We need good food for thought

WITH busy everyday lives it can be difficult for families to find time for proper connection.

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It's why meal times can be so important, as they can often be the one time in the day when families can sit around together.

Several studies have shown that children cite breakfast, lunch and dinner as a time when they can connect with their families.

However, it’s also true to note that devices can get in the way of this.

Many Irish parents would be familiar with the sight of a child eating dinner with their face stuck into a screen at the same time.

And maybe that’s where we can all do a bit better.

If meal times are the one occasion when we connect with our kids then perhaps it’s the one time to introduce a devices ban.

While the internet has made the world more connected than ever, conversely it has also reduced our chances of real-life connections.

A new survey also now shows that up to 60% of Irish kids say meal times make them happy.

Up to 88% also want to have a connection around the dinner table.

It's up to parents to ensure that happens.

MEALTIMES can be a perfect chance for families to connect.

However, with busy working lives it’s not always possible for parents to plan to have meals at the same time as their kids on a daily basis.

And even when they do, smartphones and tablets often get in the way.

New research from Heinz, which has once again joined forces with Irish children’s charity Barnardos, shows that 88 per cent of kids in Ireland crave family connection at mealtimes, but instead many are on their phones or watching TV.