How to Make a Thanksgiving Card Collage Place Mat

Even though they can't do much in preparing the meal, children can become a part of the Thanksgiving preparation by creating personalized place mats. These place mats designate seating arrangements for your dinner guests. These delightful crafts are functional. Better yet, they make a special gift for the guest to take home as a memento of the event. Assist your child in creating a place mat for each and every anticipated guest.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Colored Markers
• Crayons
• Old Magazines/Newspapers
• Glue Stick
• Large sheet of paper
• Clear Contact Paper or Laminate
• Stencils

1. Provide your child with a wide assortment of colored markers, crayons and pencils for drawing and coloring on the place mat. Assign each child the name of a guest. Explain that this is a special place mat about that person. Help her pick things about each person that she is thankful for. Make the list as personal as possible. Avoid qualities that are difficult to demonstrate in a collage.

2. At the top of the place mat, stencil the words "I am thankful for (insert the appropriate name)." Leave the letters blank so your child can color them in with whatever colors he chooses. Provide smaller stencils or allow your child to write in his own handwriting to complete the phrase. Encourage older children to include several things in the collage.

3. Let children decorate the place mat with a variety of images from magazines or images you've printed out from the Internet or computer programs. Allow the child to decide whether to use Thanksgiving themed images or images that represent the guest.

4. Assist young children by spelling needed words or in choosing appropriate images. Prepare index card with correctly spelled names. Challenge older children to cut entire words from magazines or newspapers and paste them in place to write the message.

5. Monitor your child's progress and encourage creative use of color to create a bright place mat.

6. Cover the place mat with clear contact paper or have it laminated to prevent damage from water or accidental food spills. Set the dining table with place mats to designate the seating arrangement.

7. Wipe the place mat clean with a damp cloth after the meal. Present it to the guest as a memento of the celebration.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to include the year and the child's name on the back of the place mat.
• Avoid dictating how the place mat should look. Although offering suggestions is fine, the place mat should be an expression of your child's creativity.