Summer is coming and we’re all dying to get outside and enjoy a little break from school, or vacation from work. It’s time for the family to reconnect again! But what happens if it rains on your vacation? Or if it is just too hot to send the kids outside? There’s not rule saying you can’t spend time as a family in the cool of an air conditioned home. What to do while you’re there? You could just stare at everyone’s faces. Or, put your electronics to work! Here are a few ideas:
Apple’s Siri
What’s better than having the wealth of almost all information known to man on the internet? Having it all in the palm of your hand, ready to be accessed between texts or Tik Tok videos! No matter where you are – away on vacation, in your own kitchen, or even in the car (as long as you are not the driver) – Siri is at your beck and call, ready to inform, entertain, or compete.
A good way to start is to ask Siri some questions, the more ridiculous the better. Try the same question more than once. Chances are she may have changed her mind about the answer. Need some hints to get started?
Try these:
- Siri, Is God real?
- Siri, Why is the sky blue?
- Siri, When will the world end?
- Siri, What should I do now?
- Siri, How many peppers did Peter Piper pick?
- Siri, What does “Siri” mean?
- Siri, What is your favorite book?
- Siri, Will you marry me?
- Siri, How old are you?
- Siri, Why are firetrucks red?
- Siri, Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- Siri, How much do you cost?
Of course, over the years, Siri has been building quite the repertoire of smart responses. If you need more, or haven’t had quite the laugh you were hoping to get yet, keep asking.
If you need your funny bone tickled, ask Siri to tell you a joke or a riddle. Feeling more musical? You’ll get a kick out of asking Siri to beatbox for you. If you really want to get creative, ask Siri to participate in your own games. Have her play a certain type of music (holiday music makes your holiday party the best), and play Name That Tune. In the car, you can have each family member guess how far you are to your destination, and let Siri answer you. (She’s really the most reliable judge, anyway.)
Siri is also always available for chance games. Tell her to flip a coin, roll the dice, or even give you a Magic 8 Ball reading. Keep you phone charged, and you can have your assistant entertain you all night.
Amazon’s Alexa
If you and your family are stuck at home, inside, during your vacation, you can still stay entertained. You won’t even need to set up Netflix with movies to watch the whole time. Interacting with you Amazon Echo device is a screen-free way to make sure everyone has a good time. Amazon adds new games frequently, but beware of possible costs. (Alexa does double check to make sure you would like to actually make the purchase before proceeding, however.)
Want some recommendations? Just ask Alexa to play…
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
This game is especially fun when you have a fifth grader. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much your child has learned at school. Because the questions in the game starts at a first grade level, this game is fun for all ages in your family. Besides, kids love it when they can answer questions better than the adults.
The Magic Door
If you’ve already played Alexa’s Escape the Room, you may have found it a little difficult. You may want to try The Magic Door with your younger kids. This interactive game is like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, so there are practically no limits on how many versions of the story you could wind up with.
Lemonade Stand
Remember the fun you had as a kid setting up a lemonade stand? No? You only remember all the work you did to sit out in the sun and watch no one walk by? Maybe you just needed more practice. This game simulates outdoor conditions and even starts you off with some pretend capital ($5). It’s actually a good way to get your kids to see how much work they would need to do to prepare for the real thing if they hope to make a profit.
Google Assistant
If Google is your assistant of choice, you still have plenty of entertainment options. A few favorite activities to check out include:
Are you a Potterhead?
If only having seven Harry Potter books is not enough for you and your family, if you’ve seen the movies more times than you can count, and if you can’t make the trip yet to Disney’s Harry Potter themed park, you may have to satisfy your Hogwarts craving in another way. Play this Google Assistant game to scratch that itch and breathe a sigh of relief.
The Vortex
Taking cues from the earliest computer games, The Vortex is an updated adventure game where you control the action through voice commands.
Ding Dong Coconut
You have no idea what this is, do you? No worries, understanding connections is part of the challenge. This is a type of memory game where you respond to a sound as instructed. The difficulty increases as more sounds are added. Ding Dong Coconut is another game where there is no guarantee the adults can beat the kids.
Pictures Puzzle
Best suited for the youngest crowd, Picture Puzzle is like a game of Twenty Questions, where correct answers reveal a bit more of the picture before guessing what it is.
As with many other forms of entertainment, you could easily become addicted to a favorite game, or you may even branch out and find a whole host of others. Imagine how well you will get to know your family by playing these. It’s hard to beat a good laugh fest. Beyond that, the remembrance of the time you spent together will last a lifetime. Who knew something as simple as your cell phone, or other household smart device, could bring your family such great memories.
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