Kid Scoop
12 Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Clean Their Plates
Photo Credit: photoXpress
I wish someone would have warned me before I had kids that there exists an hour of the day that is more torturous than the others. It would have really helped. And maybe it’s just the toughest hour for me, but I’m doubtful that’s the case. And which hour would I be talking about? The dinner hour. Come 5:00pm, I’m tired. Kids are tired, house is a mess, homework, reading, piano and chaos is happening all around me. We’re all starving and practically nibbling on the walls. My biggest problem on days like that is I don’t have a clue what we’re eating for dinner. I forgot to be organized that day. Okay, most days, I forget to be organized. But I find that when I do prepare a meal, someone without fail, rejects it. I admit, I’m no Rachael Ray, but I’m also not serving up a trough full of slop.
Dinner is a maddening subject for me. I do know one thing, and that is the benefits of family dinner outweigh my frustrations. I enjoyed reading this article in the New York Times about the benefits and challenges of sitting down to a family dinner. Being busy is nothing new for any family, and to make family dinner successful requires a little planning. But again, it’s worth it.
One day, after experiencing another stressful dinner hour, I thought, I’m doing this all wrong. Dinner should be fun. It should be a time where our kids open up and tell us about their day, the good and the bad. It should be a time where we feel connected to each other. And I think it should be something we all look forward to. In our house, it’s my job to create that. I have found that when I put some effort and scheduling into our dinner hour, it runs relatively smooth. And the times that I make it fun, it runs great!
Here are 12 ideas that can help make dinner the highlight of the day for you and your family. Enjoy!
p.s. You may want to grab the camera for some of these!
For more ideas on how to plan fun, family dinners, I recommend the book, Great Kids are Homemade.
Disclaimer: We only have “Crazy Dinner Night” (that’s what we call it) every once in a while, so that it can keep its luster. It’s not for everyday use!
What is the dinner hour like at your house? Would your family be up to any of these ideas? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Read more from Mandy at mush.
Follow Mandy on Facebook and Twitter for all updates!
Get the latest updates from Kid Scoop - Like Us on Facebook!
Read More on Kid Scoop:
20 Things My Kids Can’t Live Without
10 Ways Having Kids Makes You a Better Person
What My Day Looks Like From A to Z
Go Back To Kid Scoop
3 Comments
Deena@StayatHomeFOODIE commented on Feb 02 12 at 1:36 pmThese are GREAT ideas! Some won’t fly in my house, but others I’ll definitely try.
amyjane commented on Feb 04 12 at 11:27 pmLOVE these!! Especially the dress up costume dinner and dinner in reverse. Can’t wait to try some of these, how fun! My girl will love these.
Jennifer H. commented on Feb 05 12 at 12:39 amWhat fun ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Add your take:
Note: Babble is a supportive, diverse community. We encourage a range of opinions,
but any unduly hostile comments will be removed.
Comments are delayed up to 15 minutes
Kacy Faulconer 
Marinka 
DadCAMP 
Jen at PIWTPITT 
Mandy Cheney 
Stacie Haight Connerty 
Devan McGuinness 
Lori Garcia 
Meghan Gesswein 
Amber Doty 
Casey Mullins 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
3