Why Do Families Don't Eat Dinner Anymore?
For starting point research for the 'Beyond the Kitchen Table' brief that I am doing, I first wanted to know why people don't eat together anymore in the first place as this is the main problem that needs to be answered in the brief and the main point of the whole brief itself. Doing this, will help me greatly in knowing which area to focus on when producing ideas and concepts for the solution for the brief as I'm finding out the foundation and root of the problem.
#1 Families aren't at home together aLL THE TIME
In today's era people will have different prioritise and personal schedules which they commit to outside the family, even children e.g. doing extra curriculum activity that may require them to stay out later, therefore naturally change their lifestyle suiting their needs over the families.
#2 Dinners are treated as 'Special'
As families eat together less and less, when they do eat together its treated as a 'special occasion' or held on a 'special occasion' such as birthday's or Christmas. Treating dinner like this as opposed to an everyday routine will more likely keep them from eating together more often as it will become an unspoken rule or 'tradition' in the family to only have dinner during special occasions because it is something they are comfortable and used to.
#3 Families connect Together in other ways apart from eating together
Alternative ways of communicating and spending time together are done with the family in order to still have that family connection that may be achieved through family dinners, such as playing games, travelling etc.
Ways People have Tried to deal with it
#1 Family Participation
Get the family involved in t he process of making dinner, not only is this a way of communicating with the family but it's also a chance for the children especially to learn how to cook for themselves. Maybe even have a day where children cook the dinner themselves, which may motivate them even more to have dinners together as a family.
#2 Technology Off
Especially in today's society where children grow up in the digital era, children may be less interested in eating together as they may be more interested in talking to someone on the phone or watching their favourite series while eating alone. However, creating rules such as turning off phone or t.v. during family dinners may be effective in creating a better family atmosphere and a more effective way or truly communicating as a family during dinner meals.
#3 Create Tradition
As a family creating a personal family tradition may give the children a sense of "unity and stability for the present, and memories". Doing this may increase a family member's willingness to have a family dinner together as they get to do a special and unique event or action that only their family does, which they may remember and pass down to their own children when they are older, keeping the tradition and family dinners alive in the family.
Thoughts & Reflection:
From initial research that I've done, I've gathered that perhaps 'societal changes' has led to less families eating together. As time and generation change, a change in daily lifestyle and adjusting to society expectations has led for family dinners to be seen as less important nowadays. I also feel like the solutions that people have thought off can be easily justified with alternative family activities (such as said in reason '#3 families connect together in other ways apart from eating together'), such as that Family participation can also be done with having a family trip e.g. children take the lead on finding the hotel etc., therefore it's not exactly successfully tackling the problem of why families don't eat together anymore. Perhaps, it can be tackled from another angle such as looking at the actual setting of the dinner? or may the equipment or layout of the kitchen/dinner table? Something, quite unusual at the same time can help and highlight a way for families to start eating together again.
No comments:
Post a Comment