One of the most fulfilling relationships is the one between grandchildren and their grandparents. Unfortunately, many are not able to enjoy this privilege because they live miles away from their loved ones. People keep moving for several reasons such as health, career, school, retirement or even adventure. Rarely are three generations in a family able to live together within close proximity or make these relocations together, which leads to grandchildren being separated from their grandparents. The relationship between these two groups of people needs nourishing on a constant basis and may not be as easy when they are far apart. However, there are several things that grandparents can do to strengthen the relationships with their grandchildren. This is to avoid being forgotten or becoming strangers to their own grandchildren.

Grandparents should ensure they maintain communication at all times. This has actually been made easier as technology continues to advance. Grandparents who are not computer literate may need to acquire these skills to keep constant communication with their grandchildren (most of who are computer literate). Some of the things they can send through this form of technology include emails, recipes, computer games, jokes/gossip and letters. Faxes are also useful and can be used to send report cards, jokes or drawings back and forth. Telephone communication is also important since both parties can hear each other’s voices.

Convening family conferences with children and making sure that grandchildren are present is very helpful. During school holidays, children can visit their grandparents to enjoy activities such as fishing, hunting or grandma’s cooking. Time set aside to be spent by children with their grandparents without ‘interruption’ should become a favorite tradition to ensure consistency and avoid random get-togethers, which may not take place. If meeting on a regular basis is not possible, the children need to be reassured that their grandparents will do their best to maintain communication with them and see them as often as possible. Such hearty statements are likely to encourage the children to also make effort and work on their relationship with their grandparents.

A person can actively take certain measures and invite their children and grandchildren to come up with action plans that can help the children spend adequate time with them as their grandparents. A certain percentage of family resources can be designated for this purpose to make sure it happens and does not fail due to financially related reasons. Children’s attention is more easily captured through creative activities that are fun to do. What’s more, coming up with these activities may only require little effort and are great in enhancing relationships with grandchildren.

Cultivating consistent communication and a warm relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents helps to prevent time gaps where both groups feel like total strangers to each other. Sending each other information on any progress such as pictures taken during adventure trips can help prevent this. It also prevents incidents where children grow up and forget everything to do with their grandparents, which can be quite unsettling for the entire family.