The UK Government announced this week its intention to keep the current social isolation measures in place for at least 3 more weeks.
As we enter another weekend, many families may worry about how to keep in touch with grandparents and other close relatives over an extended period of time. This isn’t something new for our family since the Mini-Mumblers Auntie is living it up in Australia!
Over the years, we’ve tried different methods, including Skype calls, and Facetime. But I’ve always found video calls awkward when children take part. They don’t have the attention span of adults and get bored easily. I’ve experienced my sisters’ disappointment when my kids decide they’ve had enough after 2 minutes of talking and walk away. It’s heartbreaking.
A good friend of mine has a fantastic relationship with her parents. Although they don’t live locally, they often travel to visit their grandchildren and have a very active role in their lives. They are very ‘hands-on’ and always happy to take on childcare duties.
I thought of them when the COVID-19 social isolation became necessary. I knew they’d miss regular physical contact and I wondered how they’d maintain the incredible bond between grandparents and kids during these awkward times.
But I also knew if someone was likely to find a solution, it would be them. And I wasn’t wrong. They’ve come up with many fun ideas to keep everyone happy and engaged during virtual calls and share a common purpose. In their own words, they ‘may be 100 miles away but they still feel close’. Such a lovely family! They’ve kindly shared these ideas with us. Huge thanks to AMD-M for taking the time to put these together. You-tha-best!
Here are a few more ideas suggested by our sister sites:
Would you add anything? Have you tried something fantastic with your family? Please get in touch here and we’ll add it to this blog.