There have been many challenges of having to stay at home. One big challenge is missing our friends and family – and the time we spend together. Luckily, we have old fashioned games and internet/smart phones/tablets.
I was thinking of Ava, missing out on her friends, so I had the idea to play games via video chat with them. I reached out to her friend’s mom and we set up a day/time to play together. We used Facebook Messenger Video to play, but you could use Zoom or Google Hangout as well.
Yahtzee
Yahtzee is super easy to play with via video chat, with 2 or more players. It is meant for ages 8+, but it is very easy to play for even 6 or 7 year olds. If you don’t have Yahtzee, but have 5 dice, you can play. If only one of you have the actual game, with scorecards – you will keep score for both parties – or you can print off/make your own scorecards and keep track seperately. Here are two versions you can print – Classic Yahtzee via www.winning-moves.com or Triple Yahtzee Score Sheet via www.memory-improvement-tips.com. You may want a calculator handy to add up the scores at the end. Here are the rules to Yahtzee via www.winning-moves.com, if you have never played before.
Farkle
Farkle is a fast paced dice game that is so fun! Play with 2 or more players, ages 8+, but like Yahtzee, it is possible for 6 or 7 year olds to pay as well. You will need 6 dice and a score sheet to play. Here is a score sheet via www.elversonpuzzle.com with directions on how to score. Also, here is another score sheet via www.dicegamesdepot.com and a more detailed version of how to play the game here via www.playmonster.com.
Scattergories
Scattergories is awesome to play via video chat. It is recommended for 2-6 player to play, but its definitely possible for more to play! It is listed for ages 13+, but 8+ can play (they might not get some of the topics or spelling correctly, but that’s no big deal.) If you don’t have Scattergories – click here to print it out for yourself via www.nwtliteracy.ca If you just need sheets to play the game, just print pages 6 and 8 of the previous link, or use lined paper folded in half across and then thirds, numbering each “column” 1-12. You will also need a timer – set for 4 minutes a round. Here are the rules via www.winning-moves.com to Scattergories, if you have never played before.
Battleship
Battleship is a game for 2 players ages 7+ that can be played via video chat. You would play the game as you normally do, just not in person. Here is a travel size on Amazon for under $10, if you don’t have it yet.
Watch Ya Mouth
Watch Ya Mouth is a silly game that came out a few years ago that requires the player to put a mouthpiece in and say what is written on a card, while their team member guesses what they said. It is recommended to play with 3 or more players, ages 8+. This would be fun to play with team members on video chat – if two players are in one house and two players in another house, then pair up with someone from opposite houses. If there are only 3 players, 2 players would guess. You will need to have this game handy to play, for cards and mouthpieces – here it is on Amazon for under $20. There are a few different versions to choose from.
Charades
Charades is a classic game that you don’t need anything but yourself, another player(s), a charades list via www.thegamegal.com (you can also google charades list to find more words to choose from!) and a bucket or hat to put the words in to play. Here are the rules via www.familyeducation.com. This would be so funny to play with via video chat!!
Pictionary
Pictionary is another classic game that can easily be played via video chat. It can be played 2 or more players, ages 6+ (will need to be able to read.) You will need a dry erase board of any size (they have them at Dollar Tree for $1), dry erase board markers and a list of ideas to draw. Here is a great resource with rules on how to play as well as multiple word lists via www.thegamegal.com!
These are just a few ideas that I have for this blog post, but please let me know if you have any other ideas! Let me know if you have a virtual game night, and how you liked it, too! ❤
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