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No Grown-Ups Allowed

Make the Kids' Table the Star of Thanksgiving!

Article by Kathy Graham

Photography by Lindsey Wagers/Wagers Photography

Originally published in Topeka City Lifestyle

Remember sitting at the kids' table every Thanksgiving? It always felt like a punishment for being one of the youngest in the family. Well, not this year! Check out these fun ideas to make the kids’ table the best seat in the house!

Boredom is a buzzkill, so keep the little peeps busy with a fun activity. First, get a roll of craft paper at any local craft store. Cover your tables. Write each child’s name on the paper in front of each seat with a thick black marker. Draw tic-tac-toe lines randomly on the paper and use small pumpkins as Os and Xs. Just make sure you have two different colors. To keep an attitude of gratitude, draw a “Things I Am Thankful For” sentiment with a few lines below so the kids can fill them in. (Tip: Never trust toddlers with permanent markers.) Set some crayons around the table for the kids to use.

Kids love crafts, so be ready to keep their hands and imaginations busy with these adorable seasonal pine cone turkeys. All you need are pine cones, colored felt, googly eyes, feathers, pipe cleaners for legs, scissors, and glue. Not only will it keep them busy, but they’ll also have a cute keepsake to take home!

Who doesn’t get a little snacky when those delicious aromas start wafting from the kitchen? For a sweet treat, make these cute cornucopias and fill them with candy corn, candied pumpkins, raisins, dried cranberries, nuts, and Goldfish. They’re a cinch to make. Simply use large waffle cones. To make the tail curl, wrap the end in a wet paper towel and microwave for 10 seconds. Then use the handle of an ice cream scoop or any larger handled utensil and bend it around. It will harden as it dries.

These activities will keep the little ones occupied and out of the kitchen while the Thanksgiving feast is being prepared. One of the best things about this whole plan is that cleanup is a breeze with no tablecloth to wash and no worries about cranberry sauce stains! When dinner is done, just gather it up and throw it all away. It’s fun for the kids and easy for the host or hostess too!

Photoshoot styled by Sara Schultz with SaraSchultzCreative.com

You can easily find all of these supplies at your local hobby stores and grocers. 

 Supply List

Craft paper

Crayons

Kid-safe scissors

Kraft Glue

Thick black marker

Pumpkins for tic-tac-toe

Pine cones

Colored felt

Googly eyes

Pipe cleaners

Feathers

Large waffle cones

Candy corn

Candy pumpkins

Raisins

Dried cranberries

Nuts

Goldfish