Re: EATING AS A FAMILY
Everyone gets a turn to say one good thing that happened to them during the day. It's a chance to get my kids to open up about school. We also have this fun box of questions that we pull out if someone's had a really bad day or if the weather is miserable.
We also have Sunday lunch together with everyone. This is a tradition I brought from my family. My kids know that the only excuse for missing Sunday lunch involves hospitalization :).
Our favorite tradition though is family game night. It used to be once a week, but during basketball season it's every other week. Everyone has to stay at home, and we play board games, cards, eat popcorn, watch a movie on the projector, and have a great time. Occasionally my kids will invite friends over, so it's also a good way to keep track of who they're friends are. (sneaky mom....;))
Maash'Allah amana I have to say I absolutely love the way you are with your family :) This is exactly the kind of thing I aspire to achieve on day Insha'Allah.
I believe it's never to early to start to teach or learn social skills...and the dinner table is a great place to start...I like your ideas of helping to encourage communication by allowing everyone their one minute (or more) to talk about themselves and what's on their mind.
I am so looking forward to Insha'Allah having a family of my own one day, and I can't wait to share these things with my children. My friends and family laugh at me because they think I'm gonna be the kinda mom who'll take the kids out on field trips and 'expeditions' with notebooks and cucumber sandwiches in tow...but I think it's lovely to spend time together as a family and learn about the world and each other together :)