There are so many great ways technology can keep the whole family busy, connected and active in new and creative ways. Our tech experts pick 10 of the best apps, games and online platforms for your family.
Get Creative
Get sketching
Help your child unleash their artistic flare with paint and draw apps like Kids Doodle. Get them experimenting in animation with Sock Puppets (iOS only) or using their creative forces in Star Wars Creativity Studio (iOS iPad only).
Start up a blog
Use sites like Wix, WordPress or Squarespace to start a blog and let them explore a favourite hobby in more depth, all while learning some simple coding in the process.
Snap a family photo album
Create a scrapbook that comes to life with Lifeprint – an app that works with your smartphone to turn photos and prints into videos – or create a themed photo book for printing with online album makers Snapfish.
Get Active
Do the housework
Apps like ChoreMonster provide fun incentives for younger children to tidy rooms, while planners like Mothership help set schedules for older ones.
Explore augmented reality
Get outdoors and see the world in a different way with augmented reality apps and games. Whether on a prehistoric hunt (Dinosaurs Everywhere – iOS only) or catching outlandish creatures (Pokémon Go!), these apps make physical activity and learning more fun.
Go on a nature hunt
Explore your inner David Attenborough with UK conservation apps like Wildlife Trust: Nature Finder and BirdTrack. These are great for teaching your children the joys of wildlife.
Get Connected
Have a family games night
Convince your child to put down Fortnite and try out some modern twists on some classic games, like an update on the classic post-it note identity game, Heads Up (iOS £0.99, Android free), Connect4 rework Four in a Row or give yourselves a mental workout with brain training app Lumosity.
Explore your history
How much does your child know about their family tree? Why not put your detective hats on and use an ancestry site like MyHeritage.com or Ancestry.co.uk to work together, trace your roots and discover exactly where you came from?
Make a family playlist
Use a music streaming service like Spotify or Deezer and make a playlist of your family’s favourite songs to soundtrack that long car journey or evening in.
Never miss story time
For those days when you can’t be home for bedtime, fire up a video messaging (WhatsApp, Skype) or voice app (Voice Record Pro) to record a personalised video or read your child’s favourite night-time adventure.
Source: Vodafone Digital Parenting
