Online gaming platforms

In addition to playing games with distant friends and family over video chat, there are a few specialized gaming platforms that my family has been using since we went into lockdown. All of the sites below have a way to play for free and I've also listed what you get if you pay the extra subscription fee.

Roll20.net -- https://roll20.net/
For tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. You can store your character sheets and roll dice, view maps, do video and voice chat.

• Plus membership: USD 5/month. Can play on mobile devices, more storage.

Board Game Arena -- https://boardgamearena.com/
Games have been developed so that you can play in real time or turn based. It prompts you for actions on your turn and keeps score for you. You're not allowed to have multiple players at the same location unless you have a premium membership to discourage cheating.

• Games we've played: Hanabi, Takenoko
• Games we're familiar with but haven't played yet: 7 Wonders, Carcassone, Love Letter, Race for the Galaxy, Sushi Go, Tokaido
• Premium membership: USD 4/month or 24/year. Premium games available, video & voice chat.

Tabletopia -- https://tabletopia.com/

Provides game board, game pieces, and instructions. Players move the cards and pieces around by themselves. No voice or video chat.

• Games we've played: Wingspan, Secret Hitler, Castle Panic, Viticulture
• Game we're familiar with but haven't played yet: Glorantha: The Gods War
• Premium members: USD 4.99/month and USD 9.99/month. Premium games available.

- Lillian

Watch Netflix remotely with friends

Netflix Party lets friends have movie nights while social distancing: here's how

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/03/17/coronavirus-netflix-party-lets-friends-do-movie-nights-quarantine/5072347002/

The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

https://www.weareteachers.com/virtual-author-activities/

Live streaming of Shakespeare readings

"A weekly Shakespeare reading group, covering the plays in the order they were written, helping actors and theatremakers to stay connected and creative during unprecedented times."
Click on the YouTube link to see what's streaming or coming next.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOAHj4ANGKw

Seattle Symphony performances

Free video broadcasts and livestreams

https://seattlesymphony.org/watch-listen/beyondthestage/live-broadcasts

Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall

"There are over 600 orchestral concerts from the Berliner Philharmoniker in the Digital Concert Hall from more than ten years, including 15 concerts with the new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko. There are also bonus videos from behind the scenes: documentaries on the history of the orchestra, portraits of conductors and orchestra members, and projects from our education programme."

https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/20192020/digital-concert-hall/

Nightly Metropolitan Opera streams

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-to-offer-up-nightly-met-opera-streams/

Facebook video: Showstoppers improv group perform an improvised musical online

Hold a Facebook watch party with your friends or enjoy the show on your own:
https://www.facebook.com/theshowstoppers/videos/918352645246170/

Ideas for socializing when you're stuck at home

How to Be Social While Social Distancing During the Coronavirus Pandemic
https://thewirecutter.com/blog/coronavirus-socializing-online/

I've been working from home since 1997 (almost 13 years now) and experience has taught me that lack of social contact impacts badly on my mental health. At this point I'm not indicated for self-isolation and the UK government didn't even mention social distancing until 12 hours ago, but as of two days ago I started canceling everything - reluctantly, but with confidence that it was the right thing to do.
Having experienced involuntary social isolation from my own circumstances of being self-employed and moving to another country where I didn't have any friends (twice!), I feel real trepidation now at the thought of not being able to go out or spend time with people outside of my household. I've lived through that before - also when I was a new parent with a young baby - and being around others is not something I forego readily.
To help lessen my dread of being stuck at home I started looking for games to play online with friends and stumbled across the article above, which provides some inspiration for socializing using technology. Even though I've known for years that online interactions are no substitute for seeing people in person, at least there are plenty of options available for connecting easily to others in real time.
- Jennifer