We live in a wired age, where everyone's brought together by technology. Social networking sites have connected people across the globe, video calls have made long-distance relationships a tad more bearable, and emails have made it easier for us to stay in touch with our loved ones.

No doubt, the internet has made things much more convenient for us. We can shop for Christmas gifts without leaving the comfort of our own homes (and ditching the crazy holiday traffic in the process), we can check out the latest news updates with a single click, and we can communicate with our loved ones no matter where we are.

The internet is also a great tool for us to bond with our family. Being tech-savvy will help you to relate with your tweens more (and earn you points for being a cool mom), and it could also give you more opportunities to maintain stronger connections at home. Check out these five online activities that will help you bond with your family more:

(Photo by lululemon athletica via Flickr Creative Commons)