How to: Set a Great Kids' Table for Thanksgiving
How To:

Set a Great Kids' Table for Thanksgiving

The celebration of Thanksgiving is nearly always focused around a delectable dinner, and what makes it special is the time spent with family and other loved ones. To make it easy for kids to enjoy themselves and understand the significance of the holiday, find ways to remind them of what they're celebrating – and how much they have to be thankful for. Set a kids' table that they'll love to call their own by incorporating some classic themes (turkeys, leaves) with playful reminders about the holiday's origins (pilgrims, old-fashioned ships). The result will be a fun, memorable family feast.

 

Scale it to their size. The best way to keep kids seated and enjoying their food is to make sure they're comfortable. Choose a kids' table and chairs that allow them to easily reach the tabletop.

Make it feel like a party. Having a small favor at each place setting is a great way to get kids into a festive mood – and it will give them a little keepsake to remember the celebration. Our homemade turkey pencil holder is both fun and functional. Headbands or hats that evoke pilgrims or Native Americans can also spark conversations about what the first Thanksgiving was all about.

Choose table settings that are both fun and kid-proof. Save the fine china for the adults' table. Let kids relax by giving them shatter-proof plates with a Thanksgiving theme and crafty placemats that incorporate a touch of whimsy. Leaf place cards are a sure way to get them excited to find their seat.

Create a playful centerpiece. Turkey table toppers crafted from colorful paper

and delicious loaves of bread give the center of the table fun seasonal appeal. Add a nature-inspired autumnal element with our Acorn Ornaments, which can be strung around the table and throughout the home. Consider accenting the kids' table with a few seaworthy ships crafted from felt for an additional layer of excitement and fun.

Incorporate the theme of giving thanks. Encourage kids to think and talk about all the things they're grateful for with linens, plates, felt leaves, Thanksgiving countdown calendars or anything else you can think of that might spur them to start a sentence with "I am thankful for ..."!

Add a few special items to your menu. Pour a special celebration beverage for kids with our tasty Apple-Cranberry Medley, and turn a favorite side into a delicious treat with our Stuffing On A Stick recipe. Finish the meal with healthy sweets like our Fruit Turkey. Individual Pumpkin Tarts topped with a toasted marshmallow are also easy to serve and irresistible to eat.