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5 Shared Tech Experiences I’d Love to Try With My Kids

Written by guest author Graham New, Head of Category-Hardware at ebuyer. 

Every year, when I say, ‘I don’t want anything for Father’s Day’, I really mean it. Let’s be honest, novelty mugs, funny socks and BBQ tongs can get a little tiresome. 

So instead of buying ‘stuff’, I’ve been thinking – it might be way more fun and memorable to do something together instead. Below are five mini tech project ideas I’d love to try out with my kids this Father’s Day and beyond.  

Co-Op Gaming AdventureTeam Up > Catch Up 

Tackling a video game with my kids brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘quality time’. 

Video games test a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, strategic thinking, adaptability, and more. But most importantly, they create moments – unexpected wins, funny fails, instances of utter chaos and ‘did we really just pull that off?’ celebrations. 

Co-op games like It Takes Two take things a step further by introducing co-operation and teamwork. Put our relationship to the test and see if we can overcome a series of challenges together, or take each other on in a head-to-head competitive game for some (hopefully) good-spirited fun. 

Here are some titles I’ve been eyeing up, depending on our experience, patience and interests, they could be great for you too… 

Casual Gaming (Easy to Pick up, Hard to Put Down) 

  • Overcooked 2 (PS4/5, Xbox, PC, Switch) 
  • Lego Star Wars (PS4/5, Xbox, PC, Switch) 

Competitive (It’s Time to Settle Scores) 

  • Mario Kart 8 (Switch) 
  • Rocket League (All Platforms, free to play) 

Puzzle-Solving (Teamwork and Communication) 

  • It Takes Two (PS4/5, Xbox, PC) 
  • We Were Here (Series) (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) 

Build A PC Together 

For dads like me who love to tinker, building a PC with the kids is an immensely rewarding process. It’s the ultimate excuse to dive into specs, tutorials and debates to assemble a machine that meets our unique requirements. 

 

Whether it’s a gaming rig, a home server, or just a solid family desktop, the end result is something physical, functional, and 100% brag-worthy. 

With at least 8 core components (CPU, GPU, Motherboard, RAM, Storage, Power Supply, Case and Coolingwe can divide and conquer – each taking responsibility for different parts. 

My plan? Set a budget and challenge ourselves to build the best PC we can. YouTube guides and PC Part Picker will definitely come in handy.  

(Also worth checking out our Top 10 Tips For Building a Gaming PC  and in depth building guide) 

Even if I’m just making an upgrade to my own setup, it’s a great opportunity to draft in the big guns, my kids, and problem-solve together. 

 

Create A ‘Smart’ Space Together 

Building a smart space with my kids would be useful, memorable and let’s face it, super fun to mess around with. Imagine a room in the house where we can walk in and think, ‘We Built This Together. ’ 

Smart spaces and smart home appliances are great because they’re endlessly customisable. Whether we go deep down the rabbit hole or just make a couple of fun upgrades, we’ll make it ours. 

The best way to start? Install a voice assistant (e.g. Google Nest, Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod) and a few smart bulbs/plugs. 

Once that’s done, we could create custom voice routines. Here are a few I think would be a blast: 

  • ‘Good Morning’ – turns on lights, reads the weather, starts the coffee machine. 
  • ‘Chill Time’ – dims lights, plays a chill playlist, starts the diffuser. 
  • ‘Workshop Mode’ – garage lights on, metal playlist on, heater fired up. 
  • ‘Movie Mode’ – dims lights, sets backlight, launches Netflix. 

 

‘Pimp Up’ the Gaming Room 

If you’ve already got a gaming space like I do, giving it a fun refresh with the kids could be a great shared project. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something to make the space more personal and organised. 

  • Floating Shelves: To showcase consoles, games, figures and retro gear. 
  • Lighting: Add flair with LED strips, RGB bars, and smart bulbs. 

If the setup’s already solid, we might just do a full reorganisation or spring clean. Taking everything apart and rebuilding it just right is surprisingly satisfying. 

 

Optimise your Wi-Fi Coverage  

This might be the most ‘dad’ idea on the list—but hear me out. Fixing Wi-Fi black spots could actually be a pretty awesome data-driven bonding activity. 

Here’s how we’d do it: 

Step 1: Assess the Landscape 
We’d grab our phones and map the signal in each room using Wi-Fi analyser apps. Maybe even create charts or heat maps if we’re feeling extra nerdy. 

Step 2: Look for Small Wins 
Sometimes, just moving the router makes a difference. We’d experiment and test based on the data we gathered. 

Step 3: Deploy Better Gear 
If needed, a mesh Wi-Fi systems (like TP-Link Deco, Google Nest WiFi or Netgear Orbi) could help spread coverage to tricky areas like the garage or garden shed. 

Bonus Step: 
Come up with a hilarious name for our Wi-Fi network. The LAN Before Time, maybe? 

This Father’s Day, I’m not looking for gifts, I’m looking for time. These tech projects aren’t just fun activities. They’re a way to connect, learn and build something together.  

 

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