This week I spoke with the professionals in our hospital day care center about the lifelong habits our children form early in life. It was clear to these child care providers, for example, which of their under-fives sat down with the family each night to participate in family mealtime.

Many of the children in their care wander happily around the center, food in hand, and become upset when the "sit down" rule is enforced. The staff told me that these are also the children who are less adept at using eating utensils, have weaker language skills, and are most likely to have poor social skills. Can these caregivers really see this much difference in the children and their early habits?

I believe it's possible to see behavioral differences such as those noted by the day care staff even at this early age. On the weekdays when I can't spare the time to prepare a home-cooked meal and resort to a microwave standby or leftovers, our family still eats together at the kitchen table. My son is accustomed to climbing into his booster seat if he wants to be fed. He understands that we do not eat with our fingers at the table. (Often he'll demand a larger variety of utensils than he really needs!) During the meal, we discuss our days and spend time asking our bright and articulate 2½-year-old targeted questions to which we know he is able to respond.

Studies show that mealtimes are important times in our lives. The more frequently a child participates in family meals, the less likely he or she is to use drugs or alcohol, skip school, develop an eating disorder, or consider suicide. It's hard to believe that a family meal can have that much impact. It helps me to realize how important it is to slow down and take a moment to spend enjoying a meal with those around us.