Waiting for Thanksgiving dinner is always the hardest part of the day. Keep the kids entertained by writing stories with pictures on these Pictograph Placemats. Print the printables provided onto regular 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper. Give the kids the blank placemat and the Native American Pictograph card. The kids can use the pictographs on the card, or come up with their own pictures, to write out their wild west stories.
Photography, design and styling by Sara Schmutz.
Sail into Thanksgiving with a kid’s table that’s ready to entertain. Set the stage for this exciting adventure with a ship full of veggies. With its white sail and boatload of vegetables, this Pilgrim Centerpiece is sure to please parents and kids alike.
If you’d like to add some teepees to your table, print and cut out the printables (download link below). Fold along the grey lines. Glue the tab to the other side of the teepee to stand it up. Scatter the little tents around your table centerpiece, or place one at each placesetting for your guests.
For the boat, print out both sides of the base and its sail (download link below). Tape the sides of the boat together. Prop it up and put in a regular size soup bowl. Fill bowl with vegetables. Use a wooden skewer and slide through the holes in the sail. Stick skewer into the vegetables to prop up the sail. You are then ready to set sail, captain!
Photography, design and styling by Sara Schmutz.
Turn the kid’s table at your Thanksgiving feast into a special surprise. It can be boring waiting for all of the food to finish cooking. Keep your kids and younger guests busy with their own teepee tablecloth playhouse. Secure the tablecloth to the table if you’re nervous about it falling off. Or better yet, wait to put any breakable dishes on the top until playtime is over.
You will need: enough canvas to cover your table to the floor (this is a canvas drop cloth from the hardware store–washed and dried), fabric paint, sponge paint brush, iron, freezer paper, ruler and an exacto knife.
Using a ruler and an exacto knife, cut a zig zag line out of a sheet of freezer paper. Iron the freezer paper onto the bottom edge of the canvas tablecloth. Carefully sponge the paint onto the cutout area. Repeat along the entire bottom edge of the canvas using new freezer paper for each section if necessary. Let fabric paint dry and follow any additional instructions listed on the fabric paint bottle, if applicable. Cut a slit in the canvas to create an opening.
Photography by Nicole Hill Gerulat.
Line the kids’ table with colored paper strips corraled in jars or cans to create a centerpiece, activity and favor — all in one. While waiting for the feast to begin, have children write 25 things they are thankful for on paper strips. Staple or tape together to make a Christmas countdown chain for December. Send each child home with their own advent chain.
Photography, design and styling by Bettijo B. Hirschi and Aimée Lowry.
Fall is known for its beautiful array of colors. Bring a bright autumn spectrum to the kid’s table with our striped 11×17 printable placemats and color-strip centerpiece. Come back tomorrow to see how the centerpiece doubles as an activity and party favor.
Each child will be excited to see their name written on crisp, white placecards. The secret to sharply folded cards is to score the paper using the Martha Stewart Mini Scoring Board — it actually saves you time on folding too.
HOW TO MAKE PLACE CARDS: Cut white cardstock into 2.5 x 3-inch pieces, one for each guest. Score down the center and fold in half.
Photography, design and styling by Bettijo B. Hirschi and Aimée Lowry.
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