Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

It’s that time of the year where students everywhere suffer through midterms and the only light at the end of that tunnel is the thought of Thanksgiving.  This is the time when families gather together around an over-sized bird, side dishes, and delicious pies.  One of the few times everyone forgets about ‘getting that summer bod’ and simply enjoys food to the fullest and spending quality time with their families.

But this year a dark cloud has overshadowed a lot of the usual joy.  It seems that one of the most important parts of Thanksgiving—being together—is threatened by a disease spread directly between people.  What is a hopeful American to do?

Don’t panic!  There are plenty of ways to keep that Thanksgiving spirit alive, and here are five.

Image created by Catherine Cordasco, Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives–help stop the spread of COVID-19. On Unsplash

1. Choose Your Video Call Platform and Host

For Thanksgiving only, Zoom will remove its 40-minute time limit on calls so you can video call your family for as long as you want.  They offer a Whiteboard feature so you can play Pictionary during the call. 

Microsoft Teams is also allowing people to have free video-calling all day for up to 300 friends and family1.  You don’t need the app or an account; you can do it all on a browser.  There’s even a feature called ‘Together Mode’ in which you can all be in the same virtual environment—great for taking photos together.

Have one person in the family who is the designated host for the call (preferably the person with the strongest internet connection).  They can easily share their screen, or appoint others in the call to share their screens.  They can also let people into the meeting once it’s started.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

2. Set a Time Limit

Although we all love spending time with our families, it’s a good idea to put a time on how long you want to be on the video call.  Decide if you even want to be on the call while everyone is eating, or if you only want to be on video before or after the actual meal.  You don’t have to stay on the call the whole day, but discuss it with your family.

Photo by Afif Kusuma on Unsplash

3. Activities and Games

For Kids: Take a Virtual Field Trip Together2. You can take a virtual tour of the First Thanksgiving on Scholastic’s website. Children (and adults) can learn about the Mayflower and what daily life was like for the early settlers and indigenous people.

Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live on NBC3. It will be shown from 9-12 EST on Nov. 26.  Although there won’t be any spectators this year, the parade is still happening with Covid-friendly adjustments.

Online Games Abound: Jackbox Games allows up to 8 players into a ‘room’, but you can log in from any device.  Party packs range from $12.50-24.00, but there are also plenty of free online games you can play with your family.  Houseparty is a free app that allows up to 8 people in a ‘room’ and has built-in games available.  The highly popular Among Us game is also free and allows up to 10 players to be together.  It is an online multiplayer game that involves teamwork and some detective skills.

With some creativity you can easily re-create classic party games virtually.  Some platforms, like Zoom have a whiteboard function you can use for a game of Pictionary.  You can also play charades by dividing up into teams and writing the clue in the chat.  The player who has to act out the charade can then hide the chat and act it out until their team guesses it.  Or instead of games, you can do crafts together like make little paper pumpkins, or draw a cornucopia, or decorate cookies.

Photo by Alyssa Stromann on Unsplash

4. Dress Up and Spruce Up

If your family enjoys dressing up, or even if they don’t, consider getting fancy for dinner.  Most of us don’t go out anyway, so it might be a nice change of pace to pull out a nice dress or pants that don’t stretch.  Do your hair differently—maybe surprise your family by shaving your beard or dyeing your hair.  Changing your appearance can help make the day even more special.

Decorate your table with interesting center pieces, or co-ordinate with your family so you all have the same (or similar) table set-ups.  Another idea is to make it into a competition and see who can have the most ‘Thanksgiving’ set-up.

Photo by Kiy Turk on Unsplash

5. What is Thanksgiving for?

Don’t forget to say what you’re thankful for!  Stagger the time so family members can speak without overwhelming the bigger group.  We all have a ‘chatty Cathy’ in our family, so make sure to be clear about the speaking guidelines before going around the call.  Remember that one of the main advantages of video calls is that you have a ‘Mute’ button…

From all of us at JSU: Enjoy your Virtual Thanksgiving! 

Sources and…

  1. Warren, Tom. “Microsoft Teams Takes on Zoom with Free All-Day Video Calling on the Web.” The Verge, The Verge, 20 Nov. 2020, www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21579076/microsoft-teams-free-video-calling-web-zoom-competition
  2. “The First Thanksgiving.” Scholastic: Teacher’s Activity Guide, Scholastic, www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/webcast.htm
  3. Biese, Alex. “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Will Be Different Thanks to COVID-19.” GoErie.com, Erie Times-News, 19 Nov. 2020, www.goerie.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/11/19/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-different-2020-due-covid/3775317001/ 

…And More Fun!

  1. CDC guidelines to have a safe Thanksgiving (even if it isn’t virtual): https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/16/health/thanksgiving-cdc-covid-guidelines-wellness/index.html
  2. Advice specifically for helping include children from Connecticut Children’s Blog: https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/coronavirus/8-ways-to-celebrate-a-virtual-thanksgiving-during-covid-19/
  3. “42 Fun and Easy Thanksgiving Crafts” (simple enough so kids can do them, interesting enough that adults will want to join): https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/g2907/thanksgiving-kids-crafts/