First, we read (gasp!) a BOOK! The kind made with paper and ink! Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg is a totally charming book about a little girl who has tea with her grandpa every afternoon. The twist at the end? They're visiting with each other on-screen! This book is a great reminder about one of my very favorite ways to use digital devices to build relationships -- video calls. Two of the most well-known video call apps are FaceTime (for iOS devices) and Skype (for Android or iOS). They are both free to use and are just a fantastic way for kids to connect with faraway loved ones. One of the parents at the Supper Club pointed out that their family struggled with these video calls at first because the grandparents wanted the kids to lead the conversation and the kids weren't sure what to talk about, so if you're finding the process awkward, suggest some sort of cooperative play (like a tea party) that everyone can engage in together. (My son loves to "hide his grandma" (i.e. hide the phone which grandma is talking on) inside his toy ambulance while she either makes siren noises or exclaims about how dark it is inside the ambulance or pretends to be a patient being whisked to the hospital.)
