It’s 5 o’clock. You just got home from work or school or the grocery store – or playing with the kids all day – and those little monsters are HUNGRY! They’re also cranky and not in the mood to sit quietly (are they ever?) and watch you make dinner. We call this the “witching hour:” the hour when kids everywhere collectively agree to spiral into complete and utter meltdown mode.

So what’s a busy mom to do? How do you get food on the table while keeping the little ones happy and entertained? We asked super-moms everywhere to weigh in – and this is what they had to say:

1. “Babywearing! I’ve made many meals with my little one strapped to me.” – Rebecca S.
2. “I pull out pots, pans, spoons and paper plates and put them on kitchen floor filled with dry pasta. It’s a bit of a mess but keeps them entertained and they love to pretend to make and serve dinner!” – Kim W.
3. “Build a simple fort and give them flashlights to play with.” – Mandy Q.
4. “Magnet letters to play with on the fridge or the Crayola Doodle Magic Mat – the markers only work on the “magic” mat…no mess on the floors, walls, or table!” –Christy A.
5. “Make dinners in advance and freeze them. This saves me as 5:30 rolls around!” – Sarah C.

Kids still going crazy? Let them help you cook! Rustic Crust is perfect for even the littlest chefs. Just give them a crust, some sauce and a couple of toppings and let them put together their own perfect pizza.

Or, if you’re not in the mood for helpers – set them to work on this pizza placemat activity. You can download it from the Sidebar and print it right from your home computer. No limit on the number of prints – so feel free to use it every night of the week!

Do you have your own fun tips for keeping kids entertained at dinnertime? Share them with us (and other moms) on Facebook!