Sitting around the table and talking is underrated. Start setting aside at least one day a week for a family feast. Make participation compulsory. Encourage your kids to talk about what's going on in school and what they're learning during after-school activities. Start the ball rolling by throwing out some questions about current news stories your kids might be interested in. Plan a weekend event together. Insist on mutual respect, and make sure older children aren't disparaging the contributions of their younger siblings. Family meals do more than build bonds. Kids who participate in regular family mealtimes do better in school, too.