Thanksgiving Kids Table & Thankful Chain

I am still in love with this colorful Thanksgiving Kids Table we created for One Charming Party years ago. We shared free printable stripe placemats (download below), but my favorite part is actually the Thankful Chain. This colorful, paper-strip centerpiece also provides an activity to entertain the kids. These ideas create a big impact but are super simple — you can totally pull this together in time!

Thanksgiving Kids Table free printable placemat PagingSupermom.com #thanksgiving #kidstable #printables #freebies
Gratitude Chain made at Thanksgiving becomes a Christmas Countdown or Advent Chain #thanksgiving #christmas #advent #kidstable

Line the kids’ table with colored paper strips corralled in jars or tin cans to create a centerpiece, activity and favor — all in one! While waiting for the feast to begin, have children write 25 things they are thankful for on paper strips. Staple or tape together to make a Christmas countdown chain for December. Send each child home with their own advent chain.

Thankful for My Mom - how to make a Thankful Chain with your kiddos

how to Make the Thankful Chain centerpiece

For the centerpiece all you need is colorful paper in fall hues cut into one-inch strips. We used 3 sheets of each color, but a sheet yields about 11 strips, so adjust according to the number of your little guests. While the kids are waiting for the feast to begin they can assemble the paper strips into a Gratitude Chain to take home and use as a Christmas Countdown.

How To Make A Thankful Chain

Thanksgiving is the gateway to the Christmas season. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, I’m always most excited to see Santa Claus come to town at the end. Also as a child, I actually remember sitting with my cousins at Thanksgiving, creating our Christmas Advent Chains. Ours were the traditional red and green paper strips with a golden link for Christmas Day, but I love how this Gratitude Chain project combines that tradition with the attitude of Thanksgiving and helps us to carry it through the Holiday Season.

Download the Colorful Stripe Placemat
Thankful Chain Centerpiece

Bettijo Bridges

Administrator at Paging Supermom
Bettijo is the founder and designer of Paging Supermom where she shares creative ideas for family fun. Known for practical and kid-friendly activities, free printables and holiday entertainment. Bettijo was a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and has frequently appeared on local TV. Her work has also been featured in national magazines including Real Simple, O, Redbook, Parents, Family Circle, and Health. She enjoys art, retro-modern design, photography and making new things. Mom of 4 kids.

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4 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Kids Table & Thankful Chain”

  1. Hello Ladies,

    I love your party ideas! I have been a loyal fan since I first found your Rapunzel party almost two years ago. I use pulse on the iPad and check your posts 4-5 days a week.

    I am Thankful for your posts and wish you and your families a happy Thanksgiving!

    I did not enjoy the pop up ads tonight, but I guess you have to make a living. The UPS ad was long. I hope others will be as patient and not leave the site. Best of luck, and again thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Sonja, Thank you so much for letting us know about your experience with the ads. We have been annoyed ourselves with the mobile pop up ads. We have tried to block them, but it looks like they were still getting through. I just got off the phone with our ad rep and he assures me that that entire category of mobile ads is now blocked! So hopefully none of us should be bothered by them any longer. Thanks again for your feedback and Happy Thanksgiving! –bettijo

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