(BPT) - Sunday, September 13 is National Grandparents Day - a special day dedicated to celebrating families everywhere. These days, it's not uncommon for family members to live in different cities, states or even across the country. If your family lives far away, the distance can make it difficult to connect, especially with grandkids. While you may be spread far and wide, thankfully there are a number of effective ways to keep in touch with the ones you love.
Here are five things you can do to stay connected with your children and grandchildren, no matter where you are.
* Face to face from place to place. If you have a computer and a webcam, you can either video chat and/or video message. There are a number of free services that allow you to virtually connect with your friends and family face to face, from anywhere. Check to make sure your computer and your family's computers have this capability, and then put it to use. It's an amazing feeling to be able to say hello and see everyone's smiling faces digitally, if you can't do it in person!
* Stay in touch on the go. When it comes to connecting with loved ones near or far, you need reliable, affordable cell service. Relish in those special family moments with TracFone. With plans on America's two largest and most dependable networks, TracFone gives grandparents, families and friends an affordable way to stay in touch through photos, videos, texts, email, social media and of course, a phone call. Stay connected with great, easy-to-use phones like the Alcatel Pop ICON smartphone or, thanks to TracFone's new Bring Your Own Phone program, you can keep your compatible or unlocked smartphone and enjoy blazing fast 4G LTE speeds on low-cost plans - all without a contract.
* Get social with your media. Social media isn't just for the younger generation. Grandparents across the country are using sites like Facebook and Instagram to connect with friends and family that live far away. The best part is your grandkids are more than likely already using these platforms, so it's easy for them to connect with you. Aside from communication, these channels are also a great way to stay up to speed on everything your loved ones are up to, so log on and start sharing.
* Write a letter. Although it's great to hear your grandkids' voices on a phone call or see them on video chat, there's still something special and heartfelt about snail mail. Unlike emails that can get deleted, many people keep letters for years on end. Write your grandchildren a heartfelt letter and send it their way - show them that it can be fun to have a pen pal! Chances are they'll cherish it, and may even send one back.
* Celebrate those special days. You already see or speak with your family during birthdays or holidays, so find other moments in time to keep communication going. Try calling your kids and grandkids on the anniversary of a special trip, or setting up a weekly phone call to hear more about a big event in their life and provide updates of your own. Also find unique holidays to get in touch; National Grandparents Day is a perfect one to start, and it is right around the corner on September 13. What better way to celebrate your day than spending it talking with the ones you love most?
Just because your family is far away doesn't mean you have to lose touch. Keep the lines of communication open with the suggestions above; even the simplest hello can be just the ticket to brighten someone's day. To learn more about ways to stay in touch with affordable communication options from TracFone, visit www.TracFoneWireless.com.