Grandparents & Social Distancing

Our kids have decided that we should stop babysitting the grandchildren. We can’t even have family dinners together for the time being. We’re healthy and active but we do fall into the coronavirus high risk category. Yup, we’re old. But, this also makes us sad. However….

Even with social distancing, there are still lots of ways to be in your grandchildren’s lives.

We make nightly, FaceTime calls for bedtime stories. We read and show the pictures. They’re moderately attentive. (Hey, our grands are preschoolers!) I’m very glad I stashed away a bin of kid lit three decades ago. If your grands are older, try reading alternate chapters and presenting a little book report to one another. You can always order multiple copies of the same book so that you’re all literally on the same page.

Our son-in-law gets his family and friends together online for sing-alongs. It’s a great way to keep the children occupied late in the afternoon (the witching hour, as all care-givers know). If your grandkids are older, trying writing a song together.

I sent each family a Social Distancing Care Package. No, the boxes didn’t contain toilet paper or peanut butter. Instead, I ordered them a bunch of classic, family, board games – Chutes & Ladders, Candy Land, Operation, Uno, Hungry Hungry Hippo. The game choices for older kids are endless. Buy yourself the same games so you can play along.

Family time is so precious. Suddenly, it’s become mandatory. Craft projects, reading, board and card games, puzzles. These months will seem to drag on, but, when we’re finally unleashed, we’ll go back to our frantic and often separate lives. If we’re smart, we’ll continue some of these relearned activities even after social distancing is just a memory.