Your parents want to spend more time with their grandkids, but you all live busy lives. Kids are swamped with academic commitments, dance lessons and soccer practices, and that once a week call to grandma that you are able to slot into their schedule just doesn’t really feel like quality time. Thankfully, grandparents can adopt a few key technologies that will help them connect with the grandkids easily and often.

Face time is important, but it doesn’t have to happen in the same room anymore. Video chat programs allow your parents to chat with the kids in real time using only a computer, a webcam, free software, and an Internet connection. Through a video chat, your kids can talk with relatives in a more comfortable and interactive way- think of it as the ability to show AND tell! Ask a kid over the phone, “how’s school going?” and you are lucky to get a response of “fine” out of them. But over a webcam, they can show off their artwork, the A+ they got on their spelling test, or even the new family dog. Now, that’s vastly more interesting for both parties than a quick phone call, right?  These programs are also a great way for grandparents to talk to or play games with friends or other relatives who have retired to other cities.