Sitting at the Kids' Table

Should your formal Thanksgiving dinner include children on the list of invitees, nothing pleases parents more than a separate kids table, where young diners can make messes and enjoy a special meal while the adults get a few minutes of grown-up conversation. The key to a successful kids table is planning. What ages are the kids? What are some special touches or child-friendly decorations that accent the theme of the formal adult table? How can you incorporate entertainment and activities to help occupy these small guests after they finish quickly gobbling up their turkey? Here, the kids table gorgeously complements the adult version, and it took just a few easy steps to pull the whole look together.

Young guests enjoy exploring the pumpkin-themed centerpiece.

Decor

There is no reason to skimp on the décor at the kids table just because they may play with it. On the contrary, embrace the fact that the kids are going to touch the centerpieces so choose non-breakable items in shapes and themes the kids will love. While pumpkins or figurines may be selected in shades that match the adult version, the kids will still enjoy disassembling your fun and carefully curated decorations!

Paper can be your best friend when it comes to kids. While melamine dishes or shatter-proof cups serve well, paper allows for less cleanup and more creativity! Here, instead of worrying about chargers or placemats, place settings were drawn, complete with guests’ names, on a long piece of butcher paper. This is great for spills and coloring! Instead of cloth napkins, the kids table sports paper serviettes, which still look elegant when paired with ribbon-wrapped cutlery.

Entertainment

A metal tin with fun pencils provides writing implements and can double as holiday party favors.

To buy the adults the most uninterrupted time, entertainment is a vital component of the kids table. Coloring is an easy option, especially if you plan to use paper placemats or a tablecloth begging for drawings. Here, metal tins hold a gorgeous array of brand-new crayons, to encourage the kids to put their artistic creativity to work.

Using a familiar fall shape, tic-tac-toe boards were drawn on the butcher paper, and the children provided with metallic acorns to play the game over and over.

Quiet, fun, and thematic activities can be adapted for guests of all ages! Consider holiday bingo, crosswords, word searches, or bracelet making in autumn’s gorgeous hues.