EFG (Especially For Grandparents)

Image created by Digi-Gram on SignMaker

My parents love their role as grandparents. While they have the luxury of living on the same coast as their beloved grandbabies, all five of the kiddos live at least four hours away. Ever since my parents discovered Skype- thanks to their favorite daughter's idea and webcam gift- they have loved keeping in touch with their grandkids in that medium (remember this post?). In looking for more ideas and resources specifically for grandparents using Skype and other media tools, I found a few links I'd like to share.

A Skype-ing Grandma
"Digi-Gram" tells a delightful story of Grandma Patsy, a friend who skyped her granddaughter and ended up having a tu-tu dance party in the comfort of her own home, where she could be silly and have fun and no one could see but her granddaughter! Digi-Gram then includes a list of ideas for grandparents using Skype, as well as links for setting it up and getting started. She writes,

"Consider using Skype to:

1. See Halloween costumes before your grandkids go trick or treating
2. Read a bed time story to a grandchild
3. Sing songs and do nursery rhymes with grandchildren
4. Play together with a grandchild
5. See your grandchildren dressed in their new school clothes before they leave on the first day of school
6. Wish them Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or happy birthday/Ground Hog’s Day/Flag Day, Labor Day/Easter/or whatever!
7. Color pictures together
8. Play dress up together
9. Have a virtual tea party together
10. Have cookies and milk together
11. Discuss how school is going
12. Prearrange to watch a movie then discuss it (or read a book and discuss it)
13. Send your grandchild a packet of things to make (like paper foldables) and after she makes them she can show them to you through Skype
14. Give sewing or piano lessons or teach them how to cook

The idea is to think of things that you would normally do if your grandchildren lived close by and then see if you can do it virtually using Skype."

image from here

Here's another page that describes specific ideas for reading with your grandchildren through a webcam- including choosing books with bright colors that will show better on the screen, dressing up with an accessory or prop that goes along with your book, and setting a regular (such as weekly) time to have storytime with your grandchild.

This page highlights some other ways to use technology to connect with grandchildren, including phone and "face" (webcam) time, but also emailing short videos back and forth to each other and recording your voice in one of Hallmark's recordable storybooks.

Of course, nothing compares to actually being with your grandchildren, as Barbara Graham explains in her post "Why I Hate Skype." She laments, "It's lovely to catch glimpses of my two granddaughters in between visits. I'm grateful for the technology that (sort of) bridges the 3,000 miles between us. Still, the sight of these two little girls minus actual physical contact often leaves me feeling more yearning than joy. They seem so close, yet really they're so very far away."

In our digital sweet home establishment, we musn't forget the grandparents who may very well be eager to learn and explore the brave new digital world...especially if it allows them precious time with distant loved ones!