How to Stay Close to Grandkids Who Live Far Away: 12 Ideas

November 12, 2026

Living far from your grandchildren is hard. Video calls help, but small children often lose interest after a minute. The good news: closeness comes from small, regular moments more than long calls. Here are 12 ideas that work, even across time zones.

1. Make a weekly ritual

Children love knowing what to expect. “Sunday morning call with Grandma” or “Friday story night” gives them something to look forward to, and gives you a steady place in their week.

2. Ask for something, don’t just ask questions

“What did you do today?” often gets “nothing.” “Can you draw me your new room?” gets a picture, and a story. Requests give kids a job, and kids love a job. (Need ideas? Here are 50 things to ask your grandchild to draw.)

3. Send real mail

A letter with their name on the envelope is magic for a child. Add a sticker, a pressed flower or a coloring page they can send back.

4. Leave voice messages

A 30-second voice note saying “I loved your drawing of the rocket!” is easier than a call and can be played again and again. Kids remember a voice.

5. Read the same book

Buy two copies of a picture book or chapter book. Read it together on a call, or each read a chapter and talk about it.

6. Play games at a distance

Tic-tac-toe on paper held up to the camera, “I spy” around your rooms, or a simple online board game. The game does the talking.

7. Cook the same recipe

Choose an easy recipe (pancakes, cookies, a family favorite) and make it at the same time, each in your own kitchen.

8. Show your world

Children are curious about your life: your garden, your dog, your street, the photos on your wall. Short photos or videos of “a day at Grandpa’s” help them picture you.

9. Share family stories

Tell them what their parent was like at their age. Kids find this hilarious and fascinating, and it ties the generations together.

10. Celebrate their small wins

A lost tooth, a swim test, a good drawing. Ask the parents to tell you about the little things, and react quickly. Being someone who notices is what makes a grandparent special.

11. Keep what they make

Put their drawings on your fridge, and tell them you did. Send a photo of it. Children are proud to know their art has a place in your home.

12. Make the parents’ job easy

Busy parents are the bridge. Keep requests simple, be flexible about timing, and thank them. The easier it is for them, the more often it happens.

The secret: little and often

You don’t need long calls or big presents. A small, regular back-and-forth (a request, a drawing, a voice note, a reply) builds a real relationship, one week at a time.