Make kiddie table fun place for youngsters

While age-appropriate diners come and go, the kiddie table is a regular feature at most family holidays and celebrations.

So why not make it an entertaining place that children will consider it a privilege to sit at?

In “The Perfect Wedding Details: More Than 100 Ideas for Personalizing Your Wedding” (HarperResource), Maria McBride-Mellinger suggests this festive version:

Start off with a 6-foot-long folding table and a 72-by-120-inch white tablecloth, both of which can be rented from party suppliers.

Then you’ll need a roll of 36-inch-wide kraft paper (calculate 7 feet of paper for the 6-foot table), scissors, double-stick tape, assorted rubber stamps and colored inks, alphabet stamps, six crayons per child, an 8-inch ribbon per place setting, short vases and Gerber daisies.

Set up the table and cover with the basic white cotton tablecloth.

Cut the kraft paper so that there’s a 6-inch overhang at each end of the table. To create a simple hem, fold both of these flaps under to make 3-inch drop-offs, then secure with double-stick tape.

Along the length of the table, crease the paper with your hands to give it a customized fit. If needed, insert pieces of tape between the paper and the cloth to anchor the paper in place.

Decorate the paper with rubber stamps. Alphabet stamps make it easy to individualize place settings.

Set the table with colorful napkins ribbon-tied with bundles of crayons so that children can add their own touches once they sit down.

Use short, squat vases, minimal amounts of water, and simple, colorful flowers, such as the Gerber daisies, for centerpieces.