The Kids' Table

If sitting still at a formal dinner isn't your kids' cup of tea, they need the kids' table -- full of activities and games to make the wait the best part of the day.

5 ways to make it the best seat in the house

1. Who needs a table?  Squirmy kids do better on the floor with a picnic blanket. 
   
   
2. After dinner (or even before -- loosen up!), give each kid a cookie and the stuff to decorate it like a turkey.  
   
   
3. Nobody can resist new crayons. Cover the table with paper and put a box of brand-new crayons at each place. 
   
   
4. Picky eaters?  Set a super-simple  menu scorecard at each place.  Try a dish, get a sticker for the scorecard. (Competition may get someone to try the broccoli this year.) 
   
   
5. Cut unbaked Pillsbury breadsticks in half. Wrap dough into a circle, pinch closed and bake. Put some ranch dip on the table for dipping edible napkin-ring appetizers. (Hey, at least they'll TOUCH their napkins this way.)