Make the Kids Table the Best Seat in the House this Thanksgiving

Ah, the kids table! The spot where, if lucky, you might corral busy youngsters for a whopping seven minutes during Thanksgiving dinner.

Never fear, here are a few tips for setting a kid-friendly table that keeps kids put, and content, so you can enjoy your meal.

Capture Their Attention with the Unexpected

Make kids feel special with a creative placecard. Here we've used mini pumpkins, which they can continue to decorate after the meal. Small toys or stuffed animals with kid's names or holding little name cards are good options too.

Take a Tip from Busy Restaurants

Cover the kid's table with kraft or butcher paper and let kids draw or decorate with stamps or stickers before and after the meal. Or buy some holiday-themed coloring books and assemble your own restaurant-style coloring placemats, complete with a small bundle of crayons for each child.

Turn the Kid's Table into the Craft Corner

If kids are old enough to use glue sticks, holiday-themed projects such as Indian headbands, handprint turkeys, wreaths, or paper placemats can keep them happily occupied while you enjoy your meal.

For smaller kids, pre-cut parts from construction paper, craft foam or felt so they just have to stick the pieces together.