Before Christmas dinner: place cards made by the children.
Dinner is still cooking and your child wants to help. Put some paper and pencils on the table. Each plate can have a name card, a star or a drawing for the person who’ll sit there.
A crooked star belongs on the table too
Fold a few small pieces of paper in half so they stand up. A child who writes can try the names. Younger children could draw something different for each person: a car for Grandad, a flower for Grandma, a dinosaur for themselves. Find a place for each card beside a plate.
If your child would rather choose napkins or arrange paper stars, let the place cards wait. Use the drawings as they are. When the hot food comes out, put the pencils away and take a look at the table together.
- Set out paper and pencils away from hot dishes.
- Let your child choose a picture or write a name.
- Place the finished cards beside the plates together.
Three little things for the table
| Idea | How to try it at home |
|---|---|
| Paper place cards | A drawing for each person at the table is enough. |
| A colour choice | Two napkin options, already set out. |
| A Christmas wish | One sentence about what each person looks forward to. |
“I’m passing windows full of Christmas lights. I wonder what your dinner table will look like tonight.”
Adapt them to the way your family talks.
Ordinary paper is enough for place cards. There’s no need to buy craft supplies or prepare another surprise.