Are you feeling particularly grateful this time of year? That might depend on who you’re surrounded by.

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, reflection, and togetherness. Unfortunately, for many people who are away from family and friends approaching the holidays, it can be a tough time. Getting everyone together is more challenging in an increasingly spread-out world.

Luckily, there are numerous creative and practical ways to bridge the distance and ensure that your loved ones feel close, regardless of the miles that keep you apart. This guide offers innovative ideas for Thanksgiving games, thoughtful gestures, and Thanksgiving virtual activities to help keep traditions alive, strengthen bonds, and make the most of this holiday season.

Key Takeaways:

• Many people who aren’t with their families or friends will get the blues this holiday season. As families become more geographically diverse, there’s a higher chance of being alone on important days.
• Luckily, by planning Thanksgiving virtual activities or fun Thanksgiving games that anyone can play, you can foster a sense of togetherness. The article is packed with great ideas for bringing everyone together in spirit.
• Technology is a vital tool in helping to stay connected. Use various apps for shared documents, movies, or virtual gatherings; Shift can help you to organize custom workspaces that make the holidays simple and streamlined. Look for specific app recommendations in the article.

Thanksgiving Virtual Activities

There’s no substitute for sitting across from your obnoxious uncle and arguing politics. In all seriousness, though, part of what makes the holidays special is physically being together. These Thanksgiving virtual activities give you new ways to gather with those you care about.

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Host a Virtual Thanksgiving Dinner

One of the most fulfilling ways to celebrate Thanksgiving is to gather virtually for a meal. Set up a video call where everyone can join in from their respective homes. Coordinate meal times and encourage each participant to share a favorite dish or family recipe—perhaps even while engaging in fun Thanksgiving day online games to keep the spirit lighthearted. This shared experience not only allows for meaningful conversations but also creates a sense of unity as everyone enjoys a meal together.

Plan Thanksgiving Games Virtually

Engaging in games is a great way to bring your family together, even from a distance. Organize a session of Thanksgiving Bingo, charades, or trivia over platforms like Zoom or Houseparty. These activities can spark laughter and foster a light-hearted atmosphere, making everyone feel included and entertained. If you’re not up for a whole meal, a couple Thanksgiving games will help you to connect using the time that you do have.

Thanksgiving Day Parade of Memories

Create a digital scrapbook by inviting each family member to share their favorite Thanksgiving memory, photo, or video during a video call. This "Thanksgiving Day Parade of Memories" not only helps reminisce about past gatherings but also allows everyone to feel connected through shared experiences.

Virtual Gratitude Jar

You’ve probably heard of this idea, where you write down things that you’re grateful for. Many people do this around the Thanksgiving holiday, as a reminder of everything good in their lives. You can apply this concept to your virtual gathering by creating a shared space (like a shared Google Doc) that everyone can contribute to. Give everyone a few days to write down a few things they feel particularly grateful for, and then organize a virtual gathering where they’ll be read.

Thoughtful Gestures to Show You Care

It sounds a little cliche, but it’s absolutely true: you don’t have to be physically next to someone to have them in your heart. There are so many different ways to show you care beyond Thanksgiving games or even Thanksgiving virtual activities. These ideas are sure to put a smile on your loved one’s face - and yours too!

Pro tip: These ideas aren’t just for Thanksgiving. Christmas is right around the corner and these gestures are thoughtful for anytime you want someone to know you’re thinking of them.

Send a Thanksgiving Care Package

Show your loved ones you care by sending thoughtful care packages filled with notes, recipes, snacks, and decorations. Personalize each package with items that remind them of home. Be sure to send them early to ensure on-time delivery, which will add a delightful surprise to their holiday. Need some inspiration? These items are usually a hit:

• Treats, especially their favorites or homemade recipes
• Hot cocoa (and spring for marshmallows)
• Scented candles that match the season
• A heartfelt note (or even a set of notes where they can read one each day)
• Some cooking essentials like a spice that is common in your cooking
• Fall or holiday decor like mini pumpkins or Christmas items
• Self-care items like cozy socks, face masks, and herbal tea
• Puzzles or games
• Popcorn, nuts, candy, or chocolate
• Personalized photos or a photo album

Surprise with a Video Montage

Collect short video clips from family members sharing what they’re thankful for, and compile them into a heartwarming montage using tools like Tribute or VidDay. This thoughtful gesture can be a touching reminder of the love and gratitude that binds your family together, no matter the distance.

Host a Gratitude Chain

This "Gratitude Chain" not only encourages reflection but also fosters a sense of community and support during the holiday season. This is similar to the gratitude jar activity, but has more of an arts and crafts angle. Start by ensuring everyone has several strips of paper (the kind used to make chains as kids). You can send these supplies out in a package ahead of time if you want.

