Thanksgiving is a time of connection, reflection, and gratitude. Make the most out of feasting with family and friends this Thanksgiving with conversation starters designed to promote thoughtful discussions and make meaningful connections with your loved ones near and far.
Warm Up to New Friends with These Icebreakers
When celebrating with new friends or people who might know each other, you’ll want to keep the questions fun and not too personal or probing. Some people might be shy and find it difficult to share, so give everyone a chance to pass. You can write questions on slips of paper and have everyone draw one, or just pick a question or two to have everyone answer. Get the conversation going by volunteering to go first.
What is your favorite food to indulge in for Thanksgiving?
What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?
What holiday traditions are your favorites?
If you could start a new Thanksgiving tradition, what would it be?
What are your favorite childhood memories involving Thanksgiving?
Would you rather cook the entire Thanksgiving meal or do all the dishes afterward?
If you could create a new Thanksgiving menu with your favorite foods, what would be on the menu?
What is your favorite way to use leftover turkey?
What hobbies do you have or are interested in trying?
Have you traveled anywhere recently? What was the best part of your trip?
What music/television shows/books have you been enjoying?
Of course, don’t forget the tried and true, “What are you thankful for this year?”
Conversations Between Generations
This Thanksgiving, learn something new about someone older or younger than you. If your Thanksgiving table includes grandparents or grandchildren, take the opportunity to learn something new about a different generation. Older adults love sharing stories of life experiences that took place, “back in the day,” and the younger generation loves hearing about how different the world used to be.
Fun questions for kids to ask older adults:
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving when you were my age?
Who were your best friends when you were growing up?
What games did you play? What were your favorite toys?
What was the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
If you could relive any time in your life, when would that be?
If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?
Questions for older adults to ask kids:
If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy?
If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be?
What is the best part about being young?
If you were a superhero, what power would you like to have?
If you could be famous for something, what would it be?
If you could have picked your name, what name would you have given yourself?
Deeper Questions for Thoughtful Conversations
Thanksgiving is a time to catch up with family and friends that you may not see very often. It’s an opportunity to invest quality time with loved ones and build deeper relationships. Here are a few questions to spark thoughtful conversations and make the time you spend together more meaningful.
What were the best and most difficult parts of the past year?
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?
What is the greatest gift anyone has ever given to you?
What dreams do you have for your future?
If you could go back 10 years and give yourself advice, what would it be?
What do you love the most about yourself?
What would you most like to change about yourself?
Celebrating Thanksgiving in Senior Living
If you or a loved one is considering making the move to senior living, you may be wondering what celebrating the holidays would be like for your family. At Holly Creek Life Plan Community in Centennial, residents experience seasonal celebrations and activities throughout the year. Residents in independent living may host family gatherings in their apartment or cottage or enjoy elevated dining with their neighbors.
Our engaging, thriving, and comfortable Holly Creek lifestyle is made more vibrant through a wide array of services amenities that enrich the lives of residents and lead to whole-person wellness for healthy aging. Contact us to learn more about maintenance-free senior living options in Centennial.
