by Pennee Struckman

Created on: June 01, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2009

Grandparents are important in the life of a child. While mom and dad have the daunting responsibility of discipline, manners, and schoolwork, children long for the place where their smile is enough to get a hug. Grandparents who live long distances from their grandchildren can still create a warm, loving relationship with their grandchildren, and it will take some effort.

If you living within driving distance, plan family get-togethers monthly or every few months. An eight to ten hour trip is difficult for a weekend, but if you can meet halfway, it cuts down on the time. If the parents have the time, stay in a motel as a group, or stay alone with the kids. Make a family evening of playing board games, cards, swimming (if there is a pool) or watch movies and have a pizza. Or, meet halfway and take the child(ren) home.

If the distance is less than two hours, plan to attend a few of the children's sports or school events. Have them stay the weekend often. Shopping for school clothes or supplies, or for Christmas presents, can be scheduled as annual outings. Grandparents can use this time to catch up with what is going on in the children's lives, and talk about childhood concerns, dreams and wishes.

School aged children have winter, spring and summer breaks. If possible, have the kids stay with you for some of the break. This will give the children something to look forward to, and going to grandmas will be a fun and loving event.

Send cards, letters and small gifts often. Children love to get mail, and, through these mediums, you can express your love, interest and concern. Encourage the children to send you pictures they have drawn in school, or programs from their school concerts.

Regular phone calls are very helpful. Keep up with the children's sports, music and school activities. Ask them about how they did. Did they bat well? Make a basket? How are the music lessons coming? Share stories about yourself or their parent as a child. Always tell them you love them.

Web Cams are excellent devices to keep you close. You can actually talk face to face. The children can see your smile, and look into your eyes as you talk. Eye contact is very important to a child; it lets them know you are interested. Use these if both households have the ability.

Home movies are another way to observe how your grandchildren are growing. Ask for excerpts from their sports or school functions. Send them videos of yourself doing your favorite hobby. Use the video as a teaching opportunity, so that they can fish like grandpa or plant flowers like grandma.

Purchase a recorder and read stories. The children can listen to these, and the personal messages you include on the recording.

Grandparents and grandchildren can still maintain loving, close relationships regardless of distance. It does take effort, but the grandkids are worth it.

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