Christmas lunch with lots of little ones

sethsgran

This year we will be having all of our children and grandchildren, 8 under 7's + 1 newborn! In total there will be 18 of us to eat. I have thought about buying a small gift to open at the table, for the children. I want something that will hold their attention to keep them quiet, I know my grandchildren well, during the courses etc. I have thought of the magnetic funny faces where you can put facial hair on the mans face but does anyone have any other suggestions. I need an idea for our 2 granddaughters, both aged 4. Also what can I get our 2 1yr old grandsons.

carlamarie_2

do the granddaughters parents allow them to wear play makeup? my dd is 4 and i had my reservations (why do they have to grow up!) but after much nagging from her i bought her some and she loves it, it def keeps her entertained.
although be prepared that you'll all be likely to be made up like clowns by the end of the day!

she also likes them paper doll things

the 1 year old is harder my ds2 is 1 and he loves cars/moterbikes/trucks anything with wheels, but ds1 was never interested in them things he always was (even now) into figures.
is it possible that someone could do puppets in between courses?
or how about some books? touchy feely or sound ones may be best.

sethsgran

Great ideas thank you. We only do 3 courses but with our family there is lots of banter going on. This is the first year we will have had them all together, I am so excited, since ours got married and babies came along

amy888

my daughter is 3 years and she loves playdoh it keeps her happy for a while and you can get small pots in the pound shops

Alleycat

Do you have space in your dining room/kitchen for a play splace on the floor? With the younger ones it might be easier for everyone if they can get up and down from the table between courses to play. I say this as I can imagine a very full table with glasses, cutlery, plates and other bits and bobs and lots of littlies trying to colour in or do an activity in limited space and parents having to constantly watch to make sure nothing gets spilled or broken. Am thinking for things like duplo or puzzles where theres space for one or two adults to get down with them to help if necessary.

I've got a nearly 8 year old and a 2.5 year old to keep my eyes on and it can be a nightmare when at friends or relatives keeping them both in check. Mainly these days the younger one, but certainly the older one at least until she was 6.

You may not need the area but it could be useful to have one if it's possible.

Kyliexjx

Perhaps you could have them lay pass the parcel around the table and have enough small toys (pound shop stuff) for each child. Not sure if that may get a little rowdy for round the table and it will require an adult to do the music but it'll certainly keep them busy! Failing that you could always print some pictures online for them to colour?

I think young lads are so hard to buy for! How about some of the character lounge pants ( they have sponge of and sonic ones in primark). My nan got my boyfriend these and a c.d for Xmas and he loved them ( he was 23) x

Spendless

Primark had some activity packs next to the tills today. Though I didn't look to see what was in them, they reminded me of the packs restaurants give out to children to entertain them whilst the meal arrives.

Will the 1 year olds be in high chairs? If so, then possibly they'll be the easiest to entertain as they'll be strapped in. I'm sure I used to have toys with suction pads that stuck to the tray of the highchair for mine to play with.

I also wondered about whether you want them to get down from the table inbetween courses? Personally, I stopped doing starters a couple of years ago, partly cos the kids either wanted to get down from table and start playing again with their toys and I'd have to shout them back again for their meal, partly cos I found the smaller apetite guests then couldn't eat their main meal and partly cos starters I adore (eg mushrooms) others couldn't abide. I now do the main meal that everyone can leave the table from after finished and a while later after their meal has'gone down' and some dishes are washed up, I ask if anyone requires dessert.

qwiksave

I personally would recommend this great dice game for all the under 7s (but over 3's) called Kuh & Co (on Amazon it's about £8, incl postage).

The copy we had didn't have instructions in english (its german) but they are so simple, you don't need them. It consists of one set of playing cards & five dice that have humorous pictures of cartoon farm animals on them. You turn over one card from the pack and on each card it has a drawing of a quantity of animals on it. Say for example, 1 cat & 2 dogs or 3 sheep & 1 cow, etc. Each person on their turn tries to match their dice throws with what is on the turned over card. When the dice matches, it is put on its matching picture on the card. They get 3 goes each and then it goes on to the next player to try. The person that matches all the animals with their dice throws gets to keep the card and the first one to get 3 cards wins!

It's a bit tricky to explain rules like this here so I'll try to describe an example 'pretend game'.

Right, player 1 turns over a card and on it it has 2 chickens, a sheep and a cat. She throws all 5 dice and gets 1 sheep, 3 cows and a dog. She puts the dice with the sheep on it onto the picture of the sheep on the card and has her second throw. On her 2nd throw she throws only 4 dice. This time she throws 1 cat, 1 chicken and 2 dogs. She puts the dice with the cat and one of the chickens in the matching place on the card and has just 2 dice left for her final throw. She is hoping to get the last chicken with her 2 dice but gets a cow and a cat. Play then moves on to player 2.

Player 2 only gets 2 dice but has 3 dice throws to try and get the missing chicken. He succeeds on his third throw (say) and puts the matching dice on the card. He has all animals matched now so wins the card. As he has had all his turns, the next player, player 3 gets to turn over a new card and then takes all 5 dice to try and match the animals with his 3 turns.....

Is this as clear as mud? :rotfl:Anyway, I have played this game with people of all ages, adults included, and frequently put it in my bag for cafe and restaurant entertainment. We always enjoy it and it really is simple, honest! Children don't even need to be able to count, they just match up the animal pictures. Just make sure the dice doesn't end up in the gravy!

sethsgran

Wow you have all had your thinking caps on. Thanks so much. I am armed with ideas now so hopefully will get the bargains I want

teacherandmum

personally i'd let them get down from the table between courses and play on the floor away from the table (if room and safe) or in an adjoining room.
Kids are never going to be quiet i'm afraid.
you coulkd try to find something that the adults can interact with the children at the table, headbanz game etc
If you use a plain paper tablecloth the children and adults could decorate their places with crayons. Names, pic of themselves etc.

sethsgran

Ooh like the table cloth idea. We have done that before at a birthday party but hadn't thought of it for christmas dinner. We don't mind if they do need to get down so may have to go with that. Normal meal time rules will need to be relaxed. Fortunately we are all so excited for christmas and my children enjoy time with each other and are all hands on with children. We are truly blessed even though this has been a year where sadness has hit us hard when one of our SILs died. We are determined as a whole family that this will be a special christmas in many ways. Chinese lanterns to remember daddy etc.