For the thousands of people who live in foreign countries, far away from their families, Christmas can be a tough time.
Fortunately, today’s technology offers countless ways to stay connected.
From online experiences to smart devices that enhance long-distance interactions, these Christmas gift ideas will help create meaningful connections that go beyond a simple phone call or text message to keep your family close.
We should stress The Local does not endorse any of these specific products – they’re just a few ideas for our fellow international residents.
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Interactive gadgets
Infinity Lamps
Send some love to a long-distance family member via colourful light-filled hugs. The LuvLink® Friendship and Infinity Lamps allow you to tell someone you are thinking of them with just a tap.
Touch the light and it sends a colour to your loved one’s lamp, no matter where they are in the world. If you happen to touch them at the same time, a mix of two colours will swirl around your lamps.
An app allows you to send colours from anywhere, connect your lamps to multiple other lamps, and send secret codes in colour form. International shipping is available.
Photo sharing
The Skylight frame is a way to share daily moments with those who live far away. You can send photos almost instantly to a frame located anywhere in the world.
Parents can keep up with their child’s big moments. Grandparents will always have the latest snapshots of their growing grandchildren. Friends will always know what’s going on in each others’ lives.
You can send photos anytime using the app or a unique email address. International shipping available.
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Jewellery
Tell someone you are thinking of them in an even more intimate way with smart jewellery.
Bond Touch jewellery allows you to send messages through touch. Pair your bracelet with another and when you touch it, theirs will buzz with your message. Combine touches to send secret messages. It’s also available on Apple Watch.
The necklaces contain recorded heartbeats to feel closer than ever to a loved one. Similarly, TheTouch rings and lockets help you feel close to someone via their heartbeat.
Both are available in more than 20 countries and on Amazon.
READ ALSO: Why do Swedes watch Donald Duck every Christmas Eve at 3pm?
Message sharing
Looking for more than one way to show your love? The Lovebox allows you to share photos, drawings, gifts and messages.
The box has a spinning icon that alerts you when there is a new message. Open the lid to see what someone has sent you on the screen. It is available with international shipping on Amazon US.
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Ideas for the little ones
Virtual read along
Is there a better way to connect with others than over a good book? Let your kids experience storytime with grandparents and other family members who live far away.
Readeo BookChat is a subscription based video chat app that displays books so anyone can read them from anywhere.
The app has a library of over 1,500 children’s books in several languages. The app is available in most countries.
Virtual activity app
Give the gift of quality time with the Caribu app for kids. The subscription-based app allows children to video chat with loved ones while reading, playing and drawing.
There are endless activities to try so children can stay connected with family members no matter where they are.
Whether it’s a classic children’s book, an online puzzle game or a colouring page, creating memories is possible despite the distance.
Recordable book buddy
For a screen-free children’s gift that fosters connection through reading, a recordable book buddy still gives you an intimate connection.
The device lets you record yourself reading any book with easy-to-follow buttons. It then can be attached to whatever book you’ve chosen so the child receiving it can open the book and play back the recording as they follow along.
This is a good option for the less tech-savvy people in your life.
Group film viewing
Do you miss movie night with family or friends? Kosmi integrates film streaming platforms with video calls to watch movies with anyone you want.
It also has a vast library of games, music and other apps. You can watch anything on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and other platforms. Kosmi is free, but the streaming platforms require subscriptions, a possible gift to pair with the video app.
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Virtual experiences
Online cooking classes
Online cooking classes let you and your loved ones bond over a good meal, from the comfort of your own kitchens.
You can learn new recipes and cooking techniques with the guidance of professional chefs, while enjoying each others’ company. Cozymeal offers endless classes with dishes from all over the world. You can learn Neapolitan-style pizza, master the art of sushi or bake bread.
They are hosted live from wherever the chef is located, so you will have to find a time that works for everyone. It’s a delicious way to stay connected, share a meal, and create lasting memories.
Online wine tasting
Sip your way through a memorable time with long-distance family or friends. Online wine tastings guide you through the world of wine with experts who share tasting tips and pairings.
Maybe it’s for a laid-back evening with friends or a fun holiday event with family. Either way, you can enjoy the experience of learning about wine while connecting over video calls.
Wine.com has various guided tastings based on types of wine and regions. You can purchase the wines directly and follow along with the tasting videos.
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Online game night
For the board game fanatics in your life, online game platforms allow you to connect with others long-distance.
Jackbox Games offers a variety of multiplayer party games in packs and bundles. Using the online platform, players can join games via their smartphones, tablets, or computers, making it easy to play together no matter where they are.
Games like Quiplash, Fibbage, and Drawful are a fun, interactive way to stay connected. Whoever has access to the platform can host the games and invite anyone they like.
Do you have family who lives in another city or country? What do you suggest to stay connected?
