Follow these easy steps to set a kid-friendly Thanksgiving table, it’s a fun way to make little ones feel special and grown-up.
Growing up we always had a dedicated kids table at every family gathering. It was a little spot carved out for all of the cousins where we could be loud and goofy and not worry about our manners. It’s been quite some time since we all sat together at the “kid’s table”, but as our girls grow and more babies are joining our family it won’t be long before we’re setting up that kid’s table once again.
So once I finished setting our fall tablescape this year, I thought it would be fun to create another with little ones in mind – kid-friendly Thanksgiving table. I wanted it to feel cohesive and look like it was still a part of the main table, but feel a little more relaxed. I kept the same colour palette and repeated a lot of the same elements while swapping out a few pieces to make it more kid-friendly.
get the look
Most kids won’t appreciate a beautiful flower arrangement as they enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, but I still wanted their table to feel pretty. So instead of one big centerpiece, as I did on the main table, I placed a mix of different sized white pumpkins along the center of the table. Then I added three small vases of flowers to add a little bit of colour. These little arrangements are basically a repeat of the centerpiece on the main table, just on a smaller scale. I used miniature roses, carnations, and decorative cabbage.
I would never recommend candles at the kid’s table, but it’s nice to give them a little bit of ambiance too, right? A good alternative is battery-operated candles in small votives. You’ll still get that warm and cozy feeling without any burnt fingertips or blazing housefires!
I set our kid’s table using the same place settings as the main table because that is what we had on hand. But this is also where you could have a bit more fun, like incorporating colourful plates or napkins that match your colour palette. And we did swap out the wine glasses for small glass drinking jars.
We all know kids get antsy and don’t like to sit still for long, so I included a little activity to keep them busy and get them thinking and talking amongst themselves. Each place setting gets a Thankful List printable to fill out. I also added a pretty pencil crayon tied in simple lace. I just thought it was a nice detail, but you could also set cups or small jars full of crayons on the table for the kids to use as well.
Have the kids write down everything they are thankful for and then read them out loud. It’s a sweet activity and I’m sure some of the answers will have you in tears, whether from happiness or laughter.
All in all, setting this kids table was really easy and inexpensive. It’s an extra step, but it will leave your little ones feeling so grown up and special.
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