We know that the last thing you want to do this Thanksgiving is get trapped in a political debate with Uncle George. You know the familial trigger topics by now, and you would do ANYTHING to keep the conversation from going… there. Even though they know it will spark a disagreement, let's avoid those argument starting topics that your family always brings up around the dinner table, shall we?
With 2020 being the most unpredictable year ever, you deserve to give yourself a break with some of our best Thanksgiving Table Topics that will keep everyone happy! So please, cut through the chaos with these 15 easy conversation starters!
1. What would be the perfect date night?
This one is perfect when you really want to downgrade the serious conversation at the table. Help their romantic side come out some by bringing in ooey-gooey first date type of love into the mix!
2. What would be your best advice to help people be kinder to each other?
Not a normal question, it may lead to some uplifting conversations between you and your great aunt about how she used to always water her neighbor’s garden. At this point, let’s talk about anything but the electoral college.
3. If you could choose only one dish on the Thanksgiving table to eat for a full year, what would it be?
Because we know you’re all starving, this one is an easy out from when you want to bury your face in your hands out of embarrassment due to uncomfortable conversations.
4. What’s your most useless hidden talent?
Who doesn’t like to show off their hidden talents? It always seems like one of the cousins is double joined in their thumbs or elbows, and has never let it go... even as an adult.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend your free time?
One of the easiest ways to get someone to want to join in on a conversation starter is when they get to talk about themselves! Make it easy for your family to enjoy talking about these lighter topics by making each person at the table answer this question.
6. What show are you most excited about right now?
We know that there must be some new shows out there somewhere. Make sure to jot these down for when you possibly need to retreat to the other room to decompress after a long day of cooking.
7. If you just won 1 million dollars, what would be the first thing that you would buy? And what would you do with the rest of your earnings?
Who knew that your 13-year-old brother wanted to be a philanthropist when he grew up? This topic is a fun one because you’re able to learn just how generous your family members actually are!
8. If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
They say that if you have a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. If you could pick anything, what would it be? Dream big!
9. Who is the funniest person at the table and why them? If there is a tie, the tie-breaker must be a joke competition.
Let’s hope that this one doesn’t start any fights
10. What’s the craziest trend or hobby you’ve tried this year? Did it work for you?
The year 2020 has been quite odd, we all have tried something that, looking back, may have been a little weird. Did anyone else try baking their own sourdough bread? Just us?
11. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten in your life? And would you eat it again?
Maybe one of your relatives at the table went on an epic adventure when they were 19 to a different country, slept with wolves, and ate some crazy stuff along the way. Let’s hope the responses from this one are jaw-dropping!
12. If there is a couple at the table, ask what their top 5 highlights are from their relationship.
Time to get a little more serious, if there is a couple at the table, this one is for them. Most of the time, a new couple will get bombarded with awkward and intrusive questions while at their first or second Thanksgiving together… let’s spare them that agony. And while older relationships generally get forgotten altogether, let’s help your family keep the love alive by reminiscing! For some added fun, if the oldest couple at the table is willing, ask them what their best advice is for a lasting relationship after they answer this first question.
13. If anyone is married, ask them to share what their top 5 memories from their wedding day are.
Another fun one, since the bride and groom saw a completely different side to the wedding than most of their guests did, this one is especially exciting to converse about. Since most of the people at the table were likely at that event themselves, this will encourage some fun throwback conversation. For some added fun, if there are any newlyweds at the table, ask them to share what their top tips are for any unmarried folks at the table about the wedding day.
14. Ask any parents at the table to describe what happened on the days their children were born.
This one is fun, we all know that one person whose name is spelled a bit off because their dad misspelled their name on their birth certificate… let the belly laughs begin!
15. If someone at the table experienced a milestone this year, such as starting a new job, graduating, getting married, or engaged, buying (or selling) a house, or receiving a promotion, ask them if they’d like to share how it’s going.
This one is so important. 2020 did not turn out how anyone could have predicted. So many birthdays, holidays, gatherings, celebrations, and achievements got postponed or even neglected entirely due to the circumstances of this year. Now’s the time, share all your victories! Let’s celebrate all that has been accomplished and overcome! We are stronger together, and your family may also double as some of your strongest life cheerleaders! It’s okay to get out a box of tissues and have a good happy cry, talk through some of the difficult things you may have faced this year, but know that you are all stronger to have made it through each day 2020 served up!
Conclusion
This year has not been usual. A lot of hard things have come and gone. We have all had to do a bit of gear shifting to make it through this unpredictable year. Not to worry! These conversation starters should help keep the conversation uplifting, joyous, and help us connect on a deeper level with the people we get to love and call family! See you next time Thanksgiving, 2021, here we come!