History Main / DreadedKidsTable

* In one of the ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' books, Greg and Rodrick, who are about twelve and sixteen respectively, complain about having to sit at the kiddie table during Easter lunch, especially since Uncle Cecil (their Great-Aunt Marcie's adopted son) gets to sit at the adult table for some reason, even though he's a toddler.

* Inverted in the Thanksgiving 2022 ''ComicStrip/SallyForthHoward'' strip. With Sally's sister and mother already at full-out war, and Sally trying to play peacemaker and just getting it from both of them, teenaged Hil decides she's ''rather'' join her young cousin Bettina at the kids' table. She'd not even sure if there ''is'' an official kids' table, or if Bettina just wandered over to the coffee table on her own, and she doesn't care.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': "[[Recap/TheLoudHouseS1E4TheSweetSpotATaleOfTwoTables A Tale of Two Tables]]" establishes that Lincoln and his five younger sisters dine at the kids' table, while his five older sisters and parents eat at the grown-up table.[[note]]Or at least, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness they used to]], before eventually all 13 family members dine at the grown-up table.[[/note]] Lincoln himself wishes he could eat at the grown-up table, considering how immature his younger sisters act. After some training with Clyde, Lincoln finally gets his wish, but soon discovers the drawbacks like different food, no jokes or songs, and no dessert. So the next day, he deliberately misbehaves to get sent back to the kids' table.

* ''Fanfic/BlackSheepDogSeries'': Inverted by Lucretia who, at fifty-four, resents having to remain in the parlour with the rest of the elderly member of the family after Christmas dinner, while the younger members are chucked out of the formal celebrations to do whatever they please.

* This happens in ''Fancy Nancy'' in one book, ''Our Thanksgiving Banquet'' where Nancy doesn't want to sit at the kids' table because she is way more mature than the other kids at the table. When she finally persuades her parents to sit at the grown-up table, it becomes super boring and regrets her decision.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': "[[Recap/TheLoudHouseS1E4TheSweetSpotATaleOfTwoTables A Tale of Two Tables]]" establishes that Lincoln and his five younger sisters dine at the kids' table, while his five older sisters and parents eat at the grown-up table[[note]]Or at least, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness they used to]], before eventually all 13 family members dine at the grown-up table[[/note]]. Lincoln himself wishes he could eat at the grown-up table, considering how immature his younger sisters act. After some training with Clyde, Lincoln finally gets his wish, but soon discovers the drawbacks like different food, no jokes or songs, and no dessert. So the next day, he deliberately misbehaves to get sent back to the kids' table.

* Mentioned in ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender''. Lance has a large family, and graduates from the kids' table the day he [[spoiler:brings Allura home to meet his parents]]. Meanwhile, his older sister is still eating at the kids' table with her (much younger) nieces and nephews, to make room for Lance and [[spoiler: Allura]].

See AgeAppropriateAngst and BittersweetSeventeen. Frequently a sub-trope to CrappyHolidays. Often a source of {{Wangst}}. Also TruthInTelevision.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' episode, "[[Recap/TheLoudHouseS1E4TheSweetSpotATaleOfTwoTables A Tale of Two Tables]]", Lincoln wishes he could be at the grown-up table with his five older sisters, instead of the kiddie table with his five younger sisters, considering how immature his five younger sisters act. Clyde helps Lincoln train to be ready to eat at the grown-up table, and the day finally comes. Lincoln soon realizes the disadvantages of eating at the grown-up table, such as having to eat liver instead of chicken nuggets and not having dessert, and having to eat quietly instead of doing fun things, so the next day, he deliberately misbehaves at the grown-up table to get sent back to the kiddie table.

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': At Chandler and Monica's wedding Ross tries to rearrange his seat to sit next to Mona but he misreads her place card and ends up at the kid's table.

* Inverted in the Thanksgiving 2022 ''ComicStrip/SallyForthHoward'' strip. With Sally's sister and mother already at full-out war, and Sally trying to play peacemaker and just getting it from both of them, teenaged Hil decides she's ''rather'' join her young cousin Bettina at the kids' table. She's not even sure if there ''is'' an official kids' table, or if Bettina just wandered over to the coffee table on her own, and she doesn't care.