Photo by kreg.steppe

Hi. Grammy Tanda here. I love being a grandparent. I just wish that my grandchildren lived closer. A curse of our modern culture I guess. I often long for the Norman Rockwell days of having the grandkids down the block and spending lazy summer afternoons on the porch playing with them. So much for fantasy. So how does a long distance grandparent keep in touch and have a close relationship with those precious grandchildren? One way I keep in touch with grandchildren are weekly phone calls. Even the youngest smile when they hear grandpa’s or grandma’s voice. Each grandchild’s age has its own unique challenges, but the important thing is just do it! One of the challenges in our high tech, multitasking world is to keep the grandchild’s attention. The following are some of the best suggestions we have tried and received from other grandparents.

1. Make it a routine. Kids love routines, knowing things are predictable, and that they can count on a call from grandpa or grandma each week. This also allows you to build a personal relationship with each grandchild. If possible, set up a standing date to call at a certain time every day or certain days depending on your schedules. It’s something the kids can look forward to.

2. Have a few knock knock jokes ready to tell each time you call. And ask them to tell you a joke. Take turns.

3. Make up funny stories like mad libs (word game) together, or make up stories with your grandchild as the main character. My kids always like making up stories over the telephone with their grandparents. Usually they need some help getting started, but then they like adding details to the story (like what color the super-hero is wearing, etc.). It’s a special treat when they get a call at bed time and can make up a bedtime story together. You’ll find your grandkids have great imaginations and you’ll learn a lot about how they see their world. Great fun!

4. I love to sing silly songs to the grandkids. I begin when they’re born. These songs become favorite memories. So when I call, we often sing their favorite songs. Sometimes they sing with me; other times they just want to listen. But it always seems to bridge the miles and remind us of our favorite times together.

5. We absolutely love talking with and seeing our grandchildren on our videophone. They loved showing off, doing somersaults and being silly. The videophone is so fun and you don’t even need a computer. It’s just like the Jetsons. Live video and audio. Another service is Skype, which is a carrier that shows your picture with your voice on your computer. You can talk to anyone in the world who also has skype for free. The ultimate video chat experience is iChat, an easy-to-use, full-featured communications program that comes free on the Macintosh. Video chatting is the next best thing to having grandma in a rocking chair on the porch to talk to any time you need her!

Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being. ~Margaret Mead

Grandparenthood is the best. It is kind of like the teenage years all over again. We get all of the fun and none of the responsibility. One of the blessings though, is the opportunity to connect and enjoy those wonderful grandkids. Don’t let miles keep you from the close relationship you’ve always dreamed of. Try a weekly phone call; and share you experiences and tips with the rest of us.

What things do you enjoying talking about with your grandchildren? What other suggestions do you have to keep their attention?

Grammy Tanda