Can't Wait for Dinner

Make Family Mealtime Fun for Toddlers and Preschoolers

By Amy Dingmann

Many parents understand the benefits of eating dinner together as a family, but it can sometimes seem like a chore just making it happen. However, dinnertime is a great opportunity to connect with your family and learn more about what's happening in their lives, so why not make it a fun event for everyone – toddlers and preschoolers included!

Often parents complain that preparing a family dinner is a lot of work. True, preparing a meal can be a task, but the more people involved in the task, the faster and easier it can be! Encourage all family members to help with suppertime chores. Little ones can put napkins and forks on the table, and even help sweep up after dinner.

"Make sure you rotate jobs as is appropriate for age and ability, so one person is not always stuck with the same job," says Robin Stevenson, a mother of two from St. Francis, Minn. "Kids can get bored with the same job over and over ... and then you have trouble!"

Dr. Bill Doherty, professor of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, suggests getting everyone involved in making upcoming dinner plans and menus. "Have everyone in the family submit meal suggestions (tacos, fish, meatloaf, chicken) and activities (eating dinner on a blanket on the floor; setting a formal dining table; switching up the seating arrangement) they would like to try," he says.

For fun and variety in your menu, try integrating days when all the dinner food has to be a certain color, start with the same letter or come from a specific country.

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