Non gaming ways for boys to keep in touch online

[bluefootedboobie]

Just wondering seeing if anyone has any bright ideas of how my DS (10) and his mate can hang out over FaceTime that doesn't involve them having to chat / fill silences. They are good pals but terrible at small talk so not keen on just chatting. They tried last week and it was painful. I expect many boys are the same. They both game but roblox and fortnite are not options.

My younger DD on the other hand can fill hours 'chatting' to friends - they bake together, do gymnastics, whatever they fancy. The boys are a bit clueless in comparison.

My eldest is 8 and was playing hide and seek via FaceTime with his friend the other day. No idea. Kids are mental.

You need to have realms to play Minecraft across different platforms (eg x-box and PlayStation), I think - DS invited his friend and they build together, he on PlayStation and his friend is on x-box. You can use the chat function but they speak on the phone as well.

My 10yo plays Fifa , fortnite, rocket league and Minecraft all online with his friends.

Now we are in lockdown again I've given up with limiting screen times as there's sod all else for them to do apart from school work. Even though it can get a bit loud when they are all talking over each other its the only contact they've got outside the family at the moment

Discord.
Minecraft.

minecraft
animal crossing and simultaneous houseparty app
watch parties on netflix
is it a platform issue or a content issue

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

minecraft animal crossing and simultaneous houseparty app watch parties on netflix is it a platform issue or a content issue

How would you do a watch party? Is there a app or something that you can discuss the film as you watching? This would be great if you could do something like this like a film night thing

@Gobacktothe90s
for eg: www.amazon.co.uk/adlp/watchparty?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
www.facebook.com/help/1681245065258554?helpref=about_content
www.netflixparty.com/introducing-teleparty

you can probs do it on twitch etc too

[quote Ihatemyseleffordoingthis]@Gobacktothe90s
for eg: www.amazon.co.uk/adlp/watchparty?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
www.facebook.com/help/1681245065258554?helpref=about_content
www.netflixparty.com/introducing-teleparty

you can probs do it on twitch etc too[/quote]
Thanks for these links these will def help my son connect with some of his friends

2 of mine (plus a wee one that wanders in & out) & a pair for friends play boardgames together over Skype/FaceTime lots of frustration, ludo, forbidden desert, Baker Street (cooperative version) snakes & ladders, chess. Dice in both houses but they rarely use two sets of a game even if they have it. They even manage to play Cluedo but I’m not sure how

They started with easy things like connect 4 & snakes & ladders but quickly expanded into more complex play & also make their own games. Kids range from 8-12.

We also did the website thing.

Free website via Wordpress

Chat online at the same time using zoom.

Use zoom screenshare to watch what the other person is doing.

You can also work on scratch projects but I think one has to do it and the other watch/suggest stuff.

Anything in google docs can be done together too- writing, spreadsheets etc for working together on projects.