened to them that day. This not only helps you know what's going on in their lives but provides an effective exercise in helping them to identify feelings and communicate them in a safe environment.
• Eliza K. started a fun tradition that she occasionally does at meal times. She cut out large different colored hearts from card stock and laminated them. She catches her kids doing kind things and writes them with dry erase markers on the hearts. She places the hearts face down on the table next to each child's plate. Immediately following prayer the kids reach for the hearts instead of the food excited to see what their heart says!
• Another idea from Eliza is the "Family Preservation Jar". A variety of get-to-know-you-better questions fill the jar and each family member alternately share their thoughts pertaining to each inquiry. Your family will end up sharing their thoughts on a wide range of topics.
• Angela A. had a super fun idea too! In their family they play True or False. Each member takes turn sharing something about their day and then everyone decides if it is "true or false". If they have nothing interesting to tell they can use their imaginations and make something fun up.

Have fun getting to know your family better with these fun ideas. Please share what you do to make mealtimes more meaningful!