This post is courtesy of our contributor Dawn of Not Just a Mommy…One of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving is to put together the kids’ table. When they were younger, it kept them busy while waiting for dinner and it was their special area that they could have fun at. Now, they are old enough to help me with dinner but they still love having their own space.
You don’t need an elaborate table or complicated settings; having something to nibble on and something to do is perfect. I love to start the table with butcher paper; have markers or crayons on hand and this will keep them busy.
Having a mix of healthy snacks with a little sweet is always a crowd pleaser. I’ve had parents come over to the kids’ table and sneak a few things off of it. I like to use foods that can hang out on a table for a few hours. Some great options…
- popcorn
- trail mix
- pretzels
- sliced veggies and ranch dip
- crackers and peanut butter
- cheese sticks
- grapes
- Teddy Grahams
This year, have a little fun and create a Thanksgiving Train to hold your goodies. Create a small one for each child’s placesetting or make it longer as a centerpiece for all your treats and goodies. The train is so easy to make, all you need are a few candy boxes and round tags.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 – 4½” x 2 5⁄16″ x 1⅛” (¼ lb) white candy boxes (to create the ‘engine’)
- 3½” x 2½” x 1 3⁄8″ slider box (to create a ‘box car’, as many as you need)
- 2″ square box (as many as you like for your box cars)
- 15⁄8″ circle tags (4 per train car)
- double sided tape or adhesive
- hot glue gun
- 1″ round stickers (optional); I used Chevron Petite Stickys
- Carefully cut the lid off of one of the candy boxes; this will create the front of the engine.
- Use double sided tape to attach the top of the second candy box to the side of the lidless one to form the engine.
- Cover the circle tags with a round sticker, then hot glue the tags onto the engine.
- Remove the slider box cover, then hot glue the tags onto the slider box.
- Carefully cut the lid off the 2″ square box and place in a box car.
- Fill the cars with treats, crayons, whatever you like!
Just because it’s a kids’ table, doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up with kid-friendly but chic pieces like bamboo plates and Picnic Packs from Foodadz. I love that each pack comes with super-sturdy, compostable wooden cutlery, fancy paper napkin and a wet-nap, perfect for cleaning up after.
I hope you have been inspired for a little Thanksgiving fun this year! Need more kids’ table ideas? Check out my Modern Thanksgiving Kids’ Table on The Celebration Shoppe.
We’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Dawn of Not Just A Mommy for sharing these creative ideas with us. I don’t know about you…but I think I’m sitting at the kids’ table this year! It looks so fun! Over on Dawn’s blog you’ll find plenty of party ideas for all of life’s celebrations. I hope you’re ready to plan a party because she’s sure to leave you inspired! Be sure to follow her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for even more creative ideas.
Such fun ideas! The kids will love this!!