5 Fun Family Activities You Can Do Remotely

As the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of letting up in the United States, families are wondering what they can do in order to avoid boredom, sadness, and loneliness.

The holiday season will be different this year, and people who are used to spending Thanksgiving watching football or Black Friday shopping with their extended family might not feel confident about those in-person activities.

Whether you decide to stay home out of an abundance of caution or out of necessity because of a COVID-19 exposure, here are five fun activities you can do remotely as a family. All you will need is starlink internet, or a similar internet provider in your area, for a guaranteed great high-speed internet service and you will be all set for some remote fun!

Table of Contents

1. Play a Board Game

Many families enjoy a game night with friends or family who doesn’t live with them, but now isn’t a good time for doing that in person. Instead, you could play a board game remotely.

It will take a little extra work, but some games are optimized for this setup. You could play Scrabble, King’s Corner, hearts, or similar board and card games this way. One card game that can work quite well is solitaire, which you can either play online for free or by using real, physical cards. This can be played with family, and you can even set up a group Zoom call to interact together as you compete to complete your game before another player, just make sure nobody cheats!

2. Go on an Adventure

You don’t have to leave home or go far from it to have a thrilling time. Try a virtual escape room.

This type of activity allows you to pair up with others in or outside of your residence. Cousins, far-flung siblings, or friends could set up competing teams to see who can get out of the room first.

A bonus of doing this virtually is that if you’re the type to panic in a traditional escape room adventure, you’ll be in the comfort of your own home.

If you’re looking for something less exciting, try a virtual museum tour. If your family loves dinosaurs, try the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s virtual tour.

People who love art could take a virtual tour of Impressionist paintings at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

With a virtual tour, not only can you do it at home, but you don’t have to wait in a long line or spend any money to see beautiful works of art.

3. Play Video Games

Playing video games is an easy way to engage with family and friends from a safe social distance. You can share Roblox or Minecraft usernames.

You can even play cash games online. In fact, there are a variety of different games that you can play in order to make money. This means that you can have fun online with your family, and earn money too. How good does that sound!

Another option is to purchase a subscription to a live gaming setup that’s compatible with the video game console you have.

Xbox Live and Nintendo Online are a couple of options, explains Good Housekeeping. There are also web-based gaming sites that allow you to play games with friends.

Pogo is one, and you can play Yahtzee, Monopoly, and other popular games in a virtual environment. Let’s Play Uno is an app that makes it easy for kids to play this classic game with friends.

Pokemon Go has made adjustments to its gaming system so that it’s easier to do from home. Friends can join forces or compete against each other.

4. Share Family Stories

When you want to connect with relatives in different cities, states or even countries, set up your own Zoom meeting room.

You can add up to 100 participants to your meeting without having to pay for an account. On Zoom, you can take turns sharing family stories.

You could also play games that would typically be done in person, such as Charades. Children could even sing or put on a little play for their grandparents through a Zoom meeting. Meanwhile, you can also do a prank call to have a crazy and fun holiday!

If you’ve sent gifts to your loved ones through snail mail, you could do your gift exchange through Zoom. Special family announcements could also be made this way.

5. Arts and Crafts

If you have a family member who’s a pro at painting, they could do an on-demand remote painting as a gift for your family.

If you’re an excellent knitter or weaver, you could give a younger family member a lesson.

Having a remote arts and crafts night could also be fun for little kids. Make paper snowflakes or other fun holiday decorations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, flexibility is key. When you can’t get together for a holiday dinner or celebration or do your favorite local activities, these are safe and convenient alternatives.

These remote family activities can be done at any time, and you’ll save money and make lasting memories when you try them.

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Emma

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blog covers about motherhood by exploring all areas of life. Our tips and tricks help the large community to do more in less time so they can spend time enjoying happy, healthy families.