In the article "Who Are Today's Grandparents?" the changes in the role in modern society were raised. Many grandparents today live some distance from their families. Although having grandparents who live abroad can bring about benefits in terms of holidays and visits, these may not be as often as liked. However, distance can make the heart grow fonder and real time spent with loved ones can be more qualitative than the fleeting hellos and goodbyes of those who live on the doorstep.
Keeping in touch therefore perhaps needs a little more thought and a fresh approach to ensure that grandparents continue to occupy some part of their grandchild’s life.
Talking to Grandchildren
- Phone Calls – A regular phone call to family and friends is probably the most common way to keep in touch. This can be a little more difficult with small children, but parents are often very helpful in interpreting what the little one really means. It might need a little more planning, depending on time zones but setting a regular day and time provides something to look forward to and allows both grandparent and grandchild to plan and think about what they want to say.
- Read a Story – Record a story for little children this can be most entertaining. Hearing a familiar voice reading their favourite bedtime tale can be very comforting for small grandchildren. They often can recite the story off by heart alongside the recording and it helps them with their vocabulary and speech. Alternatively arrange to send regular storybooks through the post for parents to read.
- Internet – A webcam often comes built in with new laptops but they can be added to regular PCs also. Then using one of the messaging services which allows the use of image and sound, you grandchildren can be seen and heard. Depending on the speed of broadband services, there may be a little time delay, which can be distracting, but this is soon forgotten. Again, for little children, seeing their grandparents and showing them what they have been doing can be very exciting.
- Websites – Create a simple website. Whether techno babe or technophobe, it is really easy to set up a simple site via any of the free hosting services. Through this, regular activities for grandchildren to complete can be added. Pictures for printing and colouring, counting games, puzzles and crosswords about their favourite hobby and even hunt the treasure games with a little help from parents.
- Write a personal letter – Despite the relative ease that technology brings when it comes to communication there is something special about receiving a personal letter. Give grandchildren a writing set with stickers and pens as a gift. Write regularly, provide photos and encourage a reply. A few words can speak volumes and it helps the child to develop writing and reading skills
Being a grandparent today can be an enriching and fulfilling part of modern life, filled with discovery and learning from both perspectives. It is an influential role and continues to support family life and its development. It doesn’t matter where grandparents are, what counts is what they do.
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