I use games that have lots of pieces such as sorting or matching games I have made - even a pile of children's patterned socks or pieces of fabric with lots of textures to sort and find pairs. This is when you do things that you don't want all over the place, are working on a specific skill, and it is a time when the little ones get to use items not safe to be left out all the time.

I got trays from the dollar store and they put their activity on a tray. I put little ones in their high chairs and the older ones use the table. I can seat up to 6 at my table and put an activity at each place. The rule is you may move to any open space but you must finish with what you are doing first by putting the pieces back ready for the next person to have a turn.