A Little Looter Thanksgiving
There’s truly nothing like seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child, and, chances are, at least one of those little turkeys will be on your “things-I’m-most-thankful-for” list this year. SO, why not kick off the season by creating a fun and festive corner of the family gathering for these Little Looters to celebrate in their own special way?
Just because those mini-guests are short in stature, their kids’ table shouldn’t be short on style. Hear straight from Anna and Rhoda about their tips for a fun, stress-free celebration creating memories that last.
*Content repurposed from our previous feature on www.lovechldmag.com. Photos by Mack Eveland.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SET-UP?
We wanted to create an interactive Thanksgiving kids’ table with a whimsical feel. We’ve had the cedar teepee in our rental inventory for years, but rarely see it used without the canvas. It is so beautiful on its own and creates the perfect structure to make a canopy of dried leaves and light strands. Kids love having a designated space to play in, and this set up gives them that “hideaway,” while still allowing the adults to keep eyes on them.
The decor was inspired by natural seasonal elements and a monochromatic color scheme of rust, tan, and cream. We used dried florals and leaves overhead instead of a fresh arrangement on the table in order to avoid any spillage. A simple dried sprig or feather tucked in the napkins brought a pop of color to the table setting. For the centerpiece, we arranged raw wooden beads and spools of cotton string doubling as a fun activity!
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THIS KID-FRIENDLY?
We made it a point to not have anything breakable or sharp on the tables. Instead of drinking glasses, we used copper mule mugs. Instead of using breakable dishes, we opted for melamine cafeteria trays – the kids also love these for keeping their food separated! We brought in a coffee table for the “dining table” so the littles could sit low to the ground on cushions and pillows instead of in a stiff dining chair. The rugs are super durable – cow hide and jute, which are stain resistant and can take spills. It was super important to us that we have some sort of activity to keep the kids engaged and it be something that had a purpose. Making festive garlands that they can re-purpose for the Christmas tree is a fun way to involve them in holiday traditions! We decided on unfinished wood beads for our garlands (easily found at a craft store or Amazon), but you could also go the more traditional route and do popcorn. We pre-cut string for each kid and attached fishing line to the end to easily string the wooden beads. The kids had so much stringing the beads and later made a game out of playing with their strands.
Please note: This activity is intended for children 3 and over with adult supervision.
Click Here To See Our Kid’s Table Rentals
AS SISTERS-IN-LAW AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, DO YOU SPEND MOST HOLIDAYS TOGETHER? WHO SETS THE TABLE?
We do! Whenever we are together on the holiday we usually focus on the decor, foraging greenery from the backyard and arranging wild beautiful centerpieces. Occasionally we will even borrow from our rental collection to make it even more special.
ANY ADVICE FOR A STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY?
Mulled wine! And… let the kids be kids! It’s much easier to let them be free, run around with each other, and just have fun rather than having them sit through a formal dinner.
