Thanksgiving Kids Table Ideas: Decor, Activities and Placemats

By The Party Ideas Hub Editorial Team · Updated 3 November 2026

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The kids table has a reputation as the place nobody wants to sit, but it doesn't have to be. A little planning turns it into the table the children actually look forward to: something to draw on, something to do between courses, food they'll eat and a grown-up nearby who isn't stuck refereeing all afternoon.

Here are practical Thanksgiving kids table ideas, from setup and decor to placemats, activities and food, plus a short safety section for tables with toddlers and a simple plan for the day.

Setting up the kids table

Pick the right spot

Put the kids table close enough to the main table that adults can see it and children can hear the toasts, but far enough that spills and chatter don't take over the grown-up conversation. An open doorway between rooms, or the end of the same room, usually works. Keep it out of the main walkway to the kitchen, where people will be carrying hot dishes.

Choose the table and seats

A folding table, a coffee table with floor cushions (for younger kids) or a card table all work. Match the height to the children: toddlers are more comfortable at a low table, while older kids prefer a standard table with regular chairs. If ages are mixed, booster seats help the little ones reach.

Decide who sits there

Think about ages, not just "kids." A 12-year-old may feel insulted at a table of toddlers and might be happier at the main table or as the "head" of the kids table with a small job. Seat siblings who squabble apart, and put a shy child next to a cousin they know.

Plan the grown-up

Even a table of older kids goes better with an adult or teen within reach to cut food, pour drinks and mop spills. Some families rotate this job each course so no one misses the whole meal.

Easy kids table decor

Kids table decor should be cheap, unbreakable and part of the fun.

• Butcher paper or kraft paper tablecloth. Roll it over the whole table and tape it underneath. Kids can draw on it, and cleanup is just rolling it up. Search kraft paper roll.
• Crayon cups. Put crayons in small jars or paper cups at each seat. Crayons are less messy than markers on a holiday tablecloth.
• A pumpkin centerpiece kids can decorate. Small pumpkins with stickers, washable paint pens or googly eyes. It's decor and an activity in one.
• Pinecone or leaf place cards. Write each child's name on a paper leaf, or tuck a name card into a pinecone. Kids like finding their seat.
• Paper turkeys. Trace each child's hand on colored paper to make a handprint turkey place card before dinner.
• Flameless candles only. Real candles and kids don't mix, and the NFPA suggests considering flameless candles at home. A few battery tea lights in jars give the table the same glow as the main table.

For coordinating the kids table with the rest of the room, see our Friendsgiving decor ideas, which include easy table setups that scale down well.

DIY Thanksgiving placemats

You don't need printables to make placemats children enjoy. A sheet of plain letter or ledger paper and a marker are enough. Draw the activities before guests arrive, or let older kids make placemats for younger ones as a job.

Ideas to put on a placemat:

• "I'm thankful for…" box with lines to write or draw in.
• A blank turkey outline with empty feathers to color or fill with things they're thankful for.
• Tic-tac-toe grids for two players across the table.
• A short word search with simple fall words (turkey, pie, leaves, family, pumpkin). Draw a grid and fill the gaps with random letters.
• A maze from the turkey to the pie.
• "Draw your plate" where they sketch what they're eating.
• Questions for the table: "What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?" or "If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be?"

Laminating sheets or slipping them into clear sheet protectors makes them wipe-clean if you'd like to reuse them next year. Search clear sheet protectors.

Activities for the kids table

The most useful kids table activities are quiet enough for a dinner table, quick to explain and easy to put down when the food arrives.

Before the meal

• Gratitude jar. Each child writes or draws something they're thankful for on a slip of paper. Read a few out at dessert.
• Decorate the place cards or the pumpkin centerpiece.
• Make napkin rings from paper strips and stickers for the grown-ups' table. Kids love giving them out.

Between courses

• "I spy" around the room for younger children.
• Would you rather? Thanksgiving edition: "Would you rather eat only pie or only mashed potatoes?"
• Pass-the-drawing. Each child starts a drawing, then passes it to the left to add something every minute.
• Story chain. One child starts a story with a sentence and each person adds one.
• Table trivia. Simple questions about the holiday, fall or the family ("Who's the oldest person here?").

After dinner

When the adults linger over coffee, kids can move to a play area. A few easy options:

• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt for things around the house: something orange, something soft, a leaf, a photo of a family member.
• Pin the feather on the turkey, a twist on the classic party game.
• A family movie in another room.

If the older kids and teens want something livelier, many of our Friendsgiving games for adults adapt well for mixed-age groups.

Kid-friendly food for the kids table

Children often eat less of the big dinner than adults expect, especially if they've been snacking. A few tips help:

• Serve small portions on smaller plates so the plate doesn't look overwhelming.
• Offer the familiar sides: plain rolls, buttered noodles or mashed potatoes, corn, sliced turkey and cranberry sauce on the side.
• Cut food before it reaches the table for younger children.
• Use cups with lids or short, wide cups that don't tip easily.
• A kids' snack plate before dinner (cheese, crackers, fruit) keeps hunger in check without filling them up.

If you're considering disposable plates for the kids table, our guide to paper vs reusable party plates explains the pros and cons.

Need a pre-dinner snack that kids can hold? Individual Thanksgiving charcuterie cups work well with a kid-friendly filling, and a small, low Thanksgiving charcuterie board can sit on the adult table.

Safety for tables with little ones

A few safety points matter more at a kids table than anywhere else in the house.

Choking hazards. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, lists foods such as whole grapes, nuts and seeds, popcorn, chunks of meat and cheese, raw carrot sticks and hard candy as choking hazards for young children, and recommends keeping high-risk foods away from children under 4 or chopping round foods into small pieces. The same page says children should sit down while eating, and notes that balloons are a choking risk for children up to age 8.

In practice, that means:

• Quarter grapes and cut turkey into small pieces for toddlers.
• Keep nut-topped dishes and bowls of candy at the adult table.
• Skip balloons as decor if very young children are coming.
• Make sure kids eat seated, not while running around.

Heat and sharp things. Keep hot dishes, gravy boats and serving knives at the adult table. Fill the kids' plates in the kitchen and bring them over.

Small decor. Googly eyes, small craft pieces and button-sized decorations aren't suitable for toddlers. Keep them for older kids only, and collect them before little ones arrive.

Pets. If a dog is in the house, it will find the kids table, where food drops most often. Keep pets in another room during the meal.

A simple plan for the day

• The week before: decide who sits at the kids table, gather paper, crayons and craft supplies, and draw or print the placemats.
• The day before: set up the table and seats, roll out the paper tablecloth and put out crayon cups and place cards.
• Before guests arrive: set out the centerpiece pumpkin and the pre-dinner activity.
• During dinner: serve kids first, so they're eating while the adults settle in.
• After dinner: open the play area or start the movie while the adults have dessert and coffee.

For the full timeline for the rest of the meal, our Thanksgiving hosting checklist covers everything from shopping to leftovers.

Read next: Thanksgiving Hosting Checklist and Make-Ahead Timeline →