Ahhhh, the famous Thanksgiving Kid’s Table.  When I was a child it always felt like we were being banned to Alcatraz.  These days, I’d MUCH rather sit there than at the Grown-Up’s Table.  With clever ideas like these, who WOULDN’T?? (click on the headings for links)

Start by using these cute tableware options.  Keep it simple, colorful, cute and kid-safe and they’ll be THRILLED to be at the Kid’s Table this year!

1.Plastic Turkey Handprint Stadium Cup  - Unbreakable cups are fun and easier for little ones to handle.

2.Styrofoam Kid’s Table Cups - For the smaller set, opting for cups with lids and straws will help prevent spills and allow the adults to actually ENJOY their meals.

3.Its More Fun Melamine Plates- These funny plates are not only kid-safe but can even double as nice gift for your smaller guests to take home.

4.Family. Turkey. Nap. Napkins - Don’t worry about ironing and washing cloth napkins…use neutral colored paper napkins with a funny message and no one will even miss the linen ones.

Assigned seating keeps the bickering at bay over who’s gonna sit next to whom.  Sure, you COULD just write everyone’s names on little pieces of paper.  But my guess is if you are reading this blog, then you are not the “write-everyone’s-names-on-little-pieces-of-paper” type!  Surprise your littlest guests by using these clever ideas and chances are they will be so taken by your creativity, they’ll forget what they were arguing about! 

1.Pilgrim Napkin Rings - OK, I have to admit, I am going to be using these for EVERYONE this Thanksgiving.  I think the adults will love it even more than the kids!  The tricky part is getting photos of your guest ahead of time, but asking them to email you a photo should do the trick.

2.Personalized Mini Pumpkin Pies - Giving the children a dessert with their name actually ON it?  Really, need I say more?

Give the kiddos something to do before and after their meal by providing fun Thanksgiving mazes, coloring sheets and activity placemats. 

 1.Acorn Maze with Squirrel Pencil - A fun activity to keep them occupied while they wait for dinner to be served (I love the simple idea of accesorizing the pencil to make it all the more appealing!).

2.Giant Thanksgiving Color Tablecloth - Not only a great idea for before, during and after the feast, but when dinner’s over, you can throw it away!  (Who has time for laundry when you’ve got Black Friday shopping to do?!)

3.&4.Downloadable Activity Placemats -Available free online and all you have to do is print them out!

Even the kids deserve a centerpiece.  Again, choosing fun over fancy is the way to go.  These ideas are easy enough that you can enlist some little helpers before the big day to create them.

1.Raffia Wrapped Crayon Jars - Keep it simple with jars of brand spankin’ new crayons and no one will be able to resist!

2.How Many Acorns Centerpiece - Fill any vase or bowl with acorns (or any kind of nut!) and let the kids guess how many during dinner.  Winner gets an extra piece of pie (or dishwashing immunity!).

3.Thanksgiving Fruit Gobbler - This crafty, edible centerpiece doubles as a healthy addition to dinner (no forks necessary!)

4.Pumpkin and Crayon Turkey Centerpiece - Grab a leftover pumpkin from Halloween and poke holes in it to create a colorful crayon feathered tail.

After dinner, the adults are either cleaning up, watching football or snoozing (none of which the children are particularly interested in).  Offer them a few fun (quiet) activities and everyone will be happy!