USING TECH TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS

Many of us are spending more time at home than usual and it brings both challenges and benefits for parents. Being at home affords more time with the kids but it can be difficult to keep children and teens entertained preventing them from moaning about boredom and having nothing to do. Here are some dad tips on how to use tech to have fun with your kids that will have them geeked about spending time around the house with mom and dad.

Augmented Reality

From allowing dinosaurs to jump out of the pages of books to providing instantaneous tutorials on solving a Rubik's Cube that is in the palm of your hand there are a lot of fun and interesting uses of Augmented Reality available through today's technology. Augmented Reality (AR) provides interactive opportunities that merge real world environments with digital effects to enhance or alter perceptions of reality. From playing with Baby Yoda in our family's living room to taking a virtual tour of the Alamo seeing the site as it existed during the famous battle for Texas independence, my kids have had numerous entertaining and educational AR experiences. Whether you want to get a close up 3D look at farm animals without visiting the countryside or interact with your favorite Star Wars characters there are numerous ways to have fun with your kids utilizing augmented reality.

Robotics

Interacting with robots used to be just a fantastic idea from sci fi stories. Now utilizing robots around the house is a reality. There are robotic toys that teach kids to code and other STEM skills. Drones that you can race through obstacle courses or use for taking photography. There are even robots that can help with household chores like cleaning your swimming pool or mowing the lawn. 

Movies and Music Streaming 

It’s great to be able to go out and catch a movie or book tickets to a gig, but you don’t have to fork out a fortune or drive for hours to have a good time. Movie and music fans can benefit from streaming services and TV and music subscriptions that provide access to endless programs, playlists and new releases. You can stream music from Amazon’s music services and enjoy your own at-home concert, watch movies with popcorn on a Saturday night and make sure you’re up to date with the TV shows that everyone is talking about. 

Speaking of home concerts, you could also consider investing in additional musical equipment for your setup so that you and your children can create your own live performances. Should you both enjoy playing guitar but want to add a drummer, then you can do so without seeking extra help. You can purchase a BeatBuddy (drummer pedal) from Singular Sound, which will help you enhance your music and no longer need to fuss about controlling a drumbeat during a live performance in your home own. You can simply tap your foot and create professional feels and transitions with minimal extra effort while having fun.

Listening to music can lift your mood and movie nights are a fantastic way to bring the family together and save money on frequent trips to the movie theater. You can even star in your very own television show on YouTube.

Gaming 

Gaming has become increasingly popular in the last 12 months as people look for fun ways to spend time at home and remotely socialize with friends. There are myriad options when it comes to playing games. You can play alone or as part of a team, you can challenge opponents, you can play online and you can use consoles or a PC. Technology now allows you to chat instantaneously with other players anywhere around the globe as part of game playing experiences. There are titles to suit adults and kids and you can team up to take on competitors or organize competitions between family members. Gaming provides a release and an escape from the real world and it’s an excellent way to engage with other people when you might not be able to see them face-to-face.

Exercise 

You might assume that exercise and home technology don’t go hand-in-hand but tech can actually play an integral role in helping people to be more active. You can use wearable technology to count steps and set targets for yourself and your children, you can work out at home using gym equipment or you can get involved with virtual workouts and sessions that are suitable for adults or the whole family. My kids participated in a virtual running challenge during the pandemic.

 Being active has advantages for all ages. As well as helping to boost heart health, lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity and build strength and stamina, exercise also has incredible benefits for mental wellbeing. Moving your body makes you feel good due to increased levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and the release of endorphins, known as happy hormones.

Dads like myself from all over the world are spending more time at home than ever before. If you’re a dad on a mission to have as much fun as possible with your kids, taking advantage of tech is a great way to accomplish that goal. You can connect with friends and family, have dance parties, have epic video game competitions and get fit with the modern conveniences that today's technological advances provide us.