American researches have now reported what many close families could have told them: families that are close and have fun together tend to stay together.

[source]TEENS are less likely to engage in risky sex if families spend more time at the dinner table and "having fun", researchers say.

That is their finding. One of the most important times of the day is breakfast and the evening meal. These are the times when families should be together.

We start the day together where the days events can be discussed. As a parent you know your children are having a good start to the day both nutrition wise, and emotionally. Breakfast is not a time to get 'heavy', it is a time for playful banter.

The evening meal is the second important 'family' time. This time, it is a discussion of the days events, the highs and lows. A time to discover what your children have experienced. It is also a time for you to relate your day, your experiences.

This report just reinforces the 'happy' family theory that has been around for many years. Children growing up in this environment are generally more open and given the opportunity, more likely to discuss more personal matters - including human sexuality.

What this study didn't report was whether or not the teens from happy homes where better informed on teen sexuality than their counterparts.

The moral from this article - start and end the day as a family - you don't need to get heavy - keep it light and keep it friendly and keep those communication channels open.