Internet Tips for
Grandparents

Here's an excerpt from Susan V. Bosak's new bestseller How to Build the Grandma Connection, which has won a Parent's Guide Award as one of the best books of the year.

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Tips for the Internet

The internet opens up a whole new world of possibilities, especially for long-distance grandparents. It's a powerful tool for regular contact. At least some computer literacy is also crucial to you being in touch with your grandchild's world. If you aren't computer savvy, take a course to learn the basics. This shows your grandchildren and adult children you're committed to building a connection -- computer and otherwise.

A word of caution: Particularly if you live near your grandchildren, the internet is a great supplement but not a substitute for good old-fashioned, face-to-face interaction. Also, save particularly emotional or serious topics for phone conversations or visits.

E-Mail

Communicating by e-mail is convenient, fast, and economical. Try it out and you'll soon find yourself wondering how you did without it! Some general ideas for e-mailing your grandchild:

• E-mail a few words every day or so. It can be about things you've done, books you've read, things you're thinking about your grandchild, anticipating and planning an upcoming shared event or activity, or even a joke, fascinating fact, word game, or puzzle (buy some books for inspiration).
  
  
• Ask your grandchild open-ended questions in your e-mail to encourage interaction -- not "What's your favorite sport?" but "What do you like about baseball?" or "Why is he your favorite player?"
  
  
• Describe a simple activity and have your grandchild report back on the results, like counting all the chairs in their house.
  
  
• Add additional interest by sending music, graphics, and photographs. If you have a digital camera (pricey, but very easy to use), you can send your grandchild photos of yourself within minutes of taking them.
  
  
• Send electronic greeting cards (many services offer free cards; use your search engine).
  
  
• Mom or Dad can read e-mail messages to young grandchildren. Parents can reciprocate by e-mailing grandparents updates on the grandchild along with photos and some audio clips of the grandchild speaking or singing. This encourages the involvement of all three generations in building bonds.
  
  
• Remember that you are a role model and teacher for your grandchild. Using proper spelling and grammar is important to helping your grandchild develop good communication skills.
  
  
  

Other Internet Stuff

While e-mail is a primary strength of the internet, here are some other ideas for using the internet to make a connection:

• Make a date for a regular online chat with your grandchild (use your search engine to find instant messaging services).
  
  
• If you want to get fancy, look into buying internet cameras so that you can see each other.
  
  
• Play online games with grandchildren six years and up. There's everything from chess to role-playing games available (use your search engine to find appropriate games).
  
  
• Set up and coordinate a family website (for ideas, see the Family Newsletter tips in How to Build the Grandma Connection). Encourage everyone in your family to contribute to connect your grandchild to their extended family.
  
  
• Children like to feel needed. Ask your grandchild to "teach" you more about the internet and show you websites they enjoy.
  
  
• Get insights into your grandchild's interests by regularly visiting websites they enjoy. Learn about your grandchild's world. Tell them about websites you enjoy. Then, you can keep each other "posted" on new information you find.
  
  
• Use the internet as a resource for building bonds (start by visiting the grandparenting websites listed in Books & Resources for Grandparents in How to Build the Grandma Connection).