Look Who’s Coming to Dinner

It’s not what’s on the table, but who’s at the table that matters

We understand from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that families who regularly have dinner together…with their kids…have teens who are half as likely to try drugs, according to a new report — and the frequency of family dinners is on the rise!

In the spring of 2005, 1,000 teens and 829 parents were polled on their habits and attitudes about family dinner. The study found that 58 percent of teens said they have at least five family dinners a week — up from 47 percent in 1998. CASA reports that teens that have five or more dinners a week with their families are at almost half the risk of substance abuse as those teens that have two or fewer family dinners a week. The more meals are shared, the less likely teens are to try cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, and the less likely they are to know other teens who abuse substances.

LOGOS says, “Amen” to these findings since we have always known that children and teens receive powerful nurturing benefits from consistent inter-generational relationships…particularly, but not exclusively, with their parents. Most LOGOS weekly ministries include dinner, served family style, with both kids and adults engaging in eating, talking and sharing. We firmly believe that kids cannot raise themselves to make good choices and to lead healthy lives – parents and other loving adults must take the lead.

For more on this topic, check out the posting that discusses Rev. Dave Eversdyke’s sermon series on “The Family Channel.”