Grandparents who live far away can still have close relationships with their grandchildren.
Here are some tips to keep kids and grandparents close: • Utilize all forms of electronic media available including Skype, email, Facebook, texting, videos.
Make videos of music programs, sports events, and parties.
• Try to have face-to-face visits at least once per year.
Have children engage in puzzles, games, cooking, crafts or other activities with grandparents to jump-start conversation and enjoy each other's company.
• Have your child keep a personal journal and email or mail it to grandparents every month.
The journal can be short sentences about their activities, pictures, drawings, thoughts, lists of favorite foods, friends, etc.
• Have children talk to grandparents on the phone often, even if it is no more than a hello.
Hearing their voice will delight the grandparents and make a connection for the kids as well.
• Send many photos of the kids doing different things regularly to grandparents via email.
When someone emails you a photo, simply forward it on.
It takes only a few minutes and it will make a grandparent's day! • Celebrate missed birthdays when they are together.
• Parents can prepare favorite traditional recipes for their children on special occasions.
In addition, they can share recipes that were their favorites when they were growing up.
Photos of grandparents should be displayed around the home where kids can see them on a regular basis.
For instance they can be displayed on the refrigerator and in their bedrooms.
If there is a blanket or stuffed animal that is special from a grandparent, have them sleep with it.
Another great way to keep grandparents and kids connected is to have them scrapbook together.
The scrapbook can include pictures of past memories, and times spent together.
The children can "interview" their grandparents about their lives, and include the answers in the scrapbook.
If grandparents are visiting during fun events at school, have them tag along for field day and come to their music/band concerts.
Introduce grandparents to their friends and teachers.
It will make grandparents feel more connected to their lives and will give them something to discuss when they are apart.
It requires more effort to stay close when you are far away, but the extra time spent nurturing the relationship will be well worth it in the end.
Sometimes kids are closer to their long distance grandparents than they are to ones that live in the same city.