Dinner Time Table Games for Children

Dinnertime is the perfect time to connect family members with one another while playing games. Play games before, during or after dinner. Creating games children will enjoy can keep them actively involved and playing along. With only a few supplies, you and your children can enjoy a meal while playing games at the dinner table.

Easy Games

Take turns having each person go around the table sharing her best part of the day. Turn this activity into a game by having each person tell a true or false story. Other diners must guess if the story is true or false. Alternatively, have each person share two true and one false thing she did today. Everyone else must try to guess which one is false.

Guessing Games

Play a guessing game by writing types of animals on index cards. Place the index cards in the middle of the table, face down. The first player must draw a card and place it on his forehead, making sure not to see it. He will ask the other players 10 yes or no questions about his animal. If he guesses correctly in 10 questions, he earns a point. The first player to earn five points wins the game. Other ideas instead of animals include celebrities, fruit and random household items.

Paper Games

All you need is several sheets of paper and some writing utensils to play a few paper games. Give each child a sheet of paper and have her write "dinner table" on the top of the page. Set a timer for two minutes and have the children write down as many words as they can using only the letters from the words "dinner table." Make the game harder by using only one word. Another idea is to have a word scramble using the names of food items. Scramble food-related items on a sheet of paper and give everyone a copy. The first player to unscramble all the food items wins the game.

Tabletop Games

Other games include tabletop hockey and soccer. Play hockey using pennies. Each player places two pennies four inches apart in front of him near the edge of the table. Players must slide another penny across the table like a hockey puck. The object is to slide the penny through a "penny goal" in front of another player. The player who scores three points first wins the game. Play with the same penny goals for a game of soccer. Players will use straws to try to blow a cotton ball through a goal. The first player to score five points wins the game.