by Joyce Thompson

Created on: November 14, 2008

Kids love the holidays, and even more so, they love to be a PART of the holidays! To keep them busy while you're slaving over a hot stove, why not engage them in some craft projects to make some place settings for the table? They can sit at the kitchen table, while you prepare the foods, but keep busy enough not to be underfoot.

A little pre-planning and you can get the materials you will need for the children to make some creative place settings. You can do this with the children, or on your own while you are out running errands. Planning here is the key, so that you don't forget a particular item for part of the project like glue or paint. You can make this a very wallet-friendly project by shopping at the local dollar store, or by using the coupons that craft stores frequently print in the weekend papers. Either way, you can find small inexpensive items to use for these priojects for the table.

One idea is to use small, "mini" Christmas stockings, {one for each place setting} as a holder for the silverware. Fork, spoon and knife slide into the opening of the small Christmas stocking. The kids can use a glitter pen or a paint pen and write each guest's name on the outside of the stocking. Personalized, easy, economical, and adorable.

Another idea is to use tiny wreaths as napkin rings. Kids can have fun decorating them with ribbons, pom poms, bells, mini snowflakes, or whatever you can find in your local area.

Another quick, fun and inexpensive idea is to simply pick up an assortment of scrapbooking materials, or perhaps let them use the leftovers from your own crafting projects. With the scraps of cardboard they can make name place cards for each guest and decorate them with the assorted stickers. Each one can come out different, as you can encourage the kids to use designs to complement each guests' personality, or favorite hobby, sport or interest.

There are many projects that can be made out of food itself. Marshamallows, toothpicks and some small candies like red hots and licorice make for some great snowmen to sit next to each guest's plate. Oreo cookies and a little white frosting and they can make penquins. Give them a couple of ideas to start out with and then let them discover where their imagination takes them!

Let the kids have fun and be creative on their own. Have some fun conversations while making the place settings. Go around the table and have each person name their favorite part of the holiday meal, their favorite, food, least favorite food, most memorable experience from holidays past and more. So along with some nice place settings, you'll have some lively conversatoins as well.

Lastly don't forget to take pictures of the craft-making, and the finished product. They'll be great to use in your next craft project, to frame or add to a scrapbook!

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