I have made rug mugs/snack mats for my grandson (age 7). I make them reversible so he chooses what side he wants to use. (They are holiday themed.) He sometimes even takes them to school for his lunch. You could even include some kind of sippy cup for the littler ones. I make them about 8 1/2" x 11" so they are easy to mail in a manila envelope. I suggest cotton batting. It absorbs any spills better. They are machine washable/dryable so mom likes them, too.