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Don't banish fidgety kids to the corner! Try these smart tactics—from magic tricks to waiter service—to keep them engaged.
Provide a distraction. Have a few quiet activities ready in case the kids get antsy. Stow project bags with paper, crayons, and stickers under their chairs to pull out when boredom strikes.
Use bribes. Put a prize, like a pad of Mad Libs, out on the counter and tell the kids that whoever can sit politely at the table the longest wins. At the end of the meal, surprise them and give every person a prize.
Make the kids' table cool. Seat a teen with the younger children. It will make them feel included.
Ask them to put on a show. Teach the children a few magic tricks and ask them to perform at the beginning of the meal and again before dessert. It gives them incentive to sit at the table. Invite them to get creative and put on a skit, too.
Get them involved. Kids feel important when given a task. They can toss the salad, carry around the bread basket, and help clear the table. Older children can even pour the drinks.
Copyright 2010 Time Inc. REAL SIMPLE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used with permission.
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