How to Set a Kids Table

Kids' tables are most commonly used on holidays, special occasions or whenever kids need a space of their own. Laughter and joy tend to surround a kids' table. It's a lot of fun for the kids to have a separate place to sit and devour their food, sharing jokes and conversations appropriate to their age group while the adults can have a quiet place to converse and eat. There are steps a host might take to set the kids' table in an inviting and fuss-free manner. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Use durable plates and glasses on your table for kids since young children have a tendency to knock things over when they're having fun. Setting out nonbreakable items will keep children from getting hurt and keep good plates and cups out of harm's way. Some stores offer special-occasion-themed children's utensils, or you could use plastic-ware.

2

Consider using a variety of crafts to keep the children occupied between courses or before a meal starts. One idea is to use blank paper as place mats or butcher paper as a tablecloth--just make sure that there are plenty of different colors of crayons. Another simple entertainment idea is supplying the children with brightly colored pipe cleaners they can use to create animals or other objects between courses.

3

Pick a theme and decorate accordingly. When you do this, select a theme that is fun and appropriate for the age groups that are present. Depending on the occasion, you might decorate the kids' table with accessories ranging from cornucopias to clown napkins.

4

Create fun items for decorating the table according to your theme. For example, purchase Christmas-tree-shaped plates for Christmas or make a paper boat (the Mayflower) and line it with plastic wrap, then use it to hold assorted nuts for Thanksgiving.

5

Have paper towels or other cleaning materials on hand in an easy-to-reach spot, perhaps in a basket right next to the table. This ensures that any messes or spills that happen are easily remedied. Your cleaning supply list should include paper towels, rags and a stain remover.

6

Set a specific spot in a strategic location for a responsible older person, like a teen, so they can sit at the kids' table as a monitor. This will give the kids someone to converse with and the older person can assist them with whatever they need such as cutting or passing heavy platters. When choosing the older person to sit at the children's table, pick a person who is good with kids and knows the children well.