All throughout the month of February, 5NEWS is airing a special series of stories centered around the issues parents face raising teenagers, called "Homework First."
First, we take a look at the importance of eating together as a family. While it may sound simple, for Todd and Karen Shields, a Fayetteville mom and dad with busy schedules, it takes a lot of planning.
Once Todd and Karen Shields' two children hit middle school, the homework load went up and so did the number of after-school activities. Finding the time to have family dinner, became a challenge.
"We find that you have to be intentional about it, otherwise it's just not going to happen," Karen Shield told 5NEWS.
This sometimes means eating dinner at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. before it's out the door for dance practice, karate and church activities.
"But we have to do dinner early, so we can get that in, so we can have that time. So, Monday nights for us have been that night where nobody has anything, so we can have a normal dinnertime," says Todd.
University of Arkansas psychologist Dr. John Marr, who specializes in parents and children agrees.
"We know if families eat together things will be a whole lot better all the way around," says Dr. Marr.
Dr. Marr says even if you can't have dinner every night , spending as little as 10 minutes a day one-on-one with your child can make a difference.
"Besides eating together, the child only needs 10 minutes of undivided attention from their parents, in order to blossom,10 minutes of undivided attention."
For Todd and Karen, it's a way to find out what's going on in their teens lives. However, they say don't be discouraged if it doesn't go so well, at first.
"You'll ask, what happened today. Nothing. Well, who'd you sit with at lunch? And you have to be relentless with the questions. Then after a while they start talking then after 45 minutes, you'll find out things did happen."
While the family dinner may have become a thing of the past for many, for the Shields, it's what bonds them together.
"I think just as long as you talk about everything and anything and nothings off limits for the kids now, that's what's important," says Karen.
First, we take a look at the importance of eating together as a family. While it may sound simple, for Todd and Karen Shields, a Fayetteville mom and dad with busy schedules, it takes a lot of planning.
Once Todd and Karen Shields' two children hit middle school, the homework load went up and so did the number of after-school activities. Finding the time to have family dinner, became a challenge.
"We find that you have to be intentional about it, otherwise it's just not going to happen," Karen Shield told 5NEWS.
This sometimes means eating dinner at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. before it's out the door for dance practice, karate and church activities.
"But we have to do dinner early, so we can get that in, so we can have that time. So, Monday nights for us have been that night where nobody has anything, so we can have a normal dinnertime," says Todd.
University of Arkansas psychologist Dr. John Marr, who specializes in parents and children agrees.
"We know if families eat together things will be a whole lot better all the way around," says Dr. Marr.
Dr. Marr says even if you can't have dinner every night , spending as little as 10 minutes a day one-on-one with your child can make a difference.
"Besides eating together, the child only needs 10 minutes of undivided attention from their parents, in order to blossom,10 minutes of undivided attention."
For Todd and Karen, it's a way to find out what's going on in their teens lives. However, they say don't be discouraged if it doesn't go so well, at first.
"You'll ask, what happened today. Nothing. Well, who'd you sit with at lunch? And you have to be relentless with the questions. Then after a while they start talking then after 45 minutes, you'll find out things did happen."
While the family dinner may have become a thing of the past for many, for the Shields, it's what bonds them together.
"I think just as long as you talk about everything and anything and nothings off limits for the kids now, that's what's important," says Karen.
