Blowing out the candles from a huge homemade birthday cake and staying up late to hear embarrassing stories about their parents are memorable experiences that grandchildren share with grandparents throughout the years. But, long-distance grandparenting can make it more difficult to share those experiences.
Grandparents.com, the premier social website for today’s grandparents, offers expert advice on how to bond with grandchildren, even when they live far away.
1) Mail Call! – Texts. IMs. Facebook. Twitter. Email. Our computers offer us a multitude of ways to communicate with our grandchildren. However, Unlike email or texts, “snail mail” gives kids a tangible reminder of you that they can hold in their hand, enjoy over and over again, and even take to school for show-and-tell.
2) Be a Puzzler– re you an artist, or just a doodler? Instead of sending your grandchild a picture, why not make it more fun by turning it into a jigsaw puzzle? You can buy blank puzzles for under $1, in a variety of shapes and sizes, that you can decorate with a picture or, if you aren’t so artistic, a message written in marker. Many puzzles even come with an appropriately-sized envelope.
3) Create a Fantasy Sports League– Ignite a friendly rivalry between you and your grandchildren by inviting them into your fantasy sports league. A little trash talking never hurt anyone — poking fun at each other’s general management style will reveal a carefree and clever side of you that may be new to your grandchildren. Beware: Age and experience are not always advantages.
4) Play 20-Questions via E-mail –This can be an ongoing game, with you setting the level of difficulty higher and higher. The neat thing about doing this by email is that it’s a process that can take a few days or a few weeks. The continuous back-and-forth helps keep the lines of communication open.
5) Create a Postcard Clue Game– Postcards happen to be the perfect size for a knock-knock joke or a game of “Unscramble the Word.” Use the first card to ask a question, like “Where will we go on your birthday?” Then send the answer, one letter or clue to a card, such as: I, S, F, I, G, H, N. Your grandchild can unscramble them to discover the answer: FISHING. You can send your grandchild an album to hold onto all those postcards, too.
6) Start a Book Club -Book clubs aren’t limited to living rooms, thanks to Skype, software that offers free calling services. Using webcams, as many as ten people can participate in a book club through Skype’s conference-call option, depending on your computer. You’ll have valuable face-time while the group discusses the impact that J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, had on the explosion of children’s fantasy novels. Allow your grandchildren to direct the readings, which will give them pride in sharing their knowledge with you.
