This month, two experts discuss the benefits of family meal time.

Dorothy Hebert is the executive director of Rhode Island's Kids First, a program that works with families and children through schools and child care centers. She's also the mother of two college and one high-school children.

Diane Beals, EdD, is an associate professor and the director of the University of Tulsa's School of Education. She studies the development of language in children, including the effect of conversations at meal time. For 14 years, she has worked on Harvard University's "Home-School Study of Language and Literacy Development" research team.

DB: Tell us a little about the study and what you learned about children's family meal conversation.

The study, which started in 1987, followed children ages 3, 4 and 5. We found that children who were exposed to family mealtime conversation developed more diverse vocabulary and stronger literacy skills when they were older. The children who scored highest on vocabulary/reading tests throughout elementary school had been exposed to good dinner conversation on average.

DB: How do you recommend parents approach mealtime conversation?

Conversation should be just above the child's level so that it is challenging. Pick a topic that your kids find interesting. Then lead your child through the discussion. If dinnertime doesn't work for your family, set a time later when everyone needs a break from homework or chores to have a snack and conversation together.

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