If you have kids under seven, this is the gold standard. Think of it as FaceTime meets a library. It’s an app where the grandparent and child can see each other in a small window while simultaneously looking at a digital book, a coloring page, or a game like Tic-Tac-Toe.

Grandma can read The Very Hungry Caterpillar while the child turns the virtual pages. It takes the pressure off the "conversation" and puts it on the story. It’s the digital equivalent of sitting on a lap in a rocking chair. Learn more about using Caribu for long-distance storytime

I know, I know. Roblox can feel like a chaotic, neon-drenched fever dream where kids speak in a language comprised entirely of "skibidi" and "Ohio." But if you have a tech-savvy grandparent (or one willing to learn), it is an incredible "digital playground."

Instead of talking about their day, your kid can take Grandpa on a tour of the house they built in Bloxburg. It turns the child into the expert and the teacher, which is a massive confidence booster. Yes, Roblox can be a bank-account-draining machine if you aren't careful with Robux, but as a venue for "doing" things together, it's hard to beat. Check out our guide on setting up Roblox parental controls

For kids who aren't ready for a phone but want to send Grandma a "Good Morning" emoji or a picture of their LEGO creation, this is the safest "training wheels" app.

The beauty here is the asynchronous nature of it. Kids can send a silly photo with a digital mustache filter, and Grandma can reply when she wakes up. It builds a "stream of consciousness" relationship rather than a scheduled "event" call. Note: It’s a Meta product, so if you’re strictly anti-Facebook, skip this. But for pure functionality and parental oversight, it’s the most robust option for the 6-10 age bracket.

For the older kids (and the grandparents who love the Sunday Crossword), the daily New York Times games are the ultimate low-stakes connection point.

My family has a group text where everyone posts their Wordle scores (the green and yellow boxes, no spoilers!). It’s a daily "ping" that says I’m thinking of you without requiring a 30-minute commitment. It’s a shared challenge. Ask our chatbot for more daily puzzle games for families

If you have a group of cousins spread across the country, a private lobby of Among Us is a riot. It’s basically a digital version of the "Mafia" or "Werewolf" parlor games. It involves logic, social deduction, and just enough "suspicion" to keep things hilarious. It’s a great way for teenagers to actually want to hang out with their extended family on a Friday night.

We often talk about "screen time" as a monolithic evil, but we need to distinguish between Passive Consumption (scrolling TikTok) and Relational Connection.

When a child plays Minecraft with an uncle, they aren't just "playing a game." They are learning how to collaborate, how to handle digital etiquette, and how to maintain a bond with someone they only see twice a year. In a world where kids are increasingly "online," these digital family bridges ensure that their online world includes people who actually love them, not just influencers and algorithms.

Keep it short. Use apps like Caribu or PBS Kids Games. Don't expect a conversation. Expect them to show the camera their new socks and then run away. That’s okay.

This is the sweet spot for Minecraft, Roblox, or even Pokemon TCG Live. They need a task to focus on so the conversation can happen naturally in the "sidecar" of the activity.

Teenagers might not want to hop on a 1-on-1 Zoom with Aunt Linda. But they might send Aunt Linda a funny YouTube short or a link to a Spotify playlist. Respect the "ping" connection.

When connecting with extended family, the "safety" isn't usually about the family members—it's about the platform.

If your parents (the grandparents) are tech-hesitant, don't just tell them to "download an app."

Digital connection with family shouldn't feel like a chore on your to-do list. If FaceTime is failing you, stop doing it. Switch to a game, a shared drawing app, or a simple "Wordle of the day" thread.

The goal isn't to have a "perfect conversation." The goal is to make sure that when your kid finally sees their extended family in person at Thanksgiving, they don't feel like they're meeting strangers—they feel like they're continuing a game that’s been going on all year.