BY KERRY BYRNE
If you are a long-distance grandparent here are some Top Tips to supercharge your connection with your grandchildren.
Whether you are with your grandchildren for a coveted in-person visit right now or could use a meaningful and fun way to let them know you are thinking of them, I’ve got you covered!
First, remember to get in the photos and videos with your grandchildren. Trust me, they will have tens of thousands of photos and video of themselves.
But what they will want to see one day are the photos and videos of you together across the years. It doesn’t have to be in-person either – you can take screenshots of your video chats and/or photos of you video chatting.
Top Tip: Turn the photos into postcards and send a thank-you for our time together note after your visit.
Second, remind yourself you are the GEO (Grand Encouragement Officer). If you are with them, be intentional and share something positive you’ve noticed about them.
It can be anything from what a great sister they are, to sharing how proud of them you feel that they’ve almost completed their first year of college.
It’s so important to be a grand cheerleader so that your grandchildren know you are in their corner, that you believe in them and you are cheering them on no matter the distance between.
Third, a sweet and easy tip for any future visits you have planned with your grandchildren.
Leave a note or two for them to find once you are gone. For instance, tuck a note into their jacket pocket, shoes, or bag for them to find. This works for any age grandchild!
The note can be about how much you loved your time together or about something wonderful you noticed about them during your visit.
The opportunity to pour some love, affection and encouragement into your grandchildren is all around you. Whether it’s in person, on a video chat, through mail you send or a text message.
You might not think a note or a text means much, especially to your older grands. But I just heard from a grandpa who sent a ‘you are special to me’ text the other day – and guess what happened?
His teenaged grandson, who doesn’t always text back, wrote back this time:
Thanks Grandpa. I really needed to hear that today. More than you’ll ever know.
This relationship matters – and it also requires intentionality. Especially from a distance. The reality is that you must work harder and put in more effort as a long distance grandparent.
Here’s the good news.
Because I’ve worked with thousands of grandparents and researched grandparent/grandchild relationships extensively, I can help you do this in the most meaningful and effective ways.
And for the first time ever, I’m teaching all of it – in a masterclass series created especially for long distance grandparents.
GRAND Magazine has partnered with GrandparentsAcademy.com to deliver Grandparenting from a Distance.
This month-long masterclass series starts in May and includes both pre-recorded modules and live virtual Zoom sessions with me. The information I share in this series is tried and tested – and draws on research about what works to stay connected. This includes the science of play, communication, technology, intergenerational relationships and child and adolescent development.
During the course, I will teach you:
If you’ve been wondering how you can have a relationship with your grandchildren that will matter for them – and for you, come and join me for this – the first ever masterclass series created especially for long distance grandparents!
Hope to see you in class! Click here to register.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kerry Byrne
I’m Kerry, Founder of The Long-Distance Grandparent. I’d love for you to join me as I grow this business into a movement that will benefit grandparents and grandchildren all over the world (more on that later!). Ready to learn more? I’d love for you to join us.Read more from Kerry in GRAND Here
Full disclosure, as an affiliate partner of GrandparentsAcademy.com, GRAND may earn a commission from any purchases made. This of course goes to help support GRAND’s mission to keep bringing you the very best with our Magazine and other resources. Commission or not, I’m a big fan of GrandparentsAcademy.com and think you will be too. So, check out their Spring catalog and use that GRAND20 coupon for 20% off while you can!
