14 Fun Ways for Kids to Interact with Loved Ones Over Video Calls

We’ve used video calls to keep my kids in contact with their grandparents for years. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve been using it more frequently and we’ve been using it to connect with additional family members and friends.

In my experience, it is easier for little kids to engage with loved ones using video calls instead of regular phone calls. This is because they can see the person with whom they are speaking. However, sometimes they still have difficulty coming out of their shells and thinking of things to say. Thankfully, there are tons of games and other activities that can help kids connect with loved ones during video calls.

Fun ways to engage kids over video conferences

• Read books together. Adults can read books to kids during video calls. As long as a reader holds the book in front of the webcam, then the kids will be able to see the pictures. You can also reverse this so that young readers read to the adults! This is a fun way for them to practice their reading.
• Go on an alphabet scavenger hunt. To complete an alphabet scavenger hunt, one participant in the call chooses a letter of the alphabet. All the other participants (or just the kids, if you prefer) have a set amount of time (such as 20 or 30 seconds) to find something that begins with that letter of the alphabet. If you have younger kids, it may be best to use colors or other attributes (something soft, something small, etc.) instead of letters.
• Play 20 Questions. To play this game, you designate one person to be “it.” This player thinks of a person, place, or thing to be the answer. The other players then ask “yes” or “no” questions in an attempt to figure out the answer. Once 20 questions have been asked, each player gets to guess the answer. If someone gets it right, then he or she is now “it” (if no one guesses correctly, then simply choose who will be “it” next).
• Guess the item. Younger kids may find it a little difficult to play 20 Questions. However, they may find it easy to play a similar game that is visual in nature. To play this game, the person who is “it” chooses a toy, kitchen utensil, clothing item, tool, etc. from around the house and moves a small portion of this into sight of the camera. The other individuals on the call then try to guess what the object is. Once someone guesses correctly, he or she gets to be “it.”
• Take a field trip. If you’re using a mobile device for your call, then you can take your loved ones on a field trip! During the pandemic, this might be limited to areas of your house or yard. However, when it is safe to move about again, this could be a park, zoo, carnival, etc.
• Play Pictionary. Pictionary is a drawing game where one individual draws an image and others try to guess what it is. Usually players divide into teams and those on the same team as the person drawing the picture guess. A point is awarded if the team can guess the image in a set amount of time (such as 30 seconds). To play Pictionary, each person or each group on the call will need a surface on which to draw. Paper will work, as will reusable surfaces such as white boards or even kids’ Magnadoodles. You can find lists online of things to draw or use those suggested in actual Pictionary games.
• Play Charades. Charades is a lot like Pictionary except it involves acting instead of drawing. One player will pantomime a word or phrase (a famous person, a saying, an activity, a movie title, etc.). The first player to correctly guess the word or phrase gets a point (or their team gets a point if playing in teams). You can find lists of words and phrases for Charades online.
• Play Simon Says. To play Simon Says, one player, designated to be “Simon,” gives simple instructions to the other players (“Simon says touch your nose,” “Simon says hop on one foot,” etc.). Players should only follow the instructions if preceded by the words “Simon says.” The person who is Simon intersperses instructions without the words “Simon says” in his or her instructions. If players follow these instructions, they are out. The last player to remain once all the others are out wins. He or she typically gets to be the next Simon.
• Tell jokes or riddles. Kids and adults on calls can take turns sharing jokes and riddles. This gets everyone laughing and thinking creatively. It’s not a problem if you don’t know any good jokes or riddles. Simply search for some on the internet and you’ll find an abundance of them!
• Create Mad Libs. Mad Libs are word games where one player prompts the others for words which are then substituted for blanks in a story. Mad Libs are awesome because they are educational (they reinforce parts of speech), but they are also a ton of fun! Kids and adults both enjoy the funny stories they yield.

• Play Battleship. If the individuals at both ends of a call have Battleship board games, then they can play over the video call. In fact, it’s just as easy to play over a call as in person.

• Have Show and Tell. Show and Tell is a time-honored way for individuals to learn more about each other and practice their speaking skills. To complete this activity, each participant chooses an item and then shares relevant information (what it is, why they chose it, where it came from, how it is used, why it is neat, etc.) with the others on the call. You can use themes for Show and Tell (such as favorite toy or favorite book) or you can let each participant choose whatever type of item he or she would like.
• Have a dance party. If you’d like to get up and moving, then you can crank up some music and dance together! You don’t have to be an expert dancer to have fun with this. You can do some sort of coordinated dance (such as the Hokey Pokey or Chicken Dance) or just dance however you want.
• Play with the help of apps. There are many apps available that allow individuals to play games together over video calls. I only have experience with one of these, so I can’t personally make recommendations regarding them. Keep in mind that not all are good for kids, but many are. You can read more about some of these apps in the following posts written by others:
  • 17 Fun Games You Can Play On Zoom + Other Conference Calls
  • Let’s Get Ready to (Digitally) Rumble! Here Are 12 Super Fun Zoom Games to Play With Kids

If you aren’t currently using video calls to stay in contact with your loved ones, then check out popular options including Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Facebook Messenger. You might find that one of these can help you “see” your friends and family despite social distancing!

Do you use video calls to help your kids stay in contact with their friends and family members? If so, what sort of activities do they do with these loved ones during calls?

Shared at the following:

Farm Fresh Tuesday, Busy Monday, Over the Moon, and Encouraging Hearts and Home.