Grandma lives far away. In another city, another region. She can see her grandson only once a year when she comes for holidays. But distance is not a sentence. Even a thousand kilometers away, grandma can give a lot to her grandson. Love, knowledge, a sense of kinship, support. The main thing is to know how. We tell you about communication formats and what grandma can pass on from a distance.

Love and a sense of security

Regular video calls (Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp). The grandson sees grandma's face, hears her voice. It's not the same as a hug, but it creates an illusion of presence. Important: don't just talk about business, but also laugh, read fairy tales at night (for the little ones). For schoolchildren — discuss movies, books. Grandma can become a "secret friend": "Call me when you're sad, I won't scold you."

A sense of security: the child knows that there is someone who loves them unconditionally, even if the parents scold. This reduces anxiety.

Family history

Grandma is the keeper of the lineage. She knows how the ancestors lived, what the traditions were. She can tell the grandson stories, record them on a dictaphone, make a family tree. Pass on old photos (scan and send). This forms the child's identity: "I'm not alone, I'm part of something big."

Tip: create an online album in Google Photos where grandma adds photos with comments.

Education and hobbies

Grandma is a teacher (possibly by education or by life). She can teach her grandson a foreign language, play the piano, draw through video lessons. Or just share life hacks: "How to fix the remote control," "how to bake a pie." She can read the same books and then discuss them (an online book club). She can teach the grandson to knit, sew, make crafts — sending kits by mail.

Even if grandma is not a teacher, she can help with homework (via Skype). Explain math or Russian.

Financial support

Money transfers (to the parents' card). Buying clothes, books, toys (through online stores with delivery). Paying for clubs, tutors, camps. Grandma can pay for subscriptions to educational applications.

Important: money does not replace communication. Focus on emotions, not the wallet.

Emotional support for parents

A grandma who supports her grandson's mother or father helps her grandson as well. If the mother does not burn out, she has more strength for the child. Grandma can listen to the mother on the phone, give advice, take her side in a dispute with her husband. She can help with money for a vacation (so that the mother and child can go to the seaside).

A grandma who doesn't interfere in upbringing but helps is gold.

Rituals from a distance

A weekly "grandma hour": every Thursday at 18:00 a call. The grandson waits, grandma prepares. Joint online viewing of a cartoon (turn on at the same time and comment in the chat). Sending postcards by mail (paper!). The grandson waits, collects. Joint growing of flowers: grandma sends seeds, the grandson plants, reports. Creating a time capsule: grandma and the grandson put letters, drawings in a box, agree to open them in a year (send by mail).

Psychology: how to make the grandson not forget grandma

Young children (up to 7 years old) quickly forget people they don't see. Therefore, it is important: a photo of grandma in a prominent place; grandma can send video messages ("hello, I'm baking pancakes in the kitchen"); parents should remind: "do you remember how grandma...".

Teenagers may distance themselves from relatives. Grandma should not push. It's better to find a common interest (computer games, music, series) and communicate on this topic.

Distance is not a sentence. A grandma a thousand kilometers away can be closer than a neighbor. The main thing is desire and a bit of creativity. Call, write, send packages. The grandson will remember not the distance, but the love.

Permanent link to this publication: