Fun games, apps, ideas to keep my relationship with my dad vibrant.

October 16, 2014 3:19 PM

Me and my dad don't really like to talk on the phone much or communicate extensively via email. I'm about to give him an iPhone and I was wondering if you can suggest a way to use the phone to keep in touch in a fun and fresh way.

I'm thinking along the lines of 'words with friends' or 'draw something' but something that engages us in a deeper, more thoughtful, or creative way. We both aren't on Facebook and I'm mostly disinterested in that platform as a way to communicate. I'm open to some type of non-goofy or cartoon-y multi-player game. Another fun idea I do with a friend over MMS is we take turns taking photos of stuff with each photo in turn inspired by the last. Perhaps you have a similar idea which doesn't involve installing an app.

posted by Captain Chesapeake to Human Relations (8 answers total)

snapchat could be a nice way to share with each other the fun and interesting things you experience or see throughout the day.
posted by monologish at 3:22 PM on October 16, 2014 [6 favorites]

I love texting. You can easily send photos as part of the messages.
posted by bearwife at 3:24 PM on October 16, 2014 [2 favorites]

Quiz Up is really fun to play against people you know and they have many different categories to quiz yourself on. The best part is that it's free!
posted by ruhroh at 3:27 PM on October 16, 2014

Best answer: Do either of you play chess? I really like the Chess by Post app (free), and that's been really fun for me and my dad. We can each make moves at our leisure, and use the chat feature on the app to compliment each other or, in the case of my dad, give me pointers to make my game better. It's been a surprisingly fun and really enriching way to keep in touch.
posted by stellaluna at 3:43 PM on October 16, 2014

Definitely second Snapchat, which some of my friends and I like to just throw random pictures of things we see at each other (you can also draw on the photo). If you want something a little more creative than Words with Friends (which, by the way, functions as the only way I communicate with a couple of people I know), I think Draw Something is still around, which could be fun.

Out of left field: Do you guys like beer? Because Untapped is a great way to communicate just on the level of what beers you're trying and what you think of them.
posted by General Malaise at 5:04 PM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Nthing SnapChat. You can draw on the photos and add captions, which is a great way to joke back and forth about things you see/encounter during your day. IMO it's a great way to capture a lot of the same feeling of spending time with someone in person and pointing stuff out "oh hey check that out" and then discussing it.
posted by Jacqueline at 6:14 PM on October 16, 2014

Snapchat has games but a lot of security issues. I moved from that to Glide. You can submit little videos to your Dad. Can even watch them live if you both are on at the same time.
posted by KogeLiz at 10:20 PM on October 16, 2014

issue photo challenges to each other. He has to find a cute puppy. You have to take a picture with a police officer. etc.
posted by namesarehard at 12:28 AM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]