If you haven’t noticed, distance isn’t what it used to be. Today, many people are able to work from home, or even from a foreign country, using video chat platforms like FaceTime. Even if friends or family members seem out of reach, it’s now completely possible to see and speak with them daily, if we like.
What does this mean for the grandparenting business? Great news, that’s what! You’re the first generation of grandparents who can enjoy FaceTime activities with grandchildren, play games with grandchildren on FaceTime, and generally bond and build your relationship no matter how far away you may live or how much time you spend at home.
The Digital Grandparent
A 2019 AARP survey found that 38% of American grandparents sometimes or often use video chat to communicate with their grandkids. Rosie Cantu of San Antonio, Texas, is one of them. She spends time nearly every evening cooing with her 18-month-old granddaughter in Iowa on FaceTime. Rosie told The New York Times that when she makes the trip from Texas to Iowa to visit her granddaughter, “the baby comes to me without any hesitation. I believe it’s because of all the contact we have through FaceTime.”
FaceTime Activities with Grandchildren
Everyone loves visiting with grandchildren, but it’s always better if the exchange can be natural and fun. And just as if you were there in person, you’ll need something interesting to do together. Playing games with kids over FaceTime is perfect for this. You’ll not only stay in touch with your grandchild, but you’ll also be breaking important ground for your ongoing relationship.
The games you choose can be well known and established, or completely made up. They can have an educational slant or just indulge in pure silliness. You can tailor them for just one grandchild or for a whole passel of them. Your imagination and enthusiasm set the boundaries. Try these idea starters, and then create your own options for games to play over FaceTime with kids.
For children age 4 and younger:
- Peek-a-boo
- Flipping through a picture book
- What does a cow (horse, pig, lion, sheep, etc.) say?
- A happy tune sing-along
- Drawing with colors
- Fun with clay or PlayDoh
- Guess which animal I am?
- Let’s have a dance party
- Sock puppet theater
For children up to age 7:
- “I Spy” (naming objects they see in your house on screen)
- Playing dress-up
- Simon Says
- Any favorite board game (you both have the same game)
- We’re having a tea party
- They draw your picture, you comment
- Reading a children’s book aloud
- Find Waldo! (two copies of the same Waldo book)
- Looking at family photos together
- The Alphabet Game
- (Choose a topic and find words that fit each topic that begin with A, B, C, etc.)
Games for children over 7:
- Playing “Would You Rather …”
- 20 questions
- Pictionary
- Hangman
- Charades
- Mad Libs
More educational games and activities to do together on FaceTime:
- Chess
- Flashcards
- Helping with homework
- Reading fiction or poetry together
- Learning foreign language vocabulary
- Playing musical instruments together
- Coaching a new skill (example: crochet)
- Baking or cooking
Connect With Your Little Ones by Playing Games Over FaceTime
The most common method of video chatting today is FaceTime, and it will enable you to forge a long-distance bond that helps build a stronger relationship with your grandchildren. It has become a way kids can share everyday events with faraway families, and it’s something you should consider if you’re not already using it. If you’re curious, or feel you need a little coaching before diving into FaceTime, we’d be happy to help in any way we can.
Helping residents lead their best lives is part of everything we do, and it would be our privilege to assist you. The Stayton is the premier luxury senior living community in Fort Worth … a community many people are proud to call home. Please don’t hesitate to contact us through our website or call us directly at 1-855-778-8934.
