| In days gone by, the role of grandparent was | | | | for you, offer your home as a place for |
| clearly defined. With families and extended families | | | | grandchildren to go during school breaks. As much |
| all living in close proximity, grandparents and their | | | | face-to-face time as you can get is important for |
| grandchildren were free to create relationships | | | | forging relationships. |
| with bonds that lasted. With today's families often | | | | Play long-distance games with your grandchildren - |
| scattered across the globe, many grandparents | | | | Start an e-mail or regular mail story and ask your |
| find themselves wondering if it is even possible to | | | | grandchild to write the next part. Play off each |
| forge the kind of ties that were once | | | | other's imagination to create a fun tale that is all |
| commonplace. | | | | your own. |
| The reality is that grandparents today do face | | | | Send little presents, when possible - Gifts to |
| more challenges in creating relationships with their | | | | grandchildren do not have to be expensive to be |
| grandchildren. The miles, states and even | | | | meaningful. Send your grandchildren small gifts on |
| countries that separate families can be difficult to | | | | a regular basis to make sure they know you are |
| overcome. The key, however, is to remember | | | | thinking about them. Things like candies, cards, |
| that they can be overcome. If grandparents work | | | | small toys and the like can go a long way in letting |
| at forging bonds, they can become vital influences | | | | children know you care. |
| in their grandchildren's lives, no matter how many | | | | Create video messages - Use a video recorder to |
| miles separate them. | | | | create messages to send to your grandchildren. |
| There are things that grandparents can do, even | | | | Show your grandchild how to garden, bake a |
| from a distance, to make certain their | | | | cake or do something that you truly love. Send |
| grandchildren know how important they are. While | | | | the videos directly to them or create a "video |
| the best approach to take will depend on the | | | | blog" online they can go and look at whenever |
| grandparent and the children in question, these | | | | they want. Ask them to create their own videos |
| ideas can assist on the relationship-building front: | | | | so you can learn more about their daily lives, too. |
| Stay in contact on a weekly basis - Courtesy of | | | | Share family history or important information in |
| technology this is a lot easier and more affordable | | | | notes - Buy a box of stationary and send little |
| than it used to be. Connect via e-mail, social | | | | notes about family history, your favorite hobby |
| networking sites or other online arenas. Send | | | | or something else important to you. Keep the |
| grandchildren notes, well wishes and even jokes | | | | notes going on out a weekly or monthly basis. |
| to let them know they are in your thoughts. Do | | | | Trying to develop relationships over long distances |
| continue with telephone calls and letters, as well. | | | | does take work. Grandparents will find, however, |
| Visit when possible - Try to visit as much as the | | | | that is can be done and the rewards will make |
| miles will allow. If physically traveling isn't possible | | | | the effort involved very worthwhile. |