I can remember the days when I was stuck at the kids’ table for Thanksgiving. It was usually a sad card table in the corner, with a mish-mash of kids who just weren’t quite ready for the grownup table yet. Now that my husband and I are in our own home with enough space to host Thanksgiving gatherings, we’ve been thinking about how to make the Thanksgiving kids’ table a fun place to be! These ideas are inspiring us—try one (or five) to create your own super cool kid table this year.
Check out the ideas in the slideshow.
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- The Lazy Mom’s Guide to Thanksgiving
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31 Creative Ways to Decorate the Kids' Table at Thanksgiving
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Paper Leaf Table Runner
Use colorful construction paper to make a "thankful" leaf table runner. Read everyone's thankful messages aloud at dinner as a fun game to interact with kids, friends, and family.
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Pilgrim Crafts Table
Keep the little ones entertained all day with adorable pilgrim hats that double as crayon cups, not to mention mayflower straws and turkey place settings.
Find out more at Hoosier Homemade.
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Rustic Backyard Party
From pilgrim ships to teepees and chocolate acorns, the little ones will love this rustic backyard spin on Thanksgiving.
Find out more at Creative Juice.
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Decorated Dessert Place Cards
The kids will go wild when they see that their place cards are actually colorful, decorated cookies!
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Activity Place Setting
Make a child friendly place setting with stickers, colored pencils, and drawing paper so you can enjoy dinner without having to entertain your kids!
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Tee Pee Place Holders
These tee pee place holders made from ice cream cones are a fun edition to any kids table -- especially if you fill them with candy!
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Thankful Tree
Share your gratitude a different way by displaying a thankful tree as your table centerpiece.
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Thanksgiving Madlibs Printables
Remember Mad Libs? Kids will be laughing out loud at their table as they come up with adjectives, verbs and nouns for this Thanksgiving-themed story.
Get the DIY printable at Sister's Suitcase.
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Turkey Surprise Ball
Keep kids occupied during dinner with this awesome goodie ball filled with treats and toys!
Get the DIY tutorial over at And We Play.
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Printable Gratitude Cards
Add these cute, autumn-themed gratitude cards to your kids table, and encourage your little ones to think about the things for which they are thankful.
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Pinecone Turkey Crafts
Jazz up the kids table with this fun, low-cost DIY. Use them as toys, or place card holders!
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Fall Woodland Party
The kids table will look adorable (and fun!) with this tablescape complete with woodland masks, animal plates, and yummy 'wild animal snack mix.'
Get the DIY tutorial at Hoosier Homemade.
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Confetti Stuffed Turkey
A perfect centerpiece to make the kids giggle, this turkey is made of paper and stuffed with confetti.
Get the DIY tutorial over at Studio DIY.
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Wishbone Donuts
The kids will love having these colorful (and tasty!) alternatives to the same old wishbone at the kids table this year.
Get the recipe over at Studio DIY.
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Dry Erase Thanksgiving Placemats
These customizable placemats make the perfect addition to your kids Thanksgiving table. Writing and drawing will keep the littles ones occupied and happy while the adults have some festive fun.
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Mayflower Table
Go with a whole Mayflower theme and use this set of free printables to deck out the kids' table.
Get the DIY tutorial at Amanda's Parties To Go.
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Yarn Pumpkins
The kids will love making these cute little yarn pumpkins and then displaying their handiwork on their special table.
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Paper Cut Outs
Use these paper cutouts to decorate drink cups, place settings, and more. It looks great and you don't have to worry about a spill ruining your fancy linens.
Get the DIY tutorial over at Armelle.
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Turkey Silverware Holders
Grab some colorful cupcake liners and turn them into these cute little turkeys that can hold the cutlery together at the kids table this year.
Get the DIY tutorial at OHMY! Creative.
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Kids Kraft Paper Table Setting
Grab a roll of kraft paper and make your own life-sized, dinner-themed coloring book for the kids table this Thanksgiving.
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Thankful Chain
Leave brightly colored strips of paper and pencils on the table so that kids can write out what they're thankful for. At the end of the meal, make the strips into a paper chain.
Get the DIY tutorial at One Charming Party.
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Corn Surprise Package
Wrap up a few goodies in a faux ear of corn and place it at each setting. The kids will love finding out what's inside.
Get the DIY tutorial over at One Charming Party.
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Pumpkin Spice Pretzels
Jazz up the kids table with these yummy and fun looking pretzels!
Get the recipe from Lady Behind the Curtain.
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Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe
Set up this quick-to-clean-up game at the kids' table while dinner is being prepared. Just a little washi tape and a few pumpkins will do the trick.
Get the DIY tutorial at It's Overflowing.
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Turkey Hat
Print out this suite of turkey goodies and you've got all you need for the table! There are placecards, treat boxes, picks, and even a turkey hat for the little ones.
Get the DIY tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.
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Kid Art Candles
Take a fun approach and let the kids help decorate. Take their art and wrap it around votive cups to create pretty luminarias for their table.
Get the DIY tutorial over at Aunt Peaches.
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Pumpkin Pie Placecard
Help kids find their seats with these cute printable pumpkin pie place cards!
Get the DIY tutorial from Fiksars.
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Turkey Napkin Ring
Tie up their napkins with a silly little napkin ring, made from a bottle top.
Get the DIY tutorial over at The Country Chic Cottage.
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Pilgrim Hat Pinata
Put together pilgrim hat pinatas for the table! They can serve as place settings or a centerpiece, and kids will love seeing what's inside.
Get the DIY tutorial over at Jacks and Kate.
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Turkey Crayon Holder
Set the kids up to do some coloring while they're waiting for dinner with this simple turkey crayon holder!
Get the DIY tutorial at Skip to My Lou.
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Typography Placecard
These placecards are simple to make but will have each child at the kids' table feeling pretty special. Include the characteristics that you love most about each one!
Get the DIY tutorial over at Camille Styles.
