Mealtime Madness: Table Fellowship with Kids

We all know in our gut that family meals are important. Numerous studies have linked family meals with all sorts of positive outcomes for children, from better academics to general success.My favorite statistic comes from Don Everts and the Barna Group in their study of Christian households that found that families who were considered “spiritually vibrant” were homes that regularly had loud tables. But even though we know family meals are important, many of us don’t practice daily shared meals. In fact, the average American family only has three dinners together per week. That’s because meals are hard! A lot must come together to make a family meal happen. And once you get everyone at the table, they aren’t immediately idyllic. Meals with kids can be super chaotic and sometimes can feel like more work than they are worth. Wouldn’t it be better to just feed them early, put them to bed, and have a grown-up meal? Table fellowship with our kids is possible and it can be a source of deep joy for both parents and kids alike.  Listen in for a conversation with counselor, Bible teacher, and writer Heather Robinson (MA, SBTS) about why meals matter and for some great advice for making meals rhythms we look forward to rather than dread.