Virtual Match Activity Ideas

 
 
 

  1. Play a game of “Would You Rather” or “20 questions” via telephone or FaceTime.

  2. Make a mini video update (First choosing a theme, Show N’ Tell, Top 10 activities to do that don’t involve screen time, etc.) to send to one another.

  3. Watch YouTube Videos & Reflect/Discuss them together:

    1. Famous Failures

    2. The Science of Character (Middle-School or Teens)

    3. An Experiment in Gratitude (Teens)

    4. How to Find Your Spark

    5. Garnder’s Multiple Intelligences Theory

  4. Create a shared distance mentoring plan: PG, Big and Little would be able to agree on a calendar, timeline, and the best ways to stay in touch:

    1. talk with one another on what to expect from you moving forward until further notice

    2. Schedule weekly / bi-weekly check ins over the phone, email, text, or video call – stay connected!

    3. Talk to your Little about ways to “self-care” during this time (i.e. wash hands, limit screen time, exercise/meditate/mindfulness, read books, talk to people who care about you

  5. Have a drawing contest and show it to each other over video call, text or email

  6. Brainstorm an activity list of things you both would like to do together in the future

  7. Share quotes. How the quote relates to your life and keeps you motivated/empowered, research the person, etc.

  8. Create mindfulness and self-care planning/exercises and SMART goals.

  9. Submit your work to a coloring or art contest. Look up art contests and work on something at the same time to either put together at a later time or to submit separately. Try https://www.samanthasbell.com/art-contests-for-kids/ or the Free Arts Challenge: @bbbsfreearts on Instagram

  10. Teach something to each other – dance, talent, trick etc, dance challenge

  11. Explore new music or other music/dances from around the world

  12. Create vision boards – separately or shared on Google docs

  13. Learn a magic trick to share.

  14. Learn a new language. Language sprout is offering everything free on Facebook Live including daily story time, free word and activity of the day, group class and private lesson option all online on their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/languagesprout/

  15. Download fun educational apps that Bigs and Littles work on together or perhaps this could be a resource Bigs share with families?):

    1. Duolingo–learning different language

    2. DragonBox–Math fun for all levels

    3. Quick Maths–Math Fun for grades 2-6

    4. Science360–app created by the National Science Foundation to showcase advance science, engineering news images and videos for kids

    5. Free Flow–puzzle game

    6. Spelling Stage–fun game with words and spelling/vocabulary and reading/writing

  16. Write short stories back and forth to each other (virtual or snail mail)

  17. Compete against each other in online gaming (PC, PS4, XBox, etc.)

  18. Watch TV shows, YouTube videos, or movies together on a video app – debrief, have follow up prompts at https://www.netflixparty.com/

  19. Watch and listen to Minnesota artists streaming their concerts (Shannon Blowtorch is doing one just for kids)

  20. Play a board game together online while on video chat or a phone call. There’s several sites and apps that work, both paid and free options. https://en.boardgamearena.com/ (multiple games), https://lichess.org/ (chess), https://www.catan.com/game/catan-universe# (Settlers of Catan), etc. Many titles have online options if you search for “ ‘XYZ’ game” online.

  21. Learn how to make simple music together using Soundtrap. It’s a free music interface that only needs a web browser, and allows multiple people to collaborate on the same track. Would work well paired with a video hang out or screen share.

  22. Virtually tour 2500+ museums together via Google Arts & Culture.

  23. Come up with a few accomplishable goals you can each achieve at home and have weekly check-ins on progress. For example, books read, becoming a better cook, art projects, fitness goals, etc.

  24. Watch a TV show or movie together remotely

    1. Both Netflix or YouTube have full episodes of fun childrens shows

    2. Netflix has an episode of The Magic School Bus, Season 1 Episode 3 “Inside Ralphie” that does a great job of looking at how and why we get sick and the immune system

  25. Become Big/Little PENPALS! Exchange letters and postcards with one another. Send Little a letter-writing start-up kit with stationery, stickers and a sheet of postage stamps to get things going. Visit https://store.usps.com/store/home to purchase postage stamps online.

  26. Learn a new language together using free Duolingo then speak to each other over the phone using your new language skills.

  27. Bigs could “mail drop” a care package for Littles, including small notes, activities, coloring books or how-to books in their family’s mailbox or mail slot at home. (This would allow digital-free contact while maintaining social distancing guidelines.)

  28. Start a book club

    1. Stream or read books for free at Mrs. P Showcase

    2. Call and discuss book together

  29. Use the Covid 19 comic and talk about what you CAN do to stay healthy

  30. Do fun activities and use mindfulness tools. Virtual Hope Box offers sections like: Distract Me, Inspire Me, Relax Me, and Coping Tools. Put photos, videos, messages from loved ones, inspirational quotes, and music in your Hope Box. Move through different sections together.

