Can you believe that it’s already NOVEMBER? When did that happen? It seemed like only yesterday my kids were gearing up for final exams. Now they are busy making their Christmas wish lists. Sigh… time flies too quickly.
I love this time of year. Not only do I enjoy the cooler weather, but I am also excited about all of the holidays. Not only am I crazy about decorating, I also love spending quality time with family and friends.
This time of year also makes me feel a bit sad. I miss my kids being little and getting excited for Santa Claus and Christmas morning. They are teenagers now and it’s just not the same as when they were little.
The holiday season also makes me miss my mom and dad, mother in law and great-grandparents. I had such amazing childhood memories when it comes to the holiday season. I miss it all – right down to the great big Christmas morning breakfast my mom would make for everyone.
I also miss spending time with my cousins and other relatives who are far away. Distance can make things difficult when it comes to getting together for the holidays. It’s not easy for some people to take off from work, hop on a plane and spend a week with you. It’s especially hard for elderly relatives, such as grandma and grandpa, most especially if they are in ill health or not able to travel.
Thankfully we have technology that can help loved ones stay in touch when they are unable to be there in person such as telephones, Skype and HomeTeam.
Have you heard about HomeTeam yet? It’s a wonderful way for people to stay connected no matter where they are in the world.
Some people, especially parents, might think that technology is not always good for children. HomeTeam’s mission is to turn “tablet time” into “family time.” HomeTeam helps to bring families together and foster love and relationships.
HomeTeam is an app that is available on iTunes or Google Play. You can also sign up for HomeTeam on your desktop or laptop computer.
Once you create an account you are able to connect with family and friends. Once connected, your child (or grandchild) can connect with loved ones to chat, play games TOGETHER, read books and more.
HomeTeam has a delightful library of wonderful ebooks that can be read together or your child can have grandma or grandpa read one of the books to them via HomeTeam.
HomeTeam has a great library of books for children up to age 12 including popular characters like Marvel, Disney, Pixar, sports books, animal books, science and more. There are plenty of wonderful options to choose from.
You can even read books of your own via the live video feed option. Imagine reading The Night Before Christmas to your grandchild/grandchildren “in person” via HomeTeam.
Using HomeTeam your child can have their grandparent, or perhaps even a parent who is deployed or living in another part of the country, read them a bedtime story.
I wish HomeTeam was available when my parents were still alive. I think it would have been amazing to have my mom or dad (or both) read my kids a bedtime story and be able to interact with them on the computer or tablet (similar to Skype). What a wonderful way to make special memories to cherish a lifetime.
HomeTeam is not just about books and reading – your child can interact with loved ones and play games together with them too. Imagine your child being able to play Connect Four or do online puzzles with a grandparent who lives thousands of miles away. I love it!
There are plenty of games for all ages as well as games for children up to 12 years old.
In addition to playing games and reading together, HomeTeam is also a way for children and parents/grandparents to talk to one another, face-to-face, on the computer or tablet.
HomeTeam was created by Panasonic
HomeTeam brings grandparents and grandchildren closer together, helping to reduce a gap that may exist due to geographical distance or cultural differences. Phone calls with young children, often filled with yes and no answers, lack the depth and duration needed to build strong relationships and can leave individuals searching for something to talk about. Panasonic built HomeTeam from the ground up to address these and other unique challenges facing today’s families striving to build regular and meaningful contact.
“HomeTeam bridges the gap that sometimes separates today’s grandparents from their grandchildren, be it distance, culture, familiarity with technology or a lack of topics to discuss,” said Todd Rytting, Chief Technology Officer at Panasonic Corporation ofNorth America. “By providing activities that create common ground and shared experiences between grandparents and grandchildren, HomeTeam engages them in a way a weekly phone call never will. Panasonic studied how families struggled to create meaningful connections outside of family events and visits and this service was built to overcome the most common barriers. HomeTeam is easy to use and provides a natural experience with the power to unite families, anytime and anywhere.”
You can give HomeTeam a “test drive” for an entire 30 day for FREE (no credit card required). If you enjoy the service you can subscribe to it for $8.99/month. Personally I think that is a decent price for access to the games, books and having the ability to connect with loved ones far away. You are lucky to be able to buy one game or book for that price – and that doesn’t include the ability for your child’s grandparent to read it to them or play with them.
You and your child can also play the games and read the books without being connected with someone else.
If you would like to learn more please visit www.MyHomeTeam.com.
You can find the app in the Google Store and on iTunes. You can also sign up directly from your Desktop/Laptop.
With this being the holiday season HomeTeam would be a wonderful way to connect with family and friends for the holidays, especially those who cannot be with you in person. I think this would make a great “family gift” too.
Don’t forget to check out Panasonic on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
What do you think about HomeTeam? Does it sound like something your family would enjoy? Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with HomeTeam to bring you this information. Although compensated the opinions expressed are entirely my own and not influenced in any way.