If you’ve spent time using conference calls to create shared moments with family, celebrating milestones or just catching up, you may have found that it can be a challenge to keep children and young people engaged during calls. To help you keep the festivities over video fun for everyone in the family, especially the kids, we’ve pulled together some simple tips you can use.
Arrange a time that’s not ‘on the hour’ when everyone is trying to call.
Make sure your battery is charged, nobody likes to gather around a plug socket.
Make video calls over wi-fi to avoid eating into your data plan.
Bribe, coerce, incentivise your children to take part (or see our expert advice on how to get them engaged)
Remove the fear of awkward silences by planning a show and tell with the kids ahead of time so they are ready to give a blow by blow account of something they are interested in.
The last thing you want is someone having technical difficulties to delay the festivities. Whether it’s Zoom, Skype or Facetime make sure all those who will be joining can use the platform (particularly how to mute and unmute). See our video conference tips on how to use these platforms
If you are planning to play games that require an extra screen, like quizzes on Kahoot where you need a mobile, make sure you plan for that too.
Be familiar with the platforms schools use for online learning and how kids submit their work online, whether that’s homework or classwork completed during lockdown. There have been instances of some children telling their parents that they have to submit their homework via Fortnite but I can guarantee this will never be the case!
Think of interesting open-ended questions that give children the opportunity to give more than a simple yes or no answer. For example, ‘what’s your favourite….’ (fill in the blank).
Put some fun into it by playing games during the call. From virtual board games like Monopoly to timeless games like charades, there are a whole range of ways to play these games virtually and keep the whole family having fun. Apps which are built for virtual play could also come in handy if opt to meet using this platform.
If your kids are up for it, they might also like to showcase their talents in a talent show. This will require more planning but could be a great way to capture memorable moments and keep everyone engaged.
Create a shared experience by watching a film together virtually. Netflix and Facebook offer ways to host a watch party so you can watch a family-friendly film while keeping the conversation. See our watch party guide for more information.
If you’ve got the whole family connected, why not capture the moment by taking a screenshot or pressing record when you start the video call (if the platform allows it). If you are recording, remind everyone ahead of time so they are aware.