Parents are on devices during meals even more than their kids. Here’s how to rethink family dinner

Key Points:

• A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that over 75% of parents and nearly 70% of children aged 4 to 10 used media, mainly smartphones, during their last family meal, which can hinder meaningful connection.
• Experts emphasize that the benefits of family meals, such as emotional satisfaction and healthier diets, stem more from distraction-free quality time and consistent family connection than from the food itself.
• Individual media use at the dinner table is replacing shared media experiences, reducing opportunities for bonding, whereas watching large-screen media together can foster family connection.
• Given busy schedules and constant media distractions, experts suggest that even brief, undistracted interactions like sharing a snack or having one dedicated family meal per week can significantly enhance family relationships.
• Some families may benefit from integrating technology positively, such as organizing family movie nights during dinner, to create bonding opportunities amid the prevalence of media use.