Family time is one of the most important times in a child’s life. I am very aware that there are things that get in the way, but nonetheless, all families should make time for something this important.

My family and I spend a lot of time together, including every dinner. Even when my father is away on business, my mother, sister, and I sit down at the table to eat and discuss our day. We don’t watch television, we talk and have fun together. As a teenager, hanging out with my parents is not the most fun thing I do but I feel it is necessary. I learn from them every time we talk, whether it is about my dad’s job or my mother’s day.

I did a little research on the “family table” idea. Statistics show that only 50% of families sit down to dinner together each night. That’s a shame, because researchers claim that kids who have these regular family dinners have better grades, better behavior, and a larger vocabulary. They are also less likely to smoke, drink, do drugs, or have eating disorders. Time with their parents makes kids more stable and gives them a sense of belonging and safety. Plus, they learn better manners.

I have noticed on old TV shows like “Leave It to Beaver” and from my parents’ stories that not long ago sitting at the family dinner table was not just an option, but a requirement. Now with many single-parent families or homes where both parents work, making time together has become harder.

There have been many recent studies showing kids are “wilder” than they used to. I think it’s primarily parents’ fault. Only good things come from taking 15 minutes away from television and five minutes from video games to have this time with your family. By spending 20 minutes with one another, I believe this idea of “wild kids” would decrease tremendously.

I am aware that we all lead busy lives and are always running around to finish homework or going to a sports game, but we should all take 20 minutes each day to eat dinner together and be a little more like “Leave It to Beaver.”