Make Place Cards for the Dinner Table
Have Kids Help Decorate for the Holidays or a Special Occasion
Nov 9, 2009
Keep children occupied the day of a big family dinner by having them create place cards for the dinner table. This will help the children know which relatives and family friends are coming to the house and allow them to prepare for the festivities.
Place cards are a useful project for the kids to make as the cards can help avoid any awkward jockeying as a large group descends on a table. The place cards also allow for a festive touch to the table (and perhaps a keepsake for some relatives).
Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter Place Cards
Children can use holiday stencils or cookie cutters to trace simple shapes onto construction paper, drawing paper, or cardstock. Cut out the shape and then decorate with colored pencil, marker, glitter glue, etc. Decorate one shape for each place setting.
Next, cut out a 4” x 4” piece of cardstock and fold in half. (Or, fold a 3” x 5” blank index card in half the long way.) Write the name of one of the individuals going to the dinner, leaving space along the left hand margin to glue the decorated shape. Glue on the decorated shape, positioning it so it does not hang below the bottom on the place card. It is okay if it extends beyond the top or left side of the card.
If handwriting is a concern, print out the names from the computer and glue onto the place card. Decorate around the name if desired, making certain the name is clear.
Personalized Glitter, Rhinestone or Rock Nameplates
For a birthday party or other events, the child can fold a 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” blank index card in half the long way to form a place card. In white glue, the child prints or writes in script the name of one of the party guests. Hold the card over newspaper, and sprinkle on glitter. Shake the excess over the newspaper so it can be reused for the next nameplate.
Glue individual rhinestones or tiny pebbles (or small chips of tumbled gemstones) to a 4” x 6” piece of poster board folded in half the long way. (The poster board is sturdier than the index card and can better support the extra weight. Depending on the number of nameplates being created, the child can decorate the first letter of each name, the entire name, or the border around a written or glittered name.
Birthday Place Cards
Whatever the birthday theme (and whatever the age of the birthday celebrant), place cards can reflect the theme of the party. Fold a 3” x 5” blank index card in half the long way, carefully write the guest’s name in marker, and then decorate with glued-on confetti, pompoms, stickers, feathers, etc.
Bend a chenille stem in half and glue two stickers, back-to-back around the top of each prong of the stem. Use a hot glue gun to attach the chenille stem to the place card for a festive flair.
Making place cards is a great craft activity that lets children feel useful and helpful during a large family celebration. The place cards can also become personalized pieces of art for guests to take home as party favors. Place cards can be as simple as writing a name on an index card and then decorating it with whatever art and craft supplies available at home.
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