FaceTime - An iPhone feature for Grandpa

Depmandog · Jul 16, 2012

Our 6 1/2 month old grandson, who we get to see almost daily - has his grandparents wrapped around his little finger. Because of his mom and dads work schedule he spends three nights a week here with us.

We just returned from a 4 day mini vacation where we were with him 24/7. So that brought us to today, where grandson and his mom are staying the week with daddy who is working out of town.

Grandma and myself are having MAJOR grandson withdrawals but we found a really neat work around, FACETIME using the iPhone.

I never had the need to use it before. But it's just the ticket. For those that don't know - its video phone, and it works surprisingly well!!

We have used it twice today, and I would bet will use it at least twice daily till they get back home.

Okay, allow me to carry on...isn't he the cutest thing....

Edit: oops sorry he is sideways!!

sodamo · Jul 17, 2012

Oh yea

Last year we bought an ipad for our 5 yo granddaughters birthday. She lives in Va and we are in Hi. We got to "attend" her birthday party at her Md grandparents - sing, the cake, the presents, really neat.
The end of Jun, we picked her up from the Hilo airport after flying by herself from LA. Because she recognized us from FaceTime, she comes off the plane and points there's grandma, theres grandpa.
Unfortunately, her parents only have droid and pc at home so they struggle with a Tango instead of FaceTime. My son wanted to keep the iPad for the summer, but I nixed that.

While FaceTime may be the icing on the cake, I can't say enough about the iPad as an educational tool for my granddaughter. Of the apps I have bought, far and away the most $ have been on the educational stuff for her.

Two quick examples:
When she first got here, our GD had the habit of saying," I can't" - something she picked up from her mother and not allowed in our house. I soon found an app for The Little Engine That Could. 2.99 I think. It reads to her as she follows the highlighted words. She does it several times a day, on her own, saying the words herself. Haven't heard, "I can't" in over a week, and what a change in attitude.

Today, I decided to find an app to teach her to tell time. Found one and loaded it while she was at swim lesson. Unfortunately, we had to leave for errands within minutes of wife and her getting home, so no time to show her how to work it, just pointed to it and told her what it was. It's half an hour ride into town and the iPad is perfect. Long before getting to town she had figured out how to do a number of things that if done correctly, gave her rewards, a star, 5 stars gets a fish. So at this point, she has earned 16 fish by doing things like setting the hands on an analog clock, setting a digital time to match the analog clock and probably a thing or two I didn't catch. I'd guess she has probably spent between 3 and 4 hours with it. Tomorrow I will increase the difficulty level.

Enjoy

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

robs660 · Jul 17, 2012

My 3 year old had an iPad. I travel 60% of the time for work and we get to have lunch and dinner together almost every day. I also get to tell. Her stories at night. It's great wen she kisses the screen and tells me good night. Apple got it do right with the iPhone - iPad combo. She also has many educational games and 6 or 8 movies on there all the time. She taught herself YouTube and now knows how to find the shows she likes to watch on there.

ronjhall · Jul 17, 2012

Great Grand Daughter was born on my birthday last month. Facetime is what brought us our first views of her. We use it for holidays and other special occasions. Oldest son and his family live in Washington state.

s219 · Jul 17, 2012

I know a few military families who use FaceTime to keep in touch. It really makes a difference.

Depmandog · Jul 18, 2012

Tonight one of us had problems with our wifi connection, so we downloaded the Tango app. It does NOT need wifi, but it also doesn't deliver perfect video either. But, it was better than not seeing the grandson at all! That said, FaceTime is MUCH better.

Has anyone used Skype? I don't know a thing about that one. Is there a cost involved? If anyone has any experience please share!

Happy2meetu34 · Jul 18, 2012

Skype is perfect on the iphone, I can chat and see a friend in Palm Harbor, FL. and I'm in the UK!. It works 3g or WIFI, I can use it stationary in the car, even reversed the cam in its cradle whilst driving so he can see what its like driving on the 'right' side of the road lol. Cant help with US costs, but like I said ....it works good!