http://blog.togethercounts.com/getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table Just another WordPress site Sat, 05 May 2012 01:35:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.togethercounts.com/getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table/#comment-4491 Together Really Counts | This Mama Makes Stuff Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:28:50 +0000 http://blog.togethercounts.com/?p=816#comment-4491 [...] Getting Teens to the Dinner Table [...] [...] Getting Teens to the Dinner Table [...]

]]> http://blog.togethercounts.com/getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table/#comment-2270 Megan Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:16:00 +0000 http://blog.togethercounts.com/?p=816#comment-2270 Hello, I came across your website and found your articles on family interesting. I just had a couple of questions so if you could e-mail me back that would be great! Hello,
I came across your website and found your articles on family interesting. I just had a couple of questions so if you could e-mail me back that would be great!

]]> http://blog.togethercounts.com/getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table/#comment-2206 Jessie Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:11:42 +0000 http://blog.togethercounts.com/?p=816#comment-2206 I am the mother of 4 (fabulous) young people; a daughter of 24, and sons of 23,19 and 17. The youngest is still at home full-time and the 19 year old is at university, but home for holidays. We always sat to eat as a family - and still do. Although I work full-time, I grew up in a large family where the meal table was where we shared our day and put the world to rights. My tips: 1. Serve food that is easy - stuff that the kids like (chilli, pasta, salads, shepherd's pies etc) - don't make the food the main thing - it is the sharing that counts. You can't force teens to eat - be reasonable. Allow them to experiment in the kitchen. My husband and i are vegetarian but our kids are not - that is their choice. I like nice table manners, but I set ground rules when they were young - I don't nag now! 2. Give everyone the right to have an opinion and don't shout them down - they are entitled to be different - even if we don't agree with our kids, they are evolving adults and have the right to their thoughts and opinions and should be respected. 3. Facilitate discussion at the table - not arguments - my 4 are all vocal in their opinions and know they won't get shouted down if they express a different opinion. 4. Use lots of humour. Be interested in their musical tastes (you don't have to like it) and welcome their emerging identities. 5. Make their friends feel welcome - spaghetti bolognaise can cheaply feed 6 or 12 - does it matter? 6. Remember the Danish proverb 'where there's room in the heart, there's room in the home'. Finally, if young people associate food and the table with warmth, sharing (food and opinions), laughter, they will want to come. I am the mother of 4 (fabulous) young people; a daughter of 24, and sons of 23,19 and 17. The youngest is still at home full-time and the 19 year old is at university, but home for holidays. We always sat to eat as a family – and still do. Although I work full-time, I grew up in a large family where the meal table was where we shared our day and put the world to rights. My tips:
1. Serve food that is easy – stuff that the kids like (chilli, pasta, salads, shepherd’s pies etc) – don’t make the food the main thing – it is the sharing that counts. You can’t force teens to eat – be reasonable. Allow them to experiment in the kitchen. My husband and i are vegetarian but our kids are not – that is their choice. I like nice table manners, but I set ground rules when they were young – I don’t nag now!
2. Give everyone the right to have an opinion and don’t shout them down – they are entitled to be different – even if we don’t agree with our kids, they are evolving adults and have the right to their thoughts and opinions and should be respected.
3. Facilitate discussion at the table – not arguments – my 4 are all vocal in their opinions and know they won’t get shouted down if they express a different opinion.
4. Use lots of humour. Be interested in their musical tastes (you don’t have to like it) and welcome their emerging identities.
5. Make their friends feel welcome – spaghetti bolognaise can cheaply feed 6 or 12 – does it matter?
6. Remember the Danish proverb ‘where there’s room in the heart, there’s room in the home’.
Finally, if young people associate food and the table with warmth, sharing (food and opinions), laughter, they will want to come.

]]> http://blog.togethercounts.com/getting-teens-to-the-dinner-table/#comment-2204 4 Ways to Get Your Teens to the Dinner Table (and like it) | This Mama Makes Stuff Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:38:11 +0000 http://blog.togethercounts.com/?p=816#comment-2204 [...] infinitely more difficult. I’m over at the Together Counts blog again today talking about four things my parents did to make my teenage self look forward to family dinner instead of dread i... I’d love to hear what has worked for you (if you have teenagers) or what worked (or [...] [...] infinitely more difficult. I’m over at the Together Counts blog again today talking about four things my parents did to make my teenage self look forward to family dinner instead of dread i… I’d love to hear what has worked for you (if you have teenagers) or what worked (or [...]

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