Adolescent children naturally begin spending less time with their families as they grow older. Still, no matter how old children become, some time needs to be spent with family. A strong sense of family is not developed by accident. Parents who have been successful in creating strong family units have generally planned, structured, and scheduled family events designed to bring family members together. In one study, researchers discovered that when families ate dinner together, children performed better in school. Perhaps it was because parents took the opportunity to ask their children about their homework, or because the parents used dinner time to help convey their values on education. Whatever the reason, eating meals together as a family promotes children’s success. For more, call Family Links at 256-820-5911
