| The days when grandparents lived in the same home | | | | birthdays and holidays, ask for funds to be placed in |
| as their grandchildren are long gone. Today, most | | | | a travel fund for your visits to your grandchildren. |
| grandparents live in separate housing and many live | | | | |
| even thousands of miles away, making family | | | | 4. Set up a webcam |
| connections hard to maintain. Yet, the presence of | | | | As with phone calls, set up a regular day and time to |
| grandparents in a child's life is sorely needed, no | | | | visit on your computer by webcam. Not only will |
| matter how far away the grandparents live. If you | | | | the child know your voice, they will also be able to |
| are experiencing the problems of distant grand | | | | recognize your face. |
| parenting, consider some of these ideas for staying in | | | | |
| touch with your grand children. Learn to keep the | | | | 5. Set up a family website |
| love flowing. | | | | There are companies that will host a family website |
| | | | | (e.g. myfamily.com). You can have family members |
| Ideas on staying connected with your grandchildren | | | | contribute, pictures, family stories, family history and |
| Have you noticed that there is always a period of | | | | accomplishments. Make sure there are plenty of |
| adjustment when you do get to visit your | | | | things about you on the site. The grandchildren will |
| grandchildren. They have to warm up to you all | | | | know who you are and what you've done in life. |
| over again each time you visit. These are things | | | | 6. Send surprises by mail |
| that you can do to stay connected. | | | | Children of all ages love to get mail. Some things to |
| 1. Use the telephone-You can transmit your love | | | | send include: |
| through your voice by telephone. | | | | - Handwritten letters with added sketches or |
| - Arrange with the parents to have regular phone | | | | cartoons. If your handwriting is not |
| sessions with each child. For better communication | | | | - what it used to be, use a word processor or print, |
| during those sessions, get to know the child before | | | | but do sign it. |
| thesession. Ask the parents about the children. | | | | - -Send packages and holiday themed gift boxes |
| Ask, for example, about theiroutside activities, | | | | Ask the parents what the children are currently |
| playmates, school lessons, moods, and current | | | | interested in and try to send at least one of these |
| interests. | | | | items. However also try to include several smaller |
| - Read a bed time story over the phone. Your | | | | items so that there will be more to look at. Speak |
| voice will be remembered whenthey awake. | | | | to the children on the phone when they open the |
| - Play a game like 20 questions. | | | | gifts. |
| - Tell a riddle or a joke. | | | | |
| - Make the next phone date with the child. | | | | Don't be alarmed if despite all your efforts your |
| 2. Send emails and / or join an older child's social | | | | grandchildren still seem distant. Parents and children |
| network | | | | are busy these days. Depending on the age, letters |
| - Send emails with updates on your activities and | | | | and phone calls may require the help of an adult. The |
| comment on theirs. | | | | adult may be busy or unable to call. Children's |
| - Befriend them on their social network, however ask | | | | schedule of activities have increased several fold |
| their permission first. Assure them that you will not | | | | since you were parenting. They are busy, but will |
| be offended if they refuse. | | | | enjoy and remember the things that you do to keep |
| | | | | in touch. So keep them coming to keep the love |
| 3. Get a travel fund | | | | flowing. |
| To make visiting easier, instead of receiving gifts on | | | | |