Video Chat: Using Technology to Connect with Grandkids

So you’ve heard about video chat, and you’re hoping to keep in touch with your grandkids using it. But some grandparents don’t even know what video chat is, or how to use it. And once you do get things set up, what do you do on a video chat?

Here is a brief guide on video chat, and using technology to connect with grandkids.

1. What Is It?

Video chat is like a phone call, only both parties sit (or stand, or dance!) in front of a camera while talking. You’ll need a microphone, speaker, and “webcam” or video camera connected to your computer. If you have an older computer, you can get these items separately and install them. Newer desktops and laptops have both microphones and speakers in-built, and usually a camera as well. A “smart phone” is also a means by which you can do video chat. You’ll have to connect to the internet the same way you’d connect through a telephone line.

2. How Do You Use It?

You’ll need some type of software to do video chat, just like you need a telephone company to set up your telephone connection. You can download Google Talk, Skype, or any other video chat software – do an internet search for “video chat software” and see what comes up. Then, you enter the names and numbers of those you want to contact, and simply click on them when you want to call them. Most video chat software is very user friendly.

3. Things You Can Do on Video Chat

Here are some ideas of what you can do during your video chat with the grandkids.

* Show artwork – Grandchildren can show artwork or craft projects to their grandparents and tell them about it. Grandkids can show off their latest school project, Lego sculpture, or anything else they’ve made or built.

* Read stories – Grandparents can read to the grandkids, or the grandkids can read to them! If you have a laptop, Grandma or Grandpa can read a bedtime story right there in the bedroom.

* Perform! – Grandchildren can put on a puppet show (webcams are perfect for this – a table edge is all you need to create a barrier for the puppets to be behind), sing, dance, or put on a play for their grandparents.

* Eat a snack or meal – Why not include Grandma and Grandpa in the grandkids’ snack or meal? You can bring the laptop or phone to the table and share food together, especially if it’s a grandparent’s recipe.

* Watch TV – Grandpa and Grandma can “sit” on the couch and you can watch movies, television shows, or sporting events together.