The kids’ table at Christmas is where some of the best memories happen: paper crowns, sticky fingers, cousins giggling, and someone sneaking a cookie before dinner. This hanging tag is made for those little guests. A candy-cane stripe band runs across the top, a smiling gingerbread man with icing buttons fills the middle, and each child’s name is set big and bold underneath. Punch the hole and tie it to a napkin, a cup, a stocking, or a little bag of treats.
Candy Stripes and a Gingerbread Friend
The tag measures 2 x 3.5 inches in portrait orientation, with a warm cream background. At the top, a circle with a red ring marks the hole. Below it, a band of diagonal red and white stripes, like a candy cane, runs across the tag. The centre is filled by a full-colour gingerbread man with a big smile, white icing trim, and buttons. Underneath, the name Sam is set in large brown Lobster Two, Kids Table follows in green capitals, and a little holly sprig with red berries sits above the logo at the bottom.
Where to Hang the Tag
- Christmas stockings: hang the tag from the stocking loop, and the stocking marks each child’s chair.
- Treat bags: tie it to a bag of chocolate coins or cookies at each place.
- Mugs: loop the ribbon around the handle of a hot cocoa mug.
- Napkins: tie it around a rolled napkin with red baker’s twine.
- Chairs: hang it from the back of the chair, so children find their seat from across the room.
Big Names for Little Readers
Young children read their own names long before they read anything else, so the name on this tag is the largest element after the gingerbread man. Use first names only, and nicknames if that is what children answer to. For two children with the same name, add an initial. Click the name to type it; short names can be bigger, so increase the size for three- or four-letter names.
Personalising the Tag Quickly
Type the first child’s name, edit the Kids Table line if needed, and download the tag. Repeat for each child. Because children’s names are often short, this takes only a few minutes for a whole family. If adults also get tags, change Kids Table to Grown-ups on theirs for a laugh.
Fun Lines for the Second Line
| Line | Use |
|---|---|
| Kids Table | Children’s table at Christmas dinner (as designed) |
| Santa’s Helper | The child helping set the table |
| Nice List | A cheeky joke for every child |
| Cookie Taster | For a baking afternoon |
| Elf in Training | For toddlers |
The Gingerbread Man and Stripes
The gingerbread man is a full-colour editable vector illustration; you can resize it or adjust its colours. The candy stripe band is a group of red diagonal stripes on white: change the red to green for a mint candy look, or to blue for a winter theme. The holly sprig at the bottom is also an editable illustration that you can move or remove.
Printing and Punching
Download each tag as a PDF or PNG. To print several on one sheet, use your printer’s multiple pages per sheet option with scaling at 100%, or arrange PNGs at 2 x 3.5 inches in a document. Use a sturdy cardstock of about 100 lb cover. Trim each tag, then punch the hole in the centre of the red ring with a standard hole punch. A hole reinforcement sticker helps tags survive enthusiastic little hands.
Ribbon Ideas
Red and white baker’s twine matches the candy stripe perfectly. Green satin ribbon, red velvet ribbon and natural jute twine also work. Avoid long loose ribbons around very young children; tie them short and secure.
Kids’ Table Activities
Keep children happy until dessert with simple activities: a paper tablecloth to draw on, Christmas colouring sheets and crayons, a small pile of stickers at each place, or a gingerbread man to decorate with icing pens. The tags can be coloured too if you print an extra set with a pale gingerbread man.
Gingerbread Cookie Pairing
Bake gingerbread men with each child’s name piped in icing and place one beside each tag. Children love finding a cookie with their name on it, and it ties the tag and the treat together. If any children have allergies, offer a safe alternative cookie with the same name.
Beyond the Kids’ Table
The tag also works as a Christmas gift tag, a cookie exchange label, a classroom party favour tag, a stocking name tag or a label for jars of homemade treats. Change the second line to To:, From:, or the recipe name.
Organising a Family Christmas With Many Children
Big family Christmases can have a dozen or more children of all ages. Give toddlers seats near their parents, put school-age cousins together at the kids’ table, and give teenagers the choice of joining the adults. Tags tied to chairs or stockings help children find their places quickly in a busy room. A kids’ table host, often a fun aunt or uncle, keeps the table cheerful and helps with cutting food.
Safety With Ribbons and Small Parts
For children under three, avoid small detachable items such as bells or beads on the tags, and keep ribbons short. Place tags out of reach of babies, for example on the back of a high chair rather than on the tray. Older children can safely handle tags tied to treat bags or mugs.
Gingerbread Tag Questions
What size is the tag?
2 x 3.5 inches, portrait.
Can I use it without a hole?
Yes, simply lay it on the plate as a flat place card.
Can I change the gingerbread man to a snowman?
Yes. Delete the gingerbread man and add a snowman from the editor’s library.
Will the stripes line up after trimming?
The stripe band runs edge to edge, so trimming slightly inside the outline keeps the stripes reaching both sides.
Can grown-ups have their own version?
Yes. Make the name smaller and add a surname, and swap the gingerbread man for a more grown-up ornament.
