Yesterday, Merriam-Webster announced that the 2007 Word of the Year is W00t (note the two zeros, not o’s). It’s an expression of joy, like “yay,” that is common in gamer-speak. The word was voted on by visitors to the company’s Web site and does not guarantee the word will be included in the next edition of the dictionary. In case you’re wondering, last year’s word was “truthiness.”

So, you travel for work sometimes, and you connect with your kids in the classic manner: a phone call each night. That may work just fine, but sometimes it’s fun to shake things up a bit and connect in different ways, using the marvels of modern technology. Here are seven ways to mix it up that I think are fun and unexpected (kids love surprises):

1. Send photos. Thanks to camera phones, it’s never been easier. Snap shots of yourself in context (airport gate, hotel front desk, Golden Gate Bridge…

Reality check: Answer any of these questions with a yes, and it’s time to pull the plug:

1. Could your child play with a real person instead? Human interaction is always a better option (unless the only human in the room is making dinner).
2. Is it being used for mind-numbing? Look for the glazed eyes or the big slouch.
3. Is it unbecoming when it becomes real? Virtual characters, their actions and what they say don’t always cut it in the real world. A six-year-old SpongeBob usually isn’t funny.
4. Does

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