Life is busy, and many of us are constantly on the move. It is all too easy to end up eating a frozen burrito over the sink for dinner or parked in front of the TV. Although these things may be convenient for you, you could be robbing your child of all of the benefits of family dinners! At Texas Children’s Academy, we are dedicated to providing you with the child care in Arlington, TX that your child needs to become a well-rounded adult, but we can only do so much. You are with your child the most, so it is primarily up to you. A great place to start is with family dinners! The following is our list of the benefits of eating dinner as a family:

• It allows you to bond- There is nothing quite like bonding with your family without the distraction of cell phones or the television. A little conversion goes a long way, and it can even help to develop your child’s language skills! Studies have shown that kids who enjoy this kind of bonding with their families tend to have fewer behavioral issues and emotional problems.
• It promotes a healthy diet- Home-cooked meals tend to be much healthier than meals eaten out. They usually have more protein, fibers, and vitamins, and contain less sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Kids who eat family dinners are approximately 24% more likely to eat healthily and are 12% less likely to become obese or overweight.
• It establishes a routine- Kids like to know what is coming, and by eating family dinners every night, you can establish a routine that the whole family can look forward to!