{"id":141550,"date":"2022-03-23T06:08:03","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T13:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=141550"},"modified":"2024-01-09T17:09:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T01:09:52","slug":"helping-mom-dad-family-video-chats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/helping-mom-dad-family-video-chats\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Mom & Dad: Family Video Chats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: This is the third in a series of articles about how we can help our elder parents get the most out of digital life\u2014the ways we can help them look after their finances and health online, along with how they can use the internet to keep connected with friends and family, all safely and simply.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now here\u2019s a great topic. Spending more quality time with our folks, even if they\u2019re far away. That\u2019s the beauty of a family video chat. It\u2019s a way to connect with more than voice. It\u2019s a way to share moments together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your parents and the older loved ones in your family haven\u2019t come around to the idea of video chats just yet, now\u2019s a good time to give it a try. Video chats are far easier to enjoy than ever, and with a little initiative from you, the family can gather around a video chat rather quickly. In fact, there\u2019s plenty you can do to get them started.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Video chats may be old hat to you, but it\u2019s likely quite new to them<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Clearly, a video chat is different than a phone call. Beyond the technological differences, it\u2019s quite a different way of interacting. After all, there you are, face-to-face, talking over a device. And that may feel a little awkward, especially for our parents. They\u2019ve lived lives where long-distance conversations meant using a phone that was anchored to the kitchen wall.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So aside from the technical considerations of video chats, there\u2019s a degree of freedom that may leave our parents wondering what to do and how to act in this new medium. Just like when we first used video chat ourselves, questions come up \u2026 <\/span>Where should I be looking on the screen <\/span><\/i>\u2026 <\/span>How should I hold the phone <\/span><\/i>\u2026 <\/span>Can everyone on this call see up my nose<\/span><\/i>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can ease them in by taking the lead, welcoming them into the notion that your video chat can be much more than a phone call. More than simply talking, it\u2019s a chance to create a shared space together.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A great example is this: a co-worker recently told me about his in-laws who were scouting out retirement communities to live in. Even though his in-laws lived 2,000 miles away, they all got to do a little house-hunting together. Using a smartphone, they took room-to-room tours of model homes together, got views of the tree-lined streets, checked out the pools and rec centers, and so on. A few weeks later, they shared another video call where his in-laws walked the family through their new place after they\u2019d settled in. And all of it started with a simple request, \u201cHey, turn on FaceTime so we can take a look too!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, in a way, video chats truly are an opportunity to create moments together. It could be as simple as asking grandma to read a book to the kids, have mom and dad share what they\u2019re having for a birthday dinner, or ask them to show how hard it\u2019s snowing outside their home. Anything you can do to encourage a little free interaction of some sort may make a video chat feel far more comfortable. You can really relax and interact once you settle in and let the possibilities unfold.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Set a time for your call<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In a way, a video call is much like dropping by the house for a visit. Placing a video call unannounced may catch mom in her curlers, so to speak. Or, as we\u2019ve heard our parents say when they looked at a messy living room, we may catch them when \u201cthe house isn\u2019t ready for guests.\u201d In either case, scheduling a time for a video call gives everyone time to prepare. Whether it\u2019s sprucing up your appearance or simply getting into the headspace for a face-to-face interaction, a designated time helps everyone get ready.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On your end, it\u2019s an opportunity for you to prepare as well. Do the kids have some recent schoolwork or a project they\u2019re proud of? Have them bring it for some show-and-tell. Doing some cooking lately and you just can\u2019t seem to get the family secret BBQ sauce just right? Bring your folks into the kitchen for some cooking advice. Find an old treasure in storage? Break it out and flip through your old grade-school art scrapbook with them on the call. As you prepare, think about sharing and moments, some of the things you\u2019d like to do together over a video call. That\u2019ll make it all the more special.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picking a platform for your video call\u2014smartphones and tablets are a straightforward way to go<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As you know, there are plenty ways to hold a video call. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ve used several platforms and apps yourself already, whether with friends, work, or a mix of both. So when it comes to picking what\u2019s best for your video call, the question to ask here is what\u2019s your parent\u2019s comfort level with technology.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your parents are pretty comfortable with technology<\/span>, you can share one of my earlier articles on video calls with them, which walks through the ins and outs of different apps and options<\/span><\/a>. If they\u2019re a little less savvy with technology, ideally they have a smartphone or tablet that they can use. Chances are, that device will have video calling built right in, such as Apple\u2019s FaceTime or Google Duo on Android devices\u2014both of which make video calls an easier \u201cpoint and shoot\u201d experience.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re using different devices, <\/span>you can still use apps like FaceTime between Androids and iPhones<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s rather straightforward, as all it takes is for one party or other to click a link. Additionally, Google Duo is available as an app in Apple\u2019s App Store, which makes it easy for everyone to get on one platform as needed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Video calls on laptops and computers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If a smartphone or tablet isn\u2019t in the picture, there are certainly options for laptops and computers, several you may also know well already. Of the free and relatively straightforward apps out there, you can choose from:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoom <\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

With <\/span>a free account that can run through a browser window<\/span><\/a>, you and your parents can enjoy a call without having to manually download an app.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Skype<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

<\/b>This comes standard on Windows PCs and supports apps for all kinds of tablets and smartphones too. If you want to create a video chat without an account, you can simply <\/span>visit this page and start an instant video chat with a click<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Google Meet<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Free to anyone with a free Google Gmail account, you can use Google Meet just by clicking its icon from your Google apps menu or by visiting <\/span>https:\/\/meet.google.com\/<\/span><\/a>. Like Zoom and Skype, it can run in the window of a browser, so there\u2019s no app to manually download.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, your folks will need a camera and microphone for their computer.<\/span> If they don\u2019t have one, there are\u202f<\/span>plenty of moderately priced web cameras that include a microphone<\/span><\/a>. I suggest getting one with a physical lens cap. That way they can protect privacy. Of course, they can always simply disconnect it when they\u2019re not using it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting up a laptop or computer for video calls may take a little bit of work. You can help your parents by walking them through the process with these articles:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n