Thanksgiving Entertaining Tips for the Kids

Written by Nick & Aleah Valley of Valley & Co.

The holiday season means gatherings galore and traditions, old and new. It’s about getting together around a table to share in a delicious meal, laughter and great company. Thanksgiving often involves a kids’ table, a space where cousins and siblings collect to eat and visit.

We say dress up the kids’ table so they feel extra special and have a place that looks fun, is cozy, has activities, and is one that they won’t want to leave. Why not pull out all of the stops and let them enjoy sparkling cider from beautiful goblets, dine on festive china and be dazzled by a centerpiece that rivals that on the adult table?

Valley & Co.’s Thanksgiving Tips:

Elevate the kids’ table this Thanksgiving with dressy china and napkins tied with ribbon. Don’t have festive dinnerware? Look to your local rental company to rent flatware, glasses and dishes. Create a centerpiece with moss, branches and pine cones and nestle in little woodland creatures the kids can play with during dinner.

Upgrade the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game by painting your own squares with metallic paint on a white linen napkin {we just used plain old tape to make a grid and a foam brush to paint squares}, and give the children pine cones and creature figurines as their game pieces.

Leave messages for the kids on their place settings that tell them how thankful you are for them.

Hand draw Thanksgiving bounty {or download our PDF Coloring Sheet} and make up photo copies so each kid has their own coloring page to doodle on during dinner.

Have small canning jars filled with moss, acorns, pine cones, and woodland creature figurines that the children can use to create their own little terrariums to take home.

What fun do you have planned for Thanksgiving?

Nick & Aleah Valley are the husband + wife owners and operators of Valley & Co. Lifestyle, based in the beautiful Emerald City {Seattle}. They love to make life grand and believe that any occasion, whether small or large, is cause for celebration. They believe that entertaining at home welcomes memories and laughter. Follow them on their blog and Instagram.