According to a recent survey by Birds Eye, one in four British children eats their evening meal alone in their bedroom, and 78 per cent of children regularly have their evening meal while watching television.
Sixty-one per cent of British families surveyed were too busy to sit down and eat a meal together, and of those who do, 59 per cent said they preferred to send text messages, watch television, or use the internet rather than talk with their own family.
It seems that the time-honoured tradition of eating family meals together is fast disappearing.
Family expert Professor Tanya Byron warned that the demise of family meal times could damage families.
“By eating together, focusing on each other, and enjoying each other’s company, families gain a variety of benefits, including improved communication and trust,” she said.
How is it with you? Are you spending less time eating together as a family than you did last year? Is technology crowding your space? Are you too busy to attend to what matters most? Food for thought.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 13 March 2011.
