Table Setting Team

What you need

• Plate or tray, one per person
• Clear cups, one per person
• Napkins, one per person
• Fork, one per person
• Small decoration, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Pull out one plate, cup, napkin and fork per person and put them on a low counter your child can reach. If any dishes are glass or breakable, carry those to the table yourself and let your child arrange them once they're down, or swap in unbreakable ones. Keep hot food and hot dishes away until the table is set. Have your child pick one small, safe decoration, like a pinecone, a toy or a folded paper flower.

1. Count how many people are eating dinner tonight. Use your fingers to help!
2. Put one plate at each seat. Grown-ups carry breakable ones first. Ask for help if you need it
   Ask: Does every chair have exactly one plate? Any left over or missing?
3. Set a cup at the top right of each plate. Ask for help if you need it
4. Lay a napkin on the left side of each plate.
5. Place a fork on top of each napkin, pointy end away from the chair.
6. Add your one special decoration to the middle of the table.
   Ask: Why did you pick that decoration? What will everyone say when they see it?
7. Walk around the table and check every spot: plate, cup, napkin, fork!
8. Now call everyone to dinner! What table magic will you add tomorrow night?
   Ask: Who gets to be Table Captain next time?

Play it again

• Fancy dinner: add a name card at each spot and fold the napkins into a shape.
• Mystery spot: close your eyes while a grown-up hides one item, then find what is missing.
• Speed captain: set one whole place as fast as you can, then check it is just right.