TIPS FOR A THANKSGIVING KIDS’ TABLE

Today I am joining Carol from blog Blue Sky at Home and a group of bloggers to share our Thanksgiving ideas with you! If you are stopping by from Jen’s Thanksgiving table welcome to Everyday Edits!

Nothing conjures up visions of chaos like the Thanksgiving Kids’ Table unless you are at my house. My dining room table is surrounded by upholstered white chairs and a sofa bench.

this …

What could go wrong?

I know. And the funny thing is the kids are not the ones I would like to sit at the kids’ table. My rule is simple if you are drinking red or eating this orange cranberry sauce you get to sit at the kid’s table.

TIPS FOR A THANKSGIVING KIDS’ TABLE

In full disclosure, the last few holidays the kids’ table was set up at the counter (formerly a wall). Situated between the dining room and kitchen it really is the VIP seating.

This is where there once was a wall and now there is an open, arched wall between the kitchen and dining room. This is the view from the counter height bar stools.

My kid’s table is more like the place at the bar where if you are in that barstool you have eyes on the kitchen and dining room and you can watch the size of grandma’s Kendall Jackson Chardonnay pour.

There’s no FOMO (fear of missing out) if you are at the Thanksgiving kids’ table at our house.

KIDS TABLE DETAILS

I want the kid-friendly table to be:

• a part of the meal
• comfortable
• entertaining
• away from a heat or water source
• near a bathroom

TIPS

My goal is for the kid’s table not to resemble a food fight in the middle school cafeteria. The key to a kid’s table is fun distractions so everyone else feels like they are missing out on something special! Here are a few ideas I plan to try this November.

Now is a great time to get ready for the holidays!

GET READY NOW

This is the perfect time of year to get ready for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving always shows up on the fourth Thursday of November.

Here are a few things I buy now:

CRAYONS + CHALK + COLORING PAGES

1. Crayons- who doesn’t love a fresh box of Crayola crayons?
2. I love to cover a table with brown paper because brown is a Thanksgiving color and it makes for an easy cleanup.
3. I found 12″ width brown paper rolls in the paint section at Home Depot.

4. It is advertised to cover baseboards, but the 12″ width is perfect for table seating.

The key to a kids’ table is for the table not to scream kids’ table. So this year I am including some of these ideas for everyone.

If you give your auntie a coloring book (or page) and crayons she is going to eventually start to color. The same thing with my fourteen-year-old nephew.

There are fun coloring table runners I found online. However, Crayola offers free coloring pages. Did I mention they are FREE?

Several years ago I bought chalkboard placemats at Crate & Barrel. I still have them and my nieces always ask for them! I love that! There are similar items like this one.

I have chalk cheeseboards that I found years ago at this daily decor site!

Finally, I like to create a mini centerpiece at the Kid’s table that defines the space, but also keeps kids and adults from reaching. For this table, I added a row of pumpkins so that the row shows where the kitchen ends and the kids’ (or grownup) table begins.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. Please check out these other Thanksgiving ideas for others to find. Speaking of pinning I would love it if you follow me on Pinterest or pinned this photo for others to find! Please visit Hen and Horse for her Trader Joe’s inspired recipe!

Thank you for stopping by to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. You Can check out all the ideas below and pin this image that includes all of these ideas for your social media or Pinterest boards.

THESE ARE FUN TOO!

LAST MINUTE THANKSGIVING PLACE SETTING EASY THANKSGIVING CENTERPIECE TIPS TO FIND FURNITURE LAYOUT IDEAS