FaceTime games to play with a 4-year-old grandkid
The best video-call games for a 4-year-old are short, cooperative and need nothing you don't already have: i spy, camera edition, show and tell, copy my face. Four-year-olds have short attention spans and love moving. Keep calls to 5-10 minutes and pick games with their whole body in them. Keep each round under 10 minutes and let your grandchild lead.
What works for a 4-year-old on a video call?
Four-year-olds have short attention spans and love moving. Keep calls to 5-10 minutes and pick games with their whole body in them.
Try a split-clue puzzle
Below is a little detectives puzzle (ages 4 to 7). One of you reads the grandparent's clues, the other reads the grandkid's. Neither can solve it alone.
5 games for age 4
- I Spy, camera edition: Take turns spying something in your own room; the other asks yes/no questions.
- Show and tell: Each brings one object to the camera and tells its story. Grandparents: bring something old.
- Copy my face: One makes a face, the other copies it. Then switch to animal sounds.
- Freeze dance: One plays music and pauses it; the other freezes. Silly and short.
- Read-along: Grandparent reads a chapter book a little each call; the kid shows the pictures they drew of it.
The muddy floor
Someone walked mud all over the kitchen floor!
AGrandparent's clues
- Your clue
The duck swam in the pond all day.
BGrandkid's clues
- Your clue
The cow stayed in the barn.