It is a tale as old as time—a boy from Ohio goes down South for graduate school and falls in love with a girl from Texas. To be fair, we are irresistible. Once we decided to get hitched, my husband and I spent months debating where to put down roots. His wonderful family lives in and around Columbus, Ohio, while mine is firmly established in Sugar Land. In the end, the warmer weather and superior tacos convinced us to stay in Texas.
When we announced our pregnancy last summer, panic set in. How would Ohio Grandma and Grandpa (not to mention countless aunts, uncles, and cousins) get to know the new baby from 1,000 miles away? While we continue to visit in person as much as we can—Alexa, play “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)—we needed a new plan for long-distance connection.
Here are ten ways to help children connect with long-distance relatives:
- Read and record a special story. No one reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar quite like Grandpa! His silly voices and enthusiastic sound effects make the story come to life. Record your relatives reading special books for your kiddo and play the audio at bedtime. We used our Tonie Creative for this, but you can easily ask them to make a simple video or .mp3 file on their iPhone.
- Play long-distance board games. My mom and nephew face off in a multi-night Monopoly tournament each Christmas break. They each set up a board at their respective houses Facetime as they play. They each keep track of both players’ pieces, property, and money, so their boards are always identical. The game provides hours of connection and entertainment (and gives Mom and Dad a break).
- Send snail mail. Encourage your child to create a drawing or painting for their relatives and make a trip to the post office. If baby is too little to color, send a nice handprint or footprint. I received a beautiful Valentine from my niece—the highlight of my month!
- Create a shared digital photo album to update pictures. There is nothing like baby photos to brighten your day. Sending pictures of silly, sweet, and even mundane moments helps everyone feel more connected. Adults should send photos of themselves too! My nephews love seeing new pictures of their aunts and uncles.
- Share the school/sports calendar. Is picture day coming up? Grandma might want to send a new shirt. A three-day weekend in March? Perfect time for Aunt Nina to send a new book.
- Plan phone calls around special events. It can be tough to keep a phone conversation with children engaging—seven year olds are not known for their small talk. Try to encourage catch-up conversations around events like the first day of school, baseball games, school play, etc. This gives everybody good subject material.
- Start a book club. I love chatting with my nephew about our latest reads. From Maze Runner to Harry Potter, the stories allow us to discuss deep topics like personal responsibility and mental health.
- Craft together. My mom gives her grandchildren long-distance sewing lessons via Facetime. Together, they sewed a beautiful blanket for my newborn daughter. Sharing experiences is a great way to deepen relationships and form common interests! Send along craft supplies or complete an easy at-home science project. The options are as endless as your creativity.
- Create a countdown until the next visit. This could be a paper chain, advent-style calendar, or a simple tally mark system. Build anticipation for the visit—this will make the reunion so much sweeter.
- Plan visits far in advance and make the most of the time you have together. This does not mean you need to pack every visit with a thousand Instagram-worthy moments. Instead, focus on being present. Some of our most special moments as a family occurred in the quiet of our living room. Whether we were playing charades, bingo, or whipping up boxed brownies, the time together is always special.
Do you have any other tips for connecting with long-distance relatives? Let us know!
