Putting Family First Night; March 7, 2005

According to experts, the very foundation of child and youth development is close family relationships. Yet, in this fast paced and often hectic world, these relationships take a back seat to numerous outside activities. Putting Family First Night, an evening when families are encouraged to cease all other activities (homework, sports, music, dance, meetings, etc.) and stay home together will take place in the Wayzata/Plymouth, Minnesota communities on Monday, March 7, 2005.

We have gained the support from our community and families. Putting Family First Night, March 7, has been endorsed by the Wayzata School Board who passed a resolution this fall “highly recommending there be no homework, no meetings, no practices and no organized activities on March 7th.” Putting Family First Night is also endorsed by Plymouth Mayor, Judy Johnson, the Plymouth City Council, the Plymouth Youth Advisory Council and the faith community. This event has been underwritten by the Minnetonka/Plymouth and Wayzata Rotary Clubs.

Current research clearly shows that strong family relationships are a critically important factor in the health and well-being of children and youth. The largest federally funded study of American teens found a strong association between regular family meals and academic success and psychological adjustment. Research by the University of Minnesota Medical School’s center for Adolescent Health and Development reports that the more meals kids eat with their family, the less likely they are to participate in high-risk behaviors. Children eat better when they eat with the family. Nutrition is a huge concern in an age of rising obesity and diabetes among our children.

We will encourage communities large and small, and the country as a whole, to focus on this issue, whether by setting one night a year aside as a night without scheduled activities and homework, or in some other way that they find useful. In time, families may decide that family time is uniquely valuable and may translate this into a monthly family event or some other way to spend time together with no goal in mind other than the enjoyment they get from being with each other. We advocate no particular activity, but hope that with time, each family will discover ways of their own that fit who they are, what they enjoy, and that allow the family to strengthen as a unit because of the pleasure and intimacy of time spent together. That is what eventually makes for a good, meaningful family and a truly strong nation.

During the promotion of our first Putting Family First Night, we’ve made available (thru PTA and faith communities), “Family Time Reminder Dots” to be worn on your watch, cell phone, or placed on the March 7 square of your calendar. They serve as a reminder of how important it is “To Make Time For Family”.

Posted by Susan at 2/25/2005 07:47:00 AM | Link