There are endless ways to surprise and delight your grandchildren from a distance.

But why do it?

Because we remember surprising moments more vividly.

In their book Surprise, authors Tania Luna and Dr. Leeann Renninger discuss how to become a surprisologist.

One way is to interrupt your patterns.

How can you do this as a long distance grandparent?

Try one of these ideas to get started:

If you always send a store-bought birthday card, create a homemade one instead.

• No matter the age of your grandchild, this will surprise them.
• Use a photo of you together as the cover, draw a picture, use lipstick kisses on it or stickers of their favourite things, etc.
• Just be sure to make it yourself to switch things up a bit.

Use this surprise twist on Peek- a- Boo.

• When you play peek-a-boo on Facetime, have funny glasses or a bowl on your head for a hat when you come back to the camera,

If you are usually silly, try something serious or vice versa.

• If you are not typically an emotional person, write a note with a bit of emotion in it. They won’t expect it, but they will appreciate every word – no matter the age. Tell them about the day you found out you were going to be a grandparent, how you felt – or share the moment you felt most proud of them.
• And if you are always serious and emotional, inject some humour into your relationship with a tongue twister competition or include a few jokes in a letter that they can tell their friends.

Before you leave your next visit, tuck a short note, 5 dollars or a hot wheel car under their pillow.

• The tooth fairy is great, but kids expect something under their pillow in the morning.
• You can ask the parents to put something you leave behind (or mail to them) under your grandchild’s pillow just because.
•  It doesn’t have to be big or anything expensive. It’s the surprise of finding it there that will matter most.

Happy Surprising!