If you’ll be hosting Thanksgiving this year, don’t forget to decorate the kids’ Thanksgiving Day table. If they have their own table, you should create a tablescape for it.
I think that we often get so focused on creating an impressive Thanksgiving table setting for the adults, that the kids become an afterthought. Sure, they’ll have their own table, but we don’t think about decorating or setting it for them. That they too would like to sit at a nice tablescape.
Albeit, a table set for kids, not for adults. They don’t need a beautiful floral arrangement or candlesticks on their table. Kids want fun. And something to do.
Kids don’t want to sit around talking – that’s boring!
So think about how you’re gonna decorate the kids’ table at Thanksgiving this year. Do you have any Thanksgiving kids’ table ideas?
My kids always love sitting with their cousins ~ away from the adults. They have no desire to sit with us. So creating a table that would help keep them occupied was important.
That’s how I came up with my Thanksgiving kids’ table idea. I wanted something that would be special for them and keep them occupied. That’s key – keeping the kiddos occupied.
The idea for my Thanksgiving kids’ table is super easy to create. It’s simple and doesn’t take much time to set up which is key with how busy and stressful Thanksgiving can be.
How to Create a Kids’ Thanksgiving Day Table
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Step 1: Lay down the kids’ table foundation
When you first create a kids’ table for Thanksgiving, their ages need to be considered. Are they toddlers or elementary age or middle schoolers?
I don’t think of middle school kids at the kids’ table, as they can easily entertain themselves and often want to be included at the adults’ table.
This is a table for toddlers and kiddies in elementary school.
Think about the table they will sit at. Do you want to cover it? If so, I’d advise against a tablecloth. Tablecloths can easily be pulled off a table. Tablecloths can also stain, and I’m sure there will be food spills or splatters.
I suggest covering your table with paper. It’ll protect your table and can easily be thrown away. Plus it’s the perfect backdrop for the kids’ creativity.
I chose to cover my table with white paper. You can find wide rolls of paper at your local craft store, and there are usually quite a few different colors available.
On top of the white paper, I added a strip of kraft paper to look like a table runner.
This makes the table setting feel like a real elevated tablescape, even though it’s not. Plus I thought it looked pretty darn cute.
Step 2: Create the kids’ Thanksgiving table centerpiece
If you’re gonna create a kids’ table, then you should create a centerpiece for their table too. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or elaborate. Just something simple.
I started with a long narrow dough bowl and placed it in the middle of the table.
Then I added a few pieces of fabric inside the bowl. I did that to add some color and interest to the centerpiece, and also to tie it into what I would be doing with their place settings.
Next, I added two orange turkey candy dishes and a bunch of fake winter veggies inside the bowl.
It’s a simple centerpiece that kids will appreciate. Plus it’s moveable (if needed). Afterall, you never know when something might spill.
Step 3: Create the place setting for the kids’ table
When you’re thinking of the place setting for your kids’ Thanksgiving table, remember that they’re kids. They don’t need or probably want to use fancy dishes. And accidents happen. So consider using nice melamine or heavy-duty plastic plates on the kids’ table.
Also, consider creating a place setting that makes them feel like they’re sitting at an adult table. A lot of kids like that (even though they don’t want to sit with the adults, they want to feel like they’re grown up).
I chose to use a lightly woven placemat as the base of my place setting. Then I added a thick white plastic plate from Target. And next, I added a napkin on the bottom right of the plate.
To add a little fun to the tablescape, I alternated the place settings using red and orange napkins.
On top of the napkin, I added a small red plastic plate. My thought was, depending on the kid, they could choose which size plate was best for them. Or the top plate could be used for dessert later.
I added the silverware to the place setting, which I stacked in a fun way. The knife first, then the spoon at an angle, and the fork on top at the opposite angle as the spoon.
I’d diy’d each of the kids a cute cup with their name on it. Everyone loves seeing their name on stuff. Especially kids. And what a fun way to remember this Thanksgiving!
Then to put the final touch on the kids’ Thanksgiving table, I added a cute little cup of fun. These fun cups are super easy to DIY. They’re perfect for holding a simple little craft project.
It’s important to have something that will entertain kids and give them something to do while the adults sit around talking. (Kids hate that ~ when parents sit around and talk. Hahaha!)
I filled my fun cups with colored pencils and a cute hand cutout that could be made into a turkey, or just colored, or maybe writing what they’re thankful for.
Bonus ~ the colored pencils can also be used to write on the paper tablecloth. There’s a lot of area for kids to be creative or play tic=tac=toe or hangman, or draw fun pictures.
I bet you can’t resist writing on a table when it’s covered in paper and there are crayons or colored pencils provided.
That’s it. That’s all you need to do to create a simple Thanksgiving table setting for kids this year.
Set a table for them, with this simple Thanksgiving kids table idea. A table that they’ll want to sit at. That will keep them busy.
They’ll have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and the adults will appreciate it too!
Shop the Table (if you don’t have time for a DIY)
Check out the easy DIY projects used to decorate this tablescape:
Check out other table settings:
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- Ode to 1970’s Vintage Fall Tablescape
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