15 Ideas & Activities for a Magical Virtual Christmas
I think by this stage of 2020 we have all accepted that Christmas is going to look and feel a little different. At the time of writing, we have just entered a second lockdown, with restrictions on our movements and social activities continuing up until 2nd December at the earliest.
Christmas is by far my favourite time of year and after such a challenging 2020, I refuse to let it be a damp squib! Whilst no one knows yet quite what lies in store for the rest of Winter, I have prepared a number of Virtual Ideas and activities to allow us to still make Christmas feel magical and have a good laugh – even if we can’t physically be with the people we love.
With virtual activities and Christmas inspiration for all ages, I hope these virtual festive activities will allow lots more families to get together and celebrate Christmas in their own unique way in 2020.
Here’s 15 ideas for a virtual Christmas to get you started:
Virtual Present Unwrapping
If you can get the kids to slow down a bit- why not Zoom grandparents and family members on Christmas morning so that they can experience the joy of watching the kids open their presents? There is nothing quite like seeing the excitement in children’s eyes when Father Christmas has been overnight, and for any family members who are living alone or don’t have children living with them, this is something that can definitely create a warm and magical feeling. Asking them to show their relative what they are unwrapping and explain what it is can also prolong some of the unwrapping and extend the experience somewhat!
The Ultimate Christmas Quiz
Bring out the nibbles, send Virtual Christmas Quiz invites to your friends and family and take on the role of Christmas Quiz Master. Download our Virtual Christmas Quiz 2020 here – with four rounds to play for including Christmas Trivia, Movie Quotes, Close up Christmas and Missing Lyrics, this is one that the whole family can play and enjoy together. You can find more fun Christmas Quizzes at House of Quiz here.
Virtual Festive Bingo
Why not play our Virtual Festive Themed Picture Bingo with work colleagues, friends of family?
Simply print off our Festive Bingo Game FREE DOWNLOAD – and email a unique bingo card to each friend of family member (there are 10 different cards in this download pack).
One person plays host, printing out the bingo cards to call and announce over zoom (You don’t need a fancy bingo machine here, just shove the tokens in a box or bag and pull them out at random) – that said if you prefer to make your bingo a little more hi-tech the world’s your oyster!
Unlike some Bingo games which can be hard for younger children to play if they can’t read or write, this one is all picture / image based, meaning even young children can join in the fun too! My youngest is 4 and absolutely LOVEs playing bingo.
You could even offer humorous 2020 themed prizes for the first person to get a line or a full house (think bog roll and sanitiser!)
Virtual Festive Family Fortunes
I know SO many of you have been waiting for this one and its finally here – introducing the Virtual Festive Family Fortunes game for 2020. Thanks to all the lovely members of the Corona Parents lockdown group who helped with this, there is now a bank of 40 questions to choose from to tailor them to your audience. Some are more suitable for younger players whilst others may be a bit cheeky or rude. Disclaimer – if you’re the host please do check the answers before you play!
You can download the FREE Family Fortunes app for the sound effects and get everything you need to get started, including my questions bank HERE.
The Virtual Photo Booth
I absolutely love a photo booth – the happy faces, stupid poses and when everyone huddles in together with props and cardboard cut outs. Whilst a virtual photo booth is somewhat different it can still be loads of fun! Everyone prints off or brings along their favourite Christmas Photo Booth Prop and then logs on to Zoom or Teams to snap a fun group photo of the entire family with a difference!
Virtual Secret Santa
Using a Secret Santa tool such as Elfster, you each get assigned a family member to buy for and pack it up and post it to your recipient. Then you all jump on zoom and watch as everyone opens their surprise in front of the entire family.
Can you guess which gift is from who? How well do you really know each other? And who can buy the most embarrassing gift?
(For those worried about germs, presents can be posted early and quarantined for a period of time before opening!)
Virtual Festive Baking Challenge
For those with kids or who want a practical challenge this year, a Virtual Festive Baking Challenge can be loads of fun!
Everyone receives or buys a baking kit and is challenged to make the best gingerbread creation / Christmas cookies. Think the showcase on GBBO!
Granted you won’t get the joy of taste testing everyones creations, but you can still do votes and scores for everyone else and add up the total marks to declare your winner!
Christmas Present Hunt
Rather than putting all the presents under the tree this year, why not do a festive present hunt instead, with clues about all the places where Santa’s cheeky elves have hidden some extra special final presents.
You can send the clues to different family members and ask them to pop what’s app / video call and reveal the next clue.
Create a virtual throw the Bauble video with Family messages
A bit like the throw the toilet roll videos that went viral during lockdown, record a message to friends and family before lobbing the bauble (or any other festive item) to your right, before the next person catches it on their left and starts recording – a bit like this one below – only festive!
The Christmas Movie Marathon
With things like house party and now Disney+ GroupWatch, why not have those Christmas Movie marathons with friends and family too!
There are loads of new festive movies out this year including HoliDate and of course The Christmas Chronicles 2 which is released on the 25th November (squeal) – I actually can not wait! Bring out the bowls of popcorn, slippers, blankets and your matching family Christmas PJs or Christmas Jumpers and your ready for a chilled out and festive afternoon the whole family will enjoy!
Christmas Cards with a Letter
So much more this year than a ‘to and from’ and Merry Christmas. Write a letter, send a drawing from the kids, tell them how you’ve been, send photos – show someone how much you really care and give them something to read and enjoy that may brighten up an otherwise dark and quiet day.
We LOVE these personalised family stamps (gifted) from Stamptastic which help add a really personal touch to your gifts and cards this year.
Create an Advent Calendar from the Grandkids
If friends and relatives have been living alone during lockdown, they can be feeling quite isolated, particularly in the Winter months. Why to create an advent calendar for them from the grandkids / children? So many grandparents will be missing their grandchildren this Christmas, and this is a lovely sentimental way of showing them that you care.
Create 24 little boxes or envelopes, each one with a drawing, letter or note from the children.
Ideas / Prompts for the kids include:
- Draw your dream Christmas Tree
- Share your letter to Father Christmas
- Make your own snowflake
- Decorate your own Christmas Jumper
- Write a Christmas poem
- Hand / Footprint Crafts – e.g. reindeers, Father Christmas etc
A Virtual Christmas Dinner
Part of the joy of Christmas Day is sitting around the table all together, laughing; eating and enjoying each other’s company.
If I have to, I will stick my laptop at the head of the table where my Dad normally sits, and Zoom call him for the entire meal. We can drop round a dinner once its served up (I don’t drink and I am lucky enough to live very locally) or he can treat himself to a meal for one, but we will still have our Christmas dinner together, one way or another!
If you have a projector, even better, as you can link up lots of family members on the big screen without having to crick you neck! You can pick up a cheap yet effective protector here.
Throw a ‘Worst Christmas Jumper’ Party
3, 2, 1 – REVEAL your Christmas Jumper – this could be a great option for office parties or groups of friends. Every one logs on to a zoom call with video turned off and one by one reveals their hideous Christmas Jumper.
Once everyone has revealed their jumpers, you could use strictly come dancing style placards to cast your votes, with the one who scores the highest overall score winning a prize!
Create a Virtual Family Photo Album
2020 will be a Christmas like no other, and even if you do get to see another household, it’s unlikely you will be able to go and visit all the families you normally would at Christmas. Why not create a virtual group photo album where all your friends or relatives can add photos to a shared album or WhatsApp group. From the tiny moments to the group photos, this is a great way of enabling those who cant be there to feel as involved as possible.
Whatever your Christmas looks like – I hope you have a safe and happy one. Love and best wishes from my family to yours.
Lucy xxx
