Making the kid's table fun this holiday season

November 23, 1:37 PMIrving Stay-at-Home Moms ExaminerLynley Phillips

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In social settings, the kid's table has earned a bad reputation. Adults fear it. Children resent it. No one wants to be seated at it.

This holiday season reinvent the kid's table and make it the most desired location of any family gathering. Taking the time to make the kid's table a fun place to eat and socialize will entertain the children and give the adults a moment of peace. Before the holiday crunch hits, take time to decide how the kid's table can be transformed from feared to favored.

• Set out child-sized finger foods. Often times children's negative behaviors stem from the fact they are hungry. Be sure to stock the kid's table with an assortment of finger foods suitable to a child's palate. Grapes cut in half, mini carrot sticks, pretzel rods and crackers are popular with the younger crowds. Provide a fun dip such as hummus or a yogurt-based dip and let kids enjoy dipping and eating before the official meal begins.
• Have a craft out to keep hands busy. Over-eager little hands can make social gatherings stressful for parents. Entertain those hands by setting out a craft for children to complete. They can make a hand print turkey or construct Thanksgiving-themed headgear. When setting out a craft be sure that it is simple for little ones to complete with minimal guidance and requires only a few supplies to create.
• Provide conversation starters. Although adults can usually find an ample amount of things to discuss around the dinner table, children can struggle to find something to talk about. A lack of conversation usually results in rowdy antics that disrupts the entire meal. Leave out a few conversation starters for older kids to read during the meal. Younger children can be provided with a few pictures of some popular movies or toys that will prompt a discussion with their table peers.
• Encourage kids to draw on the table. Cover the kids table with a white paper table cloth, set out a bucket of crayons and encourage young guests to create masterpieces on the table cloth. Draw a few tic tac toe boards and some word games on the table to keep older children engaged in the activity as well.
• Establish a "No Adults Rule". Children appreciate when the tables are turned and adults have rules. Set up a "No Adults at the Kid's Table" rule. Have a few adults attempt to sit at the kids table, only to be turned away by the children. By making this area a kid-only zone, it encourages children to take pride in their designated area.