Young children? Here's how you survive the Christmas dinner!

kerstdiner met kinderen

December is all about the holidays. First, Sinterklaas arrives at the beginning of the month, and not much later, Santa Claus is knocking on the door for Christmas. It's a time for cozy gatherings with friends and family, visiting Christmas markets, and of course, indulging in elaborate dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While such a festive feast brings a lot of joy, sitting still for long isn't something small children are good at. We're happy to share some tips to change that!

A good start is half the battle

Of course, the children join in for the Christmas dinner. But what about the fun beforehand? By involving your child as much as possible in the preparations for the Christmas dinner or breakfast, they will pay better attention during the meal. From creating beautiful Christmas decorations for the table to making the menu card, there are plenty of ways to involve your child in the Christmas dinner.

A 'special guest' kids' table

Another way to make the Christmas dinner more enjoyable is to reserve a table specifically for the children. A table where all the kids can dine together and entertain each other. The adults? They sit at a separate table and can enjoy their meal in peace. The advantage of separating tables is that you can prevent a lot of mess. Or rather, the children's table can be covered with an old tablecloth so that spills are no cause for concern. Want to make the kids' table extra fun? Cover it with a paper tablecloth, grab a few markers, and let the coloring begin...

Make a game out of it

Kids love to play pretend. So during the Christmas dinner, why not pretend you're working in a real restaurant! Let the kids serve the food or read out the menu and take orders from the diners. This is fun for the kids because they have something to do, and the diners will also enjoy the game. Just make sure that serving the food remains safe!

Make the food kid-friendly

What could be more fun than choosing and preparing your own food? Children especially enjoy preparing their own meals. So, having a family-style gourmet dinner at Christmas is a fun and kid-friendly option. But desserts are also a good example: make a delicious ice cream sundae that you can decorate with colorful sprinkles, or let your child decorate a cupcake themselves. This way, you combine fun and delicious food.

Time management

Christmas dinners are generally known for being extensive and long. Often, this also means dining until late at night. To ensure that your child can endure this a bit better, you can take a nap in the afternoon. Are there more young guests at the Christmas dinner? Then it's advisable to start on time.

For when the children are finished eating

Children who have finished eating while the parents are still busy. Sound familiar? Then make sure you have a plan of action for the children after dinner. Coloring pages, games, or a fun Christmas movie, all activities that will keep the children entertained even after eating.

As you can see, there are plenty of things you can do to make the Christmas dinner a success. Do you have a golden tip or a good idea that can help other parents? Leave a message below!