Grandparenting from a Distance
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have our grandchildren living right around the corner; some of us have to travel long distances just to be able to spend some time with the youngest generation in our family, and for those of us, it can be hard to make a real impression. Maintaining that connection is so important, so here are some tips for older adults who find themselves grandparenting from a distance:
1. Take advantage of technology – email and social networking sites can allow families to remain connected. Post pictures, videos and share stories using sites like Facebook or others that can help keep grandparents and grandchildren up to date on what’s happening in each other’s lives.
2. Create fun long-distance games – to stay connected, grandparents can try fun long-distance games that let their grandchildren know they’re loved and being thought about. Create personalized crossword puzzles or word searches, send them a jar of M&Ms to countdown to the next visit, or play long-distance hide and seek, having someone hide items around the house and then giving the clues to their grandchildren over the phone.
3. Make a point to get together – it’s hard to bring families together, and easy for too much time to pass between visits. Family reunions that bring grandchildren together with their grandparents should happen at least once a year no matter what!
Sources:
1. Let Life In
2. FamBooks
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
