It can be challenging for families to find moments to come together, and that’s completely normal. As a family, sometimes you need original ideas to encourage bonding time. Luckily, the internet provides countless ways for people to connect with interactive and fun spaces.
Why Would You Choose an Online Space?
There are many reasons why one could choose a digital option to get closer to family. Maybe you live in different places or have small children or teenagers who can get easily excited by technology. Many platforms are built with families specifically in mind, and there are options for almost any type of family.
Virtual Game Worlds for Family Bonding
Multiplayer games are among the most popular ways to bring families together. It’s an opportunity for kids to teach their parents, and for adults, it helps to engage with children in an environment where they feel more confident.
Games for All Ages
You can find endless genres and difficulty levels in the gaming world. Each family member can participate in a way that fulfills their preference.
Some popular family-friendly gaming platforms include:
- Overcooked 2, a cooking simulation game that encourages communication and coordination.
- Minecraft, with its creative, collaborative building worlds.
- Stardew Valley multiplayer mode for cozy farming adventures.
Virtual Reality World
While gaming seems like a more traditional way to connect, virtual reality opens an entirely new dimension of interactive and immersive fun. From escape rooms to cooking simulations and religious temples. Even simple experiences, like exploring an underwater world or visiting famous landmarks, are easily accessible.
Virtual Tours
Museums around the world now offer free virtual tours, and even Google has a collection of interactive museum experiences to join. This makes it possible to “walk through” art galleries, science museums, and historical exhibits from anywhere. Naturally, it won’t replace the feeling of doing a family trip, but it’s a good way to encourage curiosity in kids while learning.
Some standout virtual tours include:
- The Louvre.
- The British Museum.
- Angkor Wat.
- NASA virtual discovery experiences.
Many entertainment and educational services might have region-locked content. A museum tour could be blocked in one country and available in another. If your family encounters these barriers, consider learning how to get a free VPN to enjoy a local experience that might not be available in your region.
Art Projects
Families can collaborate on art projects even when they’re miles apart. For example, digital painting tools, animation programs, or drawing games that offer endless avenues for imagination.
Websites like Magma or FlockMod allow multiple people to draw on the same digital canvas in real time. This could be useful for a silly doodle marathon, but if there’s a need for a more competitive experience, a site like Skribbl is a go-to option for many.
Music and Dance Spaces
If your family is more about rhythm and music, you’ll find plenty of online tools to help you express yourselves. Some platforms allow you to experiment with sound and other dance-based games to turn your living room into a dynamic dance floor.
Apps for Family Connection
The most popular connection tools, like video calls, chats, and social media networks, are still commonplace, but nowadays, with the rising concern of privacy, many families prefer to keep moments private. Dedicated apps like FamilyAlbum and Cluster let you share photos, updates, and memories in a safe, closed environment.
Final Thoughts
Interactive online spaces are extremely valuable for maintaining contacts and forming strong bonds. Research from the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that gaming with friends or family leads to increased social connection. As technology is already such a big part of our lives, these findings help us understand that we should utilize virtual spaces to help us build better relationships.