Tune in Monday morning to the CBS Early Show to watch Bill Doherty's interview (that link now has details)

Bill Doherty (CBS/The Early Show).

Also on September 23, be sure to plan your day accordingly and join families across the nation by celebrating an evening meal at home on Family Day. Our local newspaper, the Sun Sailor, featured PFF and the event last week.

To see the results of our poll: "How often does your complete family eat a meal together?", see our It's Dinner Time page.

Posted by Susan at 9/22/2002 08:09:02 AM | Link

 
I heard this on NPR's All Things Considered today.

"Commentator Bill Harley finds that many poor people don't own tables at which family meals can be eaten. This astounds him. He thought dinnertime table talk was universal. He also knows that regular meals with family, full of conversation, are important tools to pass down language." (3 minute Real Audio file)

Posted by Griff at 9/19/2002 08:54:29 PM | Link

 
Another Putting Family First media alert! I will be interviewed this coming Monday morning (Sept. 23) on The CBS Early Show.

Although the air time can change, it is now scheduled for 8:36 a.m. Eastern Time, which I think translates, via time delay, to the same time Central Time. It's nice that this interview occurs on National Family Day.

Posted by Bill at 9/19/2002 05:55:21 PM | Link

 
The 4th Monday in September has been officially designated as "Family Day." It is a national effort to promote a family meal as a simple, effective way to raise healthier children, develop family unity & communication, as well as reduce substance abuse among children and teens. This year, Family Day is next Monday, September 23rd.

Those who already eat regular meals together might ask, "Why do we need a special day to eat dinner together?" or "What's the big deal?"

For answers, check our new "It's Dinner Time" web page, the national Family Day website.

Posted by Susan at 9/17/2002 09:53:52 AM | Link

 
Check out the Sept 23rd issue of People Magazine, p.74, for the story "Learning to Chill" and photo that tell the Peterschmidt family story and mention the work of Putting Family First. Way to go, Bugs, for getting out the message!


[Webmaster note: The article is not on the People Magazine web site and we don't know yet if they plan to post it.]

Posted by Bill at 9/16/2002 07:55:06 AM | Link

 
My wife and I recently discovered several sponsor bricks like this one at the Loring Park Flower Garden in downtown Minneapolis.

"Meghan Sovell: In Memory of our Special Monday Night Family Time."

Posted by Griff at 9/14/2002 03:59:01 PM | Link

 
A summary of a wide range of national polls taken in the past year indicate that Americans are seeing their families as a higher priority as a result of 9/11 and its aftermath.

Posted by Bill at 9/10/2002 09:58:43 PM | Link

 
In this week's Sept. 9 issue of U.S. News, an article titled Up Too Late (now only available online for purchase) features Bugs Peterschmidt, Bill Doherty, and Putting Family First.

I think we all recognize how lack of sleep or quiet time affects our personalities, performance, and health. Now that school has started and my kids are getting up much earlier, we have reclaimed our bedtime routines in an attempt at staying a healthy family. Here's a quote from the article:

The Peterschmidts started "unplugged summers"–no television or computers after dinner. During the school year, their not-so-much-action plan means Max and Betsy's activities are kept to a minimum. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m. sharp, with candlelight and without phone calls. The kids wash the dishes after the meal while their parents read to them. "My kids are so much happier," says Peterschmidt, a member of Putting Family First, a grass-roots group in Minnesota started by Doherty, the family therapist, that emphasizes family time. Max, now a thoughtful–and well-rested–14-year-old, backs his mother up. "It's nice to actually be able to sit down and not do anything for a little bit."

Posted by Susan at 9/04/2002 09:30:41 PM | Link