Then, while on your call or virtual platform, have each person share a couple things they’re grateful for. Everyone writes the items on their slips of paper. Then, glue all the papers into place to make a chain. Hang the chain somewhere that you’ll see it for a guaranteed smile over the holidays. For example, consider draping it around your Christmas tree or over your mantel.

Creative Thanksgiving Activities to Bridge the Distance

We’ve all been on those Zoom calls where it’s clear no one is engaged and people are doing other things. That’s the last thing you want to happen with your Thanksgiving virtual activities. Here are some fun ways to make sure your family feels connected when you can’t sit around the same table.

Virtual Cooking Class

Turn your Thanksgiving meal preparation into a family event by hosting a virtual cooking class. One family member can teach a recipe while others follow along via video. Share ingredient lists in advance to ensure everyone is prepared and ready to cook together. As an extra thoughtful touch, you can print nice recipe cards and even put them in a book, then send them to everyone prior to the class. If your family is almost never together on Thanksgiving, take turns “hosting”, with everyone getting a chance to share one of their favorite recipes. As years go by, the recipe book will fill with tried-and-true recipes from loved ones.

Long-Distance Movie Night

Many families have screen time as part of their Thanksgiving holiday. Whether gathering around a football game or snuggling in for their favorite Christmas film, getting too full on food and then relaxing seems standard. Enjoy a Thanksgiving movie together by syncing up a film using Teleparty, allowing everyone to chat during the viewing. This shared experience can evoke laughter and nostalgia, making it feel as if everyone is in the same room.

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Thanksgiving Show and Tell

Invite each family member to bring an item that holds special meaning to share over a video call. This "Thanksgiving Show and Tell" can lead to heartfelt stories and connections, enriching the holiday experience. Make sure you allow enough time in your gathering for everyone to show their item and explain, and for all of the story-telling that is likely to ensue.

Thanksgiving Trivia

This is a bit of a different take on the chain of memories. For some personalized fun, come up with several questions about your family or prior holidays. Hop on a virtual platform together and see who can answer the most correct questions. Have fun coming up with original questions that pertain to your unique family. If you’re not sure where to start, try a few of these:

• What would Mom say is her favorite vacation spot?
• Which family member has the most exciting job (and what is it)?
• What is the family recipe that everyone loves?
• What was the name of our first pet?
• In what year did Mom and Dad move into their current house?
• Which family member has the most unusual hobby (and what is it)?
• Which family member is most likely to scuba dive/ride a Harley/climb Mt. Everest?

Virtual Pumpkin Carving

Halloween might be over, but there’s still Fall fun to be had! Have everyone buy a pumpkin or two (and they’re probably discounted by now) and get to work on a carved creation. Then, during your virtual get-together, have everyone show off their work. You can hand out prizes for an extra bonus; things like most creative or most kid-friendly are fun to spot.

Leveraging Technology for Seamless Connection

Staying connected is easier than ever with today’s tech tools. Rather than relying on email or social media for keeping in touch, you can use a variety of apps to connect face-to-face. You can also use technology to plan your event - whether in-person or virtual - and come up with fun activities for everyone to enjoy. Your Thanksgiving holiday can include Thanksgiving day online games, Thanksgiving care packages, and other meaningful activities to ensure your loved ones feel cherished—no matter the distance.

No matter what tends to make your life a bit more hectic during the holidays, there’s a good chance that technology can help to streamline your efforts and put more of the joy back into planning.

Use Apps to Stay Organized

Apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger can keep conversations flowing, allowing family members to share updates and stay connected leading up to the holiday. Encourage everyone to share photos, videos, and messages throughout the day. Many of these apps use encrypted messaging so that you have an added layer of security for whatever you might send. You can set up group chats that have the people you want on them - for example, maybe there’s an “immediate family” group with your parents and sister, and a “young cousins” group for the cousins you grew up with (without the older folks).

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Coordinate with Shared Calendars

Holidays inevitably lead to stress for a lot of people; there’s just a lot going on and a lot of logistics. Make planning easier by using shared calendars such as Google Calendar or Cozi. This can help coordinate virtual get-togethers and clarify responsibilities for cooking and preparation, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Use a Better Browser

To simplify your Thanksgiving plans, consider using Shift, a browser tool that brings all your communication apps, video links, shared documents, and calendars into one easy-to-access workspace. Creating a "family" workspace can streamline your planning and help ensure that everyone stays connected and engaged during this special holiday season.

It’s the simplest way to shift from work-related tasks into holiday planning mode, with all of your most current information right at your fingertips - from shared Google Docs to rsvp spreadsheets to recipe research. With a little creativity and technology right on your device, you can make this Thanksgiving memorable, even from afar.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what truly matters: connections with family and friends. By embracing virtual dinners, thoughtful gestures, and fun Thanksgiving games, you can create meaningful experiences that transcend any distance.

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