Many of your grandchildren will be headed back to school soon – some have already started back depending on where they live.
Creating an annual ritual and tying it to an important transition for your grandchild is a great way to make sure you consistently show up over the course of many years.
I’ve put together a few quick but very meaningful ways to connect with your grands as they embark on a new year. They are easy, fun and meaningful – one of the ideas requires pencils and a permanent fine tip marker, that’s it!
Don’t worry if they’ve already gone back to school – the first few weeks of school count as ‘new’ for most kids – and the parents!
You will love these ideas for your school-aged grandkids, but they can be adapted to fit any aged grandchild, whether they are going back to daycare, college/university or starting a new job.
Have a read and let me know what you think!
If you need the GRAND Cheat Sheet I mention in the blog, just email me and I will send you a link to it ([email protected]).
Send Personalized Positive Pencils
Wow, that’s a mouthful! Let’s call these positive pencils for short.
This one is so easy but packs a sharp and loving poke.
All you do is pick up a pack of pencils and write out a positive message on each one.
Get a permanent fine tip marker, write messages on the pencils and wait for the message to dry before you pack it up for the mail.
You can include any type of message, whether it’s a positive affirmation (e.g., You are kind, brave, smart).
Check out this blog I wrote with 30 positive things to say, write or text your grandchild for some ideas to get your creative writing juices flowing!
As I got going with this idea, I thought about what my 8-year-old would love to see on his pencil, and he is really into jokes.
You might notice in the photo of the pencils, I added a joke to one of them.
Mix it up – variety is the spice of life – and connection!
I found this extra awesome list of school-related jokes for you.
Your grands will love them but be forewarned and make sure you have a few minutes before you click on these jokes.
They are quite funny and had me distracted from writing this blog for a solid 10 minutes.
For instance:
Why did the M&M go to school?
Because it really wanted to be a smartie.
Be sure to choose short ones so they fit on the pencil.
GRAND Word Hugs
Or mix it up and send mail using what I call GRAND Word Hugs.
Word Hugs are one example of something called affectionate communication.
It turns out, grandchildren remember the loving sentiments shared by grandparents. And researchers have found this type of communication is related to ratings of higher emotional closeness to their grandparents.
Your words matter. And they travel as far as they need to go. So, include things like I miss you, I love you, you are special to me, I love spending time with you and I’m proud of you.
Create and send a photo postcard with one of the following:
First day of school photo of you
If you have one, for sure share it with your grandchildren, especially the older ones because it can lead to conversations based on the fashion of the day, how you were feeling, etc.
First day of school photo of their parent
Do you have any photos of their parents on their first day of school? Now is the time to blow the dust off the albums, make a copy and send it to your grands. Bonus points if the photo matches the year your grandchild is going into right now.
Maybe you remember a funny story you can share too. If not, write a joke on the back and encourage them to practice it so they can tickle their fellow classmate’s funny bone.
Text a GRAND selfie
For those of you with older grandchildren, or if snail mail takes forever to get there, take a photo of yourself holding up a sign with a positive message to text.
Or send a video of you telling 3 school-related jokes they can learn and tell their friends.
Hope these ideas help you come up with a ritual tied to a transition in your grandchild’s life – something you can do every year that says I’m over here, thinking about you and loving you, no matter the miles between.
And…..while they are busy with back to school, you can deepen your own learning with something called Grandparents Week.
It’s a free event but you do have to register. You can find out more about it here:
Grandparents Week Registration September 2024
Not only will I be sharing all the latest and greatest about long distance grandparenting – no matter the age of your grandchildren, there are sessions about tons of topics that will be of interest including:
- Getting Along with The Parents of Your Grandchildren
- Active Grandparenting
- Using photos to connect with grandchildren
- Multi generational harmony
There are grandmas, grandpas and parents providing unique and current perspectives about what it takes to embrace and engage fully in grandparenting.
And there are prizes – including a chance to win a trip with an organization I love called Road Scholar.
I’ve already signed up so I will see you there!
Note: If you choose to get the upgrade pass that is offered, I might receive a small commission from GrandparentsAcademy.
That’s all for now!
Kerry
