Thanksgiving Kids' Table: Make it Perfect

Being a particularly boisterous kid (and perhaps adult), I've always been a fan of the kids' table during holiday functions. Face it -- a seat at the kids' table comes fully equipped with your own salt and pepper shakers, and better yet? No dish duty! This year, I plan to jazz up the kids' table a bit (call me selfish!) and introduce a few exciting concepts to the mix:

1. Crayons/Paper
Sure -- no drawing allowed until after they've eaten their veggies, but crayons and a paper tablecloth will keep those kiddies occupied through three different versions of Aunt Margie's 42nd birthday party debacle.

2. Fun Drinks
This year, I'll be incorporating a few crazy straws into the kids' drinks. We'll be slurping holiday songs from across the room and those adults won't know what they're missing!

3. Placemat Games
In lieu of cloth placemats (because kids and cloth placemats simply don't mix!), I'll be printing off a few holiday trivia games for us all to partake in. There are a few fun printable holiday games online, but I'd save the splurge and make up my own!

4. Caddy Time
After the kids finish eating, why not swap out the dishes and food for a caddy filled with activity supplies? I'd pack it with construction paper, glue and kid-friendly scissors and enlist the kids to create their favorite holiday hat. Adults will choose the winner during dessert, and the best hat gets an extra slice of pie!

5. Old-Fashioned Imagination
Of course, nothing beats a few imaginative favorites, such as Charades, I Spy and holiday sing-alongs. I'll keep my kids' table at a safe distance from those boring adults to ensure their imagination can run wild -- without the dirty looks from Grandma!

Here's to a happy holiday dinner for young and old -- and everyone in between!