Thanks to technology, keeping in touch with family from different states can be fun. Since we have family that lives out of state, like many military families, we like to keep things interesting on all levels.

Especially if you have kids like us this can fun a fun kid activity and family time to sit down once a week or once a month and do and they can even come up with ideas as well!

I have a list of fun ways we keep in contact with family members who live out of state, mostly the grandparents!

5 Fun Ways to Keep in Contact with Family in Different States

#1. Snail Mail

As fun as technology is, don’t forget about the benefits of snail mail! My kids love getting letters and care packages in the mail. We also love to write out little cards and mail them. Even if you don’t have family in different states consider finding a pen pal for letters and care packages, your kids will love it. My mom sends the kids cards for every holiday and the kids LOVE IT! She includes a few coins for them to put in their piggy bank and after they do that, they will carry the card around the house for weeks! Post cards are fun to send out too from places you visit even n town like a museum!

#2. Technology

I hate to be the obvious one here, but there’s no replacement for technology! FaceTime, Skype, and Google Hangouts are all fun ways to stay connected to family that lives in a different state. I love communicating via technology because it helps us feel as though we’re really seeing each other. To get a little more creative in the technology department, you can start your own private Facebook group and add your long distance family members. Within the Facebook group, you can share pictures, stories, and other fun updates, that you might not want shared with other people on your Facebook profile.

#3. Instagram

One of the most fun ways, in my opinion, to keep in touch with family is through Instagram. I love how Instagram lets you feel as though you’re a part of someone’s life. Our family loves to keep in touch via Instagram. It’s simple to work and you feel as though you’re instantly connected through those instantaneous pictures taken throughout the day. It's simple to be able to take a picture while out at the store or park upload it and everyone can see it at once and you don't have to worry about forgetting to text it or email it to anyone!

#4. A Private Blog

You can start a private blog without showing the whole world. Some blogs can be coded to be password protected. I know several people who have done that and love it, many people have started to do that for weddings so all the details are in one place, so why not for your kids as well? Plus as time goes on it's great to look back and see oh 4 years ago you did this or that, just fun stories you might otherwise forget.

#5. Email

One of the best ways to communicate effectively and quickly is through email. Although everyone is all about the social media and technology, you can still have fun with email. Each week we try to update our family members via email. It’s a great way to keep in touch and it’s free! Email is also a great way to be quick about communicating. I think part of the problem of long distance communication is that everyone always feels left out. I think the secret behind email communication is to not over do it; you don’t need to send new emails every day (unless you want to).

Keeping in touch with family in different states is a lot easier now than it used to be. These five fun ways will help you keep in contact with your family in different states.

What is your favorite way of keeping in touch with family who lives in different states?