  31. Create a “Fortune Teller” or “Cootie Catcher” using a simple pattern.

  32. Take the are you a “Good Friend Quiz”?

  33. Learn some yoga moves and create a 15 minute yoga routine.

  34. Take a survival skills quiz

  35. Practice tongue twisters.

  36. Watch a Broadway Musical online.

  37. Take a virtual field trip.

  38. Watch a lesson from an Indigenous educator.

  39. Listen to a Spanish children’s story together.

  40. Choose an article from Teaching Tolerance to read and discuss.

  41. Interview your Big about college or their career choice.

  42. Play charades! The great thing about charades is it doesn’t really require any materials or prep beyond your imagination and a list of words to act out. This game can be easily customized to suit just about any age group. Use this no-frills Charades Generator to pick a word for you to act out in front of the camera, then see who in your audience can guess!

  43. Play a few rounds of Pictionary. If you don’t have an easel handy, you can play Pictionary with Zoom’s whiteboard feature. If you click on the “share screen” button and select whiteboard you can use the annotation tools that allow you to use your mouse to draw. The Game Gal’s word generator helps to keep the family-friendly words flowing.

  44. “You sunk my Battleship!” If both participants have the board game, simply pull one of the game boards out of the box, and start playing. It’s a lot harder to peak at your opponent’s ships when you are playing on Facetime!

  45. Have an Entire Conversation Using Bitmojis. You might not have broken out the Bitmojis in a few years, but the app is still going strong and is available across most platforms. There’s literally a sticker and emoji for everything, which makes it a fun challenge to see how long a full conversation lasts without actual words being typed. You can also be on the lookout for the most ridiculous Bitmoji around.

  46. Create Your Own 'Lip Sync Battle' Videos. You can do this using TikTok, but it’s more fun and personal to send them through text. You can even challenge each other. Name a song you’d love for others to lip-sync and see how well they do with a time window of 15 minutes. If they aren’t familiar with the song, that’s even more fun. You can also do it live through video chat.

  47. Craft Together Through Video Chat! If you’re both into knitting or crocheting, it can be really nice to share your projects with your best friends over video chat. Make it seem like you’re all in the same room together, working on peaceful projects. Or if you want, you can even make scarves and hats for each other that you can hold onto to remember these strange times.

  48. Give Each Other Doodling Prompts. You can do this through video chat or even send a text with the day’s “assignments.” This is perfect for artsy matches who might find it hard to get inspired because of all of the bad news coming in.

  49. Have a Step Competition. Remember, iPhones and some Android phones have built-in pedometers. If not, it’s easy to find an app that will count your steps. While we’re all allowed outside, it’s very tough to feel motivated on a rainy day. Challenge your Little to take a daily step competition with you.

  50. Another cool on for LEGO fans is this LEGO Charades game (free printable using the blue button at the bottom of that website)

  51. These STEM Building Task Cards ask players to use every day materials to build different shapes and numbers (free printable)

  52. For a funny physical activity, everyone makes their own Cardboard Video Game Tablet. Take turns holding yours up to the screen and “pressing the various buttons” which show everyone else what to do. Jog facing right, jog facing left, jump, squat down. (Free tutorial & game ideas)

  53. Grab some Hand Puppets or Finger Puppets (or make your own) and take turns putting on puppet shows. 25 Giggle-Inducing DIY Puppets to Make for Kids

  54. Read stories together- you can read books you have at home, or sign up for your library's eBook service to check out books to read.

  55. Use this Dollar Store Hack to Make Your Own Theatre Stage to put on a show for each other.

  56. Make your own version of this recycled cardboard box car dashboard and “take a trip” somewhere together. Discuss where you are going and what you see.

  57. Take turns posing while everyone else draws your portrait.

  58. Here are 5 Games to Play At Home, Including a printable detective game. (List and Printable)

  59. Taboo – This is a game where you have to get people to guess the top word on the card without saying the related words below. Easiest if everyone has a set, or if one person is the only one giving clues. The standard version is marked 13 and up, while the Kids Vs. Parents Taboo Version has more kid friendly cards.

  60. Riddle Moo This – It’s a silly game and could see it played with a group where one person is the leaders and reads the cards and the others guess.

  61. Double Ditto – One person reads a category and then everyone writes down 2 answers they think everyone else will say. Share your answers and see whose minds are a match

  62. Guess Who! How to Play – Each player picks a card with a picture of someone on their board. The other player then tries to guess who they picked by asking questions to eliminate the other pictures on their board. For example – does the person have glasses or a hat. When you guess the opponent’s person, you win. If you are looking for more of a challenge, try creating your own boards with celebrities you both know or historic figures.

  63. Send BBBS the list of ways YOU can connect remotely with your match. We will keep an ongoing list to share with other matches who may benefit from your ideas!