With online family activities, you can teach your kids how to make the best use of screen time. Keeping kids completely away from the screens is not an option, and leaving them to their own devices (literally and figuratively) is not advisable. Being street smart used to be the most important, but now screen smart tops that list. Teach your kids how to be screen smart and have fun at the same time with amazing online family activities.

Family game nights can be used to cultivate a healthy competitive spirit. Such nights obviously also serve as bonding and relaxing opportunities. Make game nights an essential part of your family tradition and watch your relationships bloom. Here’s some inspiration for your game nights and online family activities.

Online Family Activities

Virtual Museum Tours: Although it is more advisable to take the kids out on museum trips, sometimes museums that have exhibits on topics of interest may not be close or easily accessible. Virtual museum tours simulate that experience, generate more interest in the topic, and can be fun as well as an educational activity. The whole family can learn something new together. Such tours might also turn dinner conversations more lively.

Digital Scavenger Hunts: This is a great activity for including family members who live far away. It might be a good idea to include grandparents, uncles, and aunts in this activity. Start with a list of non-location-specific items. Everyone seeks out these items in their surroundings. There are several variations of a digital scavenger hunt. Switch between these variations to keep things interesting.

Online Games: Kids love games, especially online ones. Why not indulge in some healthy competition? Or sneak in some lessons through interactive educational games. Games hold benefits for you as well. Online games such as solitaire improve hand-eye coordination, increase decision-making speed, enhance problem-solving abilities, and keep the mind sharp. Any online games will do, but it is better to select constructive ones. You could play hearts online free of charge to boost reasoning and strategy skills.

Virtual Escape Rooms: Take on the challenges offered by virtual escape rooms as a family. Solve riddles, puzzles, and mysteries. The kids will also get to engage in various challenges. There might be challenges that revolve around reading, writing, maths, cooking, workouts, and so on.  If there is a time element involved, it will raise the excitement levels and give everyone an adrenaline rush.

Game Night Inspiration

Classic Board Games: Nothing beats classic board games on a night meant for family fun and bonding. There’s a wide variety of board games in the market, and you probably have several at home. Pull out the old family favorites and enjoy a night of healthy competition.

Dumb Charades: This game is really underestimated. It is a great way to build the interpersonal and communication skills of the kids. It also helps them to learn to read body language. The family members will have to use their creativity to express themselves without words.

Pass the Parcel: Although there are different versions of this classic game, the premise remains the same. While the music plays, a parcel (with many layers of wrapping paper) is passed between the players and when the music stops, the player holding the parcel removes a layer of wrapping paper.

Telephone: Apart from being a fun game, the game telephone can also serve as a lesson about communication. It shows how messages can get changed along the way, and that direct communication with a person is best for important messages. The game will also probably fetch a few giggles from the family members.

Importance of Balancing Screen Time

It’s important to alternate between online and offline activities even during family time. Online activities help you make the best use of technology together, while offline activities promote mindfulness. Offline activities can include outdoor and physical activities that you can do with your family. Alternating between online and offline activities opens up more possibilities for different kinds of stimulation and engagement. The family members will be able to benefit from a wider range of experiences and the variation will also help keep things interesting.

Wrapping Up

You can make valuable memories and improve familial relationships through online activities and game nights. Such activities will facilitate bonding, promote interaction and protect the mental as well as physical health of the family members. It’s a win-win situation!

Published: 2023-08-15 20:50:57