Bring Screens to Life: Engaging Virtual Gatherings for Friends and Family
Designing a Warm, Playful Agenda
Open with a two-minute round where everyone holds up something within arm’s reach that represents their week. It’s simple, funny, and instantly personal. Tell us your go-to icebreaker so we can feature it next week.
Alternate high-energy activities with slower, reflective moments. Pair a quick scavenger dash with a calm storytelling prompt. Many hosts find a 60–75 minute arc ideal. Comment with your favorite pacing tips and we’ll compile a community guide.
Rotate roles like Timekeeper, DJ, and Cheer Captain so everyone contributes. Kids love the Emoji Moderator, posting celebratory reactions in chat. Subscribe for printable role cards and tell us which roles your crew invents.
Icebreakers That Actually Work Online
Two Truths and a Tall Tale
Invite each guest to share two truths and one wildly exaggerated tale. Encourage playful props. Our aunt once claimed she befriended a lighthouse. Vote in chat and crown a storytelling champion. Share your funniest tall tale moments with us.
Instant Prop Show-and-Tell
Set a 60-second timer. Everyone grabs an object from within ten steps and shares why it matters. You’ll hear spontaneous stories that rarely surface. Post a picture of your most surprising object in our community thread after the call.
Emoji Roll Call
Ask, “How are you arriving?” and have guests drop one emoji in chat. Then pick a few to elaborate. It’s quick, colorful, and accessible. Subscribe for our free emoji prompt pack and comment with your family’s best custom reactions.
Games for All Ages, All Screens
Share your screen with a digital jigsaw or word puzzle and split into breakout pairs for hints. Celebrate every solved piece with a cheer emoji. Tell us your favorite puzzle sites, and we’ll compile a reader-powered treasure list.
Games for All Ages, All Screens
Read playful prompts like “something that smells like Sunday morning” or “a souvenir from a place you dream to visit.” Kids sprint, adults grin, pets cameo. Post your best finds and we’ll feature a highlight reel in next week’s newsletter.
Shared Food and Drinks, Apart Yet Together
Synchronous Snack Build
Pick a simple snack—nachos, fruit skewers, or yogurt parfaits. Everyone assembles on camera, then takes one silent bite together. The collective nods are priceless. Comment your go-to five-minute snack so we can build a community cookbook.
Signature Mocktails and Cozy Beverages
Agree on a base, then customize toppings or garnishes. Cinnamon steam, clinking ice, and shared toasts become a sensory ritual. Share a picture of your glass, tag a relative, and subscribe for seasonal beverage cards you can print.
Family Recipe Cook-Along
Choose a beloved dish and send ingredients beforehand. During the call, a relative leads the steps and shares the origin story. Our cousin cried the first time Grandma narrated her soup. Record yours and tell us what you learned.
Tech Setup and Accessibility Without the Headache
Place light in front, not behind. Encourage headphones for echo-free audio. Keep mics muted only during noisy moments to preserve spontaneity. Share your favorite budget-friendly gear and we’ll compile a community-tested starter kit.
Tech Setup and Accessibility Without the Headache
Enable live captions, read out prompts, and keep visual slides high-contrast. Offer agendas in advance and pause for slower processing. Comment with tools you rely on, so we can expand our inclusive hosting checklist for readers.
