Long-Distance Grandparents
October 14, 2009
If you’re lucky enough to live close to grandma and grandpa, they’ll probably have plenty of opportunities to bond with (and baby-sit!) your little one. But if they live far away, forging a connection may require a little more planning. It’s well worth the effort: Baby will grow up knowing that he has a network of people who love him, and his grandparents will feel like they’re part of his life from an early age.
Keeping a Connection
Some fun and easy ideas for staying close to grandma and grandpa, even when you’re miles apart:
· Say cheese! Put photos of baby’s grandparents in different places around the house, including his nursery. When you walk past their photos, point them out. You could also say goodnight to their images as part of baby’s bedtime routine.
· Send a package of baby’s creations. Even his first few scribbles are precious works of art in his grandparents’ eyes, so send them along! As he gets older, you can ask him to draw pictures or complete an art project especially for them.
· Go online. Post password-protected photos and videos on popular sites like Snapfish or YouTube, or create a family homepage where you can exchange information and upload content. Another idea: Buy a Webcam and download free video conferencing software (we like Skype) so grandparents can hear, see, and talk to baby in real time.
· Hit record. Using a cassette or digital recorder, ask his grandparents to tape themselves reading a few bedtime stories. Playing them back is a great way to introduce baby to their loving voices. Then alternate their stories with yours at bedtime.
Plan a visit. There’s nothing better than a visit from the two special people your baby’s been hearing about. If a holiday celebration at one of your homes isn’t possible, you might try meeting at a halfway point for a weekend visit.
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