The most underrated and least talked about parenting essential is family mealtimes at the table. In my opinion, parent-child mealtimes together are probably one of the most significant influential parenting habits because eating together makes a tremendous impact on a child in so many ways. Please realize mealtimes are for enjoyment, modeling manners, at times lovingly encouraging eating etiquette, and not continually correcting your child.
When a child is struggling behaviorally or academically, I have found most of the time meals are not eaten together as a family. I hear reports that each family member eats nearly every meal in a different part of the house--bedroom, living room in front of the television, the basement, BUT not together.
When family members start eating together and applying the following 10 goals, I have amazingly witnessed positive family life improvement as well as a child’s behavior becoming more responsible.
This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Simple Habits for Effective Parenting: Specific Skills and Tools That Achieve Extraordinary Results in Raising a Child. This comprehensive guidebook is the only resource that covers all seven key areas of parenting for leading and guiding a child to be a responsible, motivated, and confident individual.
This past July I joined Jim Daly, President, and John Fuller, VP, for an interview on a national broadcast of Focus on the Family to discuss Effective Parenting. This interview may be watched on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU7pE_MagI Please also share this Focus on the Family interview with family and friends.
Simple Habits for Effective Parenting and the three-time national award-winning Simple Habits for Marital Happiness are available at Amazon or at CrossLinkPublishing.com.
For over four decades, Dr. Randy Schroeder, a licensed marriage and family therapist, pastor, and former seminary professor of pastoral counseling, has spoken to and counseled thousands of parents and spouses about the simple yet effective habits that are essential for healthy relationships.