Packing tape postcard
It's no secret that families are more catered across the miles than ever. If your children's grandparents aren't local, here are 5 awesome ways your kids can strengthen the bonds with their grandparents this summer.
1. Packing Tape Postcards. Pull off two wide pieces of packing tape a little larger than a standard postcard size and place on a table or counter. Let the kids add bits of paper, glitter, a note, drawing, etc. to the tape. Once you have a pleasing design, add two pieces of tape over the top and smooth out. Trim your postcard and add a mailing label to the front and stamp. Grandparents get a conversational piece of art and get to hear from their favorite children!
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2013/06/packing-tape-and-debris.html
2. Share a Book Club. Reading together is a great way for grandparents to find out what their grandkids are interested in as well as giving them quality time together. Choose a book that is of interest to the child and decide on how much to read each day or week. Then arrange a Skype or FaceTime call to have the "meeting." Chapter books that parents read to the child can make it a three generation book club!
3. Play a Game Together. A membership at grandparent games.com is free and offers a voice and video connection once you sign into the account. You can choose from a variety of age appropriate games to play. Most games are educational. For the best experience, you and your grandchild both need a computer, a fast internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone or headset. Some of these may be already in your computer.
http://www.grandparentgames.com
4. Share a Traveling Journal. Buy a special blank journal (not too heavy since it will need to be mailed back and forth) and let your child decorate it. Once they've done that, grandparents and children can alternate writing letters, pasting in photos, or drawing pictures and sending the journal back and forth. A lightweight journal shouldn't cost more than about $2.00 to mail and the kids will be delighted to see what grandma and grandpa have added. When it's complete, you will have a sweet family heirloom.
5. Leave the Kids For a Visit. This one may seem like a no-brainer but in many cases what stands in the way of children bonding with their grandparents is the parents themselves. If your parents are up for it, an extended visit with their grandchildren may be the perfect bonding opportunity. Whether they come to visit your home and you leave for a parents-alone vacation or you take the kids to them, letting grandma and grandpa be in charge for a few days is a great way for them to really get to know the kids. Let them build their own memories while you and your spouse enjoy some alone time!