With technology today, there are more ways than ever to keep in contact with the people you love.
While talking to a loved one over text or through a phone call is always nice, nothing beats having a chat face to face, especially if you don’t get to see each other often.
Video calling has truly changed the way people around the world keep in contact. It helps people feel less lonely, gives people more freedom by letting them work and study remotely and lets kids meet and connect with friends and loved ones.
Now that video calling is available on Spacetalk Adventurer in brilliant high definition, it’s easier than ever for kids to share a laugh with a friend right from their wrist.
Let’s run through some of the benefits of video calling for both kids and adults and explore the different ways this technology can help us connect on a deeper, more personal level.
Keeps loved ones connected
The first benefit of video calling is keeping us connected with the ones we love.
Life can get so busy and we’re not always able to jump in the car and visit a friend whenever we’d like, but video calling knows no distance, letting you chat with people halfway across the world from the comfort of your own home.
This freedom lets friends catch up for a few minutes for a chat, quickly get mums opinion on your outfit before you go out or talk over a cup of coffee for a longer catch up.
Some families have even held video call dinners over lockdown where everyone would sit down at their laptop with their meal and eat, laugh and chat like they were all in the same room.
There’s even research suggesting that kids who eat meals with their loved ones improve their conversation skills and have a greater sense of family connection, making them more resilient. All the more reason to have a Zoom dinner with nana!
Subtle cues
You can read a lot in someone’s facial expression. Every parent has had an experience when their child has said they’re not upset when they clearly are or caught their little one lying about eating the last piece of cake in the fridge.
Unlike a phone call or text, video calling can help kids learn how to read the facial expressions of others, a skill that will help them communicate more effectively with others now, and in the future.
Greater understanding
Have you ever sent someone a text only for them to take it the wrong way? While your intentions may have been innocent, we can’t always control how other people interpret our words.
With video calling, being able to see someone’s face and hear their tone of voice makes it much easier to get your meaning across and leaves less room for misinterpretation.
Eases loneliness
Everyone gets lonely sometimes, but for some people chronic loneliness can be a debilitating experience.
Anyone can experience loneliness at any time and any age, but is particularly common in people with limited mobility, new mothers and those that live far from relatives and friends.
If you have a loved one you suspect could be feeling a bit lonely, organising a video call can be just the thing needed to lift their spirits. Better yet, having a weekly video call session can give everyone something to look forward to, strengthen friendships and teach kids about how important it is to look out for and consider others.
Video calling is a wonderful way to keep in touch in a more personal way. From being able to read someone’s facial expression to strengthening friendships, video calling helps all of us keep connected.