Set up a kids’ Thanksgiving table at their height, or protect one end of the main table, and outfit it with unbreakable plates and cups, a wipeable cloth, and no open flames or glass. A small caddy of crayons, Thanksgiving coloring pages, and a simple game keeps children busy between courses. You can still make the table feel like part of the meal with a low bowl of fruit or a paper craft. For the adult table, see how to set a Thanksgiving table and how to decorate a Thanksgiving table. More ideas are in Thanksgiving crafts for kids, how to play Thanksgiving bingo, Thanksgiving dinner party games, the Thanksgiving table, drinks and activities guide, and the Thanksgiving guide.
Choose a safe spot and skip the candles
A kid-height folding table in the same room is ideal so children stay in the conversation and adults can see them. If space is tight, give them one protected end of the main table with a separate runner. Skip tall centerpieces, real candles, and glass stemware; a spill or a sleeve can tip a flame or a wine glass. Use a vinyl or disposable cloth you will not mind wiping, and put unbreakable plates, cups, and utensils at each seat. A low bowl of fruit or paper leaves is decoration enough. Adult place settings and a low centerpiece still belong on the main table; see how to make a Thanksgiving centerpiece and how to make Thanksgiving place cards.
Pack an activity caddy, not a pile of toys
Fill a small caddy or a lidded container with crayons, Thanksgiving coloring pages, a few Thanksgiving crafts for kids supplies, and maybe a round of how to play Thanksgiving bingo. Keep scissors and small pieces for older kids only, and set out a trash bowl for wrappers. Serve the children’s food in courses they can finish, and keep drinks in cups with lids if toddlers are at the table. After dinner, Thanksgiving jokes for the table or a short round of Thanksgiving trivia questions can pull older kids back to the adult table if they want to join.
Plan the handoff so dinner stays calm
Seat an adult or a teenager within arm’s reach, especially if there are toddlers. Bring kids’ plates out a few minutes before the turkey is carved so they are not waiting hungry at an empty table. Pack leftover kid snacks and cut fruit into reusable bags for the trip home, and wipe the cloth before dessert so frosting and pie do not join the crayon pile. The goal is a table children can use on their own, not a second formal setting that needs constant rescue.
Frequently asked questions
Should kids sit at their own table or at the main table?
Either works. A separate low table in the same room is easiest for crafts and spills; a protected end of the main table is better if you have only one or two children.
What should I put in a kids’ table caddy?
Crayons, coloring pages, one simple craft, and maybe a bingo card. Leave out candles, glass, and tiny pieces for toddlers.
How do I keep a kids’ table from feeling left out?
Set it in the same room, use some of the same colors as the adult table, and bring their food out before the carving speech runs long.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips POP Container, 4.4 qt — A lidded container keeps crayons and extra napkins together in one caddy.
- OXO Good Grips 1.5-Qt Stainless Mixing Bowl — A small mixing bowl can hold fruit or wrapped snacks at the center of the kids’ table.
- Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bags, 4-Pack — Reusable bags pack leftover kid snacks and cut fruit for the trip home.
- Pyrex Deep 9×13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid — A lidded dish can ferry mac and cheese or cut fruit to the kids’ table without a formal platter.
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