Goodbye Awkward Silence: A Game That Gets Everyone Talking
For the past several years my husband and I have hosted a Friendsgiving at our home with a small group of our favorite people. We have some of the greatest memories chatting late into the evening around our kitchen table, filled with delicious savory side dishes, mouth watering desserts and buttery breads-of course. The rich aroma of baked goods and the clinking of wine glasses remind us we’re celebrating each other and expressing our deep gratitude for God’s blessings in our lives.
On the day of our Thanksgiving with friends (Friendsgiving), I wake up feeling a bit anxious to tackle the long list of to-dos before they arrive but I know one thing for sure, it will be a night to remember. Even though each year we invite the same core friends, our guest list can fluctuate. We’ve had the honor of hosting new acquaintances and new significant others, often meeting them for the first time that very night. For that reason, I like to be prepared to be both a great host and a welcoming friend to new guests as well. Thanksgiving is often my first impression to new guests and I try to break down that awkward small talk barrier quick. After all, I want my home to be the place that people feel safe to be themselves; a place to relax and let their guard down, where it feels like their second home.
If you are new to hosting and need a little extra jump start, explore our blog post: “9 Ways to Become a Thoughtful Dinner Party Host”
Let’s face it, if you don’t have a few talking points up your sleeve, you’re leaving a lot of room for mundane chats about work, uncomfortable prying and the dreaded political rants. I don’t want to be a guest at that table and I’m sure a lot of your friends don’t either. My dad used to tell me growing up that people enjoy talking about themselves and if I wanted to make an impression on someone, I would allow the other person to speak. So a few minutes after everyone has settled into their chairs, their plates piled high with delicious food, I invite my guests into a game I call Table Topics. (There is actually a game out there with this concept that you can purchase but I wasn’t aware of that years ago when I started this tradition). You can download our topics here for free.
The concept of the game is to learn about each other, skipping over surface level talk and instead using unique questions to prompt amusing responses based on personal experience or opinion. We’ve played this game with friends and family (ranging in age from mid 20s to 60 year olds) and everyone can agree it’s a refreshing twist to any gathering.
How to play:
- Download our Table Topic Questions, cut out each one and fold so that you can’t see the questions.
- Put all questions into a bowl or container that can be passed around to each person.
- Start at one end of the table and go around.
- When the bowl of questions is passed to you, pick a question and answer it.
- Then pass it on to the next person and repeat.
At least 3 rounds works well in groups of 10 or less.
*If you have a really small group, like 3-6 people, add a twist with a die. Roll a die and if it lands on an even number the person who pulled the question answers it. If you land on an odd number, every person in the group has to answer the question that was pulled.
The questions range from simple and fun like “What’s your top 3 favorite movies?” or deep and personal like “What’s one thing you regret doing this year?” You never really know what you’ll pick so it keeps things interesting. I also always offer guests to skip or pull a different question if they want. You can decide to play the game while everyone is still eating, during dessert or finish the night cozied up in the living room with a glass of wine. It all depends on your guest dynamic. This game works for any holiday gathering or dinner party so use it as you like. We hope you create fantastic memories and new traditions with the ones you love. Blessings!