How Grandparents Can Help While Practicing Social Distancing

We all know the best way to keep our families safe and healthy is by practicing social distancing. Many grandparents are anxiously waiting for the day they can shower their grandkids with hugs, kisses and quality time. While you can’t take over babysitting duties right now, there are still some creative ways you can help from a safe distance.

Virtual Bedtime Stories

Take over bedtime story duties by reading to your grandkids before they head off to dreamland. Use FaceTime or Zoom to read a story from your home or try an app like Caribu to read together. Parents are exhausted by the end of the day and bedtime doesn’t always go as smoothly as we would like, so quality time with grandparents can be a big help.

Send Care Packages

From small treats and gifts for your grandkids to something special for your own children, sending care packages will be a welcomed surprise for your family and will surely brighten their day.

Make or Send a Meal

While you can’t have everyone over for dinner right now, you can still make a meal for your family if they're local, or have a meal delivered to their door. If you are making food, drop it off on the porch so your loved ones can enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. It is still considered safe to have food delivered or to purchase take-out and, if you order ahead for your family, you can offer a thoughtful and delicious treat. When it’s time to eat, have everyone hop on FaceTime or into a Zoom meeting so that it feels like you are all eating together.

Sign Up for a Subscription Box

There seems to be a subscription box for just about everything these days. From crafts and toys to meal kits, you can gift your family with a subscription box that fits their needs. Many subscription boxes have a monthly or a three-month trial so you can choose to send just a few boxes at a time.

Teach a Skill

Do you have an amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe you’ve been wanting to share with your grandkids? Maybe you’ve always wanted to teach them to play the piano. With a little help from technology and a bit of pre-planning, you can share these fun lessons with your grandkids. It’s a great way to stay connected and your kids will appreciate you for keeping their little ones busy.

Be a Good Listener

These can trying times for everyone. So, if your kids need to talk or vent or if your grandkids need someone to listen to them, be that person. A phone call, text or video chat could be the most helpful thing you do for your family right now.