The Family Table
The Family Table
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) affirms the scientific research demonstrating the benefits to children and families when they participate in the “Family Table” — enjoying meals and conversation together. Over the past several decades, family time and conversation at mealtimes has declined so that families with children under age 18 are having fewer meals together, and there is more distraction when eating together due to the use of digital devices.
Benefits of family meals include improved language development with expanded vocabularies for children, improved academics, improved nutrition with healthier food choices and less disordered eating, improved family relationships especially between adolescents and parents, decreased risk of obesity, decreased risk of drug, alcohol, and nicotine use, and improved mental health and emotional wellbeing. In addition, family meals allow opportunities for conversations during which parents can pass on values and traditions. Parents who participate in family meals are themselves less likely to describe depressive symptoms and stress and state they have greater self-esteem.
ACPeds therefore encourages all families to structure their daily routines to include as many shared meals as possible, eliminate distractions, and utilize the time well with uplifting conversations.
Approved by the ACPeds Board of Directors (May 2025)
Approved by ACPeds Members (June 2025)
Corresponding ACPeds Referenced Paper:
