Christmas Coloring Tablecloth for Kids: Which Design Fits Which December Get-Together

December is full of kid gatherings: the class party, the cousin sleepover, the church potluck, the long wait for Christmas dinner. A Christmas coloring tablecloth is one of the easiest ways to give every one of those groups something to do, but the right sheet for a room of second graders isn't the right sheet for a toddler and two teenagers. This guide matches the design to the crowd, so you buy once and use it well.

Paper sheet or plastic tablecloth?

Search for a Christmas coloring tablecloth and you'll see two kinds: thin plastic or vinyl covers sold in party aisles, and large paper coloring sheets. They do slightly different jobs.

• Coloring. Crayons and markers glide on paper and skip on plastic. If the point is coloring, paper wins.
• Keeping it. A finished paper sheet can be rolled up, hung on a wall or saved for next year. A plastic cover usually ends up in the trash with the paper plates.
• Size. Our table size coloring sheets are 30"x50", which covers most of a kitchen table or a pair of pushed-together classroom desks, with room for four to six kids around the edges.

If you want spill protection under the plates and a coloring surface at the kids' end, lay the coloring sheet over the part of the table where the kids sit and tape the corners down with painter's tape.

For a classroom or school Christmas party

Teachers usually need two things: a design every student can find a spot on, and a way to give each kid something to take home. The (4UP) Christmas Table Size Coloring Sheet handles both. It's one 30"x50" page with four mini sheets printed on it. Color it whole as a group project, or cut along the dashed lines for four 15"x25" pages that go home in backpacks.

For a station that keeps a group busy for a full rotation, an I Spy sheet adds a game on top of the coloring. The I Spy Christmas Ornaments Table Size Coloring Sheet works well: call out an ornament, and the first kid to find it gets to pick the next one.

For little kids at a family gathering (about ages 2 to 6)

Small kids do best with large, simple shapes they can fill in quickly. The Elves Table Size Coloring Sheet has big presents, candy canes and cheerful elves spread across the page, so even a three-year-old can finish something and show it off. The Gingerbread Table Size Coloring Sheet is another good pick for this age.

Give little ones the edge closest to them and let older cousins work toward the middle. Chunky crayons are easier for small hands than thin markers.

For a mixed-age cousins' table

When the table runs from preschool to middle school, pick a design with both big open areas and small detailed sections. The Merry Christmas Table Size Coloring Sheet has big "Merry Christmas" lettering across the middle for younger kids, surrounded by patterned stockings full of small details for the older ones. If you have a day or two of gatherings to fill, the Christmas Bundle comes with three 30"x50" sheets (Gingerbread, Santa and Elves), so there's a fresh one for each get-together.

For a holiday party with a theme

An ugly sweater party for grown-ups often has kids tagging along. The Ugly Sweater Table Size Coloring Sheet lets them design their own loud sweaters while the adults compare theirs. For kids who'd rather have something a little goofy than sweet, the Christmas Monsters Table Size Coloring Sheet is a hit with the "I'm too old for elves" crowd.

For church and Sunday school

For a Christmas program, Sunday school class or a family that wants the season's meaning at the center, the Nativity Table Size Coloring Sheet gives a group a calm, shared project before or after a service.

Setting it up so it lasts the whole party

1. Tape all four corners. Painter's tape holds the sheet flat and peels off the table cleanly.
2. Use the right tools. Crayons, colored pencils and water-based markers all work. Skip permanent markers, which can bleed through.
3. Put supplies in the middle. One shared cup of crayons per side keeps kids from reaching across each other.
4. Start before food comes out. The coloring sheet does its best work in the restless half hour before a meal.
5. Sign and date it. Have every kid sign their section at the end. It turns a party activity into a keepsake.

Order in time for Christmas

To have your sheets arrive before Christmas, place your order by Saturday, Dec 12. If you're planning for a school party in early December, ordering in November gives you the most breathing room.

Frequently asked questions

How big is a table size coloring sheet?

Each table size coloring sheet is 30"x50". The 4UP version is the same overall size with four 15"x25" mini sheets you can cut apart.

How many kids can color at once?

Four to six kids fit comfortably around one sheet. For a bigger group, lay two sheets end to end or use the 4UP sheet and cut it apart.

Can it go on the floor instead of a table?

Yes. Lots of families roll it out on a hard floor, like in the photo above. Tape the corners so it doesn't slide.

How does it ship?

Sheets ship rolled, so they arrive without creases and are easy to wrap as a gift.

Whichever design you choose, it's a simple way to give a December crowd of kids something to do together, and every sheet is made in the USA.