It's not always easy for many parents to organise a family meal for the whole family everyday and if both parents are working they are often tired at the end of the day so have little time to prepare and eat together. Given the importance of the family meal for family togetherness, breakfast may provide a good opportunity to eat together as a family. The advantage of family breakfast is that it requires very little effort compared to other meals. Mum need not cook anything, children can serve themselves once they are old enough and every member of the family can have the cereal they prefer.
Tips For Breakfasting as a Family
• Set a good example. You know breakfast is good for your kids, and it's good for you too, so make a little time to have breakfast together
• Sit down. Don't eat standing up, sit down and take time to chew your food properly.
• Don't read and discourage children from doing homework at the table
• Don't rush. Having breakfast together will calm you down before you set off into the traffic and the school rush
• Try to involve children in breakfast - allow them to make their own choice of cereal or other breakfast foods, from a selection you've already made. Get them to put dishes, cereals milk and juice on the table
• If lack of time for you and your kids is the issue, try packing school bags, packed lunches and setting out school clothes the night before – and of course, set the alarm 10-15 minutes earlier than usual. That way, important things like sitting down to eat breakfast aren't left to the last minute or forgotten altogether
Tips For Breakfasting At The Weekend
If you can't manage breakfast together during the week, why not make a point of breakfasting together at the weekends. Weekend breakfasts are a good opportunity to get the family together, including dad who has often left for work before breakfast, during the week.
• Make the weekend breakfast a more leisurely affair. Take time to talk to each other and catch up on the week's activities. This is particularly important for dad who may only have limited time with the children during the week
• A family ritual? Prepare the table nicely and make an extra effort to provide something special. Regular weekend breakfasts could become a family ritual, which will be fondly remembered by the children
• Make a special breakfast for one parent as a treat. Children love rituals and they build family memories. Maybe introduce the ritual of Mum's (or Dad's) breakfast treat, where the children and one parent make a special breakfast for the other parent
• As the kids get older they can make breakfast for both parents. Teach the children how to make pancakes, boil eggs, grill bacon as well as set out cereals with fruit and yoghurt
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