(BPT) - There are laundry lists of reasons why grandparents are the best. They say yes when parents say no, they tell the best stories but make even better listeners, and often they're the first people we call with news, both good and bad.
That's why each September, we celebrate National Grandparents Day - a day of recognition for all the amazing 'nanas' and 'pop-pops' out there. But connecting with Grandma and Grandpa shouldn't be just one day a year. Whether near or far, grandparents can keep connected to their family's lives any day of the year with the following tips.
Make a daily photo album
When family members live far away it can be difficult to stay up-to-date on what's new in their lives. It's easy to forget to call one another and share life's ups and downs. To help bridge this gap, make digital scrapbooks and schedule a call once a month to exchange your albums with each other. Voila - an entire month's worth of memories to catch up on in one place!
Schedule a weekly dinner
Sure, it's easy to sit down to enjoy a meal together as a family if you all live nearby, but for some families, that's not possible. Luckily, technology makes it easy to share life's experiences without being in the same place. Take turns choosing a recipe and pick a date for everyone to make it (Mom and Dad can assist the little helpers). At the end of the meal write a review of the food - what steps were easy or hard, which part was your favorite - and send to one another to see if your experiences were similar. If Grandma and Grandpa are tech savvy, try video chatting while you create and enjoy your recipes to make it feel like you're dining together!
Play games together online
Don't let distance put a damper on game night - grandkids and grandparents can play virtually! Downloading and playing is simple with today's smartphones and affordable phone plans. Try TracFone - they offer a 30-day smartphone-only plan with talk, text and data for just $15 a month - all on the largest 4G LTE networks. Grandparents will have plenty of money left over to spoil the grandkids, and with no activation or cancellation fees, they can change their no-contract plan as often as needed, without penalties. Learn more at https://get.tracfone.com.
Call at bedtime
Bedtime can be hectic for moms and dads with little ones. Grandparents to the rescue! Make a call part of bedtime's nightly ritual. Telling stories with Grandma will keep one kid busy, allowing Mom and Dad to tend to the others. It's a sweet ending to the day for all!
Send postcards as you travel
There's still something uniquely special about receiving a handwritten note from someone you love. Grandparents and grandchildren can share that experience by making a 'pinky promise' to send one another postcards from their travels. Grandparents and grandchildren will look forward to checking the mailbox daily for it to arrive, and a phone call to discuss all of the trip's adventures will soon follow.