Tips for Rookie Grandparents - Nanahood (2024)

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tips for “Rookie” Grandparents

There are so many grandmothers who live far away from their grandchildren and aren’t able to see them very often. My heart goes out to them because even though I live near mine and see them almost daily, I know there are so many grandparents who can’t do that. New grandparents have it especially tough because who wants to miss out on the excitement of a new grandchild?

In honor of Grandparents Day approaching on September 9, I surveyed some grandmothers and asked them for suggestions to stay connected with their grandchildren and here are some of their comments, as well as some of my own.

Tips for New Grandparents from other Grandmothers

From Sue – A friend bakes with her grandchildren via FaceTime. They choose the recipe, her daughter sends her a copy of it, ingredients are assembled and Nana on one coast and her grandkids on the other coast make the recipe. They all have fun and end up with treats to eat.

From Marlys – We moved away from our granddaughter when she was 6. I asked her to be my pen pal. She is now almost 13 and we have kept up this almost lost art of writing letters to one another all these years! It has kept us in touch – and made her quite a good letter writer. She has learned cursive and uses a typewriter at times. I believe this has had a positive influence on her life. I also convey many thoughts and much advice, especially now that she is maturing. We talk on the phone and FaceTime, too, but we still continue our letter writing. I’m saving her letters. I hope she is saving mine.

From Trudie – My eldest two grandchildren are in Sydney and I FaceTime them regularly. When they were younger, I even used to listen to them read. It’s not easy but it is possible to keep a good relationship and people have commented on how close we are! It’s still heartbreaking at times but we have to make the best of it!

From Sharlene – When I lived a distance from my grandson, we loved FaceTime, even if it was 30 minutes of him making faces and showing me things in his room. It was great. One time – he propped the phone up so I could watch him play.

Other Things You Can Do to Stay Connected with Your Grandchildren

Send cards: Children of all ages love getting things in the mail. When they are young, cards with bright colors and pictures of animals are popular. Cards that play music are fun for kids as well. My granddaughter still has one I gave her several years ago on her birthday that plays her favorite song and she still listens to it!

Visit when you can, but call when you can’t: Know your grandchild’s schedule and try not to call during nap time or after bedtime. Even if your grandchild is an infant, just listening to the sound of your voice will help them get to know you. Sing them a lullaby or read them a book. It’s good for them and a great way to stay connected.

Learn to rely on a calendar: Life is busy, but you don’t want to forget a birthday, dance recital, ballgame, or whatever. Use your smartphone to keep track of the important milestones and activities happening in your grandchildren’s lives. Even if you can’t be there, you want to ask about it because if it’s important to them, it’s important to you!

For the moments that matter: Use your smartphone to capture moments that matter, such as the perfect family photo or your grandkid’s first steps. If you live far from you grandchildren – no problem! With Tracfone’s 30-day smartphone including talk, text and data for just $15 per month – you can snap and share all your special moments – all while saving money.

Book an unforgettable family trip: Nothing beats a family trip to visit your grandchildren across the coast! Lean on your smartphone to help you book your best vacation yet – from finding the best flight to securing your dream hotel – you can do it all from the palm of your hand. Even better, you’ll never have to worry about interruptions thanks to Unbeatable Nationwide Coverage™ on America’s largest and most dependable networks.

Being a grandparent is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but being far away from your grandchild (especially as a first time or rookie grandparent) can be a hurdle. Stay in touch and stay connected to make the most of this Grandparents Day and beyond! To learn more about Tracfone, visit www.Tracfone.com.

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