Social interaction is an essential part of life, and that doesn’t change as you get older. Luckily, there are quite a few ways for seniors to stay connected in retirement communities, but no one can bring you joy quite like your family, especially your grandchildren. Unfortunately, it is easy to lose touch with them, and the pandemic has made that even more of a challenge. That’s why we’ve put together some of the best ways to reconnect with your grandkids. We don’t want you to miss out on any more time than you have to with them.
Set Up a Video Call
There’s a good chance that some of you have already tried video calls, but if not, now is the time to do it. Kids are big on visuals—that’s why they usually don’t like talking on the phone. However, if they can see you, they will be much more willing to stop what they’re doing and say hi.
Plus, there will be benefits for you too. Many kids enjoy showing people the weird things they can do, and they can’t do that if you are only using audio. Making the switch to video chat will help you see all of the fun stuff that they do every day, making it feel more like you live right there with them.
Plan a Day Visit
As long as you’re either vaccinated or take the proper precautions, our next suggestion is to plan out some time to visit them and spend the day together. Make sure it’s just you and the grandkids—no parents. If you aren’t close, this might feel awkward for a bit, but as long as you have some fun things planned, it should help them open up a bit.
There are plenty of things outside for you all to do together, but it would be best to ask them what they want to do before you start making plans. That way, you won’t have to constantly worry about whether or not they’re having a good time.
Go to Their Events
If you can’t seem to figure out something to do together, the least you can do is go to their events and support them. Whether they’re in a school sport or like to perform at the local theater, the more you go to these things, the more they will start to open up and grow closer to you.
Take an Interest in Their Interests
By far, the best way to reconnect with your grandkids is to learn more about the things they’re interested in and talk to them about them. Simply ask them what they like to do in their spare time, and they’ll likely go off on a long tangent about their friends or the games they enjoy playing.
Be sure to listen carefully to what your grandchildren say. If you don’t understand something they mentioned, don’t be afraid to ask for more info about it. Really show them that you’re interested in the things they like. You can even go the extra mile and find out more about those things in your spare time, then come back and talk to them about what you learned. We’re sure that will excite them and get them to speak with you even more.