The kids' table does not need a stack of screens to stay busy during a holiday gathering.
Use conversation cards
Simple prompts about favorite Christmas songs, foods, and traditions help cousins talk across age groups.
Add one creative project
Paper snowflakes, place-card decorating, or drawing a dream Christmas house are easy to pause when dinner arrives.
Use food decorating carefully
If the timing works, children can decorate cookies or cake pieces after the main meal.
Connect the table to Tomte Cake
Before decorating The Tomte Cake, let kids sketch how they want the two cake houses to look. The plan becomes a table activity and makes the later decorating more intentional.