When a video call is ordered or the parties are in different cities here at Angels monitoring we can help keep the children on a call by using age appropriate ideas….
Online family games and activities mimic the in-person experience and increase family connections. All you need is a fun game and zoom. Family video calls offer a great way for parents and children to stay connected when they are physically apart. Structured games and activities on a family video call can mimic time spent together in person.
Free games for PRESCHOOLERS:
Reading: This is one classic form of parent-child connection: read a story aloud to your child over the video call. Be sure to show them each page (and the pictures) over the call. It works even better if the child has the book, too. Consider mailing them a copy so they can follow along.
Puzzle: Choose from various simple, preschooler-friendly puzzles at happyclicks.net, all of which are free to play. You can also experiment with completing a physical puzzle together, either by watching the child try to put it together or having two copies of it and taking turns adding pieces.
Maze: Happyclicks.net also hosts a bunch of mazes appropriate for preschoolers. Load one of the mazes on your computer and share your screen to complete it together. Screenshare is easiest on Zoom.
Scavenger hunt: List items you want the child to find in the house. Get creative with the list. For example, write “something sparkly” rather than “a spoon.” Then, set a timer for one or two minutes for the kids to find each item. Have them bring the camera if possible. Then, tally up how many they find.
Simon Says: This classic game is great for younger children to practice listening and following directions. Have one person be “Simon.” When Simon gives a command after saying, “Simon says…” the other family members should perform that action. But, if Simon doesn’t say “Simon says,” they shouldn’t perform the action. Take turns playing Simon.
PAID GAMES for the NCP TO GET for Preschoolers:
Alphabet Hopper: In this game, kids practice identifying different letters of the alphabet.
Rhyming: This is a great way to teach kids new words. If the children are starting to read, you can add a visual component and write out each word you rhyme. Use the rhyming games on ABCmouse.com — a paid account also gets you access to their library of hundreds of other games suitable for preschool children.
Free games for GRADE SCHOOLERS:
Reading practice: For grade schoolers, reading a book together over the video call , if both parties have the book it works better.
Virtual bingo: Bingo is a great game for families with multiple siblings or a larger group. You can find many free virtual bingo programs online, including this one from My Free Bingo Cards. You can also create homemade bingo cards and chips. Children of various ages can play, and adults can still have fun with it, too.
Hangman (or similar alternatives): This is a good game for grade schoolers learning to read and write. However, as played in the traditional form, some find that this game may trigger negative emotions due to the image of a hanging man being drawn while the game is played. There are alternative versions of this classic game that involve other themes, like Snowman in which you draw a snowman with different layers and a face as someone guesses incorrect letters. You can play any version of this game on paper or through free options online.
YouTube videos: Have your child show you a recent video they found interesting, or select one based on their interests. Share your screen watch the video together. Then, ask questions such as “What was your favorite part and why?” or “What was most interesting or surprising?” This mimics time spent relaxing and watching TV together, which can foster connection.
Mad Libs: This is a fun game for kids developing their reading skills and learning parts of speech. Use this free online Mad Libs generator tool. Fill in the blanks with the correct part of speech (adjective, noun, color, etc.), then read the story aloud. You can also create your own Mad Libs template or have the children make it if they’re old enough.
Uno!: Uno Online has a free version of the card game, which is best for kids aged eight and up. The site also includes directions and a library of similar free games. You’ll need to share your screen for this
Pictionary: Each player will need a few pieces of blank paper and a dark marker so family members can read it over the screen. Use this free online random word generator to make a list of words, and then take turns drawing a word and having the other players guess the word. You can also set a time limit on a phone or stopwatch for 30 to 60 seconds.
Paid games for Grade Schoolers:
Online board games: Board games of all kinds (like Candyland or Trouble) are wonderful for grade schoolers. Depending on the game, you may find a virtual version online. You can also play physical board games over a video call.
Battleship: Download this Battleship gameboard to play the classic game remotely. Print the PDF, and play the game according to the normal rules (included in the download). You can also use the original boards if both parties have a set.
Online games and virtual activities for teens:
Trivia:
Design your trivia night around a topic your child cares about or is really interested in, like soccer or baseball. Make up your own questions and have fun,” she says. You can use this free trivia quiz template to create your own questions or use a pre-built game on every imaginable topic, such as the ones in Sporcle’s massive library.
Most Likely to…:
This game requires only a video connection and no additional boards or visual aids. In advance, create a list of “most likely to” prompts, such as “Most likely to become a chef” (or other career), “Most likely to be late to the dinner party,” “Most likely to live on a farm,” etc. Then, pose each question to the family members and have everyone give their answer. This is a good way to have fun with family roles and character traits. Depending on your relationship with your child, you may be able to poke light fun at each other or people you both know, but remember to keep things as light, fun, and positive as possible.
Name That Tune:
This game also requires only a video connection. Take turns humming (or whistling) a song without the lyrics. Have the other family members guess the song.
Two Truths and a Lie:
This game requires only a video connection. Take turns telling “two truths and a lie” to the other family members: two true statements and one false statement. Then, have other family members guess the “lie.” This is a fun way to learn more about each other.
Sell It to Me:
This silly activity requires only a video connection. Take turns pretending to “sell” something to the other family members. This could be a real or fake product or a made-up concept like a fake country, magical land, or a new invention. Create an “elevator pitch” of less than 30 seconds and try to “sell” the product or service to the other family members. This activity is especially good for teenagers who may be giving presentations in class and need to practice public speaking.
Virtual escape room:
You can use this service to play free virtual escape rooms. This puzzle-like activity requires you to put your heads together and solve clues to “escape” from the virtual room or maze. Choose a theme that suits your family’s interests, and work together to unravel the puzzle.
Paid online games and activities for teens
Kahoot: Kahoot! is a platform that offers a massive list of online games and activities, including those for school and work. Create an account for access to the library and find the games that suit your family’s interests. You will probably need to share your screen for these activities, so using Zoom is best.
Heads Up: This game is sure to create some laughs. Have all players rent or buy the game on the Apple App Store or Google Play. One by one, have each player hold their phone up to their forehead so the other players can see the phone screen. The app will auto-generate a word. The other players give clues about the word without using it, and the person holding the phone has to guess the word correctly before time runs out. The app also has various topical decks, such as celebrities, movies, and animals, so pick one that suits your teens’ interests.
Other activities for children of all ages
Show Me Your World:
children of all ages benefit from showing their parents their world over video calls. “Ask them to show you their room and their favorite toys, clothes, or prized possessions, like baseball cards or new sneakers,” she says. This is a good time to connect and show your child you care about their lives and interests.
Homework Party:
doing homework together can be meaningful. “Connect with them, help them,”. Make it fun by showing interest in what they’re learning at school and help them where you can.
Physical activity:
Have your kids show tricks, sports skills, or dancing. You can also play “together” if you’re both on hands-free mobile devices.
Cook:
cooking together can be a fun project and mimics time spent at home. Younger children will have to be supervised, but older children might be able to make a meal all by themselves. It’s fun if both parties work on the same recipe and taste-test it together.
Scattergories (paid):
Download the Scattergories app on Google Play (or create your own list of categories in advance). The app will auto-generate a prompt (e.g., “Animals that start with the letter ‘B’”). Then, you have a certain amount of time to create a list of everything that falls under that category. You can play against each other and see who gets the most after several rounds or play together and try to generate as many items as possible.
Charades:
You can play charades exactly as you would in person, but over a video call. Take turns acting out a person, place, or thing without talking. Have the other family members guess what you are acting; after several rounds, the person who got the most correct answers wins. You can also split into teams if you have multiple siblings or a large group (4 people or